I witnessed a Critical Mass bike ride last night

chrisinhouston · 01-31-2009, 11:13 AM

We were sitting around in our hotel room on the 20th floor of the Sir Francis Drake last night waiting for one of my kids to come into town for dinner and suddenly we could hear a lot of noise from down on the street. We proceed to watch over 2000 on bicycles riding down the road (Sutter perhaps). They were wall to wall and most had bike tail lights which flashed red and made a great visual. We saw one group of about 300 do a Cyclone where they just start circling in a busy intersection and bring all traffic to a halt, even the street cars. I went on for what seemed like 5-6 minutes and when it all passed we could see them as they went west and the trail of bikes covered at least 7 blocks.

I'm all for promoting bike riding and less use of cars but I don't know if I like their method

TheMercenary · 01-31-2009, 11:16 AM

Crazy. After a short google search it seems like they have been doing that in SF for quite a while now.

Shawnee123 · 01-31-2009, 11:17 AM

I left my bike in San Francisco.

Bet I won't do that again.

TheMercenary · 01-31-2009, 11:44 AM

Chris, did you grab any pics. There are few on the web.

Undertoad · 01-31-2009, 12:03 PM

My policy is: if you engage in repeated acts of civil disobedience, and it doesn't change anything one iota, then it's just masturbation.

Pico and ME · 01-31-2009, 12:15 PM

Actually, I'd be willing to bet that each time they do it, they inspire a bunch of converts. Not that my husband witnessed this, but two years ago he started riding his bike to work and several people in his area have picked up the habit because of him.

Clodfobble · 01-31-2009, 01:39 PM

I dunno, each time they do it here they inspire a bunch of road rage and occasionally some violence.

Bullitt · 01-31-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I dunno, each time they do it here they inspire a bunch of road rage and occasionally some violence.

I would fall under this category. The sidewalk is there for a reason, for things other than cars and trucks.

Clodfobble · 01-31-2009, 03:36 PM

Here it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk, for pedestrian safety.

Sundae · 01-31-2009, 03:47 PM

It's a silly stunt. But if people are roused to violence over it, it probably best that the rest of the world knows they are unstable and can avoid them in future....

Pