Advocacy & Safety - Critical mass rides

Hi,

Just wondering - has anybody here participated in a Critical mass ride ?

They have them here but I have never been in one. Just wondered if it something people here agree with or actually, if you have participated in one, what they are like ?

I have read negatives and positives about them - particularly in regards to angry motorists who end up being blocked by the cyclists taking over the streets.

Justen

Personally I disagree with them totally, and my reasoning has nothing to do with whether or not it makes motorists angry. I just don't see how the help our cause at all.

Originally posted by Justen

Just wondering - has anybody here participated in a Critical mass ride ?


I have not participated in any Critical Mass events but I have participated in Critical Mass-like events. These were rides that were organised either in conjunction or with permission and support of the municipality. All cyclists were required to follow the laws of the road pertaining to bicycles or were only allowed to deviate with expressed consent of the traffic officers (ie. riding in groups of more than two abreast on closed off streets). I feel that events like these do much more to serve the cause of the cycling community than the semi-anarchy which is what becomes of most Critical Mass events I've witnessed. I think the aim for the cycling community is to promote integration of cycling into everyone's lives. And since most people like to live in a society of law and order, it behoves us to attain proper cooperation within the context of those laws.

Originally posted by khuon
I have not participated in any Critical Mass events but I have participated in Critical Mass-like events. These were rides that were organised either in conjunction or with permission and support of the municipality. All cyclists were required to follow the laws of the road pertaining to bicycles or were only allowed to deviate with expressed consent of the traffic officers (ie. riding in groups of more than two abreast on closed off streets).

The type of events you describe differ from critical mass in one very important aspect. These events are about fun, they are about getting people out to ride and enjoy the experience. This is totally different from the confrontational mentality that is critical mass. In short, these events will encourage people to ride more, critical mass won't do this.

I never thought about Critical Mass much until I went to the Bike Show about a month ago. They had a booth, so I went over to see what they were about. When I got there, this guy starts telling me they're working on a petition (or something like that) to depave Lake Shore Drive (a major highway that runs along the lakefront). The idea was so ludicrous that I had to have him explain it to me like 4 times before I understood exactly what they were talking about. Once I got it, I just looked at them crazy, then walked away without another word.

I don't know about the Critical Mass folks in your neck of the woods, but here, they just look like a bunch of 20 somethings with no job and not a lot to occupy their time. Not at all my scene, and in my opinion, a big disappointment.

Koff

Originally posted by Koffee Brown


I don't know about the Critical Mass folks in your neck of the woods, but here, they just look like a bunch of 20 somethings with no job and not a lot to occupy their time. Not at all my scene, and in my opinion, a big disappointment.

Koff

Hi Koffee,

Yeah..I have to say that upon looking at their website and a few others, I would be concerned about being associated with such a group. I mean, nude rides - come on- how is that going to cause motorists to respect cyclists ???

From what I saw of our local site - they do take over entire bridges and roads causing a great deal of frustration for motorists. How is that going to help us improve motorists view of us ?

Justen

In general, CM participants have not made the effort to master the fine art of political advocacy and negotiation. I share many of their objectives, such as opening bridge shoulders to bicycles, requiring traffic signal loop detectors to work for us, or selectively banning on-street parking to create sharably wide curb lanes, but their methods tend to be extremely counterproductive. In contrast, as the Rainman can attest after riding here last week, the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition has secured an impressive array of bicycle-friendly accommodations and concessions. At the state level, the head of the California Bicycle Coalition even convinced the new head of CalTrans ("Car Trance") to go cycling with him.

Be active, tenacious, visible, and vocal, but be tactful, legal, and respectful of others. In short, be an ambassador for bicycling.

However, they do serve the function of making all of the rest of us look reasonable--this is not without value.

I think I have to agree with Chris L ... even though I've never been to one, the idea of riding a bunch of bikes at night "to promote cycling" doesn't quite fly with me ... it may work with biking addicts, but not to those who oppose it. I mean, it won't convince anyone to do it.

CM reminds me of street races that we used to have around here. I've been to one before, and it's a lot like the CM description: a bunch of cars, following each other, messin up traffic ... and a few bonuses like having the cops chase em around a few times.

