|
Re: This Will Change
|
Matt Yee
|
Jan 29, 2007 13:43 PST
|
Hi Jess,
I think it's great what you're doing. I started the first Critical Mass
in Feb 2000. I commuted on a bike every week day on a bike for 5 years.
The second person to revive Critical Mass was Aaron Hebshi, in about 2004.
I'd like, however, to disspell some of the myths of Honolulu's Critical
Mass:
Honolulu CM has taken place on sidewalks!
- I personally believe bicycles belong on the street. Bicycles belong as
part of traffic. Some Critical Mass rides have gone to the sidewalk,
mainly out of impatience of being in gridlock traffic. I've always
advocated the street. So has Aaron Hebshi. Masses, however, tend to have
a life of their own, and unfortunately, if the Mass splits, then it
loses its street presence, and its point.
CMers have been polite to drivers!
- In Hawaii, if you get Aloha from drivers, you give it back. It's that
simple. The reverse, also is true.
CMers have been uptight!
- All walks of life commute and ride their bikes. That means people of
different philosophies as well.
Some assholes have appointed themselves leaders! Horrors!
- I have never appointed myself the leader. Neither has Aaron. We do,
however, like to set certain boundaries. Masses we've tried without any
guidelines whatsoever, completely generated into Chaos. We had people
kicking things, trying to start fights with drivers, and I'm sorry —
that's not the reason I started Mass. That's not the reason Chris
Carlsson started Mass, either. I wanted cyclists to have a visible
presence on the road. I wanted to show every driver that has considered
riding to work but was to scared to do it to be inspired to make the
jump. But most of all, I wanted cyclists to assert their right to ride
on the road, and be traffic. Most drivers don't go around trying to piss
other people on the road off. We're in traffic because we want to get
somewhere, not incite people to road rage.
All I can really say is do Mass the way you think is right. Find a way
to keep the positive spirit of CM alive. If you can do that, and still
manage to generate numbers, that will be incredible. There were Masses
back in 2000 that had 70+ riders. There have been multiple occasions
which 40+ of us have almost been dragged to jail by Police on bicycles.
And at some point, Critical Mass lost its Critical Mass. Part of it was
that people got bored. Other people got scared away by confrontation
with law enforcement. Some people got tired of getting tickets. And yet
others, who knows. When Mass lots its momentum, many of us moved on. We
continued to commute. Some of us would tirelessly lobby for laws and
public infrastructure that would aid cyclists in their right to the road.
This is not an email to dissuade you in your mission to bring back CM
how you see fit — far from it. I wanted, simply, to give you some
history on CM in Honolulu. And to get some insight as to how things work
in Hawaii. The only real advice I can give is don't be so quick to judge
people, and all the myriad of reasons why they don't ride. That said, I
wish you all the best luck!
Aloha,
Matt Yee
|
|
 |
|
