What is CM to you?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Erin on August 2, 2009 at 8:09pm

CM to me is a celebration of transportation by bike and one of the few times I feel truly safe on the roads (because I'm surrounded by other cyclists). It also, to me, is a celebration of all alternative forms of transportation, which is why I am disturbed when CMers disregard--and, worse, endanger--pedestrians attempting to cross the street. I saw a lot of that at last Friday's Mass.

Permalink Reply by Vanessa B on August 3, 2009 at 12:51pm

I am one cyclist who has grown to HATE critical mess. I love my first critical mass, in Chicago in October of 1998. I loved it in the early double aughts. But now i've grown to loathe it. Here's why:

I love cycling and i find that most of the people on the masses are not in it for anything other than the party. I was riding MY BIKE from Lincoln Park to Logan Square and encountered Critical Mess going the opposite direction. People on the Mess yelled at me "You're going the wrong way" I wanted to yell back "No! I'm going home so i can get to be early so i can get up and go on a training ride." But i didn't. I wanted to yell "I was doing masses in my home town before you kids even had your TRAINING WHEELS removed," but again i didn't.

ANYWAY they were yelling at me that i was "going the wrong way" because i was a cyclist choosing not to waste a friday even doing a 3mph bike ride. I was going down my small part of my lane next to cars and here comes this dude on a breakless fixed gear bike heading RIGHTTOWARD me. "Oh Shit!" he yelled "i'm going the wrong way im going the wrong way." Yes, buddy, yes you are.

He got out of my way just in time..

WHEN CRITICAL MESS is messing with other enthusiastic and involved cyclists like myself, who happen to choose NOT TO PARTICIPATE in its party on wheels, it's time to re-evaluate its agenda!

Permalink Reply by Aaron Bussey on August 3, 2009 at 5:50pm

Something cool to do on a Friday night rather than sit in a bar surrounded by drunken revelry.. .. ..

M.A.R.K. said:

I confess, I am a "come join us" and "your going the wrong way" shouter. But my words are not of animosity, they are of encouragement to come and join the ride. And really, I don't think anyone else who is saying the same is doing it cause they KNOW you are choosing not to waste your Friday night. Although I cannot speak for anyone but myself, on rides I have not heard people talk about others with bad words just cause they were not participating. Maybe they thought you didn't know about the ride and were trying to get your attention? While it may seem kind of unlikely, I am sure there are thousands of people who enjoy bikes but do not know about the ride or what it is. I know I have encountered a handful throughout the years. So in finishing, I am not convinced they were messing with you, as more you have a dislike for CM and it's participants so that's how it comes off perhaps.

You say that most participants are in it for nothing more then the party, which I won't argue, but say that every person rides for different reasons as everyone is unique in their own way. To say that most ride for protest, to party, or just to screw with people in cars seems a bit unfair. I would like to know though what reasons you think they should participate for, besides the celebration of the bicycle? Why did you start riding originally?

Permalink Reply by Vanessa B on August 5, 2009 at 9:43am

We Need a Critical MANNERS ride!

I guess the main reason i dislike critical mess so much NOW is that it's all you see is the fashion "fixie riders" or people bringing their bikes in on the train from the suburbs who want to get their very own Critical Mass missed connection.

A friend of mine says she never see anyone handing out fliers to motorists tell them that CM is about creating awareness that streets are for cars AND bikes. Motorists see it as a roving party, which it is. If there was a little more organization and you CMers tried to rally support with the motorists, instead of "hanging out" it make more sense. Also if you really wanted to create change with Critical Mass, it should go to the 'burbs where cyclists are fewer and further between and thus more marginalized on the streets. (Trust me i work in the suburbs and ride my bike to and from aurora occasionally and these people look at me like i am an ape on a unicycle instead of just a lady on a bike.) CM might want to go it's needed not where it's fun.

It's also just annoying to have some 19 year old tell me to "come one you're going the wrong way" when i was on critical mass when he was still in training wheels (well not really but close). Leave other cyclists to their own business and for the love of christ stay out of their way. Really it's so annoying to be on your way somewhere on YOUR bike and have to deal with slow ass critical mass when really you just want to get home/to your friend's house/to Bloomingdale's to get those sandals you've been salivating over before the store closes, but no, oh shit you've ridden up to critical mass and now you have a bunch of crazies yelling at you because you are on a bike but not with them even though at this point in life you don't need a Friday night activity because you are worn out from working and riding 150+ miles during the rest of the week.

THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/14/MNGB6P8...

Permalink Reply by Jeffrey David Troutman on August 12, 2009 at 12:33am

To me Critical Mass is a way to slow down, have fun and enjoy the streets of this gorgeous city. Life can be so busy and over-scheduled sometimes. The last Friday of every month, I forget about the daily B.S. and just celebrate life.
Hopefully some of the people that are delayed by the mass will realize that their schedules NEED room for unexpected fifteen minute delays, and they will change their lives for the better.

Permalink Reply by Davo on August 14, 2009 at 1:44pm

The amazing thing about bikes is that its easy to find another route if the one you are is messed up by traffic or something else. I've had to go a little out of my way to make it through cubs traffic. So many roads so little time.

and "for the love of christ stay out of their way. Really it's so annoying to be on your way somewhere on YOUR bike and have to deal with slow ass critical mass when really you just want to get home/to your friend's house/to Bloomingdale's to get those sandals you've been salivating over before the store closes, but no, oh shit you've ridden up to critical mass and now you have a bunch of crazies yelling at you because you are on a bike but not with them even though at this point in life you don't need a Friday night activity because you are worn out from working and riding 150+ miles during the rest of the week."

THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/14/MNGB6P8...

Permalink Reply by Joyce M. Fitzgerald on August 24, 2009 at 12:58pm

Feels like a party on wheels to me!

Permalink Reply by lauren sailor on August 29, 2009 at 6:45am

Vanessa B said:

We Need a Critical MANNERS ride!
I guess the main reason i dislike critical mess so much NOW is that it's all you see is the fashion "fixie riders" or people bringing their bikes in on the train from the suburbs who want to get their very own Critical Mass missed connection. A friend of mine says she never see anyone handing out fliers [etc etc etc] THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/14/MNGB6P8...

on THAT note...

to me, CCM is a chance to do something, rather than sit on the sidelines and bitch about what should be done.

instead of complaining about the status quo, CCM actually changes it, if only for a few brief hours each month. don't like motorists driving you into the gutter? get a couple hundred friends to ride on your left. don't like car exhaust, loud engines, impatient honking horns dominating our public space? replace it with friendly conversation, bike bells, and the sound of coasting freewheels.

think we need a Critical Manners? quit bitching and start one. (thanks to the chainlink, advertising a ride to thousands of local riders has never been easier.)