So many CM rides
Thread started by
richtotheie at 12.27.08 - 7:28 pm
There are so many CM rides and none of their positives are outwaying their negative effect.
Some drivers think every ride is a protest or demonstration. They don't know the difference and some really don't care. We're making them mad, not making them want to get on a bike.
There has to be a better solution.
Discuss.
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the only CM I hear and read about is LACM. does santa monica and venice still have a CM?
funanu12.27.08 - 7:39 pm
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don't mind all these CM rides.
they're just trying to be cool and trying to fit in with LA.
they can't accept the fact that they are underlings and they crave attention.
_iJunes12.27.08 - 7:41 pm
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I think part of the problem might be the attitude of the cyclists involved. There's a great deal of crossover between the people who come out for C.R.A.N.K. Mob and other rides with 'party-only" sort of mentality, and there just doesn't seem to be much differentiation between those rides and CM. For example, see the CM postings with routes, the discussions of who will "lead" CM when certain people are out of town, etc.
Also, instead of becoming part of traffic, CM has started actively obstructing it with people riding in the wrong direction and not letting cars pass. CM is supposed to exercise the cyclists' right to travel safely, not remove that same right from motorists. And when we do that, we only provoke the drivers on the road instead of opening their eyes to a feasible alternative mode of transportation.
danya12.27.08 - 7:47 pm
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@funanu
SFV still has its CM on Tuesdays. I think SMCM is still meeting, but stopped posting about it to make it harder on SMPD. Also, that Sunset Strip "CM" posting.
danya12.27.08 - 7:50 pm
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+1 danya
I agree with people thinking its a "party ride". I think LACM is waaay different than anyother CM around the world. We have stops for people to drink and smoke. WTF? I dont understand why we have to stop for people to drink and smoke. Critical mass is not about that. Its not about "when is the next stop" or "lets go get beer". I would be happy if we didnt have any stops. If kept riding that would be amazing!
Also on the dumb ass people that like to ride on the opposite side of the road, dont come crying here when you get hit or get a ticket.
And yes we should always give the cars the left lane open for them.
funanu12.27.08 - 8:07 pm
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As you stroll down the street with your latte,
You see these bike-riding hunks and hot-tays.
They smile as the pass
and yell "Critical Mass!"
So get off your ass, join the par-tay!
I miss the days when it was all about promoting bike transportation... and getting more people out on the streets... and exploring the city on a bike...
All of these things are now downplayed in favor of drinking in parking lots. For the next LACM, I'm going to bring flyers for people to hand out to pedestrians. And I'm going to shout "Critical Mass" at every group of people that we see. And if we can't keep people moving, I'm just going to ride around in circles. It'll be like a time warp!
nathansnider12.27.08 - 9:06 pm
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Good stuff Nathan....
This is what CM needs! Small pushes in the right direction to what the ride actually stands for and MEANS.
If you went around and asked everyone that goes to CM the same question - "What is CM?"
I guarantee you'd be disappointed by the answers. EDUCATE THESE RIDERS TO WHY THEY ARE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Then get down to business and RYYYDDEEE!!
richtotheie12.27.08 - 9:09 pm
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i would love to see a CM that didnt stop for beer or smokes. save that for crank mob.
i hope by summer of 09, we can have a huge CM. I wanna see 500+ riders show up.
funanu12.27.08 - 9:15 pm
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Oh man, talk about time warp. Critical Mass Soundsystem, circa July, 2005! ----->
nathansnider12.27.08 - 9:35 pm
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hey remember CM stands for both critical mass and crank mob!!!
buckchin12.27.08 - 10:53 pm
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the very first critical mass ever ended at a bar
critical mass is a protest when it needs to be, and a party when it doesn't
all this critical mass is this or isn't that or whatever is meaningless, critical mass is what the people who participate make it to be. it's different in every town, and it's different every month. if you want it to be something, it's up to you to inspire people.. not complain on the internet
as for the number of critical masses, it does seem a bit excessive.
stevestevesteve12.27.08 - 10:59 pm
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I seriously do think we all need to come to complete, 3-4 second stops at reds and other intersections as well, especially when the lead reaches that point.
