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Why don't they like Critical Mass?



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 1st 10, 07:11 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Doug[_3_]
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Posts: 5,927
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 07:49 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Jim A
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Posts: 618
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 08:24 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Doug[_3_]
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Posts: 5,927
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 08:34 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
JNugent[_5_]
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Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 08:35 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
JNugent[_5_]
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Posts: 3,985
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 08:44 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Happi Monday[_3_]
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Posts: 515
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 09:31 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
bugbear
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Posts: 1,158
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 09:34 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Doug[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 5,927
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 10:42 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
bugbear
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Posts: 1,158
Default 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  
Old April 1st 10, 04:43 PM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Tony Dragon
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Posts: 4,715
Default 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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