General Cycling Discussion - critical mass / community rides

I have never participated in one of these. From some youtube videos, it seems that there is a tendency in some cases for cyclists to stray toward the left, to not keep right for the sake of faster traffic, and in some shots it appears that motorists are being deliberately blocked. Is this supposed to be a kind of protest? I think the rides are intended to demonstrate the viability and indeed existence of cycling as a mode of transport. I think it would be better if the cyclists were scrupulously following the traffic laws. A long string of cyclists obeying the traffic laws might convince more people and avoid attracting the attention of the police. To behave in a noisy and anarchical way invites legislation etc. In one youtube video the police showed up and handed a list of citations to some cyclists, just to indicate to them how many infractions had been incurred. The cyclists didn't seem to take it very seriously.

Bicyclists are legally allowed to ride two abreast in my state, Indiana. But if it is safe to do so I agree that cyclists should merge into single file and minimize the disruption of traffic flow.

If it is unsafe for the car to pass you had better take the lane and minimize temptation for the motorist to try and make it anyway. A Saturday group ride I participate in goes for a short distance on a busy road. Since we know it is downhill and we are going for a short distance, we take the lane, since we legally can and ride quickly. There are two windy curves in this short distance that are not very far apart and we are much safer exercising our legal rights and taking the lane.

Yes, I didn't mean two abreast though. I mean five-ten abreast, and actually blocking cars literally. I saw one clip of two cyclists in the left lane blocking a car. Actually it was a bad scene. The car for some reason had come over the cement or something, and the cyclists just stayed where they were. Eventually the car ran over a cyclist a little bit, injuring his foot or something. I'm not happy about the car driver, but the law is that the cyclist must merge right to make way for faster traffic. Then there are community ride clips of cars not being able to make any headway at all.

I think a good demonstration ride would be: have as many cyclists as possible come out during a certain hour, to ride as many streets as they can fill comfortably, perhaps circling around. Maybe a ten-block route, or twenty. Just go along, obeying the traffic rules. Part of the problem is that cars often encounter maybe one or two cyclists. This way they'd have a steady stream to contend with. If this could be done weekly, it might encourage people to cycle more. I think a lot of people think it is too difficult, or that the roads aren't for them. Millions of bicycles just sit in garages. But it can't be something that attracts the attention of police. Lots of noise-making, dancing around in the street, congregating in the hundreds somewhere, is unusual. Instead, an understanding that the streets will be filled during a certain hour, but lawfully filled, could do some good.

Another thought: if it becomes a parade, then it seems to motorists and police like a one-off, even if monthly. It's just bicyclists being dorky once a month. But if the cyclists are spread out in a rational way, just as if they were cycling for transport purposes, then it would send the message that hey, this is normal. This is good. We're no trouble at all. We're getting exercise. We're getting everything done. Etc.

Yes, critical mass rides are meant to block motorists and to be as annoying and rude as humanly possible to anyone who does not ride a bicycle. They love it when fights break out, and when the police arrive on the scene because then they can play the martyrs. They are trying to make a point about cycling being a viable method of transportation (or something) but that point does not come across in any way at all. Instead what comes across is that cyclists are obnoxious jerks.

I agree with you 100% that if those who participate in critical mass rides really did want to make a point, they should meticulously follow the law during their rides, and they should be extremely polite and friendly to those who are not riding their bicycles. In that way, drivers might look at cyclists in a positive way and be more inclined to share the road. Those not riding their bicycles might also be intrigued by this group of well-mannered cyclists who look like they are having fun while not disturbing anyone ... and might be inclined to dig their bicycles out and go for a ride. :)

We need a baseball bad and a horse. Preferably dead.

Cyclists have a right to the road within limits of the law.
Share the road, don't hog it!

Yes, critical mass rides are meant to block motorists and to be as annoying and rude as humanly possible to anyone who does not ride a bicycle. They love it when fights break out, and when the police arrive on the scene because then they can play the martyrs. They are trying to make a point about cycling being a viable method of transportation (or something) but that point does not come across in any way at all. Instead what comes across is that cyclists are obnoxious jerks.

