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<P>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.</P>
<P>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.</P>
<P>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. </P>
<P> </P>
<P> </P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>From: Moz <list@moz.geek.nz>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: Boston Critical Mass <list@bostoncriticalmass.org>
<DIV></DIV>>To: Boston Critical Mass <list@bostoncriticalmass.org>
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Observation
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Tue, 08 Mar 2005 07:53:56 +1300
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>tony siddall wrote:
<DIV></DIV>>>Turil started to get at this, but I would be interested to hear
<DIV></DIV>>>someone articulate CM's theory of change;
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Can I just ask that people try to remember that Critical Mass is not
<DIV></DIV>>an
<DIV></DIV>>organisation, does not have a viewpoint, does not have a purpose,
<DIV></DIV>>and
<DIV></DIV>>cannot speak with one voice? Please, it's not that hard: critical
<DIV></DIV>>mass
<DIV></DIV>>is a bunch of anarchists on bikes[1]. That's it. Simple, really.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>So when you ask "what does Critical Mass want", the question
<DIV></DIV>>inherently
<DIV></DIV>>cannot be answered. Perhaps replace "critical mass" with "everyone
<DIV></DIV>>in
<DIV></DIV>>america" if that helps.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>So ask "what is everyone in americas theory of change?" Does that
<DIV></DIV>>make
<DIV></DIV>>it more obvious that there is no one answer?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Personally, my theory is that Critical Mass as an agent for change
<DIV></DIV>>works
<DIV></DIV>>in a very simple, very direct way. It is purely an answer to the
<DIV></DIV>>allegation that "no-one rides a bike in this city". Anyone who says
<DIV></DIV>>that
<DIV></DIV>> can be told "so what about the 300 riders in Critical Mass every
<DIV></DIV>>month?" at which point suddenly lots of people ride AND THEY MUST BE
<DIV></DIV>>STOPPED.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Which leads nicely into "how do you stop critical mass" and the
<DIV></DIV>>answer
<DIV></DIV>>seems to be mass arrests/shoot a few of them; or build bike
<DIV></DIV>>facilities.
<DIV></DIV>>Christchurch, New Zealand crushed Critical Mass out of existance by
<DIV></DIV>>making the city cycle friendly and responsive to cyclists soncerns.
<DIV></DIV>>It's
<DIV></DIV>>a lot easier than the other way...
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>And FWIW there seems to be no way to make Mass acceptable to people
<DIV></DIV>>as embedded in the system as Anne is. Even Sydney where Mass is
<DIV></DIV>>legal and supported by the cops (and riders are friendly and helpful
<DIV></DIV>>and give out happy fliers to motorists) still gets people like her
<DIV></DIV>>saying "if you'd just stop being disruptive..." You can't win.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Moz in Sydney, Australia
<DIV></DIV>>[1] anarchists, meaning people who want not to have an organisation
<DIV></DIV>>rather than as a generic term of mindless abuse. But hey, take it as
<DIV></DIV>>you
<DIV></DIV>>will.
<DIV></DIV>>_______________________________________________
<DIV></DIV>>Boston Critical Mass mailing list
<DIV></DIV>>list@bostoncriticalmass.org
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