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<P>"You seem to be saying that anything that's legal according to traffic laws is not a parade (hence the crosswalk laws of the particular state is relevant). Would you say, then, that if Critical Mass were to follow all traffic laws, then it would not be a parade (and so would not need a permit)?"</P></DIV>
<P>Seems that Anne's definition of parade also requires people to have decided that they are going to travel together, whether or not they're following traffic laws. </P>
<P>Despite the arguments of those that say CM is just a spontaneous group of cyclists riding together, CM is most certainly made up of people who have decided to ride together. It has a website to direct people to the starting place and time. It has leaders (though they are different each time) who keep the group together and block cars that have green lights so that the group can stay together. In some cases, maps are even distributed beforehand.</P>
<P>It's not credible to say that CM is spontaneous. Therefore, it is made up of a group of people who have chosen to travel together. When a large group of people decide to travel together, whether in cars or on bikes, it impacts traffic patterns. Therefore, there's a reasonable argument that a city or state should have the right to regulate this behavior. </P>
<P> </P> Obviously, "follow all traffic laws" in the previous sentence
<DIV></DIV>>must exclude any restrictions on parades, or we'd be making a circular
<DIV></DIV>>definition. Note that traffic laws require vehicles behind to pass only
<DIV></DIV>>when safe, but does not require vehicles ahead to yield just because it
<DIV></DIV>>is moving slower.
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<DIV></DIV>>--
<DIV></DIV>>Edit this signature at http://www.digitas.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/ken/sig
<DIV></DIV>>Dude or his dudeness or el duderino
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