I agree with you 100% that if those who participate in critical mass rides really did want to make a point, they should meticulously follow the law during their rides, and they should be extremely polite and friendly to those who are not riding their bicycles. In that way, drivers might look at cyclists in a positive way and be more inclined to share the road. Those not riding their bicycles might also be intrigued by this group of well-mannered cyclists who look like they are having fun while not disturbing anyone ... and might be inclined to dig their bicycles out and go for a ride. :)

:beer: "Prost!"

Yes, critical mass rides are meant to block motorists and to be as annoying and rude as humanly possible to anyone who does not ride a bicycle. They love it when fights break out, and when the police arrive on the scene because then they can play the martyrs. They are trying to make a point about cycling being a viable method of transportation (or something) but that point does not come across in any way at all. Instead what comes across is that cyclists are obnoxious jerks.


Yes... we blocked some traffic today and I'm sure a few folks were annoyed but we aren't a rude bunch, tend to be pacifists, and have never had the police stop or have to intervene.

The cagers can have the roads for the other 29 or 30 days of the month but for a few hours every month we are gonna ride and make the point that we belong there too and have rights.

Just now I was reading "Divorce Your Car!", and on pp. 160-1 this very topic is mentioned. Some critical mass rides run lights to keep the group together. It is alleged by some that the rides have helped gain local government support for cycling.

Anyway, my opinion is that a more effective model than the one I've seen in youtube videos would be to have a longer string of bicycles, scrupulously obeying the traffic rules. Sticking together in one mass would be less important than filling a number of blocks for a period of time--filling it well so as to do nothing that could be criticized, except existing of course.

In some videos the cyclists actually head into traffic going the wrong way. Ridiculous!

Many blocks of competent cyclists would be a good and competent impression. A brief chunk of cyclists behaving oddly is merely an event to be questioned.

we belong there too and have rights.

But also responsibilities.

Anyway I can guess that the above poster is correct, that this issue has already been discussed quite a lot. As a newbie I wouldn't know that really.

I just think that many blocks-worth of competent cyclists would create a more valuable impression than a temporary 'bursting' of noisy, ill-mannered cyclists.

Here is the scene of a bizarrely-behaved motorist partly crushing a cyclist who didn't move out of the way. Obviously the motorist cannot be forgiven, but, the cyclist was very stubborn too.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R7b-Yk9IAN4

At minute 1:21 a cyclist physically blocks a car. The car driver will simply think that the cyclists are oddly-behaved and are special cases, not something to expect regularly.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kc9b80ROk8s

In this case, slowing down the road seems to be the objective.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jVQpWPfRfYA

At about 3:10, some cyclists find officers' concerns amusing.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qJju1CuGCDA

Anyway, I admit that I don't know what kind of advocacy is best.

I was really reluctant to join the CM rides here as they do receive a lot of bad press (that is warranted) because riders are behaving so badly but found them to be a great event.

Our rides are pretty civil affairs and you have to realize that many motorists don't even pay attention to the well mannered cyclists they pass every day until they almost run them over.

On several occasions I have come close to being run down on my way to the CM rides... today a couple of older ladies cut me off in an intersection and gave me a friendly wave to boot which means they saw me but decided I didn't have the right of way.

I felt responsible to get out in today's near freezing temperatures and join the local riding community in a peaceful demonstration to bring awareness to the non riding citizens of our city.

We slowed a few people down for a few minutes ona Friday afternoon... I don't feel bad about that at all.

It was a bad week for riding as although I didn't have any close calls I was harassed on quite a few occasions by pickup driving rednecks... one of them tried to hit me with some fast food containers but I'm a hard target.

In a perfect world things like critical mass rides would not exist and I would not have to deal with so many dinks.

