Yes, but they'll go back to Texas after the next presidential election.

Why are you hiding behind Google? If you are so sure of the OP CMs motives, just say so. Afraid of being wrong, or just being flamed? :D

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Oh Roody already has said he is sure of the OP's motives and objectives. He Googled it. No further info is required. Makes perfect sense to Roody I suppose.

I also suppose if he reads about a protest involving some group, somewhere, and that someone said that there was some hostile reaction, Roody and similar thinkers can Google the word "protest" or maybe "civil rights" and Know all about what this specific protest was all about.

Flamed? Hardly. Pointing out bogus "knowledge"? Yes.

Roody is a good guy. So I searched:
http://www.philamass.org/

Sounds like philly CM is about different things, depending on what the individual brings to it.

But I still don't understand these tactics that make cycling dangrous for 12 when it is not for one.

Al

^^^^ I am biased and dont try to hide my bought-
and-payed for hatred of Philly so I will opine that the
average, small minded, violence loving PhillyBilly can look at
just one cyclist as just another harmless loser because they
arent driving an IROQ-Z. Whereas a group of individuals
who arent wearing Flyers or Eagles jerseys and not driving
Trans-Am Firebirds or the afformentioned IROQ-Z's are a threat
and need to be dealt with accordingly. Really, I can see a group
of cyclists suffering retribution in Philly just for 'being there'.

Thanks, Al. :o Critical Mass is not an organized group with an organized agenda. Most groups talk about "a safe fun ride through the city" and "asserting our right to the road" and something like "imagine a city without cars." CM sure gets a bum rap on this forum, but I think many commuters, utility cyclists and carfree people would find some aspects to be of interest.

Here's a small part of what Google taught me about CM tactics, heavily edited:

BTW, Al, before the flamers (oops, I meant to say "knowledge seekers") mention it, I wasn't at the Phila. CM so I don't know which tactics were being used there, or if I support those tactics. I was hoping the OP would jump in to answer this question.

I think one cyclist can assert what is needed on the road just as well as many. However many can more easily assert more than is needed, which seems to be a 'CM tactic'
As a commuter I take as much of the road as I need, but also never more than I need and am courteous (but not at all submissive) to other vehicles. Very often this does mean I ride so no one else can laterally share the lane.
I very much disagree to the 'tactic' of running red lights. Traffic laws are for all vehicles. There is no reason that any group should not split up because some miss the green light. Bikes or other vehicles (single or many) should be ridden on the road as they naturally flow in the traffic/infrastructure and not be artificially forced into some configuration just to gain attention.
I respect motorists, they are not inherently bad or out to get cyclists. They are just going about their business like all users of the road. That is not to say that there are not a few jerks, careless, or inconsiderate motorists out there.

Al

Are recreational groups of road cyclists more often hit by motorists in the Philly areas vs. other parts of the country?

Al

I've never seen the blurb quoted by Roody before. I had some support for CM before reading that but I begin to question a lot of things after reading that quote. For one, the presence of a car around a group of cyclists does not cause danger. If that was the case, then either no one should be cycling or no one should be driving. What causes danger is doing things inconsistent with traffic law like running red lights and stop signs. There is a time and place when it can be safe to do those things, but during rush hour in the city is not that time.

Not that anyone asked (but I'll offer anyway), my idea of CM would be just a lot of cyclists out on the roads at once. Let people see what the city could be like it bicycle traffic replaced most of the auto traffic. Riding in a long single file line or just having a large number of cyclists within a small area could do just that. Riding in a peloton just causes problems for everyone ranging from feeling the need to run lights to avoid being hit by another cyclist to not seeing potholes due to obscured vision from the group. Basically slow traffic down to the pace of the cyclists (the normal pace, i.e. not 5mph on a flat road). People would get pissed off but that's the chance you take in any protest whether peaceful or violent. Hopefully a small percentage would see the benefit and maybe think of joining the group or possibly riding a bike because they see the good that can come from having more cyclists on the road.

Its IROC... the car is named for the race it was used in: The International Race of Champions.

anyway...
I think Philly has a very thriving bike culture. We have convenient, well defined bike lanes, plenty of the population uses them for transportation, and while many drivers are complete idiots, and have no respect for us, they dont have any respect for someone in their way wether they are on a bike, on foot, or in a car. If you lived in philly you must have noticed how the cars behind the first one at a light will honk if the first driver doesnt anticipate the light and start to move once the other direction turns red.

Sounds like most any other city. The idiots stand out so the few seem like a lot. I get honked at and tailgaited near daily for riding in center of narrow 45mph lanes, but this agressive behavior is idiots venting and/or intimidating, not physical assault.

Al

Thanks, Roody. I was going to flame away, but had trouble figuring out from your posts what you were trying to say. Especially after TexasGuy's rant, wanted to clear up any confusion!

Anyways, I think there is a place for CM. What's wrong with a group bike ride once a month? Whether one is opposed, for, or indifferent to it, how awful is it really? I do disagree with breaking traffic laws, but do we really need to chase after cyclists with SUVs, cruisers, horses and mopeds a la the NYPD?

Seems to me if it's got a motor on it, it's socially acceptable. But if you're just noodling around under human power, it's antisocial!

If one doesn't like the group dynamics of CM, fine. But what about the group dynamics of drivers in Philly or worse, Boston? The more obnoxious you drive is what has become norm. Getting caught in bumper to bumper traffic trying to enter the Holland or Lincoln Tunnels is part of life, but riding bikes en masse down the street is not?