i just got home from the NYC critical mass (and a post critical mass couple of beers).
overall, there was a fun, positive vibe except for some disturbances, one which just almost ruined the night for me. So, as always, bikes were blocking off side streets so that cars didn't run rampant over the cyclists. At one sidestreet off of Houston st., a white Range Rover SUV was edging forward constantly, refusing to stay put. Finally, it started to bump into the cyclist who was blocking the street, and started pushing him. The cyclist lost balance and fell onto the ground, at which time the driver of the SUV deemed it permissable to RIDE OVER the cyclist. I could not believe that another human being would display such disregard for another's life and well-being... and for what? to be on time to a party? to get home to watch a favorite sitcom?
The back half of the cyclist's bike was crushed under the wheels of the car, and it seemed that the cyclist had gotten his legs injured somehow, but i couldn't tell. Many people were writing down the licence plate # of the car and some others chased it down... I have no idea how this event was resolved, but I just hope that that poor cyclist is okay (i heard later that he was taken away in an ambulance).

Despite the hero's welcome that the critical mass procession recieved on other streets throughout manhattan by throngs of pedestrians, it only took one sick individual to leave a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the night (an to send one brave, unlucky cyclist to the hospital).

anyway, i just had to get this off my chest. i won't try to vent my frustration (which is considerable), i think the event speaks for itself.
this is only my second critical mass, but now that i'm a fulltime NYC resident, I plan on attending each and every one (and the Brooklyn critical masses on the 2nd friday of every month).