Courteous Mass — not “Critical” — ride is tonight
July 11, 2008 at 1:53 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsAfter the last Critical Mass ride in which Atlanta cops cracked down on the cyclists for traveling in a pack and disrupting traffic, velocipede enthusiasts will hold a Courteous Mass tonight at 6:30 p.m. Participants are urged to meet at Woodruff Park like before around 6 p.m.
During Courteous Mass, participating cyclists are expected to follow all rules of the road and stop at traffic lights.
From local blogger and rocket scientist Shelbinator, whose video of the police presence generated more than 123,000 views on CNN’s iReport, come the details:
Courteous Mass Bicycle Ride
Friday, July 11
Meet @ 6:00 PM
Woodruff Park
Leave @ 6:30 PMThis ride is different from Critical Mass in that it will follow a planned route and follow state traffic laws. It is intended to demonstrate support for better bike facilities and safer traffic conditions. It is also a great opportunity for less-experienced cyclists to try riding on the streets, as well as being a fun social event. We urge everyone who believes in a balanced transportation policy to join us.
Courteous Mass Tips:
- Ride no more than two abreast on 4-5 lane roads, taking up only the right lane.
- Ride single file on 2-3 lane roads so as not to interfere with traffic flow.
- Please allow faster cyclists ahead of you so they are not stuck behind slower cyclists during single-file stretches.
- Do not pass stopped cars on the right (unless there is a bike lane).
- And as always, be courteous!
There ya go. Be civil, be safe and remember: Roads are made for all people to access destinations — not just people in cars.
Send to a friend:
July 11th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
To be fair, I was just parroting Jeff at Faster Mustache:
http://fastermustache.org/node/5319#comment-63763
July 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Critical Mass may be the most counterproductive thing that we cycling advocates do.
I have never met anyone who said, “You know, those Critical Mass people made me think about the situation and they are right”.
I have me a lot of people who think all road cyclists are idiots and a problem to be removed from the road because of CM.
July 11th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
So we can count on you showing up tonight, right, Dale? Or do you just like to point?
Just to counter your anecdotal evidence with my own, I have met a ton of people who have said, “Damn, that looks like a lot of fun. So, you really bike around in the city? Like, not just for that group thing? Huh. I have a bike on the patio just collecting dust, I should tune it up.”
I know like 3 people who think Critical Mass is stupid and an obnoxious traffic problem; they do not extrapolate their opinion of CM to think all road cyclists are idiots. In fact, I’ve never had anyone express that kind of anti-cyclist opinion out loud in company because that’s the kind of rant I’ve only seen from the comment trolls that emerge on the AJC and iReport.com under the shroud of anonymity and megalomania. What kind of reptilian-brained sociopaths do you hang out with, man?
July 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I hang with publishers, editors, journalists, lawyers, IT folks, musicians, artists…. ok, you got me on the lawyers
The people I refer to have been trying to get to something important during Friday rsh hour, like a kids recital or ball game or a flight home. Their comments were inspired by the discussion of CM and let to lumping us together, kind of lke people used to do with Harley riders.
No, I don’t just point. That is why i jpoined the USCF, Birmingham Bicycle Club and LAW about 15 years ago. I still make donations to bike advocacy groups and I still ride my little single speed around Midtown.
Since I am unaware of scientific evidence of CM’s effect on public opinion, anecdotal evidence is all that is available to me.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Thank you for answering for me, Jesus.
Don’t mess with me, I have friends in high places or high friends in places or….. :-)
and the posting passcode is “bitch”, now THAT is funny