How do you feel about Critical Mass

[ArtistJ]

How do you feel about Critical Mass?

I’m talking about the bicycle races.
I’ll start those of you who are unfamiliar with a brief summary of what the event is:
Critical Mass is a worldwide movement to promote the use of bicycles as a viable means of transportation. It has arisen in response to what many call the “car-culture:” an overdependence on the private automobile. It is, more than anything else, reclamation of space, a demonstration to show that the city belongs to people and not machines.

I myself advocate their cause; as I myself am anti-automobile and think driving tests should be more difficult and privately owned automobiles less abundant. Plus I’m an advocate of the exercise element, since I live in one of the fattest cities in the world.

Obviously Critical Mass has many good messages to preach through their nonviolent protest but I feel their activity is potentially very dangerous and destructive to society.

The group acts almost as a sect of anarchists with a total lack of consideration for anyone who is not part of their group. They recklessly swerve amongst the cars on busy streets. The cyclists block intersections for 20 minutes or more as they blow through redlights; without the aid or prior consent from the police department. “We prefer to “cork” the intersections ourselves.” is the mentality of most of the bikers. Occasionally, when CM riders move through intersections, they spontaneously lift their bikes over their heads. This is also called a “holdup”, “bike lift” or “bike salute” which is a symbolic gesture to emphasize the belief that bikes are superior to cars as a form of urban transportation. In reality I feel this is more of a way of mocking stalled cross traffic and creating more of a problem. Sometimes the group of cyclists fight with the cops, and occasionally a few are arrested for “mob action”

So I have very mixed opinions on Critical Mass.
Where do you draw the line for what’s an acceptable political gathering?

[TehreTard]

well sure cars exhaust is half of the air pollution today but one thing, you cant expect have people to join your cause if your swerving into oncoming cars or the reason why there's so much traffic, you expect me to go from NJ to upstate NY in a bike, that's turning a 45 minute drive into a whole day

[IllustriousPotentate]

At 2/25/06 06:49 AM, JustinBianchi wrote: How do you feel about Critical Mass?

I’m talking about the bicycle races.
I’ll start those of you who are unfamiliar with a brief summary of what the event is:
Critical Mass is a worldwide movement to promote the use of bicycles as a viable means of transportation. It has arisen in response to what many call the “car-culture:” an overdependence on the private automobile. It is, more than anything else, reclamation of space, a demonstration to show that the city belongs to people and not machines.

That's all fine and good, but what about the suburbs and rural areas? It's difficult to bicycle to work every day when you live 25+ miles away from where you work or from any stores.

I myself advocate their cause; as I myself am anti-automobile and think driving tests should be more difficult and privately owned automobiles less abundant. Plus I’m an advocate of the exercise element, since I live in one of the fattest cities in the world.

Driving tests should be more difficult, but for another reason--to remove some of the idiots of the road. And there should be retesting.

The group acts almost as a sect of anarchists with a total lack of consideration for anyone who is not part of their group. They recklessly swerve amongst the cars on busy streets. The cyclists block intersections for 20 minutes or more as they blow through redlights; without the aid or prior consent from the police department. “We prefer to “cork” the intersections ourselves.” is the mentality of most of the bikers. Occasionally, when CM riders move through intersections, they spontaneously lift their bikes over their heads. This is also called a “holdup”, “bike lift” or “bike salute” which is a symbolic gesture to emphasize the belief that bikes are superior to cars as a form of urban transportation. In reality I feel this is more of a way of mocking stalled cross traffic and creating more of a problem. Sometimes the group of cyclists fight with the cops, and occasionally a few are arrested for “mob action”

They should be. They should also be fined for any and all traffic violations they commit. Having the right to protest doesn't mean one has the right to break the law doing so.

And I really don't see how they want to win people over to bicycling and reduce the traffic and it's negative effects by going out and pissing people off on their backs and holding up traffic illegally. Moreover, the motorists pissed off at these people will often act more dangerously towards bikers minding their own business and not doing anything wrong.

Where do you draw the line for what’s an acceptable political gathering?

Anything that doesn't break the law. So their gatherings in intersections isn't acceptable. Bicyclists are subject to the same rules of the road as vehicles.

[Elfer]

Good idea, bad execution. How about the people just ride their bikes all the time but obey traffic laws? That might work.

[Demosthenez]

And what happens if you live in Chicago and it snows and is cold as crap, live in Seattle and it rains everyday, or live in Florida and its humid and hot as hell?

[MortifiedPenguins]

And what happens for people, like Me for instance where it's 7 miles to the nearest CVS and the only way to get thier is on a Dangerous and Cury road, through woods with Blind Drives.

It's ideally suited for people in the cities, But then again, I hate the Cities.

[MarkyX]

While it does sound like a good idea, considering that I use my mountain bike every spring and summer, it is far from realistic. The only way bike riding would be considered successful is if the world was flat with no mountains or hills. Going downhill is insanely dangerous, and going uphill would kill your body.

You're talking to a guy who used to bike 4 hours straight during the hot days of summer, not everyone is made for it.

[ArtistJ]

At 2/25/06 04:07 PM, FAB0L0US wrote: And what happens if you live in Chicago and it snows and is cold as crap, live in Seattle and it rains everyday, or live in Florida and its humid and hot as hell?

They race anyway; the last friday of every month, regardless.

[poxpower]

I love biking, but right now, the social structure is not favorable to non-car owners. Doing any shoping or raising kids with only a bike and some bus tickets must be hell. If there was a cheap global taxi network, city-owned, or if more places made delivery to your house ( like for instance some farmers now make deals directly with people and deliver to their homes some fresh vegetables each week) then I think biking would be viable to travel in-city.

But also, Canada is snowy and fucking COLD. Can't bike here during the winter.

And those guys are idiots from what you say. Wtf "motorists try to show the city they own it by using a car" riiiiiiiiight

[darkfiretime1]

Most people dont understand where the polution is coming from. Fanatics burn cars, slap bumper stickers on SUVs, instead of actually going after the major polutants. Vehicles dont put out as much pollution as factories. Besides, quite a bit of the so called air polution is natural. The real pollution is in the water, where people dump there trash, and toxic waste if dumped by factories that dont give a two time shit about people and health.