Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on March 19, 2014 at 9:31am

Hey Red!  I'll help of course.

I've mentioned this thread over on http://www.thechainlink.org/group/criticalmassdiscussion

Standard route development advice is at http://ChicagoCriticalMass.org/routedev

And of course post-away at https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoCriticalMass

My top suggestions: 1. Determine and share where the nearest booze store is.  I and a dozen others wandered for blocks, searching, after the end last year.  2. Was there an inside part at the end last year?  I and others weren't clear where dancing or bathrooms might be, and assumed outside.  Maybe some signs would help?  3. Did cops come last year?  What can we do to reduce that risk? Like not block the alley, or whatever?

A pic from last year.

A plot from last year.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 27, 2014 at 4:55pm

Pedicab activism planned on May's mass (last mass before the absurdly regressive new ordinace takes effect):

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chicago-critical-mass-413

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/may-critical-mass

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Permalink Reply by Sam A. on May 28, 2014 at 3:09am

Anyone have a map or know what Friday's route is?

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Permalink Reply by Waymond Smith on May 28, 2014 at 4:02am

We won't know until the ride starts; that's the way it works.

Sam A. said:

Anyone have a map or know what Friday's route is?

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Permalink Reply by Tristan Jackson on May 28, 2014 at 7:27am

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is critical mass about? I'm a cyclist. I love cycling. And, of course, I respect cyclists. But I'm also a driver. And, one time, I got stuck at an intersection waiting for a Critical Mass for more than a half hour while I had to pee really bad. If the ride is meant to raise awareness about cyclists, then I'm not sure that the ride achieves that goal in positive way. To me, respect between cyclists and drivers is achieved through consciously doing our best, both as drivers and as cyclists, to share the road. Purposefully causing congestion isn't respectful, IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Tristan Jackson on May 28, 2014 at 7:38am

Believe me I really wish I had.


Jeff Schneider said:

You should have gone to the toilet before you got in the car.  Didn't your mom teach you that?

Tristan Jackson said:

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is critical mass about? I'm a cyclist. I love cycling. And, of course, I respect cyclists. But I'm also a driver. And, one time, I got stuck at an intersection waiting for a Critical Mass for more than a half hour while I had to pee really bad. If the ride is meant to raise awareness about cyclists, then I'm not sure that the ride achieves that goal in positive way. To me, respect between cyclists and drivers is achieved through consciously doing our best, both as drivers and as cyclists, to share the road. Purposefully causing congestion isn't respectful, IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on May 28, 2014 at 9:01am

Maybe there was a backup after the mass had already passed where this person didn't make it through lights? but honestly, at more than ten minutes the other direction should be clear enough to turn around and try a different street, or drive in the opposite direction of the mass to find where it's ended and cross there. 

h' 1.0 said:

More than half an hour?

Someone usually jumps out of the ride and films a "front to back" video of the whole mass, and typically the larger rides take somewhere around 10 minutes total to pass. And then automobile  traffic is immediately moving afterwards.

Do you remember what month/year that was?
 
Tristan Jackson said:

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is critical mass about? I'm a cyclist. I love cycling. And, of course, I respect cyclists. But I'm also a driver. And, one time, I got stuck at an intersection waiting for a Critical Mass for more than a half hour while I had to pee really bad. If the ride is meant to raise awareness about cyclists, then I'm not sure that the ride achieves that goal in positive way. To me, respect between cyclists and drivers is achieved through consciously doing our best, both as drivers and as cyclists, to share the road. Purposefully causing congestion isn't respectful, IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Tristan Jackson on May 28, 2014 at 9:24am

I was stuck at the intersection of Roosevelt and Wabash heading West. I believe it was the summer of 2011, but I could be wrong about the date. The memory is still vivid (even if the date isn't) because I had to pee so damn bad. I wanted to throw stuff at the fools wearing no helmets, riding on the wrong side of the road, taking their sweet time to clear the intersection. Unfortunately, Roosevelt is a congested street at rush hour even without a ride like that.



h' 1.0 said:

More than half an hour?

Someone usually jumps out of the ride and films a "front to back" video of the whole mass, and typically the larger rides take somewhere around 10 minutes total to pass. And then automobile  traffic is immediately moving afterwards.

Do you remember what month/year that was?
 
Tristan Jackson said:

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is critical mass about? I'm a cyclist. I love cycling. And, of course, I respect cyclists. But I'm also a driver. And, one time, I got stuck at an intersection waiting for a Critical Mass for more than a half hour while I had to pee really bad. If the ride is meant to raise awareness about cyclists, then I'm not sure that the ride achieves that goal in positive way. To me, respect between cyclists and drivers is achieved through consciously doing our best, both as drivers and as cyclists, to share the road. Purposefully causing congestion isn't respectful, IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Tristan Jackson on May 28, 2014 at 9:32am

I definitely couldn't turn around. We, the cars, were tightly packed next to each other. Many drivers simply turned off their engines because there was no going anywhere. And it definitely took longer than 10 minutes for all the cyclists to clear the intersection because there was a long, seemingly never ending tail of buffoons taking their sweet time.


