Critical Mass

I turned up to a Melb one a while back.
I think everyone with an intrest in cycling should rock up to at least one of them. The politics, everything else, you can make your mind up about after doing it.

Its maybe a little too left for most, but there's a pretty wide range of people that do this & it seems that everyone gets something different from it.

If you guys are talking about the rides that block roads to get cyclists points of view across, I would say don't. It's detrimental to cyclists' cause.

Not every one (in fact very few in Australia's sprawling cities) lives close enough to work/school to ride... believe me if I could I would.

If i am off track here then please forgive me, but if I have the right topic then please don't do this, just gives cyclists a bad name.

mtb_waz said:

If you guys are talking about the rides that block roads to get cyclists points of view across, I would say don't. It's detrimental to cyclists' cause.

Not every one (in fact very few in Australia's sprawling cities) lives close enough to work/school to ride... believe me if I could I would.

If i am off track here then please forgive me, but if I have the right topic then please don't do this, just gives cyclists a bad name.

I am particularly refering to those in the outer suburbs (of Melb which is where I am), public transport is non-existant here, and I have no option but a car when I have to make the 90 km round trip to school twice a week in a 1 hour (each way) time span.

I'm surprised cyclists seem to have a problem with this group. I thought the point they were making was "if you don't put the infrastructure in place so that we can ride safely on the road or elsewhere, then this is the way we will have to ride to be safe on the road"

Good point, well made.

kaeotee said:

Good point, well made.

Thanks! (I think that was directed at me!)

kaeotee said:

I'm surprised cyclists seem to have a problem with this group

I just think it makes far more enemies than friends 🙁 . Australian cities, IMO, don't cater well for anything but cars for convenient commuting.

kaeotee said:

I thought the point they were making was "if you don't put the infrastructure in place so that we can ride safely on the road or elsewhere, then this is the way we will have to ride to be safe on the road"

Just re-read your post...if this is the purpose of these rides, then the problem is the ever-sensationalist media turning it into "ride a bike or don't go to work" which average joe gets entirely sucked in to.

I went along tonight.

It was a blast. Great fun.

Didn't notice any other political agenda except bike politics (with exception of one guy handing out anti-globalisation fliers).

Lots of friendly people and lots of nice ladies to chat to. Well, that's the extent of it for me - my wife would object. But you single guys ...

scotty72 said:

I went along tonight.

It was a blast. Great fun.

Didn't notice any other political agenda except bike politics (with exception of one guy handing out anti-globalisation fliers).

Lots of friendly people and lots of nice ladies to chat to. Well, that's the extent of it for me - my wife would object. But you single guys ...

how do you find out about it?

post the next meet up

robalert said:

how do you find out about it?

post the next meet up

I think it's the last Friday of every month. I stand to be corrected....

robalert said:

how do you find out about it?

post the next meet up

But wait, there's more. Have a look at criticalmass.org.aucriticalmass.org.auOpen ↗

Sydney Crictical mass site is

bikesarefun.orgbikesarefun.orgOpen ↗
Yes, last friday of the month (except december - 2nd last)

meet 5:30 at Hyde Park north (archibold fountain). start at around 6.

Last night there were hundreds of us. Not sure how many, but I would say somewhere between 200-400. We stretched out over a few blocks.

Surprisingly very little agro from drivers who are probably used to it by now.

Scotty

scotty72 said:

Sydney Crictical mass site is

bikesarefun.orgbikesarefun.orgOpen ↗
Yes, last friday of the month (except december - 2nd last)

meet 5:30 at Hyde Park north (archibold fountain). start at around 6.

Last night there were hundreds of us. Not sure how many, but I would say somewhere between 200-400. We stretched out over a few blocks.

Surprisingly very little agro from drivers who are probably used to it by now.

Scotty

how far do you go?

robalert said:

how far do you go?

Apparently it changes every month.

