Advocacy & Safety - Atlanta Critical Mass

Ok, so I'm shilling my blog (http://www.industryoutsider.com/) a bit here. But if you click the link, watch the video, and read the comments, you'll get an idea of how folks view Critical Mass.

What's the problem? They expect you to stop for red lights. You should. A large group of bikes is not one entity, it is alot of independent vehicles. Stop at red lights. Stop at stop signs.

Atlanta Critical Mass is called Freaknik.

Awkwardddd

I'm really glad no one has yet organized this mess in my area. If it ever happens, I'll show up on my bike... so I can sit beside the road and jeer the riders as they go by. :notamused:

Atlanta Critical Mass is called Freaknik.

Freaknik is a distant memory.

All the CM rides I rode in Atlanta were very peaceful and fun. Maybe
the ride got in the way of the wrong person last month.

Wow...way to go APD. I'm on the side of the police usually but this was a silly show of force.

I like this comment:


See if they can write 400 tickets on people that don't carry ID.See how long it takes people with no ID to be released out of custody when they're arrested on a Friday night for not presenting ID when the officer stops them on probable cause.

Hint: They'll cool their heels in a cell until Monday morning.

I'll show up on my bike... so I can sit beside the road and jeer the riders as they go by. :notamused:

Interesting idea...ought to get a few fellows together and boo the local CM.

-Kurt

Interesting idea...ought to get a few fellows together and boo the local CM.

-Kurt

Be sure to bring your bikes so everyone knows you're not just a group of disgruntled drivers.

Be sure to bring your bikes so everyone knows you're not just a group of disgruntled drivers.

Indeed, but I'm having trouble trying to figure out where to protest it from. Can't do it from the sidewalk, for then you're subliminally advocating sidewalk riding. Can't stop on the other side of the road, and for that matter, there is a median full of brush between their usual roadway. Cannot stop on the road and obstruct traffic, and I am not sure about the legality of sitting around in parking spaces.

A parking lot at the edge of the street would be ideal though. Also some sign to the extent of "Critical Mass: Supporting Cycling Arrogance Throughout The Nation," "Mass Has No Class," "Mass: Advocating Nothing, Annoying Everyone," "You're advocating disrespect on both sides," etc.

-Kurt

Indeed, but I'm having trouble trying to figure out where to protest it from.Why not just cork them at an intersection? :lol:

Why not just cork them at an intersection? :lol:

A sampling of our local CM rider intelligence: http://criticalmass.meetup.com/40/messages/boards/thread/4983981/0#19059058.
Seems as if every discussion can be summed up in a two-bit speech about ill-treatment of cyclists - without getting to the point.

-Kurt

Tempting as heck, but it shows no better road respect then the CM'ers themselves. I can just see it, though - block them off and refuse access into our group :lol:

P.S.: Miami's next CM is on the 12th. PM me if you're local and game for a little protest.

EDIT: A sampling of our local CM rider intelligence: http://criticalmass.meetup.com/40/messages/boards/thread/4983981/0#19059058.
Seems as if every discussion can be summed up in a two-bit speech about ill-treatment of cyclists - without getting to the point.

-Kurt

you would actually have a curteous mass

http://fastermustache.org/node/5319

This is by far the best comment there!



Ban bicycles from the road! I can't take my motorcycle on the bile path.

you would actually have a curteous mass

http://fastermustache.org/node/5319

"Critical Manners," I believe it is called.

-Kurt

I like this comment:

See how long it takes people with no ID to be released out of custody when they're arrested on a Friday night for not presenting ID when the officer stops them on probable cause.

Hint: They'll cool their heels in a cell until Monday morning.

Hint: Class action suit. Police do not have the authority to arrest a citizen for probable cause without probable cause. If they cannot show, in a court of law, what their probable cause was they'll face a false arrest suit. When they face 400 of them...

I hope most judges in the US have enough respect for democracy to not take kindly to the tyranny of mass arrests at peaceful gatherings. However, given the current political spectrum, I fear we have fallen that close to fascism. But you're right, fascism is totally better than critical mass. Heaven forbid anyone be slowed down on their way to work for some silly demonstration.

Heaven forbid anyone be slowed down on their way to work for some pointless demonstration.

