A Personal Message to Critical Mass.

[BentMikey]

I've been on a number, and I don't agree with your view, Ben.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Since they stopped policing them?

 

[theclaud]

I can't speak for those unnamed events, but I can tell you first-hand that a small number of twats did indeed spoil the CM ride I was on, and not just for me.

I've done a number of very much larger organised rides (London to Brighton, Southend, Cambridge, etc) and never seen twattish behaviour beyond standing in rather silly places.

Come and do the London CM sometime and then tell me I'm wrong.

Perhaps you're just very sensitive?

But you're right - I haven't been on a London one. They're usually a bit duff down here due to small numbers, but even then people get annoyed however well-behaved they are, just because cyclists are daring to get in their way. I see the next London one is the same night as the FNRttC...

 

[CopperBrompton]

Perhaps you're just very sensitive?

I have been accused of a number of things, but that isn't one of them

 

[longers]

I'm interested in the Manchester one at the end of the month, will make up my own mind about it after seeing it for myself.

 

[Rob3rt]

I'm interested in the Manchester one at the end of the month, will make up my own mind about it after seeing it for myself.

I may also go to this! I accidently ended up in the last one (was just leaving my appartment to head to my girlfriends as they were passing my appartment block on their route), was with it for about 100 metres then as I was in a rush (there was lasagne on the table at my destination ) and couldnt get through and they were rolling at a painfully slow pace I pulled out some disgraceful pavement surfing to get ahead.

 

[MacB]

I heard an interesting rumour that people may hold a wide variety of views and an equally wide variety of opinion on how best to express them. Whether I agree with the physicality of CM is secondary to the fact that they are actually making some level of effort.

 

[Bollo]

I heard an interesting rumour that people may hold a wide variety of views and an equally wide variety of opinion on how best to express them. Whether I agree with the physicality of CM is secondary to the fact that they are actually making some level of effort.

I neither agree nor disagree with this point of view.

 

[Rob3rt]

I simply view it as follows:

Its a bike ride, a chance to meet other cyclists (I dont know anyone else that cycles), a social event, its free, it doesnt involve signing up, it might be fun! If it inconveniences some drivers, I dont care, I dont subscribe to its "message", I simply view it as a social event. If any event was run in a city centre with these numbers there would be inconvenience caused.

I'll deffo be giving it a go at some point.

 

[theclaud]

I heard an interesting rumour that people may hold a wide variety of views and an equally wide variety of opinion on how best to express them. Whether I agree with the physicality of CM is secondary to the fact that they are actually making some level of effort.

Well said, MacB. Sometimes getting on with things is more important than agonising over getting them exactly right. It's protest, not neurosurgery...

 

[MacB]

I neither agree nor disagree with this point of view.

good man, knew I could count on you

 

[Twenty Inch]

I've been on a few London CM rides. In the days when it was policed (albeit mostly unofficially), it was a good-natured celebration of cycling.

Since the police stopped attending (after their abortive attempt to ban it), it was taken over by the thugs. Deliberate and aggressive confrontations with car drivers for no reason at all. I peeled off and don't go any more.

It's a great shame. I used to do motorcycle toy runs, and those were much like Andy suggested. Yes, we corked junctions, but we always went and spoke to the drivers held up, explained what was happening, reassured them the delay would be 2-3 mins and gave them a leaflet inviting them to contribute to Great Ormond Street. All extremely friendly, and lots of smiles and thumbs-up from drivers.

This is news to me - when I last went, about 3 years ago, the police were still policing and lots of people were wearing shirts that said "I am NOT the organiser". ****ing amazes me how the police are managing to score so many own goals these days.

I'd love a happy, clappy CM, and several that I was one were just that, a real celebration. Perhaps this hardening of attitudes is what is putting the majority of cyclists off.

FWIW, I have also engaged with local councils on cycling issues, represented TH Wheelers and worked alongside the Borough Coordinator, walked cycle routes with planners, sat on residents' forums, set up a BUG at work etc. etc. Doesn't mean that protest doesn't have a place alongside persuasion.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Perhaps I'm in a minority here but I must say that in fifteen years of commuting round the West Midlands conurbation at all hours of the day and night including rush hours, I never felt the need to campaign for increased facilities especially for cyclists. The roads that everyone else used worked fine for me, and still do.

 

[Debian]

Perhaps I'm in a minority here but I must say that in fifteen years of commuting round the West Midlands conurbation at all hours of the day and night including rush hours, I never felt the need to campaign for increased facilities especially for cyclists. The roads that everyone else used worked fine for me, and still do.

+1, a hundred times over.

 

[BentMikey]

Perhaps I'm in a minority here but I must say that in fifteen years of commuting round the West Midlands conurbation at all hours of the day and night including rush hours, I never felt the need to campaign for increased facilities especially for cyclists. The roads that everyone else used worked fine for me, and still do.

I totally agree on facilities, but then that's a bit OT for CM surely? I've always seen it as an attempt to change peoples attitudes towards bicycles on the road.