Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbra Mann on November 4, 2009 at 10:35am

Why don't you just do your own ride...instead of trying to 'hijack' a group that is obviously there for something different than what you have in mind? Prove to us all how your concept of a critical mass is superior!

I think many CM-ers prefer the guidance of a map that someone has thought out and checked for road construction closures and so on...especially people with kids in tow, people with disabilities or special needs, people on blades, people with sound systems, etc. Maybe the BIG monthly CM is not for you. I know it's exciting to have thousands of people around you...but with that comes responsibility, and it sounds like you are not interested in what other people want or need or what is safe. Man, how many times do people have to defend CM like this?! This is getting old. Just do your own ride, already!

OR...You could always plan for your following of 'anarchists' (if you can garner one)to branch off of the main CM at a certain point and head to the suburbs as randomly, quickly, and haphazardy as you want...
that way you get the excitement of the bigger group at first but also get to do what you want to. No-one is forcing you to stay the route! Remember that. Cut yourself loose at ANY point.

...but I think it is ridiculous of you to suggest tricking everyone into following you...you don't seem to have the experience or forethought to lead thousands of people on a ride. And if you don't like 'pre-planned' then why are you already suggesting Oak Park or Riverside?!? Sound like YOU just want to be THE leader, which there is none on CM. The planning process seems to be to be a collaborative effort to me...I always see the planning process on-line.

PS I have no interest in following you to the suburbs...your idea sounds bad to me. What, do you LIVE there or something?

Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on November 4, 2009 at 12:11pm

I wasn't trying to ruffle your feathers Ms Mann, just looking to end all of the same ol same ol. None of these huge rides are pre ridden so your argument about taking kids and the like into consideration is bunk. (remember the ride we did over the summer that took us down Addison while it was still under going repaving and then down a one way residential street with 1,000+'s en masse?)

CM was started as something that was different to everyone involved. For some a political thing, Cop Protest Mass; a fun thing, Bubble Mass, a holiday thing, "Ghost/Fire Mass" or a awareness thing, "Pedicab Mass"; even recently some of Spencer's ideas have taken on a designer feel in that some have had a basis on aerial symmetry it seems.

The term Critical Mass was started after watching people cross streets in India/China who need a 'critical mass' to cross city streets and that is what I see it as since I feel much safer, confident and happy when riding with many others.

I don't want to be a leader I just want to get back to our routes and just have everyone meetup for a bike ride on the last Friday of the month. Where it goes or how it gets there is irrelevant. As long as it just exists.

End

Barbra Mann said:

Why don't you just do your own ride...instead of trying to 'hijack' a group that is obviously there for something different than what you have in mind? Prove to us all how your concept of a critical mass is superior!

I think many CM-ers prefer the guidance of a map that someone has thought out and checked for road construction closures and so on...especially people with kids in tow, people with disabilities or special needs, people on blades, people with sound systems, etc. Maybe the BIG monthly CM is not for you. I know it's exciting to have thousands of people around you...but with that comes responsibility, and it sounds like you are not interested in what other people want or need or what is safe. Man, how many times do people have to defend CM like this?! This is getting old. Just do your own ride, already!

OR...You could always plan for your following of 'anarchists' (if you can garner one)to branch off of the main CM at a certain point and head to the suburbs as randomly, quickly, and haphazardy as you want...
that way you get the excitement of the bigger group at first but also get to do what you want to. No-one is forcing you to stay the route! Remember that. Cut yourself loose at ANY point.

...but I think it is ridiculous of you to suggest tricking everyone into following you...you don't seem to have the experience or forethought to lead thousands of people on a ride. And if you don't like 'pre-planned' then why are you already suggesting Oak Park or Riverside?!? Sound like YOU just want to be THE leader, which there is none on CM. The planning process seems to be to be a collaborative effort to me...I always see the planning process on-line.

PS I have no interest in following you to the suburbs...your idea sounds bad to me. What, do you LIVE there or something?