Michelle Milham said:

Maybe there was a backup after the mass had already passed where this person didn't make it through lights? but honestly, at more than ten minutes the other direction should be clear enough to turn around and try a different street, or drive in the opposite direction of the mass to find where it's ended and cross there. 

h' 1.0 said:

More than half an hour?

Someone usually jumps out of the ride and films a "front to back" video of the whole mass, and typically the larger rides take somewhere around 10 minutes total to pass. And then automobile  traffic is immediately moving afterwards.

Do you remember what month/year that was?
 
Tristan Jackson said:

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is critical mass about? I'm a cyclist. I love cycling. And, of course, I respect cyclists. But I'm also a driver. And, one time, I got stuck at an intersection waiting for a Critical Mass for more than a half hour while I had to pee really bad. If the ride is meant to raise awareness about cyclists, then I'm not sure that the ride achieves that goal in positive way. To me, respect between cyclists and drivers is achieved through consciously doing our best, both as drivers and as cyclists, to share the road. Purposefully causing congestion isn't respectful, IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on May 28, 2014 at 10:17am

Depends on what you're drinking.  If macro lager and/or fairly "basic" spirits is what you're after, there's a convenience store at the NE corner of Kedzie and Franklin.

If you like "fancy" beer, I suspect the 10 minute ride to Puerto Rico Food & Liquors on Augusta is your best bet.

Andronymous said:

1. Determine and share where the nearest booze store is.  I and a dozen others wandered for blocks, searching, after the end last year.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on May 28, 2014 at 12:30pm

If all the bicyclists had been in cars instead can you imagine how much longer you would have had to wait?

Tristan Jackson said:

I definitely couldn't turn around. We, the cars, were tightly packed next to each other. Many drivers simply turned off their engines because there was no going anywhere. And it definitely took longer than 10 minutes for all the cyclists to clear the intersection because there was a long, seemingly never ending tail of buffoons taking their sweet time.


Michelle Milham said:

Maybe there was a backup after the mass had already passed where this person didn't make it through lights? but honestly, at more than ten minutes the other direction should be clear enough to turn around and try a different street, or drive in the opposite direction of the mass to find where it's ended and cross there. 

h' 1.0 said:

More than half an hour?

Someone usually jumps out of the ride and films a "front to back" video of the whole mass, and typically the larger rides take somewhere around 10 minutes total to pass. And then automobile  traffic is immediately moving afterwards.

Do you remember what month/year that was?
 
Tristan Jackson said:

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is critical mass about? I'm a cyclist. I love cycling. And, of course, I respect cyclists. But I'm also a driver. And, one time, I got stuck at an intersection waiting for a Critical Mass for more than a half hour while I had to pee really bad. If the ride is meant to raise awareness about cyclists, then I'm not sure that the ride achieves that goal in positive way. To me, respect between cyclists and drivers is achieved through consciously doing our best, both as drivers and as cyclists, to share the road. Purposefully causing congestion isn't respectful, IMO.

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Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on May 28, 2014 at 1:12pm

False argument.   Had all the bicyclists been in cars, they wouldn't have been running the lights....     Again, the argument that because car drivers often act like jerks its okay to act like a jerk is really not a good one.  Go ahead.  Join Critical Mass.   Be aware that your conduct has consequences and if and when the City bans bicycling in the Central Business District, you can look back at that "fun" you had.  

Bob Kastigar said:

If all the bicyclists had been in cars instead can you imagine how much longer you would have had to wait?

Tristan Jackson said:

I definitely couldn't turn around. We, the cars, were tightly packed next to each other. Many drivers simply turned off their engines because there was no going anywhere. And it definitely took longer than 10 minutes for all the cyclists to clear the intersection because there was a long, seemingly never ending tail of buffoons taking their sweet time.


Michelle Milham said:

Maybe there was a backup after the mass had already passed where this person didn't make it through lights? but honestly, at more than ten minutes the other direction should be clear enough to turn around and try a different street, or drive in the opposite direction of the mass to find where it's ended and cross there. 

h' 1.0 said:

More than half an hour?

Someone usually jumps out of the ride and films a "front to back" video of the whole mass, and typically the larger rides take somewhere around 10 minutes total to pass. And then automobile  traffic is immediately moving afterwards.

Do you remember what month/year that was?
 
Tristan Jackson said:

Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly is critical mass about? I'm a cyclist. I love cycling. And, of course, I respect cyclists. But I'm also a driver. And, one time, I got stuck at an intersection waiting for a Critical Mass for more than a half hour while I had to pee really bad. If the ride is meant to raise awareness about cyclists, then I'm not sure that the ride achieves that goal in positive way. To me, respect between cyclists and drivers is achieved through consciously doing our best, both as drivers and as cyclists, to share the road. Purposefully causing congestion isn't respectful, IMO.

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