This time we went

Macquarie Street (left onto) Hunter (L) George.
Stop on Park/George for a bike lift (about 1-2 mins)
(L) Park, (R) Elizabeth, (L) Liverpool, (across) to Oxford Street
(L) onto Crown, (L) William, (L) Elizabeth.
Down to the Railway (R) onto Hay, (L) onto Pitt
Through Railway Sq onto Lee St. (R) Cleveland (L) onto Pricess Hwy down to Newtown.

My GPS recorded 8.6 kms, but I think the buildings blocking it from the satelitte (at times) may make that a little off. We took about an hour or so. Really easy ride. Plenty of time to chat and look at the ladies on their way to the nightclubs 🙂 (but I closed my eyes doen Oxford street :-) )

I didn't hang around for the party because I didn't think to bring any money ($5.00 entry including a slice of pizza and drink plus contribution to hall hire - I think they said) or my U-Lock and didn't know anyone to beg or borrow from.

Heard talk of next month riding around the Quay then ferry to Manly for a ride around there. Although a lot of ppl seemed to groan at that announcement - so it may not happen.

Does anyone know if there is anyone of those Nude cycle demonstrations planned for Sydney?

I personally would just love to get my gear off for such a worhty cause!!😉

boffa said:

Does anyone know if there is anyone of those Nude cycle demonstrations planned for Sydney?

I personally would just love to get my gear off for such a worhty cause!!😉

Hmmm. not heard of those.

I would only be a spectator if that happened. one look at me and you'll know why.

🙂

boffa said:

Does anyone know if there is anyone of those Nude cycle demonstrations planned for Sydney?

I personally would just love to get my gear off for such a worhty cause!!😉

groups.yahoo.comWorldNakedBikeRideSydney2Open ↗

have fun...don't forget the cheeky smile

scotty72 said:

Apparently it changes every month.

This time we went

Macquarie Street (left onto) Hunter (L) George.
Stop on Park/George for a bike lift (about 1-2 mins)
(L) Park, (R) Elizabeth, (L) Liverpool, (across) to Oxford Street
(L) onto Crown, (L) William, (L) Elizabeth.
Down to the Railway (R) onto Hay, (L) onto Pitt
Through Railway Sq onto Lee St. (R) Cleveland (L) onto Pricess Hwy down to Newtown.

My GPS recorded 8.6 kms, but I think the buildings blocking it from the satelitte (at times) may make that a little off. We took about an hour or so. Really easy ride. Plenty of time to chat and look at the ladies on their way to the nightclubs 🙂 (but I closed my eyes doen Oxford street :-) )

I didn't hang around for the party because I didn't think to bring any money ($5.00 entry including a slice of pizza and drink plus contribution to hall hire - I think they said) or my U-Lock and didn't know anyone to beg or borrow from.

Heard talk of next month riding around the Quay then ferry to Manly for a ride around there. Although a lot of ppl seemed to groan at that announcement - so it may not happen.

thanks for that Scotty

is it happening in parramatta too?

might be an old website but it says it happens the first Thursday of the month 5:30pm starting from Parra Town Hall

robalert said:

thanks for that Scotty

is it happening in parramatta too?

might be an old website but it says it happens the first Thursday of the month 5:30pm starting from Parra Town Hall

That I don't know

If I have time I might go down and check it out this week 🙂

Somehow, I think it will be more chaotic. There are fewer cars but it is so much more choked up with fewer exits from the CBD. Combine that with the Westfields mess along O'Connell and Marsden Sts and the partial closures of Argyle and Church streets.....

hehe

Scotty

QUOTE=robalert]is it happening in parramatta too?[/QUOTE]
Don't think ParaMass has happened for a few years. Some of us east coasters used to go out there from time to time, but they never got more than about 20 people turn up so it was a bit hard. Trick might be to hit the unis and get the greenies there helping you out.

Mass is an anarchy though, so if you want to have a go nothing stopping you. Same deal on the Sydney Mass to Manly next month - if enough people don't want to go there'll be a Mass in the city, and maybe one in Manly too. Fair bit of stuff happens by people just deciding to organise it, which is a cool way to have stuff happen. A bit interesting turning up not having any idea where you're going though. A few years ago the bike cops had to ask directions home, coz they'd never been to marrickville before. That was funny.