Advocacy & Safety - Question about Critical Mass

Oh, please! We've had this discussion before; "club" rides are just as bad, if not worse, than Critical Mass when it comes to impeding traffic and disobeying traffic control devices. The "club" riders are just in denial about it...
In Rockland Cty they've had to actually spend money to put up signs to try to rein in out-of-control club cyclists who take over river road on weekends.

and I was not saying bike lanes and trails were the only way, but I suggest that they are a good idea to increase some safty.

Interesting, could you cite a study, preferably with the name of the author or group who presented it? I know there have been far too few studies comparing the safety of roads versus bike lanes and multi-use trails, but the only ones I've ever seen any results from point to trail/bl riding being less safe rather than more. I'd be interested in seeing a report that contradicts this.

Oh, please! We've had this discussion before; "club" rides are just as bad, if not worse, than Critical Mass when it comes to impeding traffic and disobeying traffic control devices. The "club" riders are just in denial about it...
Hmmm... I've only been on two club rides (one with 73 people, the other with 94). Rules were clear, if you dont' ride single file where required or if you run a red light, you get kicked out. No cars during the whole ride showed any signs of frustration - it was all very orderly and low key. I've been to one CM. It was a total mess with people riding every which way in a giant pack on their bikes - it was so disapointing, I was embarassed to have been there. Of coure this is only my limited experience, but it was so night and day I couldn't imagine how it could begin to get closer.
But I am really a solo rider out of many thousands of miles I've ridden in the city on the streets following the rules, setting a good example, only about 100 were with groups.

Al

Oh, please! We've had this discussion before; "club" rides are just as bad, if not worse, than Critical Mass when it comes to impeding traffic and disobeying traffic control devices. The "club" riders are just in denial about it...

This is consistent with what I've observed. You should see the "Webcor" team training rides on the S.F. Peninsula. Looks like a Critical Mass ride, just at 30 mph, and with team outfits.

That's not consistent with what I've observed.

It is with what I have. I have cut down on the amount of organized rides I do just because of the safety factor. A lot of rude club cyclists out there too!

There are thousands of clubs, sometimes dozens in one city - some will be better than others at following the rules - key is to read their rules and only participate in ones that make legal riding a high priority. There is only one ride called CM - sure there are hundreds happening and some CM rides may be more orderly than others, but if one CM rides all over the place and breaks the rules it doesn't help the cause of other CM which are more orderly.

For what its worth I don't want to be in a position to defend club rides - they kinda give me the creeps actually. I only tired a couple out because I wanted to develop group riding skills needed for racing, etc. and I agree that some clubs I've seen out riding on the streets set bad examples, but still not as bad as the specific CM I went to where riders were in several lanes, on the sidewalk, cutting to the right of cars, blocking them, etc.

Al

hahaha, you wanna know what's a good time, is when we're in the right lane on a 4 lane road(two lanes each way) and benny gets close to the dotted white lane and just starts swerving back and forth, haha cars don't like that at all, but yeah, I'll admit I have a good time in critical mass knowing that cars are stuck behind us and probably getting pissed off, but when so many people have come so close to killing me that many times, I start to really not care anymore. When I moved to the city i always stayed on the far right edge of the lane, waited at red lights, all that, but cars had no respect for my safety(life), and if i have to pick between saving my life, or saving a suburban 2 minutes of travel time, i'm gonna make them wait, he'll cool down once he gets home and starts sticking his dick in the gas tank. If i could, i'd slash ever tire and break every window in pittsburgh, and then put up barriers around the city so no more cars could get in, but i'm only one person, you know?

Stop for a moment and think about what you are talking about 10timesbetter. First are you saying 2 wrongs make a right?? Also how would you feel if an angry motorist got mad and decided (like you have) to go out and bend all bike wheals and break the spokes?? I don't know about you but I would be upset if my bike was damaged (and if I had a car I would be angry if the tires and windows were vandalized)

Yes I admit there are some idiotic car drivers, but not all car drivers are idiots, I have seen both, I nearly have been hit by idiots, but on the same note, I have had more drivers be polite to me. When you are out biking do one thing, see if you can watch for the nice drivers, we (when I say we I say all people) have a strong tendency to remember the bad experiences and forget the good.

Also (maybe this is just a view I have because of my faith) some day we will all answer for our sins, the driver that tried to kill you, or with out paying attention to you and nearly ran you off the road, and we (the bikers) will for the times we have responded wrongly (I am guilt of this last one too, and for that I am also in the wrong)

Another note we are not better then the people that drive cars, nor are they better then us.

The finally sad thing is that driving does bring out the very worst in people, when I use to have a car, I would swear up a storm all the time while driving, I swear a lot less now that I don't drive.

as far as the two wrongs make a right, I don't mean I get in the way purposely to piss cars off because i've almost been hit, I mean I ride right in the middle of the lane, if not the left side of it, just to force cars to go all the way around me, because i'm tired of cars trying to squeeze past me in my own lane. I do it to reduce temptations cars have to ignore me, not specifically to get in the way. now there are times i'm in a bad mood that I may do stuff just to annoy people in cars, but what I was talking about before wasn't referring to that, I was just saying there are things that I do, that look bad to cars and even other bikers, but only because they don't understand the situation i'm in.


as far as car drivers being mad if their tires got slashed, that was kind of the idea I was heading towards, I'd much rather see some flat tires than I would a dead kid in the middle of the road. People go so crazy anytime the idea of terrorism comes up, but only 3,000 people died the year of september 11th, 40,000 died from cars, and you're gonna sit here and tell me to think about how car drivers feel, I don't care, I'm never going to kill someone by riding a bicycle, so don't try to act like we need to consider car drivers feelings when it comes to the topic of safety and saving lives, in that case, we are better than car drivers, possibly not as human beings, but definately as part of our community

If you want to advocate for cycling and cyclists' rights, go out and ride. A lot. Get out there and be visable. Talk to your friends and co-workers about it. Debunk all the bogus myths about how unsafe it is, and deflate all the excuses about why they can't (rather, "won't") commute by bike. You'll be amazed at the results you'll get -- you'll have a lot more people out there to ride with!

