Critical Mass

Jock said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you are.
Deadset, I saw this pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops on
MTB's, motorcycles and there were some among the group pulling wheelies up
the road, zigging & zagging all over the I guess 4 lanes blocked and very
proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored] I noticed taking
a photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated
motorists in shot - good whacking material for the next CM meeting I
suppose.
You can impress each other with your antics but the public (me included and
I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored] big
time.
Animosity towards cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these
surprise partys.
Glad to be southbound.
Jock

I much prefer the distributed critical mass that operates in a group of
one or so on a daily basis. The ``we _are_ traffic'' slogan is all good
and well when you act like traffic, not when you act like a pack of ragtag
loonies out to make life miserable for everyone else. The effectiveness of
critical masses means and methods of promoting cycling has been discussed
to death too many times to count already. Some are for, some are against,
and in the meantime I get bottles thrown at my head while riding to work.

hovil de cosa said:

Jock said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you are.
Deadset, I saw this pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops on
MTB's, motorcycles and there were some among the group pulling wheelies up
the road, zigging & zagging all over the I guess 4 lanes blocked and very
proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored] I noticed taking
a photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated
motorists in shot - good whacking material for the next CM meeting I
suppose.
You can impress each other with your antics but the public (me included and
I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored] big
time.
Animosity towards cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these
surprise partys.
Glad to be southbound.
Jock

I much prefer the distributed critical mass that operates in a group of
one or so on a daily basis. The ``we _are_ traffic'' slogan is all good
and well when you act like traffic, not when you act like a pack of ragtag
loonies out to make life miserable for everyone else. The effectiveness of
critical masses means and methods of promoting cycling has been discussed
to death too many times to count already. Some are for, some are against,
and in the meantime I get bottles thrown at my head while riding to work.

The "we are traffic" thing really is pretty much [censored]. At the end
of the day, it's just one big [censored] take. Damn near all the riders are
comfortable with the fact that they are annoying the christ out of
people in cars. Personally I think it's great, but don't think we
always set a great example of responsible riding or promote harmony
between drivers are riders.
---
DFM

"Deep Freud Moors" <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> wrote in
message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I much prefer the distributed critical mass that operates in a group of
one or so on a daily basis. The ``we _are_ traffic'' slogan is all good
and well when you act like traffic, not when you act like a pack of

ragtag

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

loonies out to make life miserable for everyone else. The effectiveness

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

critical masses means and methods of promoting cycling has been discussed
to death too many times to count already. Some are for, some are against,
and in the meantime I get bottles thrown at my head while riding to work.

The "we are traffic" thing really is pretty much [censored]. At the end
of the day, it's just one big [censored] take. Damn near all the riders are
comfortable with the fact that they are annoying the christ out of
people in cars. Personally I think it's great, but don't think we
always set a great example of responsible riding or promote harmony
between drivers are riders.

If CM just up and vanished into thin air one day.. would drivers
suddenly start treating us better? I think not. We are going to
have d&^kheads yelling at us and throwing stuff at us as long
as we are on the roads... sheet, they do it to other cars!!
At least the massers are having fun. If CM pisses off enough
drivers - maybe one day they'll all decide to ride in to work :-)

hippy

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent
of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think
about this point, motorists don't set a very good example of either
shared road use or behaviour to each other. Check Australian road
accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or
Melbourne, but my attitude towards cars is not one of hatred, more a
personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they are a curse.

--

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

If CM pisses off enough

Quoted message said:

drivers - maybe one day they'll all decide to ride in to work :-)
hippy

You are dreaming Hippy!
Jock

On 30 Nov 2003 01:30:51 +1050, cfsmtb <spam@spameggs&spam.com.vic>

Quoted message said:

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent
of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think
about this point, motorists don't set a very good example of either
shared road use or behaviour to each other. Check Australian road
accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or
Melbourne, but my attitude towards cars is not one of hatred, more a
personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they are a curse.

Cfsmtb, I know you are always well behaved, but you don't really
typify the behaviour of the rest of the motley CM crew.

The behaviour of cyclists on CM is pretty bad at times. I mean we
quite intentionally park right in front of cars, knowing full well
that they are likely to get irate. Every mass seems to lead to another
incident of some driver getting frustrated and doing something stupid.
If we were really serious about promoting harmony, we could start by
allowing the occasional frustrated driver through instead of pushing
our luck until someone snaps - which inevitably happens - instead of
hollering "we ARE traffic", which everyone knows will only [censored]
drivers off. There seems to be a certain feeling of "cyclists revenge
on cars" that accompanies the ride, as if we are waving our taunt
buttocks in the face of all the lardarses that have blown $40,000+ on
a car is somehow going to help the situation.

