<div dir="ltr">I have never been able to ride with CM but have been around and aware of its existence since I lived in San Francisco when it started. But this open letter, however well-intentioned, fails to understand the organic and unstoppable nature of the mass, not to mention the loosely-defined "cycling community." I will make every effort to participate in the next Critical Mass ride.<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 2:15 PM, john saylor <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:js0000@gmail.com">js0000@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
hey<br>
<br>
this was just posted on mass-bike. i do not agree with his conclusion.<br>
<br>
maybe some people here will speak back ...<br>
<br>
<br>
---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: Thomas A. Fine<br>
Date: Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 2:08 PM<br>
Subject: [massbike] Open letter to the Cycling Community<br>
To: MassBike GoogleList <<a href="mailto:massbike@googlegroups.com">massbike@googlegroups.com</a>><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Critical Time for Critical Mass<br>
An Open letter to the Cycling Community<br>
<br>
This is a good time to be a cyclist. Cycling has been on the upswing for<br>
years now, even decades. Cycling for both recreation and transportation<br>
are becoming more mainstream. With increasing gas prices, we've lately<br>
been graced with with scores of feel-good cycling stories.<br>
<br>
And then there's Critical Mass.<br>
<br>
We all know what Critical Mass is, and we're all vaguely familiar with<br>
the idea of it. In theory, cycling will succeed if cars get used to<br>
sharing the streets.<br>
<br>
But all too often, theory does not meet reality. We've all seen the<br>
news stories. They focus on arrests, on illegal acts by cyclists and<br>
drivers, even violence. Yes, only a few Critical Mass rides wind up like<br>
this, but lets face it - when was the last time you read a positive<br>
story about Critical Mass?<br>
<br>
The time for debate is over. One might argue that not all of these<br>
rides are bad. One might argue the details of the news stories, and<br>
their bias against cyclists. To those who will inevitably quibble over<br>
such things: stop! Stop looking at the trees, and take look at the<br>
forest we've grown. It's a forest of bad press for cyclists. A forest<br>
of animosity from the general public towards cyclists.<br>
<br>
In the mind of the general public, the phrase "Critical Mass" brings to<br>
mind images of thugs and bullies. Critical Mass supporters can deny<br>
that this is what Critical Mass rides are all about. But they can<br>
hardly deny that this linkage now exists in the minds of the public.<br>
<br>
We can not continue to make progress in acceptance of cycling as long<br>
as we have a steady stream of bad press and animosity arising<br>
apparently from within our own community. So we must remove the source<br>
from our community.<br>
<br>
Some could argue that we could work to redeem the Critical Mass rides.<br>
But it's a fool's errand. The time and effort it would take to redeem<br>
those two words would be far better spent building new institutions<br>
that will serve us into the future.<br>
<br>
So, the time has come for the majority of cyclists to stand up and speak,<br>
and divorce ourselves from the embarrassment that Critical Mass has<br>
become. Critical Mass must be denounced in the strongest of language.<br>
Within the community, we must make it clear that these rides are no<br>
longer in fashion. And outside the community, we must make it clear<br>
that these people do not represent us. They are not us. They are not<br>
cyclists.<br>
<br>
There are those who will insist that it is wrong to be critical of<br>
Critical Mass, because cyclists should stick together and not turn<br>
on each other. Tolerance within a community is a wonderful value<br>
which can in many cases strengthen the community. But, in case this<br>
is not completely obvious, tolerance can not apply to that which<br>
is intolerable.<br>
<br>
This is not to say that a group ride is not a viable political tool.<br>
Far from it. But the nature of these rides must change substantially.<br>
There is a growing number of "Courteous Mass" rides (by that name, or<br>
others) throughout the country. Such rides focus on following the<br>
laws, and courteously sharing the roads. Perhaps a defining<br>
characteristic of these rides is that they are NOT ad hoc, guerilla<br>
affairs. There is an actual real organization, willing to accept<br>
responsibility for these rides.<br>
<br>
To the many good-hearted cyclists who have proudly participated in<br>
Critical Mass rides in the past, thank you for your efforts in<br>
trying to do something to promote cycling. Please try to recognize<br>
the problems that exist in these rides today, and the damage that they<br>
are doing to our reputation. And then let go of your emotional<br>
attachment to the ride, and cast it off, as you would the shirt you<br>
once loved, until you finally realized how dorky it looked.<br>
<br>
Here are the specific actions the cycling community should take:<br>
<br>
1. The name "Critical Mass" should now be dead to the cycling<br>
community. It is too tainted to be of any use to us now. Do not use<br>
it for a ride you organize. Do not participate in rides which are<br>
called by this name.<br>
<br>
2. Publicly denounce all future Critical Mass rides, and all those who<br>
participate in them. We each should individually speak out, but more<br>
importantly, cycling organizations should speak out, issuing press<br>
release stating opposition to these rides whenever the need arises.<br>
<br>
3. All rides, and especially those with a political message or a goal<br>
of promoting cycling, must be sponsored. There must be some individual<br>
or organization who is willing to take responsibility for the ride,<br>
for setting the rules, for enforcing the rules, and for issuing statements<br>
to the press.<br>
<br>
4. All group rides should ride in a lawful manner, and in a respectful<br>
manner. Large groups must manage their numbers such that they meld<br>
as seamlessly with other traffic as is possible.<br>
<br>
5. Ride organizers must be prepared to handle unruly drivers. These<br>
things will happen, and they must be handled responsibly, in cooperation<br>
with the police. Make no attempts to detain unruly drivers, even if they<br>
have clearly committed a crime. Document incidents as well as possible,<br>
with witness statements, license plate numbers, driver descriptions,<br>
and photographs and video if possible.<br>
<br>
6. Ride organizers must be prepared to handle unruly cyclists. If<br>
cyclists are riding with you but not following the rules laid down,<br>
or are being disruptive or disrespectful, ask them to leave your<br>
group. If they refuse to leave your ride, you may choose to call the<br>
police to stop their harassing behavior. Alternatively, you can<br>
simply end your ride. This may feel like "losing", but in reality<br>
it is maintaining the control you desire over the character of your<br>
ride. It is a clear demonstration that some behaviors will not be<br>
tolerated, and it deprives troublemakers of their power.<br>
<br>
tom<br>
<br>
Thomas A. Fine<br>
Cambridge, Massachusetts<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
--<br>
\js [ <a href="http://or8.net/%7Ejohns/" target="_blank">http://or8.net/~johns/</a> ]<br>
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</font></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Dave Atkins<br><a href="http://blog.davewrites.com">http://blog.davewrites.com</a><br><a href="http://westwoodblog.org">http://westwoodblog.org</a><br><br>
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