Critical Massholes

[acheron]

Joey daVilla's AccordionGuy website is one of the most popular blogs in Canada. He posted this article this morning:

http://accordionguy.blogware.com/blo...9/2372532.html

Critical Massholes (or: Why I No Longer Ride with Critical Mass)


Today is the last Friday of the month, which means that in many cities all over the world, there will be a Critical Mass bike ride. I won't take part in it -- partly because I have a prior engagement, and partly because I refuse to take part in it anymore.
The simplest way for me to describe Critical Mass is to borrow a line from this page: "a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists' right to the road". The closest to organization that the event comes is that there is an agreement for interested cyclists to meet at some specified location and go for a bike ride en masse. No leadership or central body coordinates its activities and the route taken is determined as the ride takes place. It's up to the participants in each of the cities to make it what it is, oftentimes as it happens. It's rather like the BarCamp/DemoCamp "unconferences", which shouldn't be surprising: both arose from the culture of San Francisco.
While I wouldn't call myself "hardcore" -- I'm neither a mountain biker nor a bike courier -- I could honestly self-identify as an avid urban cyclist. Ever since coming back home to Accordion City from my (unexpectedly long, but rewarding) stint at Crazy Go Nuts University, I've biked to work whenever possible. This city is a pretty decent one for cycling by North American standards, and there's a certain way that travelling the roads by bike puts you in touch with the "feel" of a city that travelling by motor or even on foot can. The benefits of exercise as well as not being beholden to the Saudis and other equally unpleasant terrorist-funding oil states (as my pal Cory likes to say, "an oil state is just a failed state that happens to have oil") are bonuses. It is my love of cycling that led me to participate in Critical Mass.

Why I No Longer Participate

It is also my love of cycling that led me to stop participating. I understand that the character of Critical Mass varies from city to city, and in this city, it seems to have degenerated. It's turned from a celebration of cycling into a bike-driven way for hipsters and the angry underemployed to act out their unresolved rebellion issues against their parents. I think that Critical Mass Toronto does more harm to cycling than good. That's why I no longer participate in it, and that's why I'm speaking out.
The battle cry of Critical Mass is "We're not blocking traffic, we are traffic!". I agree with that sentiment: bikes are vehicles with as much right to the road as cars. The problem is that Critical Mass participants here in Toronto seem to have forgotten that with rights comes responsibilities. The rally here tends to hold itself above the law, hogging as much of the road as possible, holding traffic by running red lights as a group and harassing drivers for committing the heinous crime of driving a car.
There's a regular participant in Toronto's Critical Mass, a bike courier type with curly brown hair and always in shades. He tends to bike ahead of the pack and seems to take great joy in either goading the police or threatening drivers. He often bikes up to cars to block their way and hurls verbal abuse at their drivers. At the last Critical Mass I attended, a guy in an SUV asked him how long they'd be blocking the intersection, to which he replied "Go fuck your mother." In retrospect, I should've given in to my urge to clock him with my Kryptonite lock.
The problem is that in the sort of working anarchy that things like Critical Mass are, enthusiastic participants like him tend to define the spirit of the event, and the rest follow suit. The end result is that Critical Mass becomes less about celebrating bikes and more about acting out revenge fantasies against "The Man".
In the meantime, the people in the cars who have been barricaded by the bike rally aren't likely to be convinced that bikes have a ride to the road. What they see are ruffians who are flouting traffic laws and hurling abuse at them. For the most part, they're people who are willing to share the road; they're probably less willing to do so after encountering the two-wheeled barbarian horde.
In the last few Critical Mass rallies I attended, some bike cops escorted the ride with mixed results. Some of the crowd were a bit annoyed at the presence of the cops, and a couple of the cops shoved some of the cyclists about, follwoing it up with a "Go ahead. Hit back. I dare you." It was two kinds of stupid coming together for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of ass-hattery.

Some People Share My Sentiment

I don't think I'm alone in these sentiments; consider the comments by otherwise sympathetic people in this blog entry. I find myself in the weird position of agreeing with a writer from the "Moynihan Institute" web site, who wrote this about Critical Mass in a pretty good article about bike commuting:

I understand the statement they claim they are trying to make but the truth is that they come across as a bunch of douche bag hipsters living off trust funds. No one has ever taken up the cause of the cyclist as a result of these fart knockers grid locking traffic.

And Finally...

That's the problem with Critical Mass Toronto: does it want to be about celebrating and promoting bikes as a better alternative, or about punishing people for using their cars? And really, when you boil it down, isn't it about punishing people for not sharing your lifestyle, which is the sort of thing for which one typically blames "the conservatives"?
As long as it's about the latter, then they're Critical Massholes. I'll still bike, but not with them.

[Ditto Much]

I agree with him, and yes I am a cyclist.

[lucky1]

...It was two kinds of stupid coming together for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of ass-hattery.

ha

[I_bRAD]

I had no idea there were two cities named Toronto!