As for CM, I'm not a fan of anarchy, so I steer clear of it. It has its place; just not for me. And it probably has more of a place in a true urban environment than in a sleepy mid-western 'burg. The irony would just be too thick with all the punk-rock cool kids loading their bikes back in mom's SUV after the event and then driving home to Exurbia. I go for weeks seeing no other urban cyclists other than the messengers, and there's just a handful of them here.... Come on, folks, get out there and ride!

as far as the two wrongs make a right, I don't mean I get in the way purposely to piss cars off because i've almost been hit, I mean I ride right in the middle of the lane, if not the left side of it, just to force cars to go all the way around me, because i'm tired of cars trying to squeeze past me in my own lane. I do it to reduce temptations cars have to ignore me, not specifically to get in the way. now there are times i'm in a bad mood that I may do stuff just to annoy people in cars, but what I was talking about before wasn't referring to that, I was just saying there are things that I do, that look bad to cars and even other bikers, but only because they don't understand the situation i'm in.


as far as car drivers being mad if their tires got slashed, that was kind of the idea I was heading towards, I'd much rather see some flat tires than I would a dead kid in the middle of the road. People go so crazy anytime the idea of terrorism comes up, but only 3,000 people died the year of september 11th, 40,000 died from cars, and you're gonna sit here and tell me to think about how car drivers feel, I don't care, I'm never going to kill someone by riding a bicycle, so don't try to act like we need to consider car drivers feelings when it comes to the topic of safety and saving lives, in that case, we are better than car drivers, possibly not as human beings, but definately as part of our community
I know I won't be the only one to notice this, but you are describing vehicular cycling. Behind the angry words, you are probably a pretty safe and responsible cyclist. You would probably be interested in the many threads on that topic (vehicular cycling or effective cycling) in this forum. Tell 'em Serge sent you.

There are at least two different types of bike clubs. Social clubs and racing clubs. All the social clubs I know of are polite and nothing like critical mass. The worst any do (from a drivers standpoint) is to take an entire lane (perhaps the only lane) in areas where there is limited shoulder and passing, except for passing the same way you would pass a car, would be unsafe for the cyclist involved.

Even the worst racing club I have seen is not like critical mass in one vital thing. The racing clubs do not go out looking for more cars to annoy. Instead they look for places to hammer, and a part of that is usually trying to avoid excessive traffic.


I wonder just what drivers 'learn' when they meet a critical mass ride. It disrupts their day, they often get verbally abused or flipped off. I would learn one thing, that bikes and cars can not get along on the road. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out which side will lose in that kind of contest. I don't fear the crazy driver who starts to think that way. That danger is already out there in drunks and cell phones. I worry about the very upright, civic minded, get involved kind of guy who might just decide that the best thing is to regulate or eliminate bikes from his city.

There are at least two different types of bike clubs. Social clubs and racing clubs. All the social clubs I know of are polite and nothing like critical mass. The worst any do (from a drivers standpoint) is to take an entire lane (perhaps the only lane) in areas where there is limited shoulder and passing, except for passing the same way you would pass a car, would be unsafe for the cyclist involved.

Even the worst racing club I have seen is not like critical mass in one vital thing. The racing clubs do not go out looking for more cars to annoy. Instead they look for places to hammer, and a part of that is usually trying to avoid excessive traffic.


I wonder just what drivers 'learn' when they meet a critical mass ride. It disrupts their day, they often get verbally abused or flipped off. I would learn one thing, that bikes and cars can not get along on the road. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out which side will lose in that kind of contest. I don't fear the crazy driver who starts to think that way. That danger is already out there in drunks and cell phones. I worry about the very upright, civic minded, get involved kind of guy who might just decide that the best thing is to regulate or eliminate bikes from his city.

Exactly. The CMs I have observed consciously try to use the busiest road and then occupy the whole width of it. I do agree that bikes have a right to be on all roads, but some of the busiest roads are pretty unpleasant to be on, yet they choose to use them to hold up the maximum number of cars. On the other hand, clubs I have seen always look for the lowest traffic route to get where they are going.

Exactly. The CMs I have observed consciously try to use the busiest road and then occupy the whole width of it. I do agree that bikes have a right to be on all roads, but some of the busiest roads are pretty unpleasant to be on, yet they choose to use them to hold up the maximum number of cars. On the other hand, clubs I have seen always look for the lowest traffic route to get where they are going.
Critical Mass is most definitely an URBAN ride, and it's presence on high volume roads and arterial streets is a bold and clear statement that bicyclists have a right to be there, too. PUblic streets are not just for motorists. I don't disagree that Critical Mass targets the busiest, most unpleasant streets to bicycle on, that's exactly the point!

When you compare CM and clubs, probably both are insulted. :)

In some ways they represent opposite ends of the cycling spectrum. However, both do interact with traffic in a very visible and unified manner, so I give them credit for that. As a nonaligned commuter, I probably feel closer to the CM pole of the spectrum, which I guess would be the left end.

When you compare CM and clubs, probably both are insulted. :)

As a nonaligned commuter, ...
I think those that feel most alienated are the diehard commuters, those that ride thousands of miles a year for pure transportation, follow the rules and have learned how to best interact with traffic/drivers in both an assertive and respectful way (i.e. it goes both ways). We communicate with drivers and share the road.

I am also non aligned if you will but get a bit more upset my the flagrant disregard to normal traffic flow I've seen of CM (i.e. a mass of cyclists going nowhere for any particular reason during rush hour is never a normal/natural traffic flow pattern). I also admittedly have biases against club riders who are into bling, racing style and stupid agressive behavior with traffic, but overall less upset as these riders are more typical on weekend mornings and just by that nature alone are less disruptive. But both of these are my biases, probably better for me to learn how to loose them as we are all cyclists.

Al

Critical Mass is most definitely an URBAN ride, and it's presence on high volume roads and arterial streets is a bold and clear statement that bicyclists have a right to be there, too. PUblic streets are not just for motorists. I don't disagree that Critical Mass targets the busiest, most unpleasant streets to bicycle on, that's exactly the point!

So would it not be better if they set the example for all road users by following all traffic laws while making their so called "bold and clear statement"? What value is added by disregarding traffic safety laws, acting rude and declaring your extreme hate for cars.

I make my bold and clear statement every day during my commute on the "busiest, most unpleasant streets to bicycle on" by following the law and riding in a vehicular style. When done in such a manner, those streets are not really unpleasant. I play nice with all the drivers that play nice with me. The driver that does not play nice with me, gets a very unpleasant memory that reminds him/her to play nice next time.

CM only makes their whatever, once a month. At least the Honolulu CM believes in only taking one lane (unless traffic is moving less than 12 mph when they will mix with all the lanes moving with the flow) and they follow the law. Most of the club riders follow the law as well.

The biggest scoff laws are the homeless bicyclist and a small number of short commuters.

So would it not be better if they set the example for all road users by following all traffic laws while making their so called "bold and clear statement"? What value is added by disregarding traffic safety laws, acting rude and declaring your extreme hate for cars.

