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<P>On each of the rides I've been on, there's been an instance when a driver yells some profanity at a CM rider, and the rider yells back in a similarly antagonistic tone. Then several other CM riders surround the one who yelled and reassure him or her that the driver is an asshole, and personally responsible for the war in Iraq and several other calamities.</P>
<P>I think that driver seldom has his or her mind changed on transportation or environmental policy.</P>
<P>On the other hand, I think when the ride has handed out flyers that explain a constructive worldview, or present relevant facts humorously (like the SUV ticketing thing a few years ago) then it has a chance of sparking a productive public discussion.</P>
<P>Turil started to get at this, but I would be interested to hear someone articulate CM's theory of change; i.e. what are the series of logical steps that begin with CM and end with the world being a more bike-friendly place.<BR></P>
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<DIV></DIV>>Out of curiosity, I went back and looked at the Boston CM website. And while
<DIV></DIV>>thinking/reading/pondering, I happened to notice that of the photos that come up in the
<DIV></DIV>>montage on the front page, anyone that shows more than one cyclist shows all lanes of
<DIV></DIV>>traffic blocked so that car traffic can't pass. It is shown on the Mass Ave underpass,
<DIV></DIV>>it is shown on one of the bridges, it is shown on (I think)Boylston Street downtown. Is
<DIV></DIV>>this sort of thing really helping the cause, when even to look at the website shows this
<DIV></DIV>>sort of activity?
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