Critical Mass

Jock said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you are. Deadset, I saw this
pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops on MTB's, motorcycles and there were some
among the group pulling wheelies up the road, zigging & zagging all over the I guess 4 lanes
blocked and very proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored] I noticed taking a
photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated motorists in shot - good
whacking material for the next CM meeting I suppose. You can impress each other with your antics
but the public (me included and I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored]
off big time. Animosity towards cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these surprise
partys. Glad to be southbound. Jock

I much prefer the distributed critical mass that operates in a group of one or so on a daily basis.
The ``we _are_ traffic'' slogan is all good and well when you act like traffic, not when you act
like a pack of ragtag loonies out to make life miserable for everyone else. The effectiveness of
critical masses means and methods of promoting cycling has been discussed to death too many times to
count already. Some are for, some are against, and in the meantime I get bottles thrown at my head
while riding to work.

hovil de cosa said:

Jock said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you are. Deadset, I saw this
pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops on MTB's, motorcycles and there were some
among the group pulling wheelies up the road, zigging & zagging all over the I guess 4 lanes
blocked and very proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored] I noticed taking a
photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated motorists in shot - good
whacking material for the next CM meeting I suppose. You can impress each other with your antics
but the public (me included and I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored]
off big time. Animosity towards cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these surprise
partys. Glad to be southbound. Jock

I much prefer the distributed critical mass that operates in a group of one or so on a daily basis.
The ``we _are_ traffic'' slogan is all good and well when you act like traffic, not when you act
like a pack of ragtag loonies out to make life miserable for everyone else. The effectiveness of
critical masses means and methods of promoting cycling has been discussed to death too many times
to count already. Some are for, some are against, and in the meantime I get bottles thrown at my
head while riding to work.

The "we are traffic" thing really is pretty much [censored]. At the end of the day, it's just one big
[censored] take. Damn near all the riders are comfortable with the fact that they are annoying the christ
out of people in cars. Personally I think it's great, but don't think we always set a great example
of responsible riding or promote harmony between drivers are riders.
---
DFM

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think about this point, motorists don't set a very good example of either shared road use or behaviour to each other. Check Australian road accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or Melbourne, but my attitude towards cars is not one of hatred, more a personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they are a curse.

"Deep Freud Moors" <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I much prefer the distributed critical mass that operates in a group of one or so on a daily
basis. The ``we _are_ traffic'' slogan is all good and well when you act like traffic, not when
you act like a pack of

ragtag

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

loonies out to make life miserable for everyone else. The effectiveness

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

critical masses means and methods of promoting cycling has been discussed to death too many times
to count already. Some are for, some are against, and in the meantime I get bottles thrown at my
head while riding to work.

The "we are traffic" thing really is pretty much [censored]. At the end of the day, it's just one
big [censored] take. Damn near all the riders are comfortable with the fact that they are annoying the
christ out of people in cars. Personally I think it's great, but don't think we always set a great
example of responsible riding or promote harmony between drivers are riders.

If CM just up and vanished into thin air one day.. would drivers suddenly start treating us better?
I think not. We are going to have d&^kheads yelling at us and throwing stuff at us as long as we are
on the roads... sheet, they do it to other cars!! At least the massers are having fun. If CM pisses
off enough drivers - maybe one day they'll all decide to ride in to work :-)

hippy

cfsmtb spam@spameggs&spam.com.vic said:

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think about this point, motorists
don't set a very good example of either shared road use or behaviour to each other. Check
Australian road accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or Melbourne, but my attitude towards
cars is not one of hatred, more a personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they are a curse.

Cfsmtb, I know you are always well behaved, but you don't really typify the behaviour of the rest of
the motley CM crew.

The behaviour of cyclists on CM is pretty bad at times. I mean we quite intentionally park right in
front of cars, knowing full well that they are likely to get irate. Every mass seems to lead to
another incident of some driver getting frustrated and doing something stupid. If we were really
serious about promoting harmony, we could start by allowing the occasional frustrated driver through
instead of pushing our luck until someone snaps - which inevitably happens - instead of hollering
"we ARE traffic", which everyone knows will only [censored] drivers off. There seems to be a certain
feeling of "cyclists revenge on cars" that accompanies the ride, as if we are waving our taunt
buttocks in the face of all the lardarses that have blown $40,000+ on a car is somehow going to help
the situation.