I make my bold and clear statement every day during my commute on the "busiest, most unpleasant streets to bicycle on" by following the law and riding in a vehicular style. When done in such a manner, those streets are not really unpleasant. I play nice with all the drivers that play nice with me. The driver that does not play nice with me, gets a very unpleasant memory that reminds him/her to play nice next time.

CM only makes their whatever, once a month. At least the Honolulu CM believes in only taking one lane (unless traffic is moving less than 12 mph when they will mix with all the lanes moving with the flow) and they follow the law. Most of the club riders follow the law as well.

The biggest scoff laws are the homeless bicyclist and a small number of short commuters.

Ditto. I ride on the busiest streets on my commute, but clubs do seem to avoid them. I make an effort to ride predictably and integrate into traffic. I feel like most CMs undermine this by painting all cyclists as inconsiderate and reckless.

Ditto. I ride on the busiest streets on my commute, but clubs do seem to avoid them. I make an effort to ride predictably and integrate into traffic. I feel like most CMs undermine this by painting all cyclists as inconsiderate and reckless.
Thats my commuting mode and my feelings as well.

My assumptions were not helped by the chatting up I did at the one ride I went to where most of the folks I talked to didn't commute or if they did no more than 1-2mi, rode round campus area mostly and were mainly about making a point based on idealogy of hating cars, oil and big business vs. a practical need to make the roads safer for commuting. It seemed more like a fun way to venture out into the big bad world and make a scene in the safety of numbers.

Al

I commute daily in a responsible vehicular manner like the previous three posters. Also like them (I think), I almost always ride alone. I guess this counts as a political action, but only a small and quiet one. I often wish I were making a louder statement. People acting alone rarely change the system. Nor do members of a group have to agree unanimously in order to work together. After all, most Democrats or Republicans do not agree totally with their parties. I do not come close to agreeing with every one of CM's views (although they claim not to have any views, they clearly do), but I do love bikes, and I hate our dependence on autos and the stranglehold they have on us. I have felt like that for my entire life, since long before most CMers were even born. But currently, CM is the only group I see that is even trying to act together to address these issues. Does anyone know of any viable alternatives to CM? Please let me know.

I'm not really sure what I'm trying to say, although this thread has helped me to start thinking more clearly on this issue. (Thanks to all who are participating!) I do hope that we (more or less) middle of the road commuters will be able to find a voice. Or better yet, I hope that we will be able to find a way to better use our own voices. It sure is nice to know that there are others who love bikes and at least question car culture. For much of my life I've felt pretty much alone on this one. I do think that we need to concentrate on the issues that draw us together, even while we have fun arguing about issues that pull us apart.

I know this post is pretty incoherent because my thoughts on this are currently in flux. I'm glad this forum is here to help me get them together again! The only problem with the forum is that we are only talking to each other and there are others who need to hear.

I also commute daily (by bike of course), and have done so for 30 years.
I was riding around San Fransisco in the 70's when there was no bike coalition or bike lanes.
I also did loaded touring. I was mostly riding alone.

I am so glad Critical Mass came along. In the San Fransisco area it definetly raised cyclists spirits. The SFBike Coalition made tremendous progress because of the soliderity caused by people coming together every month to ride. It is a social space created in the public space of the streets which does not exist execpt when Critical Mass rides.

Now, granted, the SF Critical Mass is not like CM rides in smaller cities. It is HUGE. 100's to thousands strong, able to take over blocks of streets and all the lanes.

I do think the smaller CM rides of 50 or so folks have to use different tactics because it is not possable to take all the lanes. I don't think that allowing drivers to pass in the left lane is good, because the cars will just be caught at the next light, to then get overtaken by the mass. The idea is to create a moving temporary car-free zone. Now cars are held up by other cars all the time. Just watch the traffic in central SF any work day, most of the cars are moving slower than a bike, execpt when the see a block of clear roadway, then the floor it, only to slam on the brakes at the next stoplight.

All I know is that every time I attend Critical Mass, I go home uplifted and able to go out and ride alone the rest of the month feeling a little less alone.

http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/151275/index.php
The whoops and hollers grew louder as thousands of bicyclists streamed from the West Side Highway through the Battery underpass. It was a warm, summer night and there were no cars, no angry SUVs, no impatient taxicabs. The 20-block-long procession had tied Midtown in knots and moved on. As the cyclists emerged from their underground echo chamber onto the FDR, they looked out over the East River and saw a full moon rising over the Brooklyn skyline.

“It was amazing,” says Kaitlyn Tikkun, a regular participant in Critical Mass, the leaderless monthly ride designed to promote bike culture and non-polluting transportation in New York’s car-choked environment. “We came out onto the FDR Drive and there was a moon coming up next to us, and I looked behind me and all I could see were bikes.”

The extraordinary scene that unfolded on July 30, 2004, was the culmination of six years of rides and community organizing. Coming four weeks before the Republican National Convention (RNC), last summer’s Critical Mass rides tapped into the political energy of a city waiting anxiously for protesters and conservative conventioneers to arrive.

Over the last nine months, however, what was once a “carnival on wheels” has degenerated into an ugly standoff between the New York Police Department and a dwindling group of cyclists, who are divided over what to do next. Mass arrests and the indiscriminate impounding of bicycles are now part of the routine. In the past three months alone, there have been 85 Critical Mass-related arrests. According to New York Newsday, the NYPD devotes “significant” resources to policing the ride, with officers drawn from multiple precincts across the city.

“What saddens me is that for a lot of people whose first Critical Mass was in August [before the RNC],” says Ryan Kuonen, a Brooklyn resident and frequent participant, “they’ve only experienced the police harassment, the drama, the arrests. They’ve never seen that giant party that Critical Mass is supposed to be.”

“Surprising, Erotic, Fun”

Critical Mass began in San Francisco in 1992 as an attempt to provide an alternative to urban car culture and the marginalization of bicycle riders. The idea caught on, arriving in New York in 1998. Critical Mass (criticalmassrides.info) rides now take place on the last Friday of each month in over 300 cities around the world. The Manhattan ride begins at 7 p.m. on the north side of Union Square Park. Chris Carlsson, one of the founders of Critical Mass, describes the early days of the ride as “exuberant, surprising, erotic, fun and utterly transformative.
“No one knew what to expect,” Carlsson adds, “and no one anticipated just how amazing and fun and open-ended it would be.”

“Critical Mass,” Ryan Kuonen states flatly, “is the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. It’s a carnival on wheels, and I love it.”

Some participants laud the ride’s transformative effect. “For a lot of the new people who join the ride, Critical Mass is fun,” says Bill DiPaola, a volunteer with the environmental group Time’s Up! (times-up.org) which helps promote Critical Mass in New York. “When people come on the ride though, they get a sense of freedom that they’ve never gotten before. They realize that you can ride a bike in New York safely. By the time folks get off their bike they start think about riding it to work, using it more and fighting to get changes in the infrastructure of the city that will make riding a bike in New York a safer experience.”
DiPaola is convinced that the growth in the popularity of bicycling in New York City has occurred despite the city, rather than because of it. “Manhattan is a flat city, and riding a bike here makes a lot of sense,” he says. “The problem is that riding a bike here is also incredibly dangerous. Critical Mass is one of the things people can do in New York that both lets them ride a bike safely and also makes a statement about where we think the city’s priorities should be.”

By early 2003, after five years of Critical Mass, rides were drawing several hundred participants. While police on scooters would often accompany the ride, it was largely accepted and even ignored by city officials. The popularity of the ride grew tremendously throughout the summer of 2003, thanks in large part to a well-publicized “Bike Month” that ended with a Critical Mass attended by over a thousand bikers. That October, more than 2,000 cyclists thronged the streets for a Halloween night ride.

More than 2,000 bicyclists also turned out for the July 30 ride that took over both the West Side Highway and FDR Drive. “That night,” wrote Dave Bonan on the nyc.indymedia.org web site, “the cars were driving on our road.”

Warning Signs

However, the July ride witnessed the first signs of more stringent policing. “In July it started to feel like the police were practicing for the RNC,” says Ryan Kuonen. Scooter cops zoomed to the head of the ride, blocking cars on ramps from entering the highways dominated by bicyclists. Meanwhile, unmarked police cars tailed the ride, threatening to arrest cyclists who were similarly “corking” traffic.

During the Aug. 27 pre-RNC ride, 264 bicyclists were arrested; the arrests have continued ever since.

Following the aggressive police response, Bicycling advocates turned to a legal strategy to secure the ride. On Oct. 19, five bicyclists filed suit against the NYPD alleging that the police illegally seized locked bikes during the September Critical Mass ride. In response, the city counter-sued, asking a U.S. District Court on Oct. 26 to permanently enjoin anyone from riding in Critical Mass without an official permit. Although the suit was tossed in late December, the city refiled it in mid-March. This time the city not only sought to block the ride but also to enjoin DiPaola and four other Time’s Up! volunteers from personally promoting or even talking about the ride.

“The city’s argument is very troubling,” noted veteran civil rights attorney Norman Siegel. “It’s a prior restraint and a violation of the First Amendment. It’s clearly unconstitutional. If the city prevails, social justice activists could not publicize the gathering of people to engage in any form of civil disobedience.”

Outside the courtroom, activists have fought back in other ways, filing a Freedom of Information Act request to find out exactly how much the city is spending on policing the ride. Critical Mass riders have responded by launching the ride from multiple points across the city and using text messaging to avoid the police.

Police tactics have been aggressive. According to NYC Indymedia reports, the NYPD has deployed scooter squads, uniformed and plainclothes officers on foot and bikes, orange netting, marked and undercover vans, loudspeakers, command units, video surveillance teams and helicopters in response to Critical Mass. In court testimony related to the lawsuit against the Time’s Up! volunteers, Assistant Police Chief Bruce Smolka noted that the NYPD devoted “a large amount of resources, personnel and equipment” to the monthly rides.”

Many believe that Critical Mass participation has suffered as a result. “The ridership this spring has been way down,” says Kuonen. “Normally by this time of year you’re getting rides of 300 or 400. April’s ride was barely 150. Maybe it was the weather, but I don’t think so. I think the police tactics are working.

DiPaola admits that some of the pageantry and excitement of Critical Mass has been drained by the police. “The city has stripped the ride of families, of color, of people performing, of people on tall bikes, on artistic bikes. That’s for sure. But we also feel that the bike has survived the winter in the face of massive police intimidation and corruption.”

Selective Enforcement

With attention focused on the Critical Mass battles in Manhattan, the NYPD’s selective enforcement policies have been largely overlooked.

The same city administration that sued Time’s Up! members to keep them from talking about Critical Mass has itself spent tens of thousands of dollars funding New York City Bike Month calendars that publicize the ride.

The calendar, published by the bike advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, lists the May 27 ride as a “Bike Month” event. “The Bike Month calendar listing Critical Mass did receive funding from the city,” acknowledges Dani Simons, event director for Transportation Alternatives. Clearly trying to distance Transportation Alternatives from the controversial ride, Simons adds,”the listing for Critical Mass is only one of over 150 bike-related events this month, and I guess we’d just see that as confirmation that Critical Mass is only a small part of the New York bicycle scene.”

The city has also been less aggressive in policing the Brooklyn Critical Mass. Although most riders acknowledge that there are often as many police (one to two dozen) as people on the Brooklyn rides, there have yet to be any arrests at the outer borough event, which occurs on the second Friday of every month, beginning at Grand Army Plaza.

“The police there seem really intent on getting us to agree to certain guidelines ahead of time,” says Kuonen. “But once the ride starts, even though they follow us, they’ve never actually arrested anybody.”

Looking Ahead

With the future of Critical Mass in New York City hanging in the balance, participants are debating how to save the ride.
Bicycling activists are hopeful that the political winds are shifting. “Politicians are starting to come out in support of Critical Mass, community boards are voting to support us, the artistic community is rallying around us,” says DiPaola. “We feel like the only people in this city who don’t support Critical Mass are the mayor and the NYPD.”

“Time’s Up! will never ask the city for a permit for Critical Mass because it’s not our ride,” he adds. “We don’t sponsor it, no matter what the city claims, and we couldn’t ask for a permit even if we wanted one.”

Many riders have begun launching Critical Mass from multiple points around Manhattan, a tactic recommended by Chris Carlsson, a veteran of San Francisco Critical Mass’s struggle to stay on the streets in the mid-1990’s. “Remember,” said Carlsson, “it’s not illegal to ride your bike, so we can always fall back on that.”

Other riders have taken the opposite approach, urging participants to obey traffic laws. “What if we didn’t blow stoplights?” asks Critical Mass participant James Bachhuber.
For her part, Kuonen sees promise in the Brooklyn Critical Mass. She’s actively working to increase knowledge of and participation in the event, and hopes that it can remain mostly trouble free.

“I think that if George Bush had never come to the city we would never have had this problem,” she said. “The police told us we couldn’t ride, and we did anyway, and now it’s just a big power play. But no matter what happens,” she added, “we have to get Critical Mass back to what it’s supposed to be: fun.”