I am sure a few of you on the Melbourne one saw the incident with the
taxi driver who nudged a few cyclists. Sure, he was in the wrong, but
was it really a good idea to have one of the guys (actually a
troublemaker mate of mine, surprise surprise) jump up on the roof and
start thumping?
---
DFM

Quoted message said:

From: Deep Freud Moors <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>

On 30 Nov 2003 01:30:51 +1050, cfsmtb <spam@spameggs&spam.com.vic>

Quoted message said:

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent
of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think
about this point, motorists don't set a very good example of either
shared road use or behaviour to each other. Check Australian road
accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or
Melbourne, but my attitude towards cars is not one of hatred, more a
personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they are a curse.

Cfsmtb, I know you are always well behaved, but you don't really
typify the behaviour of the rest of the motley CM crew.

The behaviour of cyclists on CM is pretty bad at times. I mean we
quite intentionally park right in front of cars, knowing full well
that they are likely to get irate. Every mass seems to lead to another
incident of some driver getting frustrated and doing something stupid.
If we were really serious about promoting harmony, we could start by
allowing the occasional frustrated driver through instead of pushing
our luck until someone snaps - which inevitably happens - instead of
hollering "we ARE traffic", which everyone knows will only [censored]
drivers off. There seems to be a certain feeling of "cyclists revenge
on cars" that accompanies the ride, as if we are waving our taunt
buttocks in the face of all the lardarses that have blown $40,000+ on
a car is somehow going to help the situation.

I am sure a few of you on the Melbourne one saw the incident with the
taxi driver who nudged a few cyclists. Sure, he was in the wrong, but
was it really a good idea to have one of the guys (actually a
troublemaker mate of mine, surprise surprise) jump up on the roof and
start thumping?

WTF do you want? CM to become like the great Melbourne bike ride where
everyone wears orange t-shirts and rides in a coned-off lane? Sure it's
cyclists' revenge on cars. Cars rule this city - they spew pollution, they
divide communities rather than unite them because of heavy traffic on wide
arterial roads and freeways, they isolate their drivers from the real world
to the extent that it becomes the norm to abuse other motorists if they
don't do exactly what YOU want them to, they tell cyclists that because we
don't pay registration we have no place on the road. With CM, 2 hours each
month the tide is turned in favour of cycling and liveable cities. And
that's bloody fine by me.

Stupid incidents don't result because of CM - they result from stupid
people. And I mean both drivers and riders. I'm disappointed that the
actions of your mate (did you try & stop him?) may reflect upon 491 other
people who were intent on having nothing but fun. When I cork cars I do it
cheerfully and smilingly, giving them a wave and a "thanks for waiting". In
the 20 or so Masses that I have attended, I've never had a driver rant at
me. On the contrary, most of them smile along with the vibe of CM.

"Jock" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:4_ayb.33010$aT.154@news-

Quoted message said:

If CM pisses off enough > drivers - maybe one day they'll all decide to

ride in to work :-)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

hippy

You are dreaming Hippy!

Yes, but if we didn't dream about what could happen
we'd all be mindless drones.. just existing to reproduce.
It's a nice thought but, obviously, one that isn't going to
happen. I'm really hanging out for the oil crisis.. I want to
be here when the planet runs out of oil.. I want to see
what happens... ;-)

hippy
"iii have a dream!"

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 02:58:36 GMT, David Sutton <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

From: Deep Freud Moors <deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu>

On 30 Nov 2003 01:30:51 +1050, cfsmtb <spam@spameggs&spam.com.vic>

Quoted message said:

aus.bike proving yet again that sometimes newsgroups are the equivalent
of AM radio shoutback.

As for promoting future harmony amongst drivers & cyclists, well, think
about this point, motorists don't set a very good example of either
shared road use or behaviour to each other. Check Australian road
accident stats or the media for countless reports of road rage et al.

I can't speak for all participants of a CM either in Sydney or
Melbourne, but my attitude towards cars is not one of hatred, more a
personal view that cars are a equal blessing as they are a curse.

Cfsmtb, I know you are always well behaved, but you don't really
typify the behaviour of the rest of the motley CM crew.

The behaviour of cyclists on CM is pretty bad at times. I mean we
quite intentionally park right in front of cars, knowing full well
that they are likely to get irate. Every mass seems to lead to another
incident of some driver getting frustrated and doing something stupid.
If we were really serious about promoting harmony, we could start by
allowing the occasional frustrated driver through instead of pushing
our luck until someone snaps - which inevitably happens - instead of
hollering "we ARE traffic", which everyone knows will only [censored]
drivers off. There seems to be a certain feeling of "cyclists revenge
on cars" that accompanies the ride, as if we are waving our taunt
buttocks in the face of all the lardarses that have blown $40,000+ on
a car is somehow going to help the situation.

