[*BCM*] Observation

[Robert Arnold]

Anne, dude, you hate that boombox!  I haven't even seen that boombox
guy since, like, July.

Tommy V., you're a saint.  You said exactly everything I could have
dreamed of saying.  I retract all my messages thusfar and instead
replace them with exact quotes of what you said.

On Mon, 7 Mar 2005 14:16:06 -0800 (PST), Anne Wolfe <goannego at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I think that CM as a display of bike strength would be wonderful in terms of making
> Boston more bike friendly.  I think that if CM was friendlier, starting with to other
> CMers, not only would those who've ridden before and have been put off (and there are
> many of us) come back, but they would bring people with them.  And I think that if CM for
> a start only occupied one lane of traffic, rather than blocking all lanes, so as to back
> up car traffic for miles (and thereby pissing off people who can't even SEE CM, much less
> decide if it might be a good thing), it would be seen by more people as a "bikes and cars
> can coexist" rather than an either/or proposition the way the argument gets cast now.
> 
> I also think that the chanting of "two wheels good, four wheels bad" doen'st help, and
> neither does the boom box.
> --- tony siddall <anthony_siddall at hotmail.com> wrote:
> ---------------------------------
> 
> To rephrase- I'd be interested to hear people describe a plausible theory of change that
> describes how critical mass brings the goal of making Boston, the US, or the world more
> bike friendly closer to fruition.
> 
> Moz's description is irrelevant here, since CM represents only a tiny fraction of the
> people who ride their bikes in the city. Moreover, though Moz might be an anarchist and
> ride CM, not everyone who rides CM is an anarchist--many, I'm sure, believe that
> organizing is the best method to bring about change.
> 
> I genuinely would like to discuss this- I'm not trying to challenge anyone's right to
> ride CM. I'm just interested to hear whether people think that riding in it advances a
> cause the believe in, and how.
> 
> >From: Moz <list at moz.geek.nz>
> >Reply-To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> >To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> >Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Observation
> >Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 07:53:56 +1300
> >
> >tony siddall wrote:
> >>Turil started to get at this, but I would be interested to hear
> >>someone articulate CM's theory of change;
> >
> >Can I just ask that people try to remember that Critical Mass is not
> >an
> >organisation, does not have a viewpoint, does not have a purpose,
> >and
> >cannot speak with one voice? Please, it's not that hard: critical
> >mass
> >is a bunch of anarchists on bikes[1]. That's it. Simple, really.
> >
> >So when you ask "what does Critical Mass want", the question
> >inherently
> >cannot be answered. Perhaps replace "critical mass" with "everyone
> >in
> >america" if that helps.
> >
> >So ask "what is everyone in americas theory of change?"  Does that
> >make
> >it more obvious that there is no one answer?
> >
> >
> >Personally, my theory is that Critical Mass as an agent for change
> >works
> >in a very simple, very direct way. It is purely an answer to the
> >allegation that "no-one rides a bike in this city". Anyone who says
> >that
> >  can be told "so what about the 300 riders in Critical Mass every
> >month?" at which point suddenly lots of people ride AND THEY MUST BE
> >STOPPED.
> >
> >Which leads nicely into "how do you stop critical mass" and the
> >answer
> >seems to be mass arrests/shoot a few of them; or build bike
> >facilities.
> >Christchurch, New Zealand crushed Critical Mass out of existance by
> >making the city cycle friendly and responsive to cyclists soncerns.
> >It's
> >a lot easier than the other way...
> >
> >And FWIW there seems to be no way to make Mass acceptable to people
> >as embedded in the system as Anne is. Even Sydney where Mass is
> >legal and supported by the cops (and riders are friendly and helpful
> >and give out happy fliers to motorists) still gets people like her
> >saying "if you'd just stop being disruptive..." You can't win.
> >
> >Moz in Sydney, Australia
> >[1] anarchists, meaning people who want not to have an organisation
> >rather than as a generic term of mindless abuse. But hey, take it as
> >you
> >will.
> >_______________________________________________
> >Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> >list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> >http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> > list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> > http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> 
> -------------------------------------------------
> I know exactly what I want right now.  I want a hot shower, and I want the Clash. - me.  3/4/05, 7:42 a.m.
> 
> NEW E-MAIL!  goannego at gmail.com
> 
> __________________________________
> Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
> Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web
> http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>