Robert Foster

The post I was responding to wasn’t yours I realize but it was an example of how far apart we are on this issue. Look at organized events like the many century rides you see posted and then look at the groups they support. How much voice do you suppose those organized rides have with the city or county? Like I said give us someone to negotiate with, a responsible party or committee and we can discuss our differences. We go to meeting and try to get infrastructure for cycling in our cities and we support charities and other organizations to garner positive support for our stated goals. But we have to agree to some basic rules of the road. In the Palm Springs Century ride in February there are 8000 riders all riding on mostly open roads. The City does close off part of down town towards the end of the afternoon for a street party to celebrate the event. People will camp out along the route and cheer us on and the high schools and cub scouts will help serve water and food at rest stops along the way.

Traffic doesn’t have to yield to us but most often they do and we do not cork or run red lights. After the event the community has a good taste in their mouth and for months afterward cyclists will get positive responses from the city. That is positive advocating for the cycling community. Are CM rides any more attended and are people glad they were there? If not then what has been done?

The response from the other poster is exactly why we have reservations. I have made suggestions as requested. It is in the supporters of CM to see about making changes. Until those changes are made I cannot support the anarchy displayed so far and to date. No leaders and no planned route and no asking for a permit are just three problems that the rest of us have overcome and provided something for the community. I have given an example of organized advocacy and how it benefits others in the community. Now how does CM benefit the community and what have they given back?

WCoastPeddler

I understand this and agree with you. Perhaps we can disregard such comments, and the mindset that comes with it, so that it doesn't get in the way of meaningful discussion?

I haven't suggested that you support CM, I'm merely looking for possible solutions to perhaps turn it into something that makes better sense -- help it evolve, if you like. That's what the intention of my (longish) posts were -- just to start a dialog and hopefully come up with something that might push CM in the right direction without taking the fun aspect out of it (because, I think that is what "sells" CM the most). The main positive aspect, as I've mentioned, is that there are thousands of cyclists in one place -- surely even those opposed to CM can see the value in that.

I'm merely hoping that we can have a dialog here that might result in some valid suggestions that may work with changing the negative things about CM into something positive. It's obvious that most people here (myself included) realize that CM has some major shortcomings but one positive thing that it has going for it is the exposure (notoriety?) that it has garnered -- it is possible to turn that into a positive -- but only if one has an open mind about considering the possibilities.

There's a solution to every problem -- but it won't be found unless it's looked for. And in the case of CM, I don't think the solution is really that radically far away from what would make those who disagree with it happy. It's just a matter or restructuring it, and re-branding it. As I've also mentioned, I don't know how to go about making such changes, and it can't be all that difficult to figure that aspect out, but regardless of how that could be accomplished, the required changes first need to be determined. Perhaps some of the advocacy groups could help out in this regard.

Robert, thank you for your reply and for being open to discussing this -- I'm confident that there is a solution -- it's just a matter of finding it. The starting point for that to happen, could be right here.

Timber_8

This is like there is no such thing as God thread

Ranger63

Hopefully with some common sense.
I'm unsure (I think they managed to get themselves outlawed )if Buffalo (NY) still has this event but I vividly remember when it did.
People with no helmets, riding down crowded city streets 3-4 abreast.
Riding thru red lights and stop signs and being as confrontational to motorists as they could possibly be.
Most of the regions serious cyclists put as much distance between themselves and these (can I say it?) morons as possible.
Never did one event do so much to set the progress of cycling in a city back than CM

wunderkind

There's already a solution to the anarchy associated to CM. It's also called CM - Critical Manners. Some of the riders in some cities (San Diego, Vancouver etc.) are now organizing this counter-Critical Mass rides to show to the public that cyclists can be law abiding traffic while at the same time raising awareness.
https://criticalmanners.wordpress.com/

Kimmitt 

I think we should totally have a ride where we advocate for cyclists to be allowed to plow into car doors, be run over and left for dead, and ticketed for violations of nonexistent laws.

Oh, wait, someone beat me to it. Awesome!

dmac49

Drink lots of Kool Aid like you've been doing.

WCoastPeddler

Apparently you missed my comments about Critical Manners a couple of pages back (towards the bottom of the page).