These "California-stops" make me quiver and after surviving one horrific, trucking mishap, I don't want to have to see something of that magnitude occur again.
bentstrider12.28.08 - 9:39 am
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stevestevesteve says:
"if you want it to be something, it's up to you to inspire people.. not complain on the internet"
I think that's why Richie started this thread: to inspire people to continue making CM's in LA better. I wouldn't generalize all of the commenting as complaining at allllll....
Furthermore, it's a little bit hypocritical to be "complaining" about the people who are "complaining on the internet"...
I agree with Richie about the general attitude of CM riders as of late (the aggressiveness is TOO MUCH! Fuckin' a people! We ride bikes aka we are fucking hippies, chill the fuck out!). Seriously speaking though, I think it's really important that we start projecting (to the general public) how positive & fun our community can be so that it can continue to grow in a healthy fashion- rather than turning potential riders away just because they are in a car. Pamphlets might really help reduce the number of angry questions and increase the numbers in attendance!
That said, I still love the feeling of taking over the whole road in a display of the MASS! And Circles of Death can never die!!
Long live the masses!
jonnyboy12.28.08 - 12:01 pm
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richtotheie says:
"EDUCATE THESE RIDERS TO WHY THEY ARE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!
Then get down to business and RYYYDDEEE!!"
YES
jonnyboy12.28.08 - 12:05 pm
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cops also think every ride is a party ride. every ride being every person riding alone on their bike. its crazy stuff, i know. let the good times roll.
ruinedbyidiots12.28.08 - 12:06 pm
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TRUTH, rbi.
Besides the obvious and unavoidable obstruction of traffic at CM rides, all this fucking aggression and/or trash left in parking lots (to name a few) is giving
any kind of riding a negative connotation to the cops.
I looove to party during rides, but it sucks when so many other people take it too far and end up fucking shit up for everyone else.
jonnyboy12.28.08 - 12:16 pm
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I'm glad this conversation was started. I didn't know the origins and purposes of Critical Mass until this thread went up and people started talking about how CM began and why.
kryxtanicole12.29.08 - 9:36 am
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stevestevesteve is correct.
the personality of a CM or any mass ride is the sum of the state of mind of all the riders involved. when the city we ride in is an unfriendly place, when the policies are stacked against us, when we are abused by law enforcement, we become a pack of unhappy riders. hence, CM becomes a Protest ride full of "up yours" and "take that" mentality.
In SF, that CM is more a ride of celebration... it's in a city that is far more bike friendly and CM is supported, or at least accepted, by law enforcement.
the health of a bicycle community can be read by the mood of its CM. when the system is fixed, you'll have a happy, celebratory CM here in LA!
indigis12.29.08 - 10:52 am
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+1 danya
I agree with people thinking its a "party ride". I think LACM is waaay different than anyother CM around the world. We have stops for people to drink and smoke. WTF? I dont understand why we have to stop for people to drink and smoke. Critical mass is not about that. Its not about "when is the next stop" or "lets go get beer". I would be happy if we didnt have any stops. If kept riding that would be amazing!
Also on the dumb ass people that like to ride on the opposite side of the road, dont come crying here when you get hit or get a ticket.
And yes we should always give the cars the left lane open for them.
fanau
+1.
and definitely agree, to not piss of drivers in the objective to coexist we atleast need to give one lane.
aksendz12.29.08 - 11:20 am
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Indigis said:
In SF, that CM is more a ride of celebration... it's in a city that is far more bike friendly and CM is supported, or at least accepted, by law enforcement.