Taking lanes, snarling traffic, and creating attention are crucial to what Critical Mass is. It is issue expansion, a vital step in bringing about policy change. Riding meekly on the side of the road bothers no one, and generates no media attention. The point of the ride is not to make motorist happy, but to bring the issue into the public forum. Civil disobediance be definition breaks some laws. Holding placards in an unpopulated, roped-off "protest area" doesn't accomplish anything.

Taking lanes, snarling traffic, and creating attention are crucial to what Critical Mass is. It is issue expansion, a vital step in bringing about policy change. Riding meekly on the side of the road bothers no one, and generates no media attention. The point of the ride is not to make motorist happy, but to bring the issue into the public forum. Civil disobediance be definition breaks some laws. Holding placards in an unpopulated, roped-off "protest area" doesn't accomplish anything.

No one is suggesting riding meekly on the side of the road. I take lanes on a daily basis. The difference between the way I do it and a CM though, is I do it for my own safety while simultaneously trying to minimize inconvenience for everyone, whereas a CM does it primarily to maximize inconvenience. Cowering in the gutter is not the only alternative to CM style riding, although they bother me too. I occasionally suggest safer ways for them to ride when I see them. I ride visibly and safely, yet as unobtrusively as is practical. I take the lane when necessary, and courteously participate in traffic as a vehicle. To me, it seems inconveniencing everyone is hardly the best way to win them over, although they will certainly become more aware of you, just not for the better.

...while simultaneously trying to minimize inconvenience for everyone, whereas a CM does it primarily to maximize inconvenience.

Once a month, Twelve times a year.

Whereas (I ride everyday,) everyday I am delayed and actually threatened by cars on the roads.

What do we owe these people who are so flippant with our lives? We must step on toes to be noticed, we must flex our collective muscle to be recognized as a force. I am not sure what you mean by everyone either, not everyone is against CM in NYC, they cheer us on, cars and Peds, alike. And not EVERYONE even notices us with the traffic jams that are already in full swing on Friday nights.

What do we owe these car drivers and what will asking nicely do to deter selfish and dangerous behavior when killing peds and bikers does not even warrant a ticket?

Taking lanes, snarling traffic, and creating attention are crucial to what Critical Mass is. It is issue expansion, a vital step in bringing about policy change. Riding meekly on the side of the road bothers no one, and generates no media attention. The point of the ride is not to make motorist happy, but to bring the issue into the public forum. Civil disobediance be definition breaks some laws. Holding placards in an unpopulated, roped-off "protest area" doesn't accomplish anything.
Ah-ha! I understand and can often support civil disobedience as a form of protest. Thats great. But the whole purpose of civil disobedence is to create attention thru disruption and by it very nature, policing and arrest. If that is what CM is about, then great, but then don't complain about police attention and arrest. You can't have it both ways.

Al

why're you so worried about being an inconvenience? cars are an inconvenience, not just to my time but to my health and safety, how many years earlier am I gonna die from all the exhaust fumes i've had to suck down from them? the reason I have no problem being a huge inconvenience to cars, is because more than noticing me or respecting me, they need to realize i will not move out of their way just because they layed out $40k on a car and no longer feel that they're down on the same level of society as I am,

all I keep hearing is we need to respect cars, and we need to be as little of an inconvenience to them as possible, but what I haven't heard in this entire three page arguement, is why anyone should respect anyone in a car, ambulances and firetrucks aside, maybe the icecream man, but that's pushing it

If CM is Civil disobedience, then what is rush hour? and why aren't those people being tackled and arrested and property impounded- even when they break a law that is in the books? I think what 10times asked is right on and may I add one more bit, ever noticed how a cager acts, when they realize you are not afraid of them? That freaks them out, and I think that is another facet of the kneejerk anti CM reaction, I don't need a car and I am not going to get out of your way.

why're you so worried about being an inconvenience? cars are an inconvenience, not just to my time but to my health and safety, how many years earlier am I gonna die from all the exhaust fumes i've had to suck down from them? the reason I have no problem being a huge inconvenience to cars, is because more than noticing me or respecting me, they need to realize i will not move out of their way just because they layed out $40k on a car and no longer feel that they're down on the same level of society as I am,

all I keep hearing is we need to respect cars, and we need to be as little of an inconvenience to them as possible, but what I haven't heard in this entire three page arguement, is why anyone should respect anyone in a car, ambulances and firetrucks aside, maybe the icecream man, but that's pushing it
Unfortunately cars are not just a convienience, but a neccessity in todays infrastructure. Some folks are lucky (but most don't know it) and could cycle or take public transport everywhere, but there are probably more people that rely on a car, not because of a defect of their own, but as a requirement to live their life, have a job, get food, etc. Unless there is a sudden mass shake up of infrastructure (i.e everything torn down and rebuilt) there is no way that all of current society can live without a car.

Exhaust fumes are a problem for everyone, even drivers themselves, but they don't think about it. That is a technological problem whos only solution is not bicycles.

Most drivers do respect bicycles. The vast majority have no issue slowing, moving around you. But of course it is the few bad that get noticed.

I don't cycle to inconvienence drivers as little as possible. I cycle in a way to make it as safe as possible for me and secondarily, if there are things I can do to make things less inconvienient for a driver I will (for example, wait on the left side of a lane so right turners can pass, merge to the right side of lane when there is a wide lane to let cars behind me pass). These little things do get noticed by drivers and I in fact get thanks for them on occasion.

I do respect drivers, they are human and just because they are in a car does not diminish that. Yes, some driving/cars can bring out bad behavior in some individuals, but this is not universal. Again, most people have good intentions. Disrepecting all drivers because of the few bad ones is no different than disrepecting all cyclists because some club riders blow red lights or some groups ride in a mass and clog major traffic arteries.

Al

why're you so worried about being an inconvenience? cars are an inconvenience, not just to my time but to my health and safety, how many years earlier am I gonna die from all the exhaust fumes i've had to suck down from them? the reason I have no problem being a huge inconvenience to cars, is because more than noticing me or respecting me, they need to realize i will not move out of their way just because they layed out $40k on a car and no longer feel that they're down on the same level of society as I am,

I'm not so worried. I guess the difference is that I don't go out of my way trying to inconvenience others. There is no question that I inconvenience other road users. It's pretty much unavoidable. The difference is that my primary goal is getting to my destination, not pissing everyone (you know what I mean) off. For example, most cars usually restrain themselves to using a single lane. They have the physical ability to swerve all over the road and ride between lanes, but they don't do that because the only thing that accomplishes is pissing everyone off. Similarly I ride as safely and predictably as is reasonable without riding like a jackass. Inevitably, as I said, I do inconvenience people.