Yes... we blocked some traffic today and I'm sure a few folks were annoyed but we aren't a rude bunch, tend to be pacifists, and have never had the police stop or have to intervene.

The cagers can have the roads for the other 29 or 30 days of the month but for a few hours every month we are gonna ride and make the point that we belong there too and have rights.


And what if there had been an emergency? Someone had died or someone's house burned down because you purposely created a traffic jam?

How do you think that bicycle you ride came to be? The home in which you live? The food you buy at the supermarket? Unless you are willing to chuck it all, move to the wilderness, with nothing (and I mean nothing, no clothes, knife, matches, food etc.), you better get used to the fact that the automobile is here to stay.

You are not pacifists as you claim to be. You are anarchists that incite violence in others. As Machka said, you stand a far better chance with a will mannered organized ride. Work with local authorities to bring change in laws, enforce existing laws and to add bike lanes. Instead you are going to make law makers, police and the public (including other cyclists) angry.

But also responsibilities.

Anyway I can guess that the above poster is correct, that this issue has already been discussed quite a lot. As a newbie I wouldn't know that really.

I just think that many blocks-worth of competent cyclists would create a more valuable impression than a temporary 'bursting' of noisy, ill-mannered cyclists.

:beer: "Bartender, another round over here!"

Absolutely spot-on!
By far, the best strategy would be to pick a few key blocks, then ride it for a set time, going up and down the street like a bunch of Dutch, German or Danish commuters. Obey all laws and be courteous to all drivers.

Do this for whatever length of time. Then go to another planned few blocks and do it again. Spread out the presence. Repeat monthly. Avoid the appearance of a protest and take on the appearance of normalcy. Isn't that what they want? To be accepted as part of normal traffic?

If Critical Mass were really a responsible organization, instead of a loose conglomeration of neo-anarchists, they'de have a lot more support.

And what if there had been an emergency? Someone had died or someone's house burned down because you purposely created a traffic jam?



Or less serious but still serious enough to the people involved ... what about all the commercial drivers you slowed down? My EX used to be a courier, and he HATED the critical mass rides because they blocked the downtown area which he had to get through to do his deliveries. He lost money every time there was a critical mass.

Critical mass rides don't slow down the people who can make the decision to ride to work ... they slow down the people who use their vehicles for work. Those who ride critical masses should stop and think of all the things they own (or are planning to buy) which are transported in some way by motorized vehicles ... right from the raw products these things are made from, to the manufacturing, to the stores, between the stores, etc. Critical masses slow down all of that ... and I wonder how many of the people who ride these things get home, or back to their place of employment, and get on the phone demanding to know why delivery of this or that is late.

And if the point of a critical mass is to get the people they hold up on the road to switch to a non-motorized transportation, I wonder how many would freak out if they heard that their new TV was being shipped from a warehouse on the east coast to their homes on the west coast by bicycle ... and would get to them in 2 months. :lol:

I don't know of a single driver who has anything positive to say about critical masses or cyclists in general after they have been held up by a critical mass. In fact, back in Winnipeg during the week or so following a critical mass, cycling to work was like taking your life into your hands because of all the angry drivers.

They don't work ... and I wish they would stop being held.

:beer: "Bartender, another round over here!"

Absolutely spot-on!
By far, the best strategy would be to pick a few key blocks, then ride it for a set time, going up and down the street like a bunch of Dutch, German or Danish commuters. Obey all laws and be courteous to all drivers.

Do this for whatever length of time. Then go to another planned few blocks and do it again. Spread out the presence. Repeat monthly. Avoid the appearance of a protest and take on the appearance of normalcy. Isn't that what they want? To be accepted as part of normal traffic?

I posted something similar to this that I read on a mailing list some time ago. Instead of riding in one big mass of riders that causes delays and doesn't move with any particular efficiency, a far better option would be to split up into smaller groups that could slide through the traffic unobtrusively, and yet could take over an entire city and be visible to thousands of motorists (if that's what they really want).