Fixed it for you!

If you are riding a bike and encounter one of these CMs, will they let you pass and continue on your way, or do they stop a bike as well as cars?

Ok, so I'm shilling my blog (http://www.industryoutsider.com/) a bit here. But if you click the link, watch the video, and read the comments, you'll get an idea of how folks view Critical Mass.

And because the man on the street doesn't think much of Critical Mass means what?
I bet if you interviewed most drivers about bicycle commuters there comments wouldn't be too enlightening either. I doubt that many protests are viewed very kindly be non-protesters, does that instantly make the protest "pointless"?

And because the man on the street doesn't think much of Critical Mass means what?
I bet if you interviewed most drivers about bicycle commuters there comments wouldn't be too enlightening either. I doubt that many protests are viewed very kindly be non-protesters, does that instantly make the protest "pointless"?

How effect has CM ever been?

"Critical Manners," I believe it is called.

-Kurt

Actually he calls it Courteous Mass... and frankly I think it is a great idea... something that critical mass is missing.


it is called "courteous mass" because everyone will ride no more than two abreast, only taking up the rightmost lane of traffic. everyone will also obey all traffic laws (including stop signs!). no stopped cars will be passed on the right (unless there is a bike lane).

it is called "experimental" because i really don't see this sort of ride as a viable thing to do more than once. if you look at the comments about critical mass posted on ajc.com and the sbl website, a vast majority of folks' problems with CM seems to be that "critical mass riders don't obey traffic laws." really, though, a few hundred riders riding two abreast will obviously aggravate drivers more than a few hundred riders packed together running through intersections. BUT, if we can publicize this and make this ride highly visible, it could serve to make a statement. especially if local media was made aware of this. or, if we could get some folks to film both critical mass at the end of june and then the courtesy mass in july.

I think that if cyclists got together and rode as legally as possible... it would send a far greater message than anything else. Especially if, as two abreast, they stopped at each and every stop sign.

How effect has CM ever been?

That's not the determinant of wether or not the protest is valid, or are you unfamiliar with the concept of freedom of speech and the right to free assembly? No one ever looks at the local traffic jam on the freeway and says, "why are those people inconveniencing me?" I'm not saying that CM is positive or negative, you obviously would argue that it's negative, I just feel that they have as much right to protest and assemble as any other group of Americans.

For someone so gung ho on the second ammendment, you sure don't seem to think much of the first.

Actually he calls it Courteous Mass... and frankly I think it is a great idea... something that critical mass is missing.



I think that if cyclists got together and rode as legally as possible... it would send a far greater message than anything else. Especially if, as two abreast, they stopped at each and every stop sign.

I've been on a Critical Mass like that one, with a police escort and the mayor, in Seattle.
It followed another one that ended in a riot and a few of us going to jail when the police over reacted.
Each ride had it's purpose and if it hadn't been for the agitation of the first ride, the second ride never would have happened.

As far as two abreast for a ride with a hundred people that would be pretty unsafe, and infinitely more annoying.

That's not the determinant of wether or not the protest is valid, or are you unfamiliar with the concept of freedom of speech and the right to free assembly? No one ever looks at the local traffic jam on the freeway and says, "why are those people inconveniencing me?" I'm not saying that CM is positive or negative, you obviously would argue that it's negative, I just feel that they have as much right to protest and assemble as any other group of Americans.

For someone so gung ho on the second ammendment, you sure don't seem to think much of the first.

I support the first amendment. I do not support a bunch of jackasses blocking traffic and causing mayhem in the name of free speech, knowing full well that their "protest" is both misguided and ineffective.

As far as two abreast for a ride with a hundred people that would be pretty unsafe, and infinitely more annoying.

How would that be unsafe? And since when is the annoying factor a consideration? A rider that is slower than traffic might be annoying, but they still have a legal right to use the road.

I support the first amendment. I do not support a bunch of jackasses blocking traffic and causing mayhem in the name of free speech, knowing full well that their "protest" is both misguided and ineffective.

Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I'm sure there were folks in Mobile who found the protests there misguided and ineffective too. There would probably be a lot less mayhem if the cops could learn to control themselves, and not over react to traffic citations. How many drivers have you seen get dragged from their cars, pepper sprayed and handcuffed for blocking traffic?

