Denver Critical Mass
02-11-07, 07:16 PM
#1
aka Cherith Cutestory
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Denver Critical Mass
Has anyone participated in the Denver critical mass ride lately? I was thinking about doing it this month, but I was reading about riders getting tickets and generally harassed by the police. Is this still going on?
02-12-07, 02:15 PM
#3
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No, but I'd like to ride in one. I'd probably even make the ride down there in the Summer.
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02-13-07, 09:03 AM
#4
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I ask again. What is the point of intentionally slowing and blocking traffic and violating the rules of the road in order to gain publicity for cyclists? It just pisses people off and reinforces notions that bikes don't belong on the streets.
Why don't the cyclists just ride in a long group, obeying traffic laws. That way, the cops can't harrass them and drivers will get the idea that cyclists are entitiled to ride on the streets also.
Why don't the cyclists just ride in a long group, obeying traffic laws. That way, the cops can't harrass them and drivers will get the idea that cyclists are entitiled to ride on the streets also.
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Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
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02-13-07, 09:09 AM
#5
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What is the Critical Mass??
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02-13-07, 10:58 AM
#6
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
Originally Posted by snowy
What is the Critical Mass??
02-13-07, 11:02 AM
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I think its a ride they did in Boulder??? Where all the angry bikers got together and rode in an effort to create recognition for roadbiker's rights to the road. But if I remember correctly, it was precieved pretty negatively....bad press....that sort of thing. Kind of a black eye for our sport, again IF I remember correctly.
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02-13-07, 01:21 PM
#9
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Yeah not interested in doing that. The way to make a point and get it across is in a positive manner.
My boyfriends father use to be a State Senator and he said that he received the most death threats when it came to giving cyclists more rights on the roads.
I respect what they are trying to achieve but it can be done in a good way.
My boyfriends father use to be a State Senator and he said that he received the most death threats when it came to giving cyclists more rights on the roads.
I respect what they are trying to achieve but it can be done in a good way.
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02-13-07, 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by San Rensho
I ask again. What is the point of intentionally slowing and blocking traffic and violating the rules of the road in order to gain publicity for cyclists? It just pisses people off and reinforces notions that bikes don't belong on the streets.
Why don't the cyclists just ride in a long group, obeying traffic laws. That way, the cops can't harrass them and drivers will get the idea that cyclists are entitiled to ride on the streets also.
Why don't the cyclists just ride in a long group, obeying traffic laws. That way, the cops can't harrass them and drivers will get the idea that cyclists are entitiled to ride on the streets also.
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Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
02-13-07, 03:10 PM
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I think the Denver CM is pretty civil compared to some places. I haven't ridden one, personally, but I'm thinking about it.
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02-13-07, 03:11 PM
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I don't participate, but here's the rationale.
When traffic congestion occurs, it's not because motorists decided to get together at 5:30 p.m. and have a parade. It's because everybody gets out of work at 5 p.m., traffic happens, and the result is congested traffic.
Critical Mass is an illustration of a bicycle version of this. It (supposedly) is not "organized" so it's not a parade -- several cyclists all happen to show up on the same street at about the same time, and the result is congested bicycle traffic.
When motorists do it, nobody cares. When cyclists do it, they get harassed, ticketed, and get their bikes impounded.
RFM
When traffic congestion occurs, it's not because motorists decided to get together at 5:30 p.m. and have a parade. It's because everybody gets out of work at 5 p.m., traffic happens, and the result is congested traffic.
Critical Mass is an illustration of a bicycle version of this. It (supposedly) is not "organized" so it's not a parade -- several cyclists all happen to show up on the same street at about the same time, and the result is congested bicycle traffic.
When motorists do it, nobody cares. When cyclists do it, they get harassed, ticketed, and get their bikes impounded.
RFM
02-13-07, 03:16 PM
#13
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The one critical mass I witnessed (here in Denver), the folks riding didn't just ride through an intersection causing congestion. They circled and circled in the intersection, bringing traffic to a stand still. Completely counter-productive to the cause. Like most well-intended grass-roots movements, it looses its original desire well along the way....
02-13-07, 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Pwnt
I think its a ride they did in Boulder???
RFM
02-13-07, 03:24 PM
#15
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
Originally Posted by snowy
My boyfriends father use to be a State Senator and he said that he received the most death threats when it came to giving cyclists more rights on the roads.
Thats nuts!
02-13-07, 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by richardmasoner
I don't participate, but here's the rationale.
When traffic congestion occurs, it's not because motorists decided to get together at 5:30 p.m. and have a parade. It's because everybody gets out of work at 5 p.m., traffic happens, and the result is congested traffic.
Critical Mass is an illustration of a bicycle version of this. It (supposedly) is not "organized" so it's not a parade -- several cyclists all happen to show up on the same street at about the same time, and the result is congested bicycle traffic.
When motorists do it, nobody cares. When cyclists do it, they get harassed, ticketed, and get their bikes impounded.
RFM
When traffic congestion occurs, it's not because motorists decided to get together at 5:30 p.m. and have a parade. It's because everybody gets out of work at 5 p.m., traffic happens, and the result is congested traffic.
Critical Mass is an illustration of a bicycle version of this. It (supposedly) is not "organized" so it's not a parade -- several cyclists all happen to show up on the same street at about the same time, and the result is congested bicycle traffic.
When motorists do it, nobody cares. When cyclists do it, they get harassed, ticketed, and get their bikes impounded.
RFM
__________________
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
02-13-07, 05:51 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by rando
the fact that you had to explain it to me and others means the "message" isn't being that effectively communicated.
I suspect most participants don't really get it either. They're just anarchists having fun.
RFM
02-13-07, 06:01 PM
#18
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Thats nuts!
02-13-07, 07:38 PM
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I'd rather ride in traffic then ride a CM.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
02-13-07, 07:43 PM
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Wow, Critical Masses are a lot different here.
It's usually about 12 people riding choppers or other bikes just cruising around.
It's usually about 12 people riding choppers or other bikes just cruising around.
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02-13-07, 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by San Rensho
I ask again. What is the point of intentionally slowing and blocking traffic and violating the rules of the road in order to gain publicity for cyclists? It just pisses people off and reinforces notions that bikes don't belong on the streets.
Why don't the cyclists just ride in a long group, obeying traffic laws. That way, the cops can't harrass them and drivers will get the idea that cyclists are entitiled to ride on the streets also.
Why don't the cyclists just ride in a long group, obeying traffic laws. That way, the cops can't harrass them and drivers will get the idea that cyclists are entitiled to ride on the streets also.
And then they complain that they're being "harassed" when they get ticketed for violating the law.
02-13-07, 09:42 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by Blue Order
+1
And then they complain that they're being "harassed" when they get ticketed for violating the law.
And then they complain that they're being "harassed" when they get ticketed for violating the law.
02-13-07, 09:50 PM
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Originally Posted by brokenrobot
No, they complain that they're being harassed when they get struck with and knocked down by motorized police vehicles, and then arrested, when they're NOT violating the law.
02-13-07, 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Blue Order
If that were true, there are remedies. Have they exercised their remedies?
02-13-07, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by brokenrobot
Yep, they keep on winning in court...