I am sure a few of you on the Melbourne one saw the incident with the
taxi driver who nudged a few cyclists. Sure, he was in the wrong, but
was it really a good idea to have one of the guys (actually a
troublemaker mate of mine, surprise surprise) jump up on the roof and
start thumping?

WTF do you want? CM to become like the great Melbourne bike ride where
everyone wears orange t-shirts and rides in a coned-off lane? Sure it's
cyclists' revenge on cars. Cars rule this city - they spew pollution, they
divide communities rather than unite them because of heavy traffic on wide
arterial roads and freeways, they isolate their drivers from the real world
to the extent that it becomes the norm to abuse other motorists if they
don't do exactly what YOU want them to, they tell cyclists that because we
don't pay registration we have no place on the road. With CM, 2 hours each
month the tide is turned in favour of cycling and liveable cities. And
that's bloody fine by me.

Stupid incidents don't result because of CM - they result from stupid
people. And I mean both drivers and riders. I'm disappointed that the
actions of your mate (did you try & stop him?)

No, I egged him on of course. We almost had the lynch mob thing going
on.

Quoted message said:

may reflect upon 491 other
people who were intent on having nothing but fun. When I cork cars I do it
cheerfully and smilingly, giving them a wave and a "thanks for waiting". In
the 20 or so Masses that I have attended, I've never had a driver rant at
me. On the contrary, most of them smile along with the vibe of CM.

I was really just trying to make an observation. Truth is I don't want
CM to change at all. It's always a laugh. Most of the drivers take it
in their stride, but some are just [censored].

I guess no-one minds putting the [censored] up them though!
---
DFM

Just to clarify a couple of items, check out the this url for purposes
of self education; http://criticalmassrides.info/

from the same site, thoughts on "corking" and dealing with motorists via
CM Washington DC http://www.scorcher.org/screed/samp/whats-going-on.txt

and from CM Melbourne:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cm-melb/files/Corking_leaflet.pdf (you
will need to do the usual sign-in yahoogroups stuff to access)

As for on ride behaviour, if you don't like what you see, change it.

Talk to participants, create & hand out corking leaflets to motorists,
use simple methods such as "tag-team' corking. The vast majority of
rides I've been on since 1996/97 have been fun, peaceful and incident
free. Unfortunately with the bigger rides, such as the birthday rides
etc, CM does get a lot of newbies who may not understand the finer
points of CM culture & intent.

But then again, it's like herding cats, and us older CMer's can only do
our best to maintain some balance and ensure ppl don't get too stoopid &
overexcitable.

--

Ban cars in the CBD and supply cyclists with mounted rocket-launchers do
be used when an inconsiderate motorist crosses the line

--

Look Jock, you ever heard of "don't judge a book by its cover?" There are
alot of academics in that scene, and many brilliant ideas about cleaning up
the culture of running late to work in your car because you know you can run
late to work in your car. Forgetting to buy the kitkat for your mrs because
you know you can swing back round there in a jiff with your CAR. Don't you
get it man?

"Jock" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you

are.

Quoted message said:

Deadset, I saw this pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops on
MTB's, motorcycles and there were some among the group pulling wheelies up
the road, zigging & zagging all over the I guess 4 lanes blocked and very
proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored] I noticed

taking

Quoted message said:

a photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated
motorists in shot - good whacking material for the next CM meeting I
suppose.
You can impress each other with your antics but the public (me included

and

Quoted message said:

I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored] big
time.
Animosity towards cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these
surprise partys.
Glad to be southbound.
Jock

err, actually, you lost me a bit after that brilliant ideas bit so no, I
don't get it. You are only allowed one random thought or metaphor per
sentence. OK?
Jock

"Jake" <j@com> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Look Jock, you ever heard of "don't judge a book by its cover?" There are
alot of academics in that scene, and many brilliant ideas about cleaning

up

Quoted message said:

the culture of running late to work in your car because you know you can

run

Quoted message said:

late to work in your car. Forgetting to buy the kitkat for your mrs

because

Quoted message said:

you know you can swing back round there in a jiff with your CAR. Don't you
get it man?

"Jock" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What a bunch of rent a crowd, need a haircut, tree hugging [censored] you

are.

Quoted message said:

Deadset, I saw this pathetic mob on the SHB on Friday, escorted by cops

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

MTB's, motorcycles and there were some among the group pulling wheelies

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the road, zigging & zagging all over the I guess 4 lanes blocked and

very

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

proud of the disruption caused, to the point of one [censored] I noticed

taking

Quoted message said:

a photo on his bike back towards the tollgates to show the frustrated
motorists in shot - good whacking material for the next CM meeting I
suppose.
You can impress each other with your antics but the public (me included

and

Quoted message said:

I am a cyclist), would have to be pretty good to feel not [censored] big
time.
Animosity towards cyclists would hardly decrease as a result of these
surprise partys.
Glad to be southbound.
Jock