I will go ahead and excuse myself from this, rather than soiling my boots.

I will go ahead and excuse myself from this, rather than soiling my boots.

Ahh, the high road.
Well good for you and have a great day.:D

Ahh, the high road.
Well good for you and have a great day.:D

Just this once. ;)
Have a great day yourself.

As far as two abreast for a ride with a hundred people that would be pretty unsafe, and infinitely more annoying.

I don't get how it would be unsafe... and as far as the annoying factor... uh, isn't that the point?

Well you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I'm sure there were folks in Mobile who found the protests there misguided and ineffective too. There would probably be a lot less mayhem if the cops could learn to control themselves, and not over react to traffic citations. How many drivers have you seen get dragged from their cars, pepper sprayed and handcuffed for blocking traffic?

I agree with your comments RE Mobile.


But on your comments RE "how many drivers," I have to ask: how many drivers are blocking traffic solely in protest?

I agree with your comments RE Mobile.


But on your comments RE "how many drivers," I have to ask: how many drivers are blocking traffic solely in protest?

What's the difference? It is still a traffic citation. I certainly see motorists who do this daily. I agree the cyclists should be cited too, but not arrested.

Just this once. ;)
Have a great day yourself.

I do see where you are coming from.

What's the difference? It is still a traffic citation. I certainly see motorists who do this daily. I agree the cyclists should be cited too, but not arrested.

The difference is the reason for being there in the first place. Indeed whether for transportation or for protest, both may deserve tickets... but the motorist was not gathering for a protest... likely they are just trying to get someplace and acted in a stupid manner. The cyclist on the other hand intentionally acted to block traffic.

So the difference is stupidity verses intentional choice.

Hint: Class action suit. Police do not have the authority to arrest a citizen for probable cause without probable cause. If they cannot show, in a court of law, what their probable cause was they'll face a false arrest suit. When they face 400 of them...Hint right back at ya: If a vehicle operator (read: cyclist) violates a traffic law, and the officer witnesses that violation, or otherwise has probable cause to believe that the violation occurred, the officer has probable cause, and the vehicle operator may be cited.

Now take 400 geniuses who violate a traffic law (read: blow through a red light) in the presence of the traffic cops who have been assigned to the "event," and who subsequently, being geniuses, believe that they can confound the attempts of the "dumb cops" to cite them by not providing ID...Because cops are just too dumb, after all, to know what to do once you've failed to produce ID. They'll probably just totally let you go.


I hope most judges in the US have enough respect for democracy to not take kindly to the tyranny of mass arrests at peaceful gatherings. However, given the current political spectrum, I fear we have fallen that close to fascism. But you're right, fascism is totally better than critical mass. Heaven forbid anyone be slowed down on their way to work for some silly demonstration.You're right, hyperbolic straw men are totally better than addressing the real argument.

It was discussed before the June CM ride, but now is a good time to make this announcement:

Courteous Mass Atlanta Ride, July 11

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=436306

Hope everyone who has issues with Critical Mass can make it to this ride.

We all have to share the road, once youthful exuberance wanes the Critical Mass groups will realize this. Oh yeah, stop on the red.

For someone so gung ho on the second ammendment, you sure don't seem to think much of the first.

+1

and there's my new sig.

I agree with your comments RE Mobile.


But on your comments RE "how many drivers," I have to ask: how many drivers are blocking traffic solely in protest?

i found a half dozen in about three seconds using the miracle of google. it's here (http://news.google.ca/news?q=trucker's+protest&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=com.ubuntu:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&oi=news_result&resnum=1&ct=title)
actually, there were 4,455 results.. and that was just for truckers protesting fuel costs.

since i was too lazy to read all the articles, i did a "control group" search that looked like this (http://news.google.ca/news?oe=utf-8&rls=com.ubuntu%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&hl=en&resnum=1&q=trucker%27s+protest+%22pepper+spray%22&btnG=Search+News)
zero results for the first search phrase plus "pepper spray". this leads me to believe that there are many demonstrations by motorized people that block traffic and none of those motor vehicle owners get pepper sprayed.

new haven, ct's critical mass had a police escort complete with segway-riding cops corking intersections.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/06/will_critical_m.php