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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Just so you all know, things that get posted on the MassBike
mailing list should not be considered the “official opinion” of MassBike. They
are the opinions of each individual person that posts to that list. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org
[mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces@bostoncriticalmass.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>David
Atkins<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 28, 2008 2:57 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Boston Critical Mass<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [*BCM*] Fwd: [massbike] Open letter to the Cycling
Community<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>On Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 2:15 PM, john saylor <<a
href="mailto:js0000@gmail.com">js0000@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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>
<span style='color:#888888'><br>
<br>
--<br>
\js [ <a href="http://or8.net/%7Ejohns/" target="_blank">http://or8.net/~johns/</a>
]<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Boston Critical Mass mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:list@bostoncriticalmass.org">list@bostoncriticalmass.org</a><br>
<a href="http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list" target="_blank">http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list</a><br>
To unsubscribe email <a href="mailto:list-unsubscribe@bostoncriticalmass.org">list-unsubscribe@bostoncriticalmass.org</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<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><o:p></o:p></p>
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