"Trollwatcher" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:BC66DC22.BDD6%[email protected]...
> > From: "Duncan" <
[email protected]> Subject: Re: Melb - Critical Mass tonight 27th/Feb
> >
> > "Trollwatcher" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:BC66B446.BDCC%[email protected]...
>
> >>> If they stuck to a respectable speed, never spent more than a block or
> > two
> >>> on any road and avoided irrelevant political tangents
> >>
> >> What tangents? Oh, I guess you mean silly things like bikes are fun, sustainable cities, people-
> >> friendly streets and reducing our dependence
on
> >> oil. I feel ashamed for having ridden in CM now.
> >
> > They're all well and good, it's a pity they're given such bad publicity
by
> > being associated with CM. I've seen people carrying banners for all sorts of political groups. I
have
> > nothing against these groups, but it really dilutes any supposed effect
CM
> > is supposed to have.
>
> You're talking absolute rubbish, or (to be charitable) you're talking
about
> events that happened years & years ago. I've been at every CM for the past
2
> years and the only "political" banner that I've seen was during the Nov 02 ride, which just
> happened to be the day before the Vic State Election. The banner was from The Greens party & it
> said "Vote Green" -- nothing more, nothing less.
I'll admit I can't comment on the politcal content in the last two years. The last CM I went on was
the previous Bolte bridge crossing.
> >>> it may still have some value. CM should be out there showing how practical cycling can be,
> >>
> >> It does.
> >
> > It doesn't. It shows cycling as being extremely slow and disruptive.
>
> Because motor traffic is never slow or disruptive...
It makes a huge difference if somone is doing it deliberatly.
> > I prefer to think of cycling as an extremely practical form of
transport, not
> > an opportunity to inconvenience people.
>
> Are you sure you're not Harry Barber from BV in disguise?
Quite sure, as Hippy and Peter Signorini can attest. (Pete, I'm the guy from Bikery with the long
red hair).
> >>> As it stands today CM is a liability to cyclists. I've been on CM
about
> >>> every two years since and each time I've been frustrated to the point
of
> >>> abandoning it. I seriously doubt any of the 'organisers' could give a
> > stuff
> >>> about real cyclist issues.
> >>
> >> CM doesn't have "organisers". Shows how out of touch you are.
> >
> > I've met a lot of the people who arrange meetings and maps for CM. It's
far
> > more organised than they care to admit. Like I said, I used to be a CM regular.
>
> You admitted earlier that you went to CM for the first 3 years, and that you've been maybe twice
> since then. Yet you claim to know a lot about CM
and
> its inner machinations. So pray tell us who "they" are, these shadowy "organisers"?! Name names if
> you can, but I bet you can't because you're clutching at straws to prop up your specious argument.
> CM doesn't have meetings... unlike a few years ago, when there were "monthly meetings" at the
> Sahara, these days no-one ever turns up. I know this because when I first started riding CM in
> 2002, I went along to Sahara at the advertised meeting time and I was the only person there! (Good
> coffee at Sahara though...)
I remember the publicised meeting point was a decoy for the real one. I knew several people who were
very vocal in CMs early days, but these were the days when I thought CM was handled a lot more
sensibly. I won't name them as I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate it.
I am all for cyclists making a stand and being noticed. I liked the original CM how it would hold
people up just long enough for them to read the handouts the corks would pass around, by the time
they'd read it they were free to go again.
I decided never to do another CM after the previous Bolte Bridge crossing where they thought camping
at the top for 10-15 minutes was a good idea. That was pure power tripping and self indulgence in my
opinion. Seems like I wasn't the only one as I lead a breakaway group off the bridge with other
people who'd spat the dummy.