[*BCM*] - Boston t Bike Ride

[Basil Sharpe]

	2 observations from last Friday night's ride and it's dangerous
incidents.   1. It may be a good idea to inform the Boston Police of an
upcoming ride and ask for escorts.  At least ask.  2.  AT the start of
each ride should there be a person at the end of the ride and at the
start of the pack in communication with each other to inform each other
of an incident?  This may help keep the group together.  It can be
frightening for a victim of an aggressive driver accident when all of
the sudden the whole Critical mass ride is gone down the road and the
rider is left standing there with his mangled bike in front of a whole
street full of honking cars.  In other words, as a cyclist, rider A
decides to ride for the cause, he ends up at the back of the pack get's
hit.   He then realizes his cause has gone down the road.  NOT a cozy
feeling.  I think communication between front and rear can drastically
improve this scenario.   If one goes down at least 30% of us should stay
with the victim if only moral support.  I know CM is leaderless and all
but, it may be a good idea at the start of each ride to have front and
rear volunteers who'se job it is to just keep the group together.
Perhaps there should even be as many as 15 or so riders who just stay at
the back of the pack.   This can be informally set up at the start of
the ride.  After last weeks ride, I think CM in Boston is going to get
much worse.   This incident with the van really shows what extremes
drivers are willing to go to when upset by cyclist.   Someone may become
seriously hurt or worse.   Just thoughts that's all from a very worried
cyclist.  We have to stick together and perhaps a Police escort is good
way to help us from getting hurt and to give more credibility to the
cause.  

	 

	
	
	
	



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