I am sure a few of you on the Melbourne one saw the incident with the taxi driver who nudged a few
cyclists. Sure, he was in the wrong, but was it really a good idea to have one of the guys (actually
a troublemaker mate of mine, surprise surprise) jump up on the roof and start thumping?
---
DFM

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

If CM pisses off enough

Quoted message said:

drivers - maybe one day they'll all decide to ride in to work :-) hippy

You are dreaming Hippy! Jock

Quoted message said:

From: Deep Freud Moors <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>

cfsmtb spam@spameggs&spam.com.vic said:

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think about this point,
motorists don't set a very good example of either shared road use or behaviour to each other.
Check Australian road accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or Melbourne, but my attitude
towards cars is not one of hatred, more a personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they
are a curse.

Cfsmtb, I know you are always well behaved, but you don't really typify the behaviour of the rest
of the motley CM crew.

The behaviour of cyclists on CM is pretty bad at times. I mean we quite intentionally park right
in front of cars, knowing full well that they are likely to get irate. Every mass seems to lead to
another incident of some driver getting frustrated and doing something stupid. If we were really
serious about promoting harmony, we could start by allowing the occasional frustrated driver
through instead of pushing our luck until someone snaps - which inevitably happens - instead of
hollering "we ARE traffic", which everyone knows will only [censored] drivers off. There seems to be a
certain feeling of "cyclists revenge on cars" that accompanies the ride, as if we are waving our
taunt buttocks in the face of all the lardarses that have blown $40,000+ on a car is somehow going
to help the situation.

I am sure a few of you on the Melbourne one saw the incident with the taxi driver who nudged a few
cyclists. Sure, he was in the wrong, but was it really a good idea to have one of the guys
(actually a troublemaker mate of mine, surprise surprise) jump up on the roof and start thumping?

WTF do you want? CM to become like the great Melbourne bike ride where everyone wears orange
t-shirts and rides in a coned-off lane? Sure it's cyclists' revenge on cars. Cars rule this city -
they spew pollution, they divide communities rather than unite them because of heavy traffic on wide
arterial roads and freeways, they isolate their drivers from the real world to the extent that it
becomes the norm to abuse other motorists if they don't do exactly what YOU want them to, they tell
cyclists that because we don't pay registration we have no place on the road. With CM, 2 hours each
month the tide is turned in favour of cycling and liveable cities. And that's bloody fine by me.

Stupid incidents don't result because of CM - they result from stupid people. And I mean both
drivers and riders. I'm disappointed that the actions of your mate (did you try & stop him?) may
reflect upon 491 other people who were intent on having nothing but fun. When I cork cars I do it
cheerfully and smilingly, giving them a wave and a "thanks for waiting". In the 20 or so Masses that
I have attended, I've never had a driver rant at
me. On the contrary, most of them smile along with the vibe of CM.

"Jock" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:4_ayb.33010$aT.154@news-

Quoted message said:

If CM pisses off enough > drivers - maybe one day they'll all decide to

ride in to work :-)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hippy

You are dreaming Hippy!

Yes, but if we didn't dream about what could happen we'd all be mindless drones.. just existing to
reproduce. It's a nice thought but, obviously, one that isn't going to happen. I'm really hanging
out for the oil crisis.. I want to be here when the planet runs out of oil.. I want to see what
happens... ;-)

hippy "iii have a dream!"

David Sutton said:

Quoted message said:

From: Deep Freud Moors <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>

cfsmtb spam@spameggs&spam.com.vic said:

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think about this point,
motorists don't set a very good example of either shared road use or behaviour to each other.
Check Australian road accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or Melbourne, but my attitude
towards cars is not one of hatred, more a personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they
are a curse.

Cfsmtb, I know you are always well behaved, but you don't really typify the behaviour of the rest
of the motley CM crew.

The behaviour of cyclists on CM is pretty bad at times. I mean we quite intentionally park right
in front of cars, knowing full well that they are likely to get irate. Every mass seems to lead
to another incident of some driver getting frustrated and doing something stupid. If we were
really serious about promoting harmony, we could start by allowing the occasional frustrated
driver through instead of pushing our luck until someone snaps - which inevitably happens -
instead of hollering "we ARE traffic", which everyone knows will only [censored] drivers off. There
seems to be a certain feeling of "cyclists revenge on cars" that accompanies the ride, as if we
are waving our taunt buttocks in the face of all the lardarses that have blown $40,000+ on a car
is somehow going to help the situation.

I am sure a few of you on the Melbourne one saw the incident with the taxi driver who nudged a
few cyclists. Sure, he was in the wrong, but was it really a good idea to have one of the guys
(actually a troublemaker mate of mine, surprise surprise) jump up on the roof and start thumping?

