randya

once again, that's not the point and CM is at least as respectful as any weekend warrior roadie ride; in fact, I'd say the roadies' attitudes towards motorists is generally worse

plenty of rural counties have completely banned weekend warrior road rides, because of mutual disrespect issues

JoeyMac

I feel like someone needs to say something from the other side. I have ridden several CM rides in Rochester and have been appalled with the behavior of members of the group I was with. But those people were probably on their first and last CM ride and just there to be jerks, apparently. Most often the ride is pretty laid back and often only blocks traffic for small portions, and not even on major thoroughfares. We play music and yell "Happy Friday!" to pedestrians and drivers and often get a pretty postive reaction. I know that we do probably annoy more drivers than we endear ourselves to, but that is not the point. My friend adam put it well when he said that the ride is more about giving the average rider the confidence to ride in the street and be a part of traffic and to hopefully carry over that energy to their daily riding, and to spread bike advocacy the rest of the month. Also, yes, it is a lot of fun, and everyone usually has a good time. There are still sometimes jerks, but they get the title "M*******s" and often are asked to chill out if they are getting out of hand. I don't know if this answers your question, but my opinion is that CM isn't all that bad.

Allister

It wasn't meant as a slight against them. I was just lamenting how you only see those sorts of numbers of cyclists on the road during a CM ride. It'd be nice to see it (without the parade structure of CM of course) on a more regular basis - we know they're out there.

randya

there's plenty of other non-roadie, non-CM urban group rides in Portland all year long

https://www.shifttobikes.org/

tomcryar

No, Bek, that is a different subject altogether.

tomcryar

People, c'mon. CM,as it has been so far, has not been about promoting safe cycling, getting along with motorists. It's been about putting out there the attitude that cyclists are nothing more than "things" that motorists have to deal with. That is exactly the kind of attitude That I'd like to see changed. A lot of people do ride everyday with no problem. A lot of people get together every weekend and ride enmasse with no problem. The difference? The cyclists that get the daily respect and recognition are the ones who obey the laws and immigrate themselves into regular traffic. My whole point of this thread was to point out that CM is no longer valid, if it ever was, and that by simply riding your bike everyday proves a whole hell of a lot more than a once a month idiot-filled ride such as CM has become.

randya

obviously, no one's going to change your mind. you should go down to the CM meet in your local town, or better yet, in San Francisco, and try to convince them there, but I don't guess you'll get any better response than you are getting here. maybe if you're lucky a bunch more nay-sayers will crawl out of the woodwork in the morning and support you, I can already imagine who those folks will be.

bottom line - why is anyone getting their panties all in a bunch about a once a month two hour fun ride?



peace out

JoeyMac

yeah, the OP seems personally offended that a group of people get together and have fun on their bikes for a couple of hours once a month. Is it really that damaging to your lifestyle as a bicyclist?

Sixty Fiver

I hear so much about CM rides being bad for cyclists and am surprised and that is probably because our CM rides tend to be fun, the riders are usually quite considerate, and we get a lot of support from drivers and pedestrians.

We have tried to focus on being a positive rather than a negative and this seems to be working.

This city keeps getting better for cyclists and this is only because so many people are working hard to make it better... CM rides are just a tiny part of that and think they are important as they do draw attention to the fact that we are also on the streets.

rando

the correct anwer is:

No!

Mike H

Sounds like someone wants to stereotype all CM riders. Our CM is 100% positive. And yes I would say 90% of the folks who attend ride every darn day. Our cities bicycle infrastructure is growing too. Like I've always said CM is what you make it.

kendall

Well, If we can stereotype drivers, we should be able to stereotype CMers.

My question, if CM is NOT intended as a form of advocacy, then what is the point?
If the point is just to go out and raise cain, then a CM ride is no different than a group of kids out vandelizing a school.

I'm not a 'follow the rules' guy, but if there's no 'gain' why do it?

Ken.

dmac49

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Mike H

You might stereotype drivers I do not. Who said all CMs are raising cain? DO you believe everything you hear and read in the news?

scarry

[QUOTE=tomcryar;6155493]I mean, seriously. What it's become in the last couple of years, is a disorganized, everyone for himself, free-for-all, of people who take the opportunity to ride "unabated" once a month, and who are generally disrepectful of any laws whatsover. Is there anyone who really thinks that these kind of rides will promote anything but "disrespect" for cyclists? Think about it: How do you gain respect on the road? Bla, Bla, Bla.

QUOTE]

Is there even a CM ride in ST. Pete? In any case, you are free to not participate. The one here in SF is wonderfull. But then SF is not St. Pete. My bro lives in St. Pete, and says it sucks there, in so many ways.

tomcryar

Then your point would be?

-=(8)=-

The one thats been made over and over to the point of redundancy.......
CM's are all different and it not rational or realistic to broadbrush them.
Just like Im sure somewhere there are a few roadie club rides where
the carbon lycriods are respectful and dont antagonize traffic.
There are CM's happening in Miami and Im going to ride one. They are
respectful or I wouldnt join in. Ill report back with results when I do one.

I dont know how it is up north, but we are desperate here. Im sure you know
that in this end of the state civility is just an abstract theory. 'Share the Road'
license plates and never-to-be-enforced 3' type rules just dont cut it.

scarry

#1. If your town doesnt even have a Critical Mass ride, then you have no basis for commenting on it.
#2. Even if it does, you are free to participate or not, commenting on a nation-wide forum about it is irrelevant.
#3. If the ride really chaps your hide, you are free to organize a "Courteous Mass" as they have done in SF, or even show up at the ride and fling rotten fruit at everyone, and see how that goes down.

tomcryar

#1: Yes, I do.
#2: What gives you the "right" to say what it is, or isn't relevant?
#3: First part. I may organize one. Second part. Sounds like you've been on one of those unruly, damned-be-everybody rides.

Whatever.................I know that critical mass has been stuck in most people's minds as a bad thing that disrupts, rather than tries to help the situation between motorists and cyclists.
I think something needs to be done to change the image.

JoeyMac

I think in this thread we have already discussed how CM groups around the country HAVE changed the image of the ride. I don't think it's all the same critical mass it used to be.

tomcryar

Joeymac, I don't think it is either, but the only reports in the media that everyone hears, or reads, is that it is still a bad thing. How come we don't hear about the good rides, or the people actually obey the laws on rides like this? There's a good reason why.

tomcryar

P.S. if you have to ask why, you aren't thinking.

-=(8)=-

Good stuff doesnt sell papers.

tomcryar

Yes. Very true. But, we're not trying to sell papers. We're trying to educate the people who have no clue as to what we are doing, to the fact that we are here, have always been, and will always be---riding a bike. And to those who don't think we need more "advocacy" on this part, all I can say is: Go ahead and do your thing. Other's, like me will always be here to correct people on the fact that we can go with traffic, and obey the laws, and still get where we're going.

randya

boring