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RE: Critical Mass Bicycle Ride
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David Rosenberg
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Jun 25, 2003 14:01 PDT
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Hi Patty--
Yes, I agree with many of your throughts and feelings. I have forwarded
your email onto the listserve DavisCrit-@topica.com which was
setup to discuss issues such as those you raise. These issues also need
to be discussed more fully prior to starting the next ride.
I agree with you that mass rides should let motorists know they share the
ride with bicycles. I also hope that mass rides can show bicycling as an
alternative to petrol consumption, plus bicycling as a social and fun
form of exercise + transport. I am just trying to spread word about the
rides, as are others. Other riders may have different motivations to
participate, which points out that there is a large need to discuss,
coordinate, and plan. Last month was the first ride. This month hopefully
more people will join in and also there will be more discussion prior to
the start of the ride about what people hope to get out of the ride,
route, and riding ethics, for example, where people should ride on the
road and what to do if traffic lights split up the group.
I for one, hope to bring a sign, a proposed route, and suggest at the
start that people obey all traffic laws and that the group ahead stop and
wait by the side of the road if a traffic light splits the group up. I
hope other people are willing to speak up and express their viewpoints
too.
Basically, Critical Mass will be whatever *WE* make it. I agree that most
of the behavoirs you describe (cutting off vehicles, going through stop
signs and red lights, circling intersections) detract from the messages.
There were several times during last month's ride (after you and aaron
left, i believe) where I stopped at a stop sign or a red light because I
did not want to be associated with law breaking such as riding out into
the intersection--and even in circles around the intersection to
completely obstruct traffic. I do not feel that riding in a mass gives
bicyclists the right to violate the law--which includes riding through
stop signs and obstructing all lanes of traffic. Disregarding the law
also does not engender motorists to cooperate and share the road with
bicyclists. I will probably curtail my participation too if this type of
behavoir continues.
However, the only way to really stop that type of behavoir is to speak
out against it and propose alternatives.
Will we see you this friday?
Thanks again for expressing your thoughts and feelings.
David
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p.s. here are links for a websight and instructions to join the listserve
if you are iterested.
website: http://www.geocities.com/daviscriticalmass/
Send email to:
DavisCriticalM-@topica.com
Server will reply with instructions on how to join.
List members can send messages to:
daviscrit-@topica.com
| | David-
Thanks for letting us know (and organizing?) the critical mass rides
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here
| | in Davis. Aaron and I attended the last critical mass but we left
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early
| | because we were very disappointed in how the small group of people
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behaved
| | on their bicycles. It was our understanding that critical mass was
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meant
| | as a peaceful protest to let people know that they share the road with
cyclists. Through a mass ride attention would be drawn to how many
cyclists are out there and in conditions where the infrastructure does
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not
| | exist for bicycles, motorized vehicles would be forced to share the
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road.
| | In that line of thinking I thought it was really inappropriate to ride
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in
| | the middle of the car lane when there was a very wide bike lane along
third street, I also thought it was inappropriate for cyclists to cut
across the road and circle around, right in front of a motorized
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vehicle.
| | While riding two or even a few abreast might be appropriate on a street
where no bike lane exists I thought the blatant disregard for normal
traffic rules and regulations as well as courtesy to motorized vehicles
detracted from the message and aim of any critical mass ride and
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actually
| | worked to promote the often antagonistic relationship between motorists
and cyclists. Perhaps I am uninformed as to how or what critical mass
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is
| | trying to accomplish and if I am please let me know, but if I'm not
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maybe
| | someone could try to educate all the riders what the ride is meant to
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be.
| | I hope that this letter has not been too critical and I hope that I
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have
| | not been way off base on how I think the ride was meant to accomplish
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the
| | critical mass goal ( if I have please let me know). I think that the
ideas and objectives of critical mass are extremely important but I am
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not
| | sure that they were being promoted through the actions of the last ride
here in Davis. Thank again for putting in the time to organize the
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rides
| | and I'll see you soon.
-Patty
| | Hi Judy--
can you please distribute far and wide to the masses.
Thanks,
David
--------------------------------------------
Announcing another Critical Mass Bicycle Ride. Friday, June 27, 2003.
Meet 5 PM at Davis Central Park by the Fountain. Ride will depart 5:30
PM. (Rides are the last friday of every month).
The ride last month attracted 15 - 20 bicyclists. Is there continuing
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or
| | | | expanding interest? Join in for fun, to celebrate bicycling with other
bicyclists, advocate for bicycle awareness, to take a stance against
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car
| | | | and petrol dominated roads, or other reasons that you would like to
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speak
| | | | out about. Please bring friends, signs, flyers, bells, whistles,
costumes, suggestions for a route, and any other accuterments you
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desire.
| | | | Riders will consense on a route prior to departure at 5:30 PM.
-----------------------------
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Patricia L. Ristow
International Agricultural Development, MSc Program
Animal Science, MSc Program
pmri-@ucdavis.edu
530.757.2932
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