A friend of mine went on the critical mass ride in Brisbane some time ago. She told me that it basically involved sitting in a big group and going at the same speed as the rest of the traffic at the time: 8-11km/h. The point is that no motorist is going to see that and think there is any value in it. Any fool can sit in traffic all day, and they don't need to get out of their car to do it. A far better option would be to demonstrate the value of a bicycle in those situations, but this would require riding in smaller and more efficient groups.

One of the conclusions I've reached about "advocacy" groups, and it's particularly relevant to critical mass rides, is that most of the time, cycling is not their main motivation. Most of the people on the CM rides are just there to make a fuss and be seen to be "rebelling" against something -- although many of them don't seem to be entirely sure what it is. They seem to revel in the chaos of it all, and the possibility that they might get arrested. It seems to be more about "civil disobedience" than any attempt to advocate or promote the rights of cyclists. In other words, it's about a group of people getting together in a little self-congratulatory gathering and having a bit of fun, with the added element of "danger" or at least being arrested to spice things up.

Personally, I'd prefer that they found some other place to have their fun together. I could go on, but this (http://damianm.com/archive/2006/11/26/critical-mass.aspx) blog post sums it up better than I ever could.

Our CM rides are organized and the people are well mannered... this is why I like them.

When we cross the bridge we take up the whole thing and this might add a few minutes to people's commutes but it keeps folks safe as the bridge is two narrow lanes... itis not a route that is travelled by emergency vehicles as there is not enough clearance and because the north and south are served by different emergency services.

With that being said... I now need a bat and a dead horse.

Seattle CM blocked all 3 lanes of state highway from south of downtown all the way up to the ship canal last night, a distance of over 3 miles.

Screw the motorists. Bikes ARE traffic. Bicycle traffic jam? oh well, must suck to be a motorist in a traffic jam :D regardless of its cause, eh?

I'd very much like to see the drivers around here become accustomed to seeing bicycles on the road. They're usually quite thoughtful - but only when they know you are there. In some sense, there really is a "critical mass". That is, when enough people are riding, more people will be riding, and drivers will be expecting us. I do not believe Critical Mass is going to get us where I want us to be.

Our CM rides are organized and the people are well mannered... this is why I like them.

When we cross the bridge we take up the whole thing and this might add a few minutes to people's commutes but it keeps folks safe as the bridge is two narrow lanes... itis not a route that is travelled by emergency vehicles as there is not enough clearance and because the north and south are served by different emergency services.

With that being said... I now need a bat and a dead horse.

You are blocking peoples ability to go about their business, the ride may be "organized" in your definition but it certainly is not well mannered in any one's definition.

Not a route traveled by emergency vehicles? So you can see into the future and know where an emergency is going to occur?

I suggest you get you head out of the sixties and join the rest of us in the real world.

Here is the scene of a bizarrely-behaved motorist partly crushing a cyclist who didn't move out of the way. Obviously the motorist cannot be forgiven, but, the cyclist was very stubborn too.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R7b-Yk9IAN4
On most videos of CM I've seen, many of the CM bicyclists deserve to get hit.
If you have already seen that a car is driving irrationally (crossing the center divider?) what kind of a ******** ****** decides "Hey! I have a great idea!!! I'll block their car's way with my bicycle!"


...Anyway, I admit that I don't know what kind of advocacy is best.
I rather like the Toronto people painting their own bike lanes.
I'd keep using white the same as the city workers would though, not pink.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/226454
~

Seattle CM blocked all 3 lanes of state highway from south of downtown all the way up to the ship canal last night, a distance of over 3 miles.

Screw the motorists. Bikes ARE traffic. Bicycle traffic jam? oh well, must suck to be a motorist in a traffic jam :D regardless of its cause, eh?

Wow hope your proud of yourself. I certainly hope no one suffered because they were unable to be transported to a hospital or were unable to get the assistance of the police. You might want to think about that before you you participate in your next thoughtless and selfish act.

