Advocacy & Safety - Worcester Critical MASS

Was a good ride today, pretty mellow. It was my first CM in Worcester and certainly not my last. We met up at Turtle Boy during a protest against Bank of America funding coal mining and then took to the streets. We met little opposition and stayed to one lane for the most part. A couple renegades blocked traffic on purpose a few times and once a bottle and some trash was thrown. Later, an irrate police officer ordered us to stick to one lane but other than that, we mostly got honks and waves. It was a good time and we rode for I think about 2 hours. If anyone on here is from Worcester, you should show up! They happen the last friday of every month and the riders meet up at Turtle Boy in the Common. There were a few fixed and single-speed riders including myself and a good mix of people and bikes. Next month will feature costumed riders, so come check it out.

Hey, I was riding the green Fuji fixed, showed up late just after the cops busted yo **** up. Mass in Worcester is weird, it's usually very friendly and nonconfrontational, today there was some... weird stuff going on. I didn't know there was anyone else who posted here from Worcester?

Hey, I was riding the green Fuji fixed, showed up late just after the cops busted yo **** up. Mass in Worcester is weird, it's usually very friendly and nonconfrontational, today there was some... weird stuff going on. I didn't know there was anyone else who posted here from Worcester?

Word! I was on the maroon Suteki fixed with the shamrock/skull shirt on. Yeah, the dude in the van throwing **** was pretty bizzare but other than that, i didn't notice anything too crazy.

Where in Worcester do you live? I'm up on Vernon hill but I'm moving to Highland street area next month.

There is critical mass in worcester? worcester+friendly=unpossible.

holy crap i cant believe this. i live in worcester and just got my 1st FG a month ago for my birthday ill definately try to come down sometime.

holy crap i cant believe this. i live in worcester and just got my 1st FG a month ago for my birthday ill definately try to come down sometime.

While your at it, come check out Earn-A-Bike too!
http://www.worcesterearnabike.org/

"We met up at Turtle Boy during a protest against Bank of America funding coal mining and then took to the streets. "


What do you have against coal miners?

Why don't you advocate for your crew of CM riders to follow the rules of the road?

What do you have against coal miners?
I've got nothing against coal miners. We met up DURING a protest that happened to be taking place in the same area as the usual CM meeting place.


Why don't you advocate for your crew of CM riders to follow the rules of the road?
It's not MY crew of CM riders. This was my first ride and I only knew a few people. I did make a few suggestions about safety/rules and they were well recieved.

I'm from Worcester - from about 15 years ago! Glad I'm not still there from this. I'm going to call my friend who used to manage Barneys - I hope he's not caught up in this BS.

Caught up in this BS? Seriously now, it wasn't much different than any other group ride. It's not like some of the other CM rides in bigger cities that end in violence and police action. No one got hurt, only a couple of motorists acted out (a few angry honks, one tossed plastic bottle and balled-up paper bag, and later the cop) and I think their problem was mostly bicycles travelling in the street , not jackassery. Personally, I think here in Worcester it should be called something other than Critical Mass since no one is out trying to incite rage or cause traffic jams which seems to be the norm in other places. Somehow, I knew it wouldn't be long before people hopped in and started with the snide remarks without having been there.

I knew many of the folks from massachusetts were against oil, nuclear power and wind power; now we find out they are also against coal mining. Is anti-solar power next?

I think these people were against the coal industry blowing up mountaintops and Bank of America financing the projects. Personally, I know nothing about the matter and I have no stance on the issue. That said, I think it's less about coal mining per se and more about paying for mountains to be blown up. Again, I don't know the details.

For the record, the anti-wind power people are a handful of prime real estate owners of Nantucket who don't want their scenic view ruined (the project would be barely visible with the naked eye on a clear day, by design). The biggest opponents are the Kennedys who have a multi-million dollar compound that overlooks an area where the wind farm would be in view.

Anti nuclear power? Don't have the slightest. I can't think of anyone who does.

None of these issues had anything to do with the CM ride or this thread. Like I said, it just so happens that the protest was taking place and it seemed like something that someone might have driven past or heard about to give a point of reference.

This:

A couple renegades blocked traffic on purpose a few times...

Begat this:

Later, an irrate police officer ordered us to stick to one lane...

And that was deserved.

I agree. Those people luckily curbed their idiocy early in the ride and didn't ruin it for everyone else.

man i miss the worcester cm rides.
you'll alway have a couple fools blocking traffic,
but with smaller rides, marshalling is a bit easier.
what time are you guys meeting these days?
i hope the clark u and wpi riders are still showing up.