Yesterday on my morning commute, I crossed this intersection (heading southwest, crossing West Lake Sammamish on the crosswalk):

https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=4...06695&t=h&z=18

Just as the light indicated "walk", a car heading southeast on West Lake Sammamish Parkway pulled across the crosswalk and stopped, completely blocking the crosswalk. I think he was planning to turn right onto the Highway 520 entrance ramp, but he was held-up by traffic.

I rode slowly across and passed behind the car blocking the crosswalk. Just then, a man on a motorcycle stopped at the intersection yelled something to me. (He wasn't yelling *at* me, but he had to raise his voice above the traffic noise). The conversation went something like this:

Him: "Hey! Kick his windows in!"
Me: "No thanks, I'm not with Critical Mass."
Him: "Oh man, did you see that on TV the other day?"
Me: "Yea, I saw it."

In this one instance, it's clear that Critical Mass is getting a message out. I just don't think it's the right message.

Hopefully the motorcycle rider was only sarcastically "goading" you into behaving like another M*****hole.

And I agree, I don't think it's the right message. It really doesn't even matter how peaceful various CM events can be, because the common opinion is that they're populated by hooligans with nothing better to do.

Critical mass groups will be reigned in. It's only a matter of time before the metropolitan areas push back, HARD!.

And that's the problem - the rest of us will be hurt when they do.

the biker sounds like he is commiserate on the topic of the dangers posed by 4 wheeled vehicles to 2 wheeled vehicles. Something most motorcyclists understand as well as any bicyclist. From your commentary he sounds frustrated with the road situation to the point of acting out, and your choice is to demonize other 2 wheeled road users.

Nevermind the roads, it's other cyclists that you take on. I guess that's more important, making sure that all the voices are heard the way you'd like them to be.

instead of just bashing CM, why dont some BF members go on a CM ride and encourage people to protest more thoughtfully. fact remains that there is not one single cycling advocacy group that is as well known and draws press.

Agreed. Critical Mass is not having the intended effect and right now with the high gas prices what we really need is public encouragement to ride bikes, not some crowd frenzy spin...

True... there is no "MAD" or Americans with Disabilities or any such well known group voicing for cyclists... which is why cycling advocacy is so disjointed.


One would think that the bike manufactures would group together to work to improve the acceptance of cyclists everywhere... if only to improve their sales.

I didn't demonize anyone -- I thought I knew what he was referring to, and I was in fact correct.

I disagree with CM's tactics, and I choose to make it clear that I am not associated with that group.

I'd like to point out the irony in your statements "...he sounds frustrated with the road situation..." and "...making sure all the voices are heard the way you'd like them to be". There was no frustration in his voice or demeanor, yet you assume there was in order to support your own views. Pot, meet kettle.

Unless the 'thoughtful protesters' outnumbered those who advocate violence (or stand by and allow it to happen), then a few consciensious individuals will have no impact on what the rest of the mob does.

If you're a Seattle cyclist and you want to participate in something useful, Cascade Bicycle Club is working to bring together cyclists, city council and police to work toward an amenable solution. The following is quoted from their newsletter, "Braking News"

Some of you may have been present at Friday's Critical Mass ride in Seattle, and many of you have read media accounts of the incidents that occurred at the ride. Cascade Bicycle Club is not involved in nor are we affiliated with the Seattle Critical Mass rides. Our organization has always taken the position that cyclists must obey all the rules of the road. We also support law enforcement of bicyclists who violate traffic laws and regulations. We do not condone or support the unlawful behaviors that some riders choose to follow on Seattle Critical Mass.

It is our hope, and that of others, to see a de-escalation from this point forward. To this end, we are calling for a meeting of bicycle community members, law enforcement and city officials. Seattle is on the brink of great work in terms of bicycling, and we would like to see positive focus on these issues.
Read Cascade's full statement (PDF)

Yeah, that does it for me... no sympathy. CM is doing for cycling 'advocacy' what PETA is doing for the animal welfare movement -- making us look like a bunch of screeching irrational lunatics with their priorities screwed on backwards.