How many of these folks that do the critical mass bit are daily bicycle commuters?
Commuted daily for 16 years, year round. Never got hit while commuting but did have a few close calls.
We are part of traffic, behave as such.
Share the road, don't hog it.

I think that the world is showing signs of opening up to bicycles. I can't say whether or not aggressive CM rides have had any beneficial impact. Perhaps they have. But it seems to me that the world is ready to see bicycles behave well. The argument that they don't belong seems to be fading. I suppose right now it's a bit like the wild west in some sense. "Messengers on Crack" lol. But the early settlers did best when they insisted on rules and good behavior.

We need a baseball bad and a horse. Preferably dead.

Winner.

Wow hope your proud of yourself. I certainly hope no one suffered because they were unable to be transported to a hospital or were unable to get the assistance of the police. You might want to think about that before you you participate in your next thoughtless and selfish act.

I think Beko is being sarcastic of CM...

Our CM rides are organized and the people are well mannered... this is why I like them.

When we cross the bridge we take up the whole thing and this might add a few minutes to people's commutes but it keeps folks safe as the bridge is two narrow lanes... itis not a route that is travelled by emergency vehicles as there is not enough clearance and because the north and south are served by different emergency services.

With that being said... I now need a bat and a dead horse.

Ok, so, you're a bunch of organized and well mannered morons. To wit: Crossing a bridge with narrow or no shoulders should be done in singles or small groups (under three riders at a time). Like stated above, organized and well mannered means that you actually have a strategy for conditioning drivers to your presence - not beating them over their heads (or hoods), by blocking. Any group can mob a street, or a bridge. Then, it's just a mob, and you're not advocating anything but ill will.

Don't these people get this? :mad: Get out of the protest biz. It pisses off the voters, who are increasingly being asked to fund bike friendly streets. Which, translated to cagers means, Bike Lanes and less car access.

Condition them by realistic association with bikes. Consult the Strategy Suggestions above.

Or less serious but still serious enough to the people involved ... what about all the commercial drivers you slowed down? My EX used to be a courier, and he HATED the critical mass rides because they blocked the downtown area which he had to get through to do his deliveries. He lost money every time there was a critical mass.

Critical mass rides don't slow down the people who can make the decision to ride to work ... they slow down the people who use their vehicles for work. Those who ride critical masses should stop and think of all the things they own (or are planning to buy) which are transported in some way by motorized vehicles ... right from the raw products these things are made from, to the manufacturing, to the stores, between the stores, etc. Critical masses slow down all of that ... and I wonder how many of the people who ride these things get home, or back to their place of employment, and get on the phone demanding to know why delivery of this or that is late.

And if the point of a critical mass is to get the people they hold up on the road to switch to a non-motorized transportation, I wonder how many would freak out if they heard that their new TV was being shipped from a warehouse on the east coast to their homes on the west coast by bicycle ... and would get to them in 2 months. :lol:

I don't know of a single driver who has anything positive to say about critical masses or cyclists in general after they have been held up by a critical mass. In fact, back in Winnipeg during the week or so following a critical mass, cycling to work was like taking your life into your hands because of all the angry drivers.

They don't work ... and I wish they would stop being held.

Sweet Jebesus, you don't have a clue about critical mass, do you? except unmerited criticism. why would you think riders in Critical Mass DON'T understand transportation requirments in the economy?

Critical Mass rides are a celebration of bicycling, an organic critical mass of bicyclists. Commuters, bike geeks, messengers, people that like to ride bikes.

Critical mass is a ride that occurs ONCE A MONTH on FRIDAY EVENINGS. They are NOT 'making deliveries late' :roflmao:

and 'don't work'? 'don't work' for who? it's a collection of bicyclists celebrating being traffic. sure works for the bicyclists.

There's traffic, and traffic jams. Traffic jams, foulups everyday. sometimes, once a month, in cities around the world, the traffic jam is BIKES.