I would like to sidestep the Critical Mass issue, pro or con, for a moment.

I've always wondered what it would be like to ride in one of these. It might be loads of fun. I'd get to meet kazillions of cyclists of various sorts. It would be an adventure just to find out what it's like. And if it ever turned out to be a bummer, I could turn off somewhere and head home!

(I will, someday, for the fun of it.)

:beer:

I've been on a couple cm rides in Pittsburgh, and think its a great thing... Its nice to see such a mixed group of people getting together to ride, and show that there is a desire for a more bike friendly city.
That being said, I do agree that there are some problems with CM, mainly keeping the scope of the ride on bicycling issues. I heard too many 'no more war' shouts during the ride. This is not productive towards bike awareness. I'm sure many people saw the riders and heard the shouts and figured it was an anti war ride.
As long as the rides stays 'on topic', I am in support of CM.

I think I would like to go at least once, to see what it's like. Like Pete Clark said, it might be fun. I wanna see one before I start criticizing it.

Think about it this way. You are not a cyclist. You are in your car trying to get to an important appointment. 100 "cyclists" block the entire road yelling about whatever "issue" they have at that time. Are you going to sit there and think "Gee. I'd like to become a cyclist!" Or something like "These @#*&$%@ a-holes!!! ARRGH!" ???????? I feel that CM rides do more damage to our public perception than to improve it.

Good point ...

Originally posted by txroadie
Think about it this way. You are not a cyclist. You are in your car trying to get to an important appointment. 100 "cyclists" block the entire road yelling about whatever "issue" they have at that time. Are you going to sit there and think "Gee. I'd like to become a cyclist!" Or something like "These @#*&$%@ a-holes!!! ARRGH!" ???????? I feel that CM rides do more damage to our public perception than to improve it.
I'm still going to try it.

It's the animal in me.

:D

It can be a lot of fun. The last ride I went on put a smile on my face when one of the guys had a boombox strapped to his bike playing Queen's - "Bicycle Race". Just make sure you cut out if police start surrounding the ride and threatening arrests.:(

REALLY reminds me of the street races now ...

Originally posted by txroadie
Think about it this way. You are not a cyclist. You are in your car trying to get to an important appointment. 100 "cyclists" block the entire road yelling about whatever "issue" they have at that time. Are you going to sit there and think "Gee. I'd like to become a cyclist!" Or something like "These @#*&$%@ a-holes!!! ARRGH!" ???????? I feel that CM rides do more damage to our public perception than to improve it.

Except for the political BS attached to Critical Mass rides, this description could be Seattle to Portland, any century ride, USCF race, or round-state ride. We are all Critical Mass riders except for trackies who never train on the road and mountain bike riders whose wheels never touch asphalt.

Originally posted by oscaregg
Except for the political BS attached to Critical Mass rides, this description could be Seattle to Portland, any century ride, USCF race, or round-state ride.

There's a big difference between those rides and most CM rides. Those rides have rules which stipulate that you must follow the rules of the road as it pertains to cycling. In some rides such as the STP, full participation and cooperation is given by the law enforcement officials by several municipalities. Because of these subtle but important differences, I would not equate organised and sanctioned cycling events with CM rides.

Originally posted by Justen
. I mean, nude rides - come on- how is that going to cause motorists to respect cyclists ???

Although not part of the critical mass (I am anti) but we have an anual parade here in the Fremont Neighborhood that is sort of a fringe street fair and it includes a group of nude riders very entertaining the Police let them get aweay with it for awhil;e but now the whole show is the crowd cheering on the cyclists as the police try to rpund them up. The crowd (most of them drivers) really like the show. hat parade is one of the few events in town trhat has managed to hold on to its quirkyness most have become so homoginized ovewr hte years iti s hard to tell one neighborhood fair from the other. On a lrgal note there is a law suit pending to stop the police from arresting any one as they read the law it is only illegal to be nude if it is for sexual or perverted (exposure) ourposes should be interesting to see how it comes out.