Well, there is the League of American Bicyclists - they've been advocating for cyclists for over 100 years.

Why be associated with them? I can tell you that they (the ones that misbehave) will not change because some one suggests that they change. They just want to stick it to someone or be a rebel.

Agreed -- that's not how mob mentality works. If one person in a crowd is calm and rational, that won't be as contagious as the one person who is violent and angry. It's an adrenaline thing. You can't just balance it out that way.

blaming the proactive for the backlash is a sticky argument. i think you want to assess the potential ramifications of such a position before you put your name to it.

Huh ?
Help me out here.....What does you badmouthing Critical Mass to a -motorcycle- rider
have to do their(CM) message ??

Ive been to many local Planning Commission meetings / 'Ban bicycles in developments' type
meetings here in FL where the death rate for cyclists is the highest in the country and
have never seen any LAB people at them. Roadies either.
Im not trying to be confrontational or combative, but can you show me anything LAB
has done for cyclists just for the sake of my own edification ?

Nice guy advocacy is why we have no respect even from the people who are
entrusted with insuring our safety and well-being.

welcome back, Lem!

With a whisper for a voice... otherwise there wouldn't be several other organizations and even an anti-league.

And does LAB even associate with manufactures?

For all of their 100 years of service... the average cyclist knows nothing of them.

But stop anyone on the street and ask if they've ever heard of MADD.

OP: Am I understanding you to say that you were riding in the crosswalk? Otherwise why would a car blocking it bother you, except maybe on principle in solidarity with pedestrians.

LAB does a lot of education, notwithstanding that many cyclists don't know about it or bother to take advantage of it. They also do advocacy, and sponsor or promote such programs as Bicycle Friendly Communities, Bike to Work Month, and Safe Routes to School.

Some CM critics have reacted by forming their own rides, stressing obeying traffic law, using names like "Courteous Mass" or "Critical Manners".

i admit i don't know a heck of a lot about madd -- i'm not a mother, rarely a driver and don't drink -- but i think if you're looking for an effective advocacy a good place to start is the environmental movement especially because it represents two important concepts:

1. diversity of tactics
2. redefining the centre

let's start with diversity. the bottom line is this: there is no one magic method, technique or approach that is going to make cycling popular, safe and effective for all. we will need lobbying to sway politicians, education efforts for both drivers and cyclists, direct action in the streets to turn the heat up and power brokers in the back room sway policy. there is no one "magic bullet" that will solve all our problems: we need a "magic magazine" (forgive the firearms analogy).

now, the education people will think the lobbying people are corrupt and the lobbying people will think the direct action types are lunatics and the direct action types will think the education folks are hopeless idealists.... and none of the different strains of activism will necessarily get along. but that does not mean that they are not all necessary and that any of them can hope to succeed without the other.

which brings up redefining the centre.

if you were alive in 1971 when greenpeace started getting rolling you will remember that for the average person on the street they were regarded as "radicals", "extremists" and "hippies". fair enough. the thing about being an "extremist" is that if the "average" person thinks you are, you are. that's the definition.

then earth first! came along in the '80s. more radical, more extreme, shorter hair. and suddenly greenpeace, without changing their agenda or tactics, started looking "moderate". this is the process we call "redefining the centre".

without critical mass, the lab looks like a bunch gorp-eating freds who want to take away everyone's suv and make people live in yurts. lab -- or whatever organization actually steps up to do their job -- needs a more aggressive, outspoken and, well, "extreme" group to give them respectibility, just like the naacp needed the sncc to make them look moderate.

but don't expect teh average roadie here to understand this

Another rocket surgeon heard from.

Oops. I see he nuked himself.

How fitting.

Conspiracy theories quoted below.

I pray for a speedy recovery from your head injury...and next time, please wear a helmet.

somewhere a village is missing its idiot