Get out of the car machka. you're thinking more and more like a cager everyday. I predict road rage and honking at bicyclists 'taking the lane' and making you late soon, machka. Yelling out your window "I'm a bicyclist too!" as you rage em and try to force them off the road with your car.

When we cross the bridge we take up the whole thing and this might add a few minutes to people's commutes but it keeps folks safe as the bridge is two narrow lanes... itis not a route that is travelled by emergency vehicles as there is not enough clearance and because the north and south are served by different emergency services.

With that being said... I now need a bat and a dead horse.

If you're taking up the whole road you're not sharing it are you? And that's in theory what you're trying to accomplish, right? Unless of course it's merely to inconvenience people in the name of greater cycling awareness or somesuch. And of course in the process you give those of us just trying to get somewhere as part of our daily lives/commutes a bad name.

I'm sure those people will be glad to vote for expanded bicycle services on public ballots after having been shown the way by CM actions.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/65/188138494_a7b1c248a2.jpg?v=0

Well behaved...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/310880165_995e055902.jpg?v=0

Well behaved...

/IMG]

Wow one lousy image. Stack that up against the dozens of videos on youtube where the riders are acting like a bunch of morons. Terrorizing the elderly for example. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo4MpO3kBRE).

Wow one lousy image. Stack that up against the dozens of videos on youtube where the riders are acting like a bunch of morons. Terrorizing the elderly for example. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo4MpO3kBRE).

Interesting video. Just a caveat but video can omit telling the whole story. For example, this one starts after the van had been surrounded by people and we don't know how it got there or why it was surrounded. Did the driver provoke the confrontation by yelling something from his van? Were they just a target of convenience? It does illustrate a bunch of people acting like thugs, banging on someone's car and then destroying his driver's side windshield wiper. Not to mention the multiple individuals surrounding the car, banging on it and falsely claiming there was someone under the car.

I'm sure there are plenty of better behaved critical mass rides but what the people on those bikes did amounted to simple mob mentality.

There is a movement leading towards, "critical kindness" rides or maybe they are called "critical manners" either way its the anti-critical mass ride. Its coming to a complete stop at stop signs, signalling and riding predictably.

Its probably not much fun for the anti-establishment, long haired, passive aggresive pacifists types but its a step in the right direction IMO.

Bek, you're getting funnier every day. :D

As it happens I am a cager and proud of it. You can't drive 1000 kms a week and not call yourself a cager! I'm also a ped ... I walked more last week than I cycled.

And I do have a low opinion of bicyclists ... bicyclists who do not obey the law. If the cyclist is obeying the law I have no problem with him/her. I think ALL cyclists should think like cagers ... after all when we ride a bicycle we are vehicles of the road subject to the laws of the road. We are not children on toys.

Maybe it is different where you're from, but the critical masses I've seen and heard about are not celebrations, they are protests. The point is not to celebrate being on the bicycle, the point is to be as rude and obnoxious as humanly possible to drivers in order to get the drivers to change their minds and start riding bicycles too. It doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever, and the only thing it does it to make drivers hate cyclists all the more ... including those of us who obey the law.

There is a movement leading towards, "critical kindness" rides or maybe they are called "critical manners" either way its the anti-critical mass ride. Its coming to a complete stop at stop signs, signalling and riding predictably.

Its probably not much fun for the anti-establishment, long haired, passive aggresive pacifists types but its a step in the right direction IMO.

I'm glad to hear it. In my mind modelling excellent behaviour is the way to encourage drivers to consider cycling as a viable means of transportation.

Interesting video. Just a caveat but video can omit telling the whole story. For example, this one starts after the van had been surrounded by people and we don't know how it got there or why it was surrounded. Did the driver provoke the confrontation by yelling something from his van? Were they just a target of convenience? It does illustrate a bunch of people acting like thugs, banging on someone's car and then destroying his driver's side windshield wiper. Not to mention the multiple individuals surrounding the car, banging on it and falsely claiming there was someone under the car.