10timesbetter, here is a reason to respect cars, only a few of the car drives have been mean to you, on the whole, not all car drivers are evil people that want to run you down, I have had many car drivers here in Pittsburgh (as you have reported you are from here) wave me on, when I am taking a left hand turn, for them it would have been faster (and I would not have thought less of them) for them just going. There are civil drivers out there, just as there are a**hole bikers out there. I would go so far as to say that the % of a**hole drivers is probably less then the % of a**hole bikers. And I don't think that the car drivers are freaking out because you are not afread of them, I never show fear do a car driver and they don't freak out, they only freak out since there are so many people aming to delay them, and most people have learned (via the media) that mobbes of people can turn violent and riot. I am not saying CM has ever done that, but when ever a mob is usally on the news it is from a riot, I would be afread of a mob, and the car drivers might see CM as a mob, a mob on bikes, I don't blame them of being afread. Also I would say here are a few very good reasons to treat drivers with respect. First they are human like you and me, therefor they deserve the respect any human deserves. Second "Do onto others as you have them do onto you" this does not say if some one mistreates you to return the favore it says be kind and treat other people they way you would love to be treated.

Here in Los Angeles most drivers are OK, and more are outright nice than nasty. A few years ago I bothered to keep track of things. It turned out I actually had more trouble because of drivers that were trying to be nice than ones trying to be nasty. (E.g. a driver who will wait and let you in when you are turning right onto a busy multilane street who is unaware that you want to make the next left and desire to wait for a good break rather than fight your way through 3 lanes, the same decision you might make driving a car).

I guess that might be a good thing about CM. If it keeps up I won't have to deal with drivers trying to be nice.

Taking lanes, snarling traffic, and creating attention are crucial to what Critical Mass is. It is issue expansion, a vital step in bringing about policy change. Riding meekly on the side of the road bothers no one, and generates no media attention. The point of the ride is not to make motorist happy, but to bring the issue into the public forum. Civil disobediance be definition breaks some laws. Holding placards in an unpopulated, roped-off "protest area" doesn't accomplish anything.

There has been a CM here in Seattle for almost 20 years. None of what CM has done in this town has had ANY positive impact on bicycle rights. However the organizations that are filled with riders who meekly ride by the rules have got us more rights.

CM by admission has no leadership therefore no ability to go to public meetings, council meetings, or bike advocacy rallies. This is were changes have been happening. You get more done working with people than you do pissing them off.

You get more done working with people than you do pissing them off.
Well said. Two way dialog is essential to reach any kind of understanding. Understanding is needed to make progress.

Al

Unfortunately cars are not just a convienience, but a neccessity in todays infrastructure. Some folks are lucky (but most don't know it) and could cycle or take public transport everywhere, but there are probably more people that rely on a car, not because of a defect of their own, but as a requirement to live their life, have a job, get food, etc.

nobody needs a car, the issue here is that people set the goal of their life to make money and move to the suburbs because they feel safer around white people, this makes biking less convenient, but my parents live in a huge suburb and I still ride my bike around there, cars don't know what to think of it, because they don't see bikes on those roads, but it is by no means required, and as far as a job, I just turned down a job from a company that would've payed for my last year of college, but i would've had to buy a car, so don't say "a neccessity in todays infrestructure", say "some people think they need cars because they'd rather be fat and lazy in the suburbs", as I said before, I move out of the way for ambulances and firetrucks, I have more respect for busses than cars, and I would never step foot in a taxi. There's a much bigger issue here than people are bringing up. 40,000 people dying from car accidents, and huge holes in the ozone layer combined with pollution, and then people are acting like they don't understand how so many people are getting cancer, not to mention asthma, so tell me car drivers are human as much as you want, but I don't have respect for people who are willing to hurt other people just for their convenience, becuase I know you can do just about anything on a bicycle, because i've seen it done, bikes with kids seats, bikes with trailers, and kids riding bikes across the entire continent, how is a car a necessity when it's possible to ride a bike across the country?? no one needs a car, they just want them. and, I do all my food shopping by bike, maybe a rare occasion i'll take the bus, but still no car

nobody needs a car, the issue here is that people set the goal of their life to make money and move to the suburbs because they feel safer around white people, this makes biking less convenient, but my parents live in a huge suburb and I still ride my bike around there, cars don't know what to think of it, because they don't see bikes on those roads, but it is by no means required, and as far as a job, I just turned down a job from a company that would've payed for my last year of college, but i would've had to buy a car, so don't say "a neccessity in todays infrestructure", say "some people think they need cars because they'd rather be fat and lazy in the suburbs", as I said before, I move out of the way for ambulances and firetrucks, I have more respect for busses than cars, and I would never step foot in a taxi. There's a much bigger issue here than people are bringing up. 40,000 people dying from car accidents, and huge holes in the ozone layer combined with pollution, and then people are acting like they don't understand how so many people are getting cancer, not to mention asthma, so tell me car drivers are human as much as you want, but I don't have respect for people who are willing to hurt other people just for their convenience, becuase I know you can do just about anything on a bicycle, because i've seen it done, bikes with kids seats, bikes with trailers, and kids riding bikes across the entire continent, how is a car a necessity when it's possible to ride a bike across the country?? no one needs a car, they just want them. and, I do all my food shopping by bike, maybe a rare occasion i'll take the bus, but still no car

Ok, some people do need cars. I'm not one of them, nor do I own a car. Perhaps most people don't need them, but some do. For example, if you own a landscaping business, I'd like to see you operate it via bike and public transportation.

Same here about those invisible clubs making a difference. At one point there was a Bike Co-ordinator in Los Angeles. I met him at a local club function. The result was at least 1 and perhaps more hazardous situations that were fixed. I only count 1 for sure because it was done quickly. I can remember 2 others that had existed for years and also got fixed, but those took more time and may not have been a direct result.