WTF do you want? CM to become like the great Melbourne bike ride where everyone wears orange
t-shirts and rides in a coned-off lane? Sure it's cyclists' revenge on cars. Cars rule this city -
they spew pollution, they divide communities rather than unite them because of heavy traffic on
wide arterial roads and freeways, they isolate their drivers from the real world to the extent
that it becomes the norm to abuse other motorists if they don't do exactly what YOU want them to,
they tell cyclists that because we don't pay registration we have no place on the road. With CM, 2
hours each month the tide is turned in favour of cycling and liveable cities. And that's bloody
fine by me.

Stupid incidents don't result because of CM - they result from stupid people. And I mean both
drivers and riders. I'm disappointed that the actions of your mate (did you try & stop him?)

No, I egged him on of course. We almost had the lynch mob thing going on.

Quoted message said:

may reflect upon 491 other people who were intent on having nothing but fun. When I cork cars I do
it cheerfully and smilingly, giving them a wave and a "thanks for waiting". In the 20 or so Masses
that I have attended, I've never had a driver rant at
me. On the contrary, most of them smile along with the vibe of CM.

I was really just trying to make an observation. Truth is I don't want CM to change at all. It's
always a laugh. Most of the drivers take it in their stride, but some are just [censored].

I guess no-one minds putting the [censored] up them though!
---
DFM

Just to clarify a couple of items,
check out the this url for purposes of self education;
http://criticalmassrides.info/

from the same site, thoughts on "corking" and dealing with motorists via CM Washington DC
http://www.scorcher.org/screed/samp/whats-going-on.txt

and from CM Melbourne:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cm-melb/files/Corking_leaflet.pdf
(you will need to do the usual sign-in yahoogroups stuff to access)

As for on ride behaviour, if you don't like what you see, change it.

Talk to participants, create & hand out corking leaflets to motorists, use simple methods such as "tag-team' corking. The vast majority of rides I've been on since 1996/97 have been fun, peaceful and incident free. Unfortunately with the bigger rides, such as the birthday rides etc, CM does get a lot of newbies who may not understand the finer points of CM culture & intent.

But then again, it's like herding cats, and us older CMer's can only do our best to maintain some balance and ensure ppl don't get too stoopid & overexcitable.

Ban cars in the CBD and supply cyclists with mounted rocket-launchers do be used when an inconsiderate motorist crosses the line

Look Jock, you ever heard of "don't judge a book by its cover?" There are alot of academics in that
scene, and many brilliant ideas about cleaning up the culture of running late to work in your car
because you know you can run late to work in your car. Forgetting to buy the kitkat for your mrs
because you know you can swing back round there in a jiff with your CAR. Don't you get it man?

"Jock" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you

are.

Quoted message said:

Deadset, I saw this pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops on MTB's, motorcycles
and there were some among the group pulling wheelies up the road, zigging & zagging all over
the I guess 4 lanes blocked and very proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored]
I noticed

taking

Quoted message said:

a photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated motorists in shot - good
whacking material for the next CM meeting I suppose. You can impress each other with your antics
but the public (me included

and

Quoted message said:

I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored] big time. Animosity towards
cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these surprise partys. Glad to be southbound. Jock

err, actually, you lost me a bit after that brilliant ideas bit so no, I don't get it. You are only
allowed one random thought or metaphor per sentence. OK? Jock

"Jake" <j@com> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Look Jock, you ever heard of "don't judge a book by its cover?" There are alot of academics in
that scene, and many brilliant ideas about cleaning

up

Quoted message said:

the culture of running late to work in your car because you know you can

run

Quoted message said:

late to work in your car. Forgetting to buy the kitkat for your mrs

because

Quoted message said:

you know you can swing back round there in a jiff with your CAR. Don't you get it man?

"Jock" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:ddYxb.31823$aT.24402@news-
server.bigpond.net.au...

Quoted message said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you

are.

Quoted message said:

Deadset, I saw this pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

MTB's, motorcycles and there were some among the group pulling wheelies

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the road, zigging & zagging all over the I guess 4 lanes blocked and

very

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored] I noticed

taking

Quoted message said:

a photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated motorists in shot - good
whacking material for the next CM meeting I suppose. You can impress each other with your antics
but the public (me included

and

Quoted message said:

I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored] big time. Animosity towards
cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these surprise partys. Glad to be southbound. Jock