Comments on: Critical Mass — March 2007

By: Moz

Moz — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 06:56:35 +0000

We”ve tried rides where we just accept getting split up, and try to rejoin. I doesn”t work – inevitably we get two or more groups on the same road, and the one behind ftries to filter through stopped cars to join up (which is legal here, as long as the cars are stopped). Or we get cars driving into the micro-mass of 20 cyclists. Either way, it quickly stops being a mass and becomes a mess. The PTB have also expressed disapproval, as it makes their traffic control efforts much harder. But for us, just reducing the chance of a serious attack by a motorist means we greatly prefer to stay in a single bunch.

We”ve also tried stopping just past the intersection to wait, but of course motorists turning the corner then struggle to work out what to do – even if we try to wait at the side of the road, just driving past seems to be a rare strategy. This also makes for a very slow Mass, and the cops (when they”re riding with us) have *no* patience for this one – we get told to continue through red lights. Quite emphatically at times.

By: AlexWetmore

AlexWetmore — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:49:52 +0000

I think that Seattle’’s CM is friendly enough that splintering off a Critical Manners or Courteous Mass would be unnecessary at this point. If things go south it is definately something to keep in mind.

I”ll be there on the next ride Mark and Aaron.

By: Aaron Goss

Aaron Goss — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 04:24:09 +0000

Hey, isn”t that bike shop owner, Aaron Goss riding a bike without a helmet! And a pink bike? Something must be wrong with him!

By: Adrian Hands

Adrian Hands — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:05:30 +0000

Google “COUTEOUS Mass”

By: jim g

jim g — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:29:44 +0000

In San Francisco, apparently there’’s a (new?) ride called “Critical Manners”…

from http://www.sfbike.org/?chain

Critical Manners: a revolutionary act of courtesy. Come put the nice back in the bike world with critical manners! A helmet-wearing, bell-ringing, blinkie-sportin” good time for you and all your bike friends. Practice synchronized signaling, single file riding, stopping at stop signs and NOT blowing red lights. Critical Manners will brake for pedestrians, trolleys, and even the occasional SUV. If you”ve ridden in Critical Mass, you know about the “testosterone brigade”. Maybe it’’s time you rode with Critical Manners. We take obedience of the law ridiculously seriously.

Hmmm.

By: markE mark

markE mark — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 02:27:56 +0000

I”m soooo gonna make the next one. Skip out of work @ 4:30 and hit the good ol” 545.