Lucky for us, our CM is indeed a celebration of bikes and biking

Thanks for bringing us this defamatory and downright incorrect interpretation of it though!

I've been doing the CM rides for years and I strongly disagree with what the author of this rant is saying.

[acheron]

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

I've been doing the CM rides for years and I strongly disagree with what the author of this rant is saying.

Go check his blog entry and comment on it, then. He will answer your objections - Joey's good like that.

[Rataxès]

Urban cyclists are the most self-righteous demographic on earth. A cyclist could be driving the wrong way down a one-way street and roll through a 4-way stop and somehoe the SUV driver is an asshole.

[Ditto Much]

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

I had no idea there was two cities named Toronto!

Lucky for us, our CM is indeed a celebration of bikes and biking

Thanks for bringing us this defamatory and downright incorrect interpretation of it though!

I've been doing the CM rides for years and I strongly disagree with what the author of this rant is saying.

Really cause even as a pedestrian they have right pissed me off several times, they don't follow the rules of the road at all, and as a cyclist running into them assures me that I'm going to be delayed as none of them share the road. Even though they may have started with good intentions I find that if anything the aggravation they cause is greater than any benefit they produce by miles. Additionally they piss off motorists who actually pay for the roads that I ride on for free. See fuel taxes and plate taxes pay for roads not property taxes and not income taxes or PST. Thus these people are complaining that they don’t have access to a road system that they aren’t paying for.

And again I want to point out that I am a cyclist.

[I_bRAD]

Originally Posted by Ditto Much

Really cause even as a pedestrian they have right pissed me off several times, they don't follow the rules of the road at all, and as a cyclist running into them assures me that I'm going to be delayed as none of them share the road. Even though they may have started with good intentions I find that if anything the aggravation they cause is greater than any benefit they produce by miles. Additionally they piss off motorists who actually pay for the roads that I ride on for free. See fuel taxes and plate taxes pay for roads not property taxes and not income taxes or PST. Thus these people are complaining that they don’t have access to a road system that they aren’t paying for.

And again I want to point out that I am a cyclist.

The reason for the group riding together through red lights is to keep the group together, ensuring the safety created by the "mass" and also to prevent further traffic congestion. ( a CM group split up by red lights suddently becomes several CM groups spread out over a few blocks)

Money from roads comes from various sources, including municipal property taxes and provincial income taxes. So, the people on CM actually do help pay for the roads. Incidentally I also own and pay to operate and license a car so I guess I did my share either way.

At the Toronto CM anyhow, I know most people take care to give pedestrians at crosswalks the right of way whenever possible.

Besides, how come when several thousand people hop in their cars to make a mad dash for the suburbs at 5pm it's considered business as usual, but when a large group of cyclists take to the road it's trouble? Imagine how shitty and backed up the traffic would be if everyone in CM was driving a car instead!

[acheron]

"...riding together through red lights ... ensuring the safety..."

does not compute.

"Besides, how come when several thousand people hop in their cars to make a mad dash for the suburbs at 5pm it's considered business as usual, but when a large group of cyclists take to the road it's trouble?"

Because you're ignoring the traffic signals which have been arranged in order to aid traffic flow during peak hours. Blowing the rhythm creates more delay than you can see with your eyes - there's a cascade effect.

"Imagine how shitty and backed up the traffic would be if everyone in CM was driving a car instead!"

Umm they would be regular traffic, then.

[Ditto Much]

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

The reason for the group riding together through red lights is to keep the group together, ensuring the safety created by the "mass" and also to prevent further traffic congestion. ( a CM group split up by red lights suddently becomes several CM groups spread out over a few blocks)

Money from roads comes from various sources, including municipal property taxes and provincial income taxes. So, the people on CM actually do help pay for the roads. Incidentally I also own and pay to operate and license a car so I guess I did my share either way.

At the Toronto CM anyhow, I know most people take care to give pedestrians at crosswalks the right of way whenever possible.

Besides, how come when several thousand people hop in their cars to make a mad dash for the suburbs at 5pm it's considered business as usual, but when a large group of cyclists take to the road it's trouble? Imagine how shitty and backed up the traffic would be if everyone in CM was driving a car instead!

Sorry I disagree with you! Personally I don't think there protest is doing any good what so ever and pissing people off isn't a good incentive to change anything. Blocking traffic and pedestrians and acting like you own the planet doesn't help anyone.

Additionally having biked every day for ages critical mass doesn't help cycling in Toronto it just creates a bad name. Every other day of the week we can share the roads just fine and we get where we have to go as best we can all following the same rules of the road (okay most cyclists don't even do that). But for some reason people feel the need to protest this.

Personally i think the whole thing is bullshit.