nobody needs a car, the issue here is that people set the goal of their life to make money and move to the suburbs because they feel safer around white people, this makes biking less convenient, but my parents live in a huge suburb and I still ride my bike around there, cars don't know what to think of it, because they don't see bikes on those roads, but it is by no means required, and as far as a job, I just turned down a job from a company that would've payed for my last year of college, but i would've had to buy a car, so don't say "a neccessity in todays infrestructure", say "some people think they need cars because they'd rather be fat and lazy in the suburbs", as I said before, I move out of the way for ambulances and firetrucks, I have more respect for busses than cars, and I would never step foot in a taxi. There's a much bigger issue here than people are bringing up. 40,000 people dying from car accidents, and huge holes in the ozone layer combined with pollution, and then people are acting like they don't understand how so many people are getting cancer, not to mention asthma, so tell me car drivers are human as much as you want, but I don't have respect for people who are willing to hurt other people just for their convenience, becuase I know you can do just about anything on a bicycle, because i've seen it done, bikes with kids seats, bikes with trailers, and kids riding bikes across the entire continent, how is a car a necessity when it's possible to ride a bike across the country?? no one needs a car, they just want them. and, I do all my food shopping by bike, maybe a rare occasion i'll take the bus, but still no car
You must be quite privileged to live in an dense area so close to your work where you don't need a car and privileged to be able to turn down a job. Get a grip and look at the whole coutry and the infrastructure of transportation, where businesses are vs. residence and realize that for many cars are needed. Could everyone that now lives where they must drive to work move to where you and others live. No. That would take gross infrastructure change.
I could live without a car, I live in city-suburbs and commute by bike every day - in fact I commute away from a downtown area to a more rural area. My wife works for a nonprofit environmental company and takes the bus for the 20mile commute to get to downtown, if she misses one of the three morning or two afternoon busses she must drive or I need to drive to pick her up. It is not possible for her to bike commute this distance. What about my wifes co-worker who due to monentary reasons must live 30mi from work for affordable housing and public transport takes 1.5hr each way due to changing busses and she must go to a dr. several times a week from work for medial care. She now drives as she could not afford the 3hrs aways from her kids and could not rely on the bus (or more commonly co-workers) to get to the dr. reliably without missing to many work hours.
Oh, I use a taxi or my wife drives me to get to the airport several times a month. Please tell me how I could otherwise get to the airport? Please tell me how I can build and remodel my house without using motorized transport. How do I get my furniture to my house? Or should I just live in a dirt hole?

Al

dirthole? you chose where you live, some people, due to a lack of money have to live in low income areas, but low income areas are usually based in an urban center, which is usually more bike friendly. as far as me being priveledged, I'm a 21 year old kid working for 7.25 an hour, paying my own rent and school, my choice in turning down a job came from me saying "I'm not willing to do that, I'll find another job", not to mention i'm going to school for social work, so it's not even like I have a future plan of making $30 an hour to pay school loans back.

The idea of suburbs came specifically from people wanting to move further and further away fro the urban areas where they worked, so the choice to segregate themselves from a tight knit community was a choice based on the convenience of being able to afford long distance transportation, at the unfortunate cost of everyone elses health, the condition of the earth, plus all the ****, we go through for oil.

Point taken about a landscaping business and moving furniture from house to house, I don't have a problem with construction vehicles or moving trucks, or even semi's for that matter, but buying a car solely based on convenience of transportation is not needed, and i'm being nice in giving that one to you, because no one is forced to go into landscaping, that again is the choice people make. people defending their suv's by saying they have kids and have to transport stuff isn't ever gonna phase me, suv's have only been popular for a few years now, do they expect me to believe the world didn't exist before everyone had giant cars? if you want a fancy car, a house in the suburbs, and whatever else you wanna spend your money on, don't try to give me a hard time because I choose to live simply enough that no one else has to suffer

Once a month, Twelve times a year.

Whereas (I ride everyday,) everyday I am delayed and actually threatened by cars on the roads.

What do we owe these people who are so flippant with our lives? We must step on toes to be noticed, we must flex our collective muscle to be recognized as a force. I am not sure what you mean by everyone either, not everyone is against CM in NYC, they cheer us on, cars and Peds, alike. And not EVERYONE even notices us with the traffic jams that are already in full swing on Friday nights.

What do we owe these car drivers and what will asking nicely do to deter selfish and dangerous behavior when killing peds and bikers does not even warrant a ticket?

Exactly!.......

And after todays bike ride to the medical clinic (8 miles RT) I am even more motivated to attend this Fridays SF CM. What a bunch of *****holes behind the wheel. I ride vehicurly(sp), but these idiots speeding, talking on cell phones, failing to yield when making right turns, are pissing me off. I want to fight back. I want to piss them off, and good. At least once a month I want to have the upper hand. I want to be with lots of bicycles, not be the lone oddball on the road. CM in SF has been going on for 13 years, every month. Long live Critical Mass.

And I drive too. Mostly to take my bike to some bike rally and century ride far away. And I notice the same bad behaviour while in my car. Speeding, unsafe overtaking and passing, etc.

dirthole? you chose where you live, some people,
Misunderstanding. I wasn't at all saying or implying that a low income area is a dirthole, I was saying that if I didn't use motorized tranport I (or a contractor) couldn't even build a house, so I would need to live in a dirt hole (i.e. something I built myself, yes if I lived near a forrest I could cut trees and uses horses to haul them to my hole and build a cabin...) But where I live my best bet would be to build a nice cool dirt/rock house.

Al

10timesbetter, it must be nice to still be an idealistic collage student with no idea on how life is lived. I also live close to work, but I pay over $700 to live in a 1 bedroom apt, if I was to move out of the city I would not even pay $200 for the same size place, plus I would save almost $100 a month on taxes (you have got to love higher city taxes, 3x greater then the suburbs). there are people that are out there, that need to save money, yes cars cost money (car payment insurance but a cheap car with ok insurance probably will take you to about $400 a month, assuming $150 car payment, $100 insurance payment, $100 gas a month, and the other $50 is possibly year repair cost spread over the 12 months and oil cost, I could be wrong on these numbers, and I am thinking a cheap rock bottom cheap car) but they probably cost less then what can save, not every one has it as well as we (I don't have any dependents, so all my money is spent on me, yes very selfish but) you make choice based on money situation. and 10timesbetter think about it this way, you are one of the lucky few (so am I) that can and can afford to live so close to work, and don't have to worry about getting a better job (I myself have turned down 3 offers in the last 3 months, not because of some higher principal, but because I do not want to leave Pittsburgh, and I am very very happy at my current job, it would take one heck of an offer for me to think about it)

I live with out a car because I CAN afford to, not every one can afford to live with out a car, I know that sounds odd, but it is true, not every one can say, I live close to everything I need (and want) to do.

but low income areas are usually based in an urban center,

... the choice to segregate themselves from a tight knit community was a choice based on the convenience of being able to afford long distance transportation, at the unfortunate cost of everyone elses health, the condition of the earth, plus all the ****, we go through for oil.

...because no one is forced to go into landscaping, that again is the choice people make. ..

try to give me a hard time because I choose to live simply enough that no one else has to suffer
The lowest cost housing I know of it far outside the city, beyond the suburbs where you can get a new house on a lot for $35-40k. New houses in the leapfrog suburbs can be had for $80k. Old houses in the downtown area go for $200k+
The infrastructure of suburbs in not an individual choice, it is how urban areas have evolved with cars, you can't blame an individual today for choosing to live outside a downtown area because it is lower cost in total. This is what I meant by gross infrastructure change, to design a city that is in fact a dense walking/biking city with no cars. Too late now, except in concept and as it only exists to much older cities like NY, etc.

