Banjo
Fuelled with Jelly Babies
- Location
- South Wales
The discussion has been done to death on here over the years .Time to put up or shut up .
Poll. Are critical mass rides helpfull to cycling in general?
- Thread starter Banjo
- Start date
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Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
I have not heard of the term critical mass rides so cannot comment
Peter Armstrong
Über Member
NO
mattobrien
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Suffolk
If it is a case of winning 'hearts and minds' I am not sure that what I know of the exploits of critical mass falls into that category.
Being inconvenienced isn't necessarily going to make me more aware and considerate of other road users when I am driving. Understanding things from their point of view might.
Being inconvenienced isn't necessarily going to make me more aware and considerate of other road users when I am driving. Understanding things from their point of view might.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
I'm not sure if it happens in Staines but its a whole load of cyclists who gather in town, last Friday of the month. The idea originally I believe is its a mass of cyclists which are of a critical number to get noticed properly and leave the impression of such in people's mind, make people think about cyclists. To me however, it seems more like a way of giving an an excuse to those already against cyclists and possibly inconveniencing/ alienating those who aren't. A lot of dodgy manouvres are born out of driver impatience/fustration and I cant see the event influencing that other than negatively.
glenn forger
Guest
Are traffic jams helpful to the motoring community?
numbnuts
Squire
- Location
- Gone over the hill and far away
I have never been on one, but a load of cyclist holding up traffic just to antagonise motorists it just so wrong
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
The French have a tactic of blocking a road with bikes for 5 minutes. They hold up a sign saying Just for 5 minutes. The usual Gallic excuse given by drivers parking in cycling lanes. Now that is a better tactic than merely causing chaos in a town centre by being there en-mass. But maybe still not a good idea.
99.9% of vehicle drivers are safe and considerate judging by my experiences. Critical mass type protests disrupt the journeys of these drivers as well as the idiots we all want to educate.
Imagine the vulnerable elderly individual (maybe they used to be a keen cyclist),waiting for their home care worker who they rely on for food and the drugs they need just to manage their pain. Sadly the care worker (also a keen cyclist) is going to be an hour late because they are stuck in a traffic jam caused by a mass of militant cyclists.
Perhaps over emotive, but all the same critical mass type protests will only result in a more entrenched attitude of us and them, even turning some people violently against cyclists.
Imagine the vulnerable elderly individual (maybe they used to be a keen cyclist),waiting for their home care worker who they rely on for food and the drugs they need just to manage their pain. Sadly the care worker (also a keen cyclist) is going to be an hour late because they are stuck in a traffic jam caused by a mass of militant cyclists.
Perhaps over emotive, but all the same critical mass type protests will only result in a more entrenched attitude of us and them, even turning some people violently against cyclists.
Sittingduck
Legendary Member
- Location
- Somewhere flat
I went on the London Critical Mass a few years back. It was all very genial and easy going. There were a couple of cyclists who were obviously looking for any sort of confrontation but they were in a very small minority. And contrary to belief there were a lot of car drivers, taxis and bus drivers who did show their support and were very patient when the ride went through junctions.
But it's just not for me. I wouldn't go on one again.
But it's just not for me. I wouldn't go on one again.
You must be very luckyI might consider moving to the Malverns, sounds like heaven.
It is!!
I saw a video once of some critical mass riders terrorising an elderly couple just because they had a 4x4, or at least that's what it looked like. 4x4s are a bit of a pain in the bum on narrow London streets, but that was no way to make any sort of point.
I'm sure there are lots of nice well-balanced people that go on these rides, but some of them just seem to like a bit of anarchy so it's not something I'd want to be involved with.
I'm sure there are lots of nice well-balanced people that go on these rides, but some of them just seem to like a bit of anarchy so it's not something I'd want to be involved with.
glenn forger
Guest
Nobody is terrorised on CM. Nobody is delayed for an hour by CM. The rides I've been on have been brilliant, pedestrians cheered and took photos. Try it, then have an opinion, if you've never been on one I can't see how you can pass judgement.
I think CM is a wast of time,its mostly going to get peoples backs up, wot you need to do is all pick a day to ditch the bike and take your car, with a sign on the roof saying ' I normally ride my bike on this road ' or words to that affect, now that would cause mayhem. I would involve the motorcyclists too.i would book the day off work though coz you wont be foing
anywhere