I'm sure there are plenty of better behaved critical mass rides but what the people on those bikes did amounted to simple mob mentality.

Seems to me that the video was taken by a CM rider. I'm sure they would not omit any provocation on the van passengers part. I like how they stuff their bikes under the van's wheels. This seems to be a theme in many of the videos. At first it made me wonder why someone would purposely damage their own bike then I realized that most likely Daddy bought the bike for them. And he'll buy another.

Wow one lousy image. Stack that up against the dozens of videos on youtube where the riders are acting like a bunch of morons. Terrorizing the elderly for example. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo4MpO3kBRE).

Spinny - Stop trying to compare apples and oranges.

I would bet those dozens of images come from other locales where the police have to get involved to keep the peace and I have to say I was pretty reluctant to even join our local rides because I have seen those videos too.

I would not be a part of things like that and was pleasantly surprised to see our cm rides be such peaceful affairs...

I can't recall any time when we've terrorized the elderly although a couple of grey haired grannies almost took me out on the way to the last cm ride. That would have been me being terrorized.

I started riding in the cm this year and all in all , it's been a very enjoyable and peaceful experience.

Finally I'd be careful when you try and use one brush to paint everything and everyone.

The point is not to celebrate being on the bicycle, the point is to be as rude and obnoxious as humanly possible to drivers in order to get the drivers to change their minds and start riding bicycles too.

Wild speculation, machka.

you need to come to grips with the reality that Critical Mass rides have no agenda other than bicyclists coming togther once a month and being traffic, en masse.

A "Critical Mass" of bicyclists, so to speak.

I'm glad to hear it. In my mind modelling excellent behaviour is the way to encourage drivers to consider cycling as a viable means of transportation.


Well you and I are in the minority.

Spinnaker said:
"Finally I'd be careful when you try and use one brush to paint everything and everyone."

My friend, you may be in a peaceful group. You may eschew fascist tactics. But, know this: it is the fascists who are doing the painting with the broad brush, and you are the canvas. Those of us opposed to these neo-anarchists are trying to point that out to you.

Or, to put it another way - if you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.

Wild speculation, machka.

you need to come to grips with the reality that Critical Mass rides have no agenda other than bicyclists coming togther once a month and being traffic, en masse.

A "Critical Mass" of bicyclists, so to speak.

You're beginning to worry me, Beko...

how do you even attempt to classify an incredibly diverse group of bicyclists that get togther once a month for a mass ride?

I'm a high mileage tourist and daily dedicated transportational bicyclist that rides CM a couple of times a year. there are old people, timid university students, a lot of commuters, families, etc that ride CM in this city.

There's point83 riders and there are club cyclists and fixie riders, but most of the mass riders are just people that ride their bikes a lot. There were representatives from the People's Front of Judea, and riding right alongside them were representatives from the Judean People's Front.

I bet in NYC or overseas the CM sampling of participants is even more diverse.

It's a 'critical mass' of bicyclists, being traffic. Don't you get it?

Ok, so, you're a bunch of organized and well mannered morons. To wit: Crossing a bridge with narrow or no shoulders should be done in singles or small groups (under three riders at a time).
I crossed a narrow bridge on my first metric. It was about a thousand feet long and I was alone. The lane was too narrow to share, so I rode in the middle. Cars piled up behind me. I pushed myself, but kept blocking the lane. Pulled over when there was a shoulder again, on the other side.

If the bridge was that narrow, running a critical mass across it in singles or small groups would just slow traffic down for a much longer period of time.

I act similarly on part of my commute in a construction zone. I've blocked rush hour road ragers, a police car, and a bus. I inconvenience them for perhaps ten or twelve seconds, but it saves me several minutes.

Life is full of inconveniences. Red lights inconvenience me, but I still stop at them. Car traffic inconveniences me, but I deal with it. As long as all options are safe and legal, it's all about balance - if I can take a few seconds and save everyone else a few minutes, I probably will. If not, then they can deal with it. If they can't, that's their problem.