As to being forced into landscaping... There are many businesses beyond landscaping that require use of motorized vehicle. Are you saying that only the morally weak choose such jobs? What if the choice is between being a taxi driver vs. not getting food on the table?

To be clear, I would love it if there were no cars, but I am also being realistic and practical and know that a change toward this does not get started by hating cars and blocking them from driving, slashing tires.

Al

....as far as me being priveledged, I'm a 21 year old kid working for 7.25 an hour, paying my own rent and school, my choice in turning down a job came from me saying "I'm not willing to do that, I'll find another job", not to mention i'm going to school for social work, so it's not even like I have a future plan of making $30 an hour to pay school loans back.
Actually that is quite a nice situation. A job, education, choices in what to do in life. Can you imagine if you had to search to find affordable housing, had to feed you family, had to get a job or two and the only choices were 20mi away. A $1000 used car makes this possible to juggle all this stuff.

Al

I imagine that most motorists who are "inconvenienced" by a CM ride understand that it is a protest and a media event. I'm sure they realize that this is not typical cycling behavior, and they don't seem to hold it against all cyclists. If anything, they are probably amused and entertained for a couple minutes on their dreary commute home.

recursive, I'm sure that "cowering in the gutter" does not describe your riding style, but it is all too common in the real world, and you even get whiffs of it on this forum. In fact, gutter riding would be a leap forward for the majority of cyclists in my area, who ride on the sidewalks. When they see me alone riding in the lane, they probably go, "Look at that nut. He's going to get killed. And they will probably never be exposed to an EC course because EC advocates have been doing a very poor job of outreach to sidewalk cyclists. They have however heard about Critical Mass or seen CM rides. That's because CM goes to extreme lengths to make vehicular cycling visible and audible to everybody. Maybe CM's greaest acheivement is not preaching Peak Oil to the motorists, but that they have shown cowering bikeriders how to become proud cyclists. I know that I never heard of EC until I started lurking in this forum, but I've been hearing about CM for years.

There has been a CM here in Seattle for almost 20 years. None of what CM has done in this town has had ANY positive impact on bicycle rights. However the organizations that are filled with riders who meekly ride by the rules have got us more rights.

CM by admission has no leadership therefore no ability to go to public meetings, council meetings, or bike advocacy rallies. This is were changes have been happening. You get more done working with people than you do pissing them off.

There are many steps to getting policy changed. Public input at council meetings and such is just one such step. Policy was never changed just by a few people standing up and speaking in public meetings. Unless there is a general feeling in the community that change is needed (or lots of $ involved), elected officials have no incentive to act. CMs brings the issue to a larger audience. CM's anger the a portion of the public. The more anger, the larger the media coverage, the more awareness there is of the problem. CM's, public and private advocacy, elections and lobbying are all part of the same effort. To claim that CM's have had no positive influence simply because there are no leaders to bargain with officials ignores an important step in policy change. The people who first sat down in lunch counters in Greensboro and refused to leave in the 60's inconvienienced hungry would-be lunchers, and indeed, a very large portion of the entire country. They didn't have leaders that calmly reasoned with council members at meetings. They were there simply to get attention for thier issue.

noisebeam - I don't ask for it both ways. I consider CMs to be real civil disobediance, and if you can't outrun them, you should accept arrest as a real risk.

There are many steps to getting policy changed. Public input at council meetings and such is just one such step. Policy was never changed just by a few people standing up and speaking in public meetings. Unless there is a general feeling in the community that change is needed (or lots of $ involved), elected officials have no incentive to act. CMs brings the issue to a larger audience. CM's anger the a portion of the public. The more anger, the larger the media coverage, the more awareness there is of the problem. CM's, public and private advocacy, elections and lobbying are all part of the same effort. To claim that CM's have had no positive influence simply because there are no leaders to bargain with officials ignores an important step in policy change. The people who first sat down in lunch counters in Greensboro and refused to leave in the 60's inconvienienced hungry would-be lunchers, and indeed, a very large portion of the entire country. They didn't have leaders that calmly reasoned with council members at meetings. They were there simply to get attention for thier issue.

noisebeam - I don't ask for it both ways. I consider CMs to be real civil disobediance, and if you can't outrun them, you should accept arrest as a real risk.

I again state CM'S activities have done NOTHING at all to improve bike riding in this area. Nothing they have been doing for 20 years has brought about any improvements or changes.

noisebeam - I don't ask for it both ways. I consider CMs to be real civil disobediance, and if you can't outrun them, you should accept arrest as a real risk.
That is great and good for you, but I often see forum posts and news articles about how unfair & bad the situation is because CM participants are being arrested just for being on a bike and all I can think is: 'well, isnt' that the point?' If the police didn't take interest, become involved (even if they sometimes push the boundaries, which actually is good for the CM cause) then the media wouldn't take notice it would all be less useful I'd say.

edit - I actually do not appreciate the image of cyclists as presented by CM and associated CD, but I do per my post above compliment your convictions. But I think this is the wrong way to go about it and utimately makes the roads less safe for those who ride them everyday. In AZ, CM has lowered the police perception of cyclists - I am sure that I will get less respect when riding by from a police officer who is aware of CM than one who isn't. As a solo commuter who follows all the road rules I want support from the police when need, not to be lumped into a category of disrespectful cyclists.

Al

dwightonabike, I would argue that the media coverage of CM is bad, I could see a politician running and have on his platform to get ride of bikers, and use CM as an example of the harm that bikers can do, and by doing CM you could only help to get policy passed that is against bikers. I don't think any one is every going to say, they people are annoying me, I think I will vote to help them, no people will vote against those that annoy them as CM's main goal seams to be.

Maybe you will accept arrest, but when I see people talk about critical mass, they talk about how their 1st amendment right are violated when they get arrested for breaking the law, oh no they are not trying to deny you your rights, if you were doing sidewalk protesting (I have done this on other issues) the police will not arrest you, in fact I was at one (on a different political issue, a very hot button one at that), that the police came out to, because they got over 60 calls complaining against us but they did not arrest a single one of us, I was listing to them on my scanner, and they had some very mean things to say about us, and that they wish they could arrest us, but (line from the radio) "these people disgust us, but unfortunately they have the first amendment right to do it" notice the police did not like us doing that sidewalk (with out obstructing pedestrian traffic) but they did not harass us, nor did they arrest a single person.

Why would cyclists protest by marching on a sidewalk? It doesn't make sense to me. Also, I know that some of the people who ride in CM here also go to city council meetings, etc. You can certainly do both, or nothing if you prefer.