[TxCyclist]

Anyone participate in Critical Mass?

 

[Doc]

Im not very familiar what it is, info?

 

[Naturegirl]

Yeah I'm rather clueless as well...

 

[Keith]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass

It's a gathering of bikers.

 

[Coprinus]

Anybody partake regularly in this empowering demonstration?

It can change your life, riding in the bigger ones like in Portland, OR, and San Francisco.

But even a small group of ten or so can comfortably take a lane, make a point, and have some fun!

 

[Coprinus]

I love CM! In the right place, at the right time, its a very effective direct action- style protest that is also tons of fun! If you don't have one in your hometown, start one! We're not blocking traffic, we are traffic!

 

[zahgurim]

Most of the riders in the larger gatherings are pretentious twats that do more damage to cycling's image than good.

I understand why they started, but they've since morphed into something that is not cool at all.
Hipsters pissing of drivers and cops alike by flounting the rules of the road and tieing up traffic is not was it should be about. It should be about sharing the road in a constructive manner, instead of making drivers want to mow regular commuters and couriers down.

 

[hophead]

Most of the riders in the larger gatherings are pretentious twats that do more damage to cycling's image than good.

I understand why they started, but they've since morphed into something that is not cool at all.
Hipsters pissing of drivers and cops alike by flounting the rules of the road and tieing up traffic is not was it should be about. It should be about sharing the road in a constructive manner, instead of making drivers want to mow regular commuters and couriers down.

For the most part, I would tend to agree.

*EDIT*
I merged this thread with Dean's since it's about the exact same topic.

 

[Coprinus]

Most of the riders in the larger gatherings are pretentious twats that do more damage to cycling's image than good.

I understand why they started, but they've since morphed into something that is not cool at all.
Hipsters pissing of drivers and cops alike by flounting the rules of the road and tieing up traffic is not was it should be about. It should be about sharing the road in a constructive manner, instead of making drivers want to mow regular commuters and couriers down.

This is a good conversation to have.
My feeling is that CM changes depending on the participants. In other words, if you don't like what's happening in your city during Mass, join the ride and change the vibe! Successful rides are brimming with positivity and celebratory feelings that can intoxicate everyone involved, including motorists.
The hope is that eventually it will become more practical for motorists to commute by bike on the last Friday of the month, just due to pure numbers. Thus "Critical Mass"

I admit that I may be a pretentious twat, though.

 

[CTD50]

I'll leave it to you, Coprinus, to decide whether you are indeed a pretentious twat; but you appear to have a thick skin about an activity you are passionate about, which is a good thing!

I'm personally undecided about CM; on one hand, I'm for anything that involves getting on my bike; on the other, I'm unsure about being involved in what seems to me to be a silly display of civil disobedience...but then, our annual, club-sponsored "Chilly Challenge", a Jan. 1 ride/chili-cook-off, isn't too different, with civility and observation of good road manners left at home.

I may have to just check out a local CM ride, and decide firsthand. I will say this -- I won't be a ringleader for the 'outlaws'.

 

[funetical]

Cm is one of the reason's the drivers don't like us. I dislike them severely. In Austin if a protest falls into the street they arrest you. If your Cm you do as you please. It shows that young rich and white, which is the majority of Austin Cm cyclist, can do whatever the hell they please at the expense of others.

 

[bikermandan]

So this is about riding your bike in the road instead of a sidewalk?

 

[Biker]

I rode Critical once. Never again. The rhetoric of indecisive shiftless lay abouts is of no use to any of us. Funetical your in Austin?