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on November 4, 2009 at 6:57pm

Glad I found this. You know there are many factors that lead to a long stretch of good maps this year. Many to most were pre-ridden. The whole parallel aspect of art also goes back a decade or so. I presume you've seen the archive. Part of the problem is we're so huge...

Conceptually speaking though, I'd be blind to not see that plans inhibit the unknown. The mass has done some great organic months in the past, which I don't want to prevent, but that may depend on the luck of mixes of abilities and energies and size at a given time... Some unplanned ones you may remember also fell pretty meh. And some I thought were anarchy over the years, I later came to find were lead.
Anywho, I intend to actively sit out planning until maybe next April. Need to just ride.
Can you share some experiences from other cities?

Permalink Reply by Davo on November 6, 2009 at 7:26am

what about a mass "map" of locations. Just highlighted landmarks and you have to figure out how to get from one to another. That might be fun. I think that might lend to people in the back taking alternate routes to catch up.

Permalink Reply by Steven Lane on November 17, 2009 at 6:04pm

I'm hijacking Aaron's hijacking and taking the ride to after party with body painting and naked poetry readings by Aurora Butterfly, the cyclomuse that started up the World Naked Bike Ride in Chicago. Something tells me this is going to be more of a crowd pleaser than the winding up in a strip mall parking lot of a near west suburb (just a hunch). Also, I've been massively procrastinating on getting the 13th Critical Mass Bike Winter Art Show, but it looks like things should come together nicely for 2010, which means February also has a destination!

This month is a favor to an old friend that I know through Chicago Critical Mass, and her efforts in promoting the WNBR have touched thousands of people in this city. February has another herstory that extends before my time with CCM, and the Bike Winter Art Show is a production made possible only by dozens of artists, performers, and volunteers.

I wish the armchair anarchists would acknowledge that Chicago Critical Mass has developed it's own unique character through the planning and efforts of volunteers and not try and reduce it to what they've read on Wikipedia. With the neighborhood Critical Mass rides and other group rides, you have plenty of opportunities to ride aimlessly in small groups that lend themselves to "winging it" turn by turn.

~steven

Permalink Reply by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on December 14, 2009 at 5:14am

I'm getting in this rather late in the game... And I am pretty sure November was a map-less ride. So how was it? Anyone wish there was a map? I hear it was pretty awesome.

Hijacking a ride is an art. It's also IMO one of the most fun things you can do. I have been a part of at least two hijackings that have lead us to Lakeshore. If you want to hi-jack a ride it's pretty easy just be the loudest guy at the front. OR, break it up in the middle. I'm all for subverting the efforts of map makers, it keeps 'em on their toes. Steven is right there are many people who help every mass and they deserve their credit but that don't mean you have to pay attention to their wishes if you don't feel like it. Who cares where or what the map does. If it's fun it's fun!

Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on December 14, 2009 at 7:57am

And isn't January The Polka Ride?

Steven Lane said:

I'm hijacking Aaron's hijacking and taking the ride to after party with body painting and naked poetry readings by Aurora Butterfly, the cyclomuse that started up the World Naked Bike Ride in Chicago. Something tells me this is going to be more of a crowd pleaser than the winding up in a strip mall parking lot of a near west suburb (just a hunch). Also, I've been massively procrastinating on getting the 13th Critical Mass Bike Winter Art Show, but it looks like things should come together nicely for 2010, which means February also has a destination!

This month is a favor to an old friend that I know through Chicago Critical Mass, and her efforts in promoting the WNBR have touched thousands of people in this city. February has another herstory that extends before my time with CCM, and the Bike Winter Art Show is a production made possible only by dozens of artists, performers, and volunteers.

I wish the armchair anarchists would acknowledge that Chicago Critical Mass has developed it's own unique character through the planning and efforts of volunteers and not try and reduce it to what they've read on Wikipedia. With the neighborhood Critical Mass rides and other group rides, you have plenty of opportunities to ride aimlessly in small groups that lend themselves to "winging it" turn by turn.

~steven