Originally posted by khuon
There's a big difference between those rides and most CM rides. Those rides have rules which stipulate that you must follow the rules of the road as it pertains to cycling. In some rides such as the STP, full participation and cooperation is given by the law enforcement officials by several municipalities. Because of these subtle but important differences, I would not equate organised and sanctioned cycling events with CM rides.
I beg to differ--to most drivers, as opposed to people, a bunch of bikes on the road is a bunch of bikes on the road. This difference may matter within the community of cyclists, but I really think the subtlety is lost on drivers.

Originally posted by oscaregg
I beg to differ--to most drivers, as opposed to people, a bunch of bikes on the road is a bunch of bikes on the road. This difference may matter within the community of cyclists, but I really think the subtlety is lost on drivers.

I also beg to differ. When you as a cyclist have a police escort and traffic officers controlling automobiles for your benefit during your ride as opposed to swarming around you with riot shield, clubs, tear gas and zip-tie cuffs, there's a big difference in the public perception of what is and isn't acceptable cycling.

Originally posted by ngateguy
...we have an anual parade here in the Fremont Neighborhood that is sort of a fringe street fair and it includes a group of nude riders ...
See, I miss everything!

Here's some typical local massers I know:

Kevin, who has opened up a bike shop specializing in low-cost bikes for commuting cyclists.
Larry, a lawyer, who often defends cyclists involved in accidents, etc., and does pro bono work.
Chris W., who volunteers in youth earn-a-bike-programs and also teaches bike maintenance classes.
Another Chris who runs a bike shop that frequently donates bikes for local non-profit fundraising (such as the local NPR station and the local bicycle advocacy organization.)
Josh, who opened the Handlebar Bar and Grill, a bicycle friendly restaurant.
Gin, who organizes Safe-Routes-to-School programs.
Alex, who works for a bicycle advocacy group working at building bike clubs at local schools.
Jane and Val, mothers who take their children everywhere on their bikes, and are active in their local communities.
John, who is involved in the City's bike rack program, helping to work with local neighborhoods, determining where new racks get placed.

I feel glad to know these people. As a computer consultant, I sometimes let the daily grind of work take over my life. But each time I show up to a local Chicago Critical Mass workshop or special event or ride, I am reminded of the value of volunteering and also of the value of helping others through one's work. I cannot speak of any masses elsewhere in the world, but I find value in the local experience.

although i haven't been in almost a decade, i used to attend the san francisco critical masses fairly regularly. they are indeed a whole lot of fun. there's something empowering about being with that many other cyclists. the important thing to remember is that, technically, critical mass has no agenda and no leader : it's just a bunch of people showing up at the same time to go for a bike ride.

when you look at it in the light, you realize that critical mass can be what you make it.

Originally posted by ViciousCycle
Here's some typical local massers I know:

Kevin, who has opened up a bike shop specializing in low-cost bikes for commuting cyclists.
Larry, a lawyer, who often defends cyclists involved in accidents, etc., and does pro bono work.
Chris W., who volunteers in youth earn-a-bike-programs and also teaches bike maintenance classes.
Another Chris who runs a bike shop that frequently donates bikes for local non-profit fundraising (such as the local NPR station and the local bicycle advocacy organization.)
Josh, who opened the Handlebar Bar and Grill, a bicycle friendly restaurant.
Gin, who organizes Safe-Routes-to-School programs.
Alex, who works for a bicycle advocacy group working at building bike clubs at local schools.
Jane and Val, mothers who take their children everywhere on their bikes, and are active in their local communities.
John, who is involved in the City's bike rack program, helping to work with local neighborhoods, determining where new racks get placed.

I feel glad to know these people. As a computer consultant, I sometimes let the daily grind of work take over my life. But each time I show up to a local Chicago Critical Mass workshop or special event or ride, I am reminded of the value of volunteering and also of the value of helping others through one's work. I cannot speak of any masses elsewhere in the world, but I find value in the local experience.

Hate the sin, not the sinner. I'm sure many of the people who turn up to critical mass rides are wonderful people who are kind to animals, help old ladies across the street etc etc. This is not my issue with critical mass. My issue with CM is that the act itself does nothing to advance the cause of cycling. End of story. Yes, I know it gets biased media coverage and whatever else, but these are factors we simply have to live with.

This does not detract from the volunteering work that these people do, it simply suggests that one particular act (CM) is worthless.