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#221
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Critical Mass - Fundamentalist Plonkers?
"Theo Bekkers" wrote in message ... TimC wrote: Unless the mass is of zero value. Isn't that what this whole thread is about? :-) Close, but no cigar. It's about the value of hot air. T. |
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#222
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Critical Mass - Fundamentalist Plonkers?
A motorist must bear much more responsibility on the roads because his/her mistakes have far more consequence than a cyclists. Motorists break the law pretty well every time they drive. Every time someone sets us a radar gun outside a school zone (eg. newspaper, local P&C group) they invariably note about 90% of drivers speed. Motorists come up with all sorts of "it wasn't my fault" / "the devil made me do it" excuses. "I didn't know the time", "the huge signs and painted yellow boxes on the road were too subtle". Try this, stand at an intersection for a while and see the vast majority of drivers also stop over the line. See how many don't quite stop at the stop sign. See how many accellerate through the yellow light. When I'm riding on a multi-lane road where I take the left lane, MOST cars squeeze past without fully changing lanes (illegal). There is probably little difference in the rates of bad behaviour between cyclists and motorists (incl motorbikes). What is different - is the consequences of the behaviour. A motorist is very likely to kill someone whereas a cyclist is likely to injury him/her self and annoy others. I'd rather be annoyed by someone than killed. Yes, all raod users should learn to respect and behave. However, where bad behaviour leads to death - that needs to be prioritised over that which only annoys. SCotty Zebee Johnstone Wrote: In aus.bicycle on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:21:56 -0000 Baka Dasai wrote: And that's what this is all about - a minority of ratbags who get incensed and subsequently violent when their car gets caught within the mass. That's the rationale for corking as I see it, and corking is the only significant law-breaking in CM, and it's law-breaking supported by police, and occasionally performed by police. Is it supported because of 4 wheeled ratbags or because of 2 wheeled ratbags? Do the cops allow it because they agree there are 4 wheeled ratbags or because they know that otherwise riders will do it anyway, or do silly things, and because riders can't be easily called to account it is better to manage them this way? I also dispute that corking is because there is a huge chance of problems with aggro drivers getting caught between 2 masses of law abiding, careful, riders.... However... few cyclists will admit there are 2 wheeled ratbags, Nah, ratbags are everywhere, even astride bicyles. One big difference though is how much more dangerous a car-driving ratbag is than a bike-riding ratbag. IT is one difference, but then bike riding ratbags tend to rely on car drivers to behave well. As someone who doesn't identify as "cyclist" any more than as "pedestrian" or "motorcyclist" or "eater of apples", I have no problem in noting that there is a really strong sense of entitlement amongst the cycling activist community that casts all others as unworthy, and a strong feeling of "I can so I will" amongst many riders of bicycles which they would condemn in anyone else. That there's a difference in kerb weight is undeniable. That there's no difference in ethics is also undeniable.... Zebee -- scotty72 |
#223
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Critical Mass - Fundamentalist Plonkers?
And that's what this is all about - a minority of ratbags who get incensed and subsequently violent when their car gets caught within the mass. That's the rationale for corking as I see it, and corking is the only significant law-breaking in CM, and it's law-breaking supported by police, and occasionally performed by police. And how do you get caught in the mass?? By the two masses moving together in a dangerous fashion. That's what it's all about. If they didn't move together, then there would be no problem, and no reason for corking. Police support it because it's the lesser of two evile. Rider will do it anyway, so maybe this way we can make it safer. Like giving syringes to heroin addicts. ( in a roundabout way) Brendan |
#224
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Critical Mass - Fundamentalist Plonkers?
"TimC" wrote in message ... On 2007-12-05, Brendo (aka Bruce) was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea: On Dec 5, 4:29 pm, Zebee Johnstone wrote: In aus.bicycle on Tue, 4 Dec 2007 20:28:03 -0800 (PST) Brendo wrote: If the group has stopped at an intersection due to red lights, why would the car get inside the mass? This can only happen two ways Presumably turning into the road the mass is on. Sure, but the argument he gave was that this was a reason for corking. You can't turn 'into' the mass unless the mass is still crossing the intersection. And you wouldn't turn unless the lights were green. Generally, car's follow traffic light rules. So if you drive onto the road when the light turns green, why would there be the mass on it unless they were running the red? Um. A mass doesn't have zero length? When it gets split at the lights, you get cars coming in from the intersection, that will be sandwiched between two half masses. If there are sufficiently few vehicles sandwiched, then there are problems as the mass comes back together as they naturally would tend to do particularly if there's only one lane of car and the bikes are able to overtake. I'm afraid I'm not understanding where either you or Zebee are coming from... Why is it a problem for the remainder of the mass to overtake the car or cars involved? I overtake cars in the city daily. Mind you, I actually am traffic at that point. |
#225
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Critical Mass - Fundamentalist Plonkers?
I acheived
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#226
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Critical Mass - Fundamentalist Plonkers?
I acheived Critical Mass last night. Normally, riding out to the crit
at Stromlo ACT via Cotter Road there is one dickhead who has to overtake with more space in the lane to their right than to the left. With 3 others riding entirely independantly to the Crit, this did not happen! |
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