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#1
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Alleged cyclists say it give cyclists a bad name.. Motorists say it
breaks the law. It all started in San Francisco in 1992 so here is the latest viewpoint from there. "Commenter Peter Smith posted a link to an item on Cyclelicious concerning the awesome San Jose Bike Party. It seems that even if you stop for red lights, eject anyone who acts like a jerk, don’t drink in public, and in all respects carry on like a model minority, you will still be blamed for the traffic woes of your city. From the San Jose Merc: The bike ride through town snarled traffic, so police rerouted drivers away from N. Santa Cruz Avenue. “It was terrible,” former Los Gatos resident Emerald Hathaway said. “I couldn’t even get onto N. Santa Cruz. They were riding around all the cars. It was quite a sight.” Los Gatos Weekly-Times columnist Mary Ann Cook also got stuck in the melee, saying it took a long time to get out of downtown. Notice that the sight of bicyclists riding easily through motorized gridlock is described as “terrible.” Really? I wonder what word they use to describe traffic the other 30 days of the week? And then there’s that unpleasant word “snarl.” Journalists always use that one, as if they imagine traffic to be smiling until a nasty gang of cyclists rides by, causing traffic’s upper lip to curl defensively. Well, everyone knows traffic is predictably “snarled” every day as a result of poor city planning that has favored the private automobile for decades now. And we see the results. Of course, the San Francisco Critical Mass gets this sort of press every month. I’m not bringing it up to disparage the excellent efforts of the San Jose ride. But the point is that you can’t change the rules of the road — even momentarily, even one day a month, even while stopping for red lights — without people blaming you for the very problem you are trying to solve. Might as well accept the fact that we’re going to be unpopular, and get on with the task of building a genuine public culture, public discussion, public space for everyone!" http://www.sfcriticalmass.org/2010/0...-for-everyone/ -- Critical Mass London http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk "Get out of my way you f*ing cyclist" |
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#2
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Doug wrote:
cyclists say it give cyclists a bad name.. Indeed. CM is flogging a dead horse. -- www.slowbicyclemovement.org - enjoy the ride |
#3
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
On 1 Apr, 07:49, Jim A wrote:
Doug wrote: cyclists say it give cyclists a bad name.. Indeed. *CM is flogging a dead horse. Well its only once a month and not much else is happening. -- Critical Mass London http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk "Get out of my way you f*ing cyclist" |
#4
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Doug wrote:
http://www.sfcriticalmass.org/2010/0...-for-everyone/ Alleged cyclists say it give cyclists a bad name.. Motorists say it breaks the law. It all started in San Francisco in 1992 so here is the latest viewpoint from there. [ ... ] Notice that the sight of bicyclists riding easily through motorized gridlock is described as “terrible.” Really? I wonder what word they use to describe traffic the other 30 days of the week? Not exactly what you would call an educated, careful or knowledgeable author (or publisher) eh? |
#5
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Doug wrote:
Jim A wrote: Doug wrote: cyclists say it give cyclists a bad name.. Indeed. CM is flogging a dead horse. Well its only once a month and not much else is happening. Or once a (thirty-one-day) week, depending on which bit of it you believe (if any). |
#6
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Is it because it's full of self-centred, need-a-life, ******s that
enrage motorists to such a degree that they take it out on us "normal" cyclists? |
#7
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Doug wrote:
On 1 Apr, 07:49, Jim A wrote: Doug wrote: cyclists say it give cyclists a bad name.. Indeed. CM is flogging a dead horse. Well its only once a month and not much else is happening. The phrase "dialogue of the deaf" springs to mind. BugBear |
#8
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
On 1 Apr, 08:44, Happi Monday wrote:
Is it because it's full of self-centred, need-a-life, ******s that enrage motorists to such a degree that they take it out on us "normal" cyclists? Do you really believe the motorists are fully justified in 'taking it out' on you or that CM has anything to do with it? BTW, are you a motorist? -- Critical Mass London http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk "Get out of my way you f*ing cyclist" |
#9
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Doug wrote:
On 1 Apr, 08:44, Happi Monday wrote: Is it because it's full of self-centred, need-a-life, ******s that enrage motorists to such a degree that they take it out on us "normal" cyclists? Do you really believe the motorists are fully justified... The notion that motorists sometimes do things that AREN'T justifiable ought to sit well with YOUR world view. BugBear |
#10
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Why don't they like Critical Mass?
Doug wrote:
On 1 Apr, 08:44, Happi Monday wrote: Is it because it's full of self-centred, need-a-life, ******s that enrage motorists to such a degree that they take it out on us "normal" cyclists? Do you really believe the motorists are fully justified in 'taking it out' on you or that CM has anything to do with it? It's obvious to anybody normal person reading this NG, that normal cyclists think that CM does nothing for cycling, indeed just the opposite. BTW, are you a motorist? Does it matter? -- Critical Mass London http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk "Get out of my way you f*ing cyclist" -- Tony Dragon |
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