[~atp~]

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

The reason for the group riding together through red lights is to keep the group together, ensuring the safety created by the "mass" and also to prevent further traffic congestion. ( a CM group split up by red lights suddently becomes several CM groups spread out over a few blocks)

Isn't that part of the ... you know ... safety design of the road systems?

[Funzo]

I'll agree that a lot of critical massers don't fit into the "jerk" category, but you have to look beyond your own nose. Just because you aren't doing it, don't be stupid enough to say that no one is.

[mr tall]

that guy is a nerd

[Rataxès]

Originally Posted by ~atp~

Isn't that part of the ... you know ... safety design of the road systems?

Whoa. Easy there, big guy. All those 'rules' are there to enforce the vehicular hegemony and therefore do not apply to cyclist.

[416]

Originally Posted by acheron

Because you're ignoring the traffic signals which have been arranged in order to aid traffic flow during peak hours. Blowing the rhythm creates more delay than you can see with your eyes - there's a cascade effect.

What about cars blocking intersections and crosswalks every day at rush hour?

I don't see how a bunch of stinkholes on bikes blocking an intersection for a minute or two is any different.

[gasper]

Ha! The other day I found this video that a bike commuter made on Car-free day in Toronto. Instead of garnering support for his cause, he demonstrates just how unsafe his cycling is. He blasts through RED LIGHTS, cuts off other cyclists, and does some mid-traffic NO HANDS riding. Bravo!

[Ditto Much]

Okay lets ask the inverse. What benefits does CM provide?


See its great to be a rebel against society but CM hasn't made cycling easier of better, if anything the just piss people off and make them more angry and dangerous.

[416]

Originally Posted by Ditto Much

Additionally they piss off motorists who actually pay for the roads that I ride on for free. See fuel taxes and plate taxes pay for roads not property taxes and not income taxes or PST. Thus these people are complaining that they don’t have access to a road system that they aren’t paying for.

For someone who spends so much time on here bitching about the government and taxation, you really don't know anything either subject.

[Flashy_McFlash]

Exactly...The point was made before, but CM doesn't incite anyone to start riding or encourage drivers to be considerate of cyclists. It just makes me wish I had rolls of pennies to throw from my gas-guzzling but penny-resistant automobile.

[Rataxès]

Originally Posted by gasper

Ha! The other day I found this video that a bike commuter made on Car-free day in Toronto. Instead of garnering support for his cause, he demonstrates just how unsafe his cycling is. He blasts through RED LIGHTS, cuts off other cyclists, and does some mid-traffic NO HANDS riding. Bravo!

He drives a fixie with no light. Obviously a radical cyclefascist.

[I_bRAD]

Originally Posted by acheron

"...riding together through red lights ... ensuring the safety..."

does not compute.

The whole point of CM is that there is safety in numbers. It's easy to run over (or drive too close for comfort) to one cyclist.. .but much harder to run over 150 cyclists.

We don't "run" red lights, per se... we continue as a group after the light changes while others ensure that cross traffic stays put. I think the image most people are getting is a mass of cyclists suddenly bursting into a busy intersection against the light. When the front of the group comes to a light that is already red, the group stops.

Like with any large gathering, there's always a few bad apples and I'll admit that, but the group on average is not out to cause trouble.

Don't take my word for it... or the bloggers!

Come out and see for yourself! Tonight at 6PM, Bloor and Spadina. See what the fuss is all about for yourself and post your educated opinions in this thread tomorrow!

[Ditto Much]

Originally Posted by Flashy_McFlash

Exactly...The point was made before, but CM doesn't incite anyone to start riding or encourage drivers to be considerate of cyclists. It just makes me wish I had rolls of pennies to throw from my gas-guzzling but penny-resistant automobile.

See and this is the sentiment it leaves many drivers with. And unfortunately this means that as a cyclist if your riding friday afternoon your facing motorists who are angry with you even though you have nothing to do with and want nothing to do with CM.

[I_bRAD]

Originally Posted by Ditto Much

See and this is the sentiment it leaves many drivers with. And unfortunately this means that as a cyclist if your riding friday afternoon your facing motorists who are angry with you even though you have nothing to do with and want nothing to do with CM.

Are they angry at cyclists, or just jealous cagers acting out 'cause they're tied to their cars?

Those same people when taken out of a CM situation are tailgating other cars and exhibiting their road-rage elsewhere.

[Ditto Much]

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

The whole point of CM is that there is safety in numbers. It's easy to run over (or drive too close for comfort) to one cyclist.. .but much harder to run over 150 cyclists.

Yes but the point was already made and it doesn't need to be made again. This is simply a parade that happens every week and nothing more. If you want to be a parade get the permits and follow the laws and do it. If you simply want to be a pain in the ass don't expect public support.

[Vincent Vega]

Originally Posted by I_bRAD

We don't "run" red lights, per se... we continue as a group after the light changes while others ensure that cross traffic stays put...

Are you kidding me with this?