That said, I hate critical mass. Taking a few minutes to lay down rules, and then following them, would create much less of an inconvenience to other traffic. Since there are no rules, the anarchist pole keeps moving. Many rides are no longer about cycling awareness, but striking back at the stinking cagers. And, of course, the mob follows. And when that attitude leads to confrontation (inevitably), injury and arrest, it makes the news. And what makes the news is what people hear about.


It's a 'critical mass' of bicyclists, being traffic. Don't you get it?
The one I rode with wasn't about being traffic, it was about taking over the road. Being traffic involves being considerate of other traffic. Some of that is covered in the law, the rest by 'not being ***holes.'

I don't think you get it.

I don't think you get it.
I think I get plenty of it. I know what critical mass is and what it does. I understand it's the only way to get that many bikers together. I'll even admit that the one I rode in was relaxing and fun. I'm still against it.

Bekologist said:
"how do you even attempt to classify an incredibly diverse group of bicyclists that get togther once a month for a mass ride?"

Typically, I classify an "incredibly diverse group of cyclists" as a Bike Club. You know, like Cascade or some of the other myriad Bike Clubs in the Greater Seattle area or elsewhere. In a Bike Club, you find all the diversity required to be a good representative population of responsible Bike Club members. Bike Clubs have structure, understandings of basic road manners, safety, insurance, sign-up sheets, and often, policies concerning mis-behavior by individuals while on Bike Club rides.

Please, spare me the drivel about a mass protest being classified as just a diverse group. I'll reserve the right to re-classify the hardcores as a perverse group of fascists that use bikes as a means of hitting with the stick.

Study the source of Fascism. It goes back to Rome around the end of the Republic, and the beginnings of the Empire Period. Nothing has changed. Jackboots or sandals - it's the same thing.

You're losing me, Beko...

h I bet in NYC or overseas the CM sampling of participants is even more diverse.

NYC checking in here.

It's not that diverse. I rode a few CMs, years back. At some point a couple of years ago it turned bad, and I stopped showing up for rides.

There's very little diversity. It's mostly twenty-something self-styled revolutionaries (lots of dreadlocks on white kids, you know the type). College-educated, middle-class (and upwards) "anarchists".

The behavior is juvenile in the extreme. CM participants try as hard as humanly possible to provoke those unfortunate enough to be near one of their rides into some kind of action, and they they behave really, really badly, safe in their numbers and their anonymity. They try especially hard to provoke the police, so that they can claim to be victims when the police finally react.

Somebody mentioned a baseball bat and a horse? Yes, absolutely. The bat to take to the bicycles of CMers, so they'll be off the road for a while (and hey, if a leg or arm gets in the way, no great tragedy), and the horse, well, what's one more pile of horsesh*t on top of the massive piles of crap spewed out by the CMers?

The video I saw of a critical mass showed cyclists in an unending group coming for like 5 minutes.

Now, either that light was really, really long or the cyclists were running the light. Someone here tell me of a CM They were in wherer traffic laws were obeyed.

Wow - there sure is a lot of hate here. I wonder what that's all about? So on one night a month, bikes in some cities ride en masse and cause delays of up to 5 minutes, and that's a terrible thing? I've ridden in the San Francisco Critical Mass, one of the largest in the world (and the longest running) and it isn't that big of an inconvenience to all the car drivers out there. Yes, car drivers get held up for up to 5 minutes waiting for the mass to go through an intersection. Big deal. And what about emergency vehicles? Well, they roll right through the middle of the mass and the bikes get out of the way (scared the crap outta me when it happened, but the fire truck wasn't slowed down much. At least bikes CAN get out of the way).

C'mon people, lighten up. Don't like Critical Mass? Don't ride in it. Drive a car? Everyone knows what day and at what time Critical Mass happens, just try not to be downtown then. Just like when there's a marathon, or a parade, etc. Or just kick back and enjoy the spectacle of what a road would look like filled with bikes instead of cars.