[Farnsworth]

Does anybody here belong to any bicycle associations or advocacy groups? There's one around here called Critical Mass that a friend was telling me about. Seems cool.

[IanHighfield]

Originally Posted by Farnsworth

Does anybody here belong to any bicycle associations or advocacy groups? There's one around here called Critical Mass that a friend was telling me about. Seems cool.

Isn't this the group that makes a pain-in-the-ass of themselves by blocking traffic in a self-righteous mass riding scheme? We have a similar group of misanthropes over here in England. They are largely ignored until it's you who gets stuck behind the bloody buggers on your way to somewhere in your car.

Then they're not so fine a group - bicycles or not.

[Industry_Hack]

Critical Mess is neither an association nor an advocacy group.

[funetical]

I hate them but I thought the point of them was to bring attention to cycling issues by making an annoyance of themselves.

[IanHighfield]

Originally Posted by funetical

I hate them but I thought the point of them was to bring attention to cycling issues by making an annoyance of themselves.

Like a terrorist. Only these buggers don't blow themselves and others up. That's their only positive attribute.

Now if they wire up and gather up and go somewhere isolated. Then I'll push the plunger for them.

[HandsomeRyan]

I think all critical mass groups are different. The CM rides in Knoxville are not very 'critical' in their mass as usually less than 30 people show up to ride but they have a pretty good relationship with the local police and overall I think they get more smiles and waves than honks and obscene hand gestures from passing motorists.

A lot of the problems with CM in cities like SanFran and NYC was that the authorities arrived at a bad situation and made it considerably worse by using excessive force and falsifying reports about what happened.

I'm neither for nor against critical mass but I would suggest that regardless of which side you take you should check out the documentary called "Still We Ride" about what happened that changed the fun/easygoing Critical Mass ride in NYC that was attended by all types of bike lovers into the protest ride comprised entirely of cycling extremists that it is today.

Available free on youtube in 4 parts:
Part 1► YouTube - Still We Ride
Part 2► YouTube - Still We Ride
Part 3► YouTube - Still We Ride
Part 4► YouTube - Still We Ride

[IanHighfield]

Ryan you are judged by the company you keep. Maybe some groups are better. They should change their names. Critical Mass is toxic.