Critical Mass this Friday

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

It may have changed a lot itself but AFAICS it hasn't changed anything. If people want to congregate for an oh-so-slow ride together through the streets that's their prerogative but as a cycling campaign tool its totally ineffective IMO and people are deluding themselves if that's what they think they are doing.

not everybody who attends is attending to deliver a message to motorists.

i attended most of 2009 and some 2010. i went simply to see lots of different bikes, meet like minded souls who came in all sorts of packages (for example, their was a bloke who wore very tight mini dresses, cycled in high heels and had long blonde hair, but built his own powerful led lights). i particularly enjoyed the halloween ones where most people dressed up in halloween costumes.

there were kids cycling the streets of manchester safely on their little bikes with tassels, when else could they be safe on the roads of manchester? it should be every day, but unfortunately it's not.

i thoroughly enjoyed it and only stopped going when i started my nurse training and was told activism (no matter how mild) is frowned upon.

 

[frank9755]

I have not been on one. I have cycled through one on one occasion. Many years ago I was a motorist when I was assailed through the open window of the van I was driving by a snarling lout amongst a throng of snarling louts under the CM banner on the North side of Westminster Bridge. I thought they were going to pull me out of the cab.

Apart from that I pass them as they assemble at South Bank most months as it is on my route home. They appear a throng of the great unwashed to me!! They do not represent the sort of cycling I am involved in!!

TyT

An attack from a snarling lout is very unpleasant, whether said lout is a critical masser, a random drunk, wearing a police uniform or any other context. I suspect that, after having had such an experience - which is inexcusable - if critical mass were to consist of a throng of angels spreading sweetness and light, you might still have a negative view of them, even if it was, as you say, 'many years ago'

Re your great 'unwashed point', I've read a criticism of CM on this forum by someone else who has been on them who says that it has been 'taken over by trustafarians' - ie exactly the opposite in class terms. From my one trip out with them 18 months ago, I wouldn't be able to sign up to either extreme view; the ones I spoke to seemed to be a pretty ordinary bunch of people.

 

[frank9755]

It may have changed a lot itself but AFAICS it hasn't changed anything. If people want to congregate for an oh-so-slow ride together through the streets that's their prerogative but as a cycling campaign tool its totally ineffective IMO and people are deluding themselves if that's what they think they are doing.

The facts are that, during the time in which Critical Mass has been operating, the tide has clearly turned in favour of cycling in London and other cities with better provision and greater awareness of cyclists on the part of drivers.

How can you be absolutely certain that Critical Mass has had no part whatsoever in these shifts?

 

[srw]

i thoroughly enjoyed it and only stopped going when i started my nurse training and was told activism (no matter how mild) is frowned upon.

OT, but that's very sad indeed. I don't see why a bolshy nurse is a bad nurse.

 

[frank9755]

That is sad - I missed that.


IMHO something is wrong in a society if employers have the power and the inclination to bully people out of spending their free time engaging in a legal activity of their choosing.

 

[YahudaMoon]

I know a police officer who does critical mass so it cant be that bad can it ?

 

[Cyclist33]

So Im a tosser ?

Yes. Yes, you are. ;-}

 

[Fab Foodie]

OT, but that's very sad indeed. I don't see why a bolshy nurse is a bad nurse.

Some of us have to pay good money for a bolshy bad nurse ...

 

[StuartG]

Some of us have to pay good money for a bolshy bad nurse ...

Just a TV licence worth:
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blib3a9FLCE