I never heard of CM before BF
 

I didn't even know what critical mass was before I came on board Bike Forums. I had a peruse of that NY CM v NY cop push down thread, got me thinking.

I did know all about May Day (or Liberty Day or something?), those riot things that take place on the first day of May to prove a point about corporations ruling the earth. Does CM attempt to achieve the same thing? Is it supposed to be a way for cyclists to obtain better rights on the road, for safety, or is there more to it than that? Is it supposed to prove things Orwell said a long time ago? How? Or is it just a fun-thing ?

I dont want to say CM takes place by people who have no jobs, or low paid jobs, or anything like that (heck, I know people who dress down but make $million salaries) but I do wonder if there's a similarity between CM and May Day?

1. No
2. Original intentions (long forgotten) were to call attention to the number of people that can commute by bicycle in the same amount of space taken/jammed by people in cars.
3. It is now a 'gateway' type ride that actually gets some people comfortable with riding in the streets. Hopefully, eventually, they ditch the 'group anarchy' mode of the ride and progress on to being better skilled cyclists.
4. Orwell... not really.
5. There is very little similarity between CM and May Day. For one, May Day is barely celebrated stateside ;) MayDay marks a particular date/event of significance. CM doesn't. MayDay is mostly celebrated by pro-labour political orientations. CM is mostly "on the left" however despite how much a few members on here would like to pigeonhole everyone who does CM, riders can readily come from ANY political orientation. I know quite a few 'right wing' conservatives who ride CM. Environmentalists and cycling enthusiasts exist beyond politics, you know. [and, judging by that other thread, ******bags, a**holes, and narrow-minded people exist on any side of the argument, however do not represent all people nor anyone beyond themselves]

Hope that helps.

PS: NOT EVERY SOCIAL RIDE IS LIKE CRITICAL MASS.

Wtf, why don't we a May Day in the US? Never heard of it before.

Looks like fun:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

Oh wait...

Just forget you ever heard about it...

Ted Striker: Mayday! Mayday!
Steve McCroskey: What the heck is that?
Johnny: Why, that's the Russian New Year. We can have a parade and serve hot hors d'oeuvres...

Consider yourself lucky. I have a CM inflicted on me in Chicago last summer. It sucks. My knuckles hurt for weeks afterword.

some of the same crowds from protests/may day are at CM, for sure - but you'll also see lycra-clad, reflective types too. i've even seen recumbents there.

did you know? the first known CM (well, it was a bike protest anyway) was in SF back in the early 1900's - i need to dig out my CM book to get details on that.

i think CM started as a ride-protest (for me), but now when i go i'm just out to have fun. many drink before/during/after (i don't). so it's more of a celebration of bikes than anything else.

one thing i will say is that the people there have bikes as a major part of their life - as opposed to a hobby that you just do on the weekends.

the other thing is that no two CMs will be alike - every city is different, for instance in Paris they do it on Saturday morning I'm pretty sure, instead of the last friday of the month at rush hour.

It does help - thanks.

For the person with the wiki incite, I was refering, when I said May Day, more to Anti-Capitalist protests that sometimes descend into violence.

May Day customs change according to ethnic tradition.
Here in the US of A we never place a basket of flowers on a strangers doorstep and ring the doorbell.
A steaming paper sack of doggie dung is placed on the doorstep,lit afire,and the doorbell rung.
"Happy Mayday"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...Workers%27_Day is the May Day the OP was referring to.

In the US Mayday largely materializes as a protest for immigration rights, the most notable protests typically in Los Angeles (i've photographed the largest and the most violent ones). In Europe though I'm pretty sure they manifest themselves as a day for labor rights.