I'm sorry Inidigis! But i have to partially disagree with you on this line. The law enforcement may "accept" it but their actions are very hostile and aggressive with the riders. During the 5 times i've gone to SFCM including the 15 years anniversary, i've seen bikers get knocked off their bikes by police, and even a taxi driving through the crowd.
_________________________________________
CM is definitely a good indication of the mentality of riders in LA.
And what is it? PARTYTIME.
_________________________________________
Nothing will change unless we each take action. If we show respect and an air of diligence, the city along with officers will be much more open to letting us do what we do.
It starts with the riders. Pointing fingers was so 2008.
(not aimed at you, Indigis)
richtotheie12.29.08 - 11:45 am
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LACM gets away with so much. Besides the incident at the grove a few months ago and the d-bag in the white mercedes on peoples ride we have been left pretty much alone bythe cops and motorists.
The only complaint I have about CM rides is the randoms who show up and decide to spit on cars that are simply passing us and not being aggressive. I don't know what their problem is but these riders get provoked by the smallest things.
Honking is not a crime it's just rude. Theres no reason to start a street fight over it just let them pass for christ's sake.
It's easier and more fun if we don't have to deal with 100 angry drivers behind us. Being nice to them helps us too.
stillline12.29.08 - 2:42 pm
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IECM was the first legit (and most sober) CM ive have ridden in quite a long time. Maybe because it is still quite small... actually i think only one person drank.. and it was only one 40 oz. the ride ended with a nice big dinner. i think it was about 28 of us.. haha so much for "mass"
roughdraftx0112.30.08 - 2:38 am
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"While the ride was originally founded with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to bicyclists, the leaderless structure of Critical Mass makes it impossible to assign it any one specific goal. In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass is not formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city or town streets."
Purp12.30.08 - 9:21 am
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PURP - your quote is from WIKIPEDIA.
critical-mass.info "CM is intended to be a celebration, not an opportunity to cause trouble. Those who want to try to tie up traffic as much as possible and be confrontational with motorists are missing the point. We can assert our right to the road without being rude about it. Focus on the ride, not on the cars that also happen to be on the road."
To start your own CM check out:
http://critical-mass.info/howto/
Number 7 says it all:
"7. Will you block traffic?
The most controversial aspect of CM is the extent to which it blocks traffic. CM'ers are fond of saying "We're not blocking traffic, we ARE traffic!" While that's a cute phrase, it's obviously pretty silly. It's like a murderer saying, "I didn't kill that human, I *am* a human!" Just because bikes are legitimate road users doesn't mean they don't slow down other road users -- especially when they go out of their way to do so by taking up multiple lanes.
Remember that
CM is supposed to be a celebration of cycling, not your opportunity to see how much inconvenience you can cause to others. It's about asserting our right to the road, not denying others their right to the road.
Leave at least one lane open for cars. (So if you're on a 4-lane road, take no more than 3 lanes. Except if you're on a one-lane road, obviously you will take the whole lane.) Taking all the lanes, all the time, might be fun for you, but it certainly brings the police down on you quicker. Motorists will ring 911 off the wall with their cell phones if you block them 100%. It also doesn't win you any friends. Are you doing CM to show motorists how much fun biking can be, or are you just trying to piss them off because it makes you feel good? Only CM riders can answer these questions for themselves. Also remember that your local laws may have a say about that (though some riders choose to ignore them).
Even if you decide that you don't want to go overboard with taking lanes, understand that you can't control the riders -- some riders may want to take all the lanes all the time. If this is not the flavor you want for your ride, then make that clear in the fliers you make for the ride, and get other cyclists to apply gentle peer pressure when a few cyclists stray. Unfortunately if two people out of 200 decide to be jerks then your CM's reputation will come from them rather than from the other 198. But since CM has no leaders, you can't order anyone to ride the way you want, you can only try to encourage them."
richtotheie12.30.08 - 5:49 pm
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matt you had such a great spitting vantage yo!
NOISEPOCKET12.30.08 - 5:51 pm
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