Critical Mass this Friday

[YahudaMoon]

Anyone doing CM this Friday, 30th Sept ?

Im thinking about doing the Manchester event as Ive not been for over a year and Im feeling anarchistic in a loving way and in the mood for some BSA action with bike trailers and sound systems :-D

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Not me. I'm not a fan of CM, to be honest: having been on one years ago I firmly believe that the only thing CM achieves is to show what a massive pain in the arse cyclists can be when they try. I don't think it does us any favours at all.
Plus I'm always at work Friday nights.

 

[YahudaMoon]

I think its changed a lot over the years. You still get the odd one doing the wrong thing though the en mass pre launch are advised on highway road eticate and the roads corked in a safe way.

My aspects on dislikes are the same as yourself, you get the odd one shouting at car drivers though the ones Ive been on over the years everyone has behaved in a orderly manner and it was only car drivers that acted in the wrong making cyclist lose the plot

At the end of the day its all about taking over the roads for a brief moment to let people now its not about the car!! :-D

And the more decent cyclist that turn up all more the better

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I think its changed a lot over the years. You still get the odd one doing the wrong thing though the en mass pre launch are advised on highway road eticate and the roads corked in a safe way.

My aspects on dislikes are the same as yourself, you get the odd one shouting at car drivers though the ones Ive been on over the years everyone has behaved in a orderly manner and it was only car drivers that acted in the wrong making cyclist lose the plot

At the end of the day its all about taking over the roads for a brief moment to let people now its not about the car!! :-D

And the more decent cyclist that turn up all more the better

That's my problem with it. The best way to ride in traffic is to be confident and assertive and to keep up with the other traffic as much as possible. Not to take over the roads; all that does is annoy people, which is never a good way to get your point accross.
Enjoy it, nonetheless.

 

[Titan yer tummy]

Not me. I'm not a fan of CM, to be honest: having been on one years ago I firmly believe that the only thing CM achieves is to show what a massive pain in the arse cyclists can be when they try. I don't think it does us any favours at all.
Plus I'm always at work Friday nights.

+1

Absolute load of nonsense IMHO

TyT

 

[frank9755]

+1

Absolute load of nonsense IMHO

TyT

What's your experience: have you been on one, or been driving and held up by one?

I went on one last year (London) out of curiosity. My experience was as YM described. People behaved politely and considerately. Obviously there was disruption because there were a lot of cyclists - 600 I think it was. I've not been back as it wasn't really my thing. The cycling was not much more than walking pace and with frequent stops so I got really cold!

Why do you say it is nonsense?
Do you think there should be a limit on the number of law- and highway code-abiding cyclists allowed to be on the roads at one time?

 

[Sara_H]

That's my problem with it. The best way to ride in traffic is to be confident and assertive and to keep up with the other traffic as much as possible. Not to take over the roads; all that does is annoy people, which is never a good way to get your point accross.
Enjoy it, nonetheless.

Isn't that te point - On a Critical Mass nigt the cyclists are doing what car drivers are doing every other night of the week - clogging up the roads, and making life difficult for other road users. - it's drawing attention the fact

 

[StuartG]

Isn't that te point - On a Critical Mass nigt the cyclists are doing what car drivers are doing every other night of the week - clogging up the roads, and making life difficult for other road users. - it's drawing attention the fact

Big difference. Most motorists are NOT DELIBERATELY making life difficult for other road users. And the people who suffer most from congestion are other motorists. Most motorists do not drive in cities for pleasure (that ended many years ago) but for a purpose (work/shopping/theatre..) which you are screwing up - just because you can. A great way to win friends, converts and influence people?

Or to confirm our reputation as a pain in the archipelago?

Not a great help with the motorist behind when I take primary at a pinch point. There are enough lunatic drivers to combat without alienating the decent ones.

 

[Titan yer tummy]

What's your experience: have you been on one, or been driving and held up by one?

I went on one last year (London) out of curiosity. My experience was as YM described. People behaved politely and considerately. Obviously there was disruption because there were a lot of cyclists - 600 I think it was. I've not been back as it wasn't really my thing. The cycling was not much more than walking pace and with frequent stops so I got really cold!

Why do you say it is nonsense?
Do you think there should be a limit on the number of law- and highway code-abiding cyclists allowed to be on the roads at one time?

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

 

[CopperBrompton]

I've been on several London ones and stopped doing so (halfway through one of them, in fact) for the reasons discussed above. Too many people out to deliberately obstruct other road users, a load of totally unnecessary aggression and generally doing the image of cyclists no favours at all.

 

[fossyant]

The Manchester one isn't bad from what I've seen and they all get legless in Platt Fields or Whitworth Park or a Bar afterwards.

Lots of sound systems.

I'd be laughed out though - fixed road bike, panniers, brakes, and lycra - soo uncool dharling !

 

[ianrauk]

I went once and it was full of tossers... both cyclists and motons

 

[YahudaMoon]

So Im a tosser ?

 

[Xuk]

The Manchester one isn't bad from what I've seen and they all get legless in Platt Fields or Whitworth Park or a Bar afterwards.

Lots of sound systems.

I'd be laughed out though - fixed road bike, panniers, brakes, and lycra - soo uncool dharling !

Manchester CM seems to be very well behaved and ive yet to see 99% of the horror storys claimed about CM :/

as for lycra/road bik/ect you would be supprised at what people show up to ride on, hell tonights even had 2 guys on skateboards following us from start to end(platt fields)

 

[Red Light]

I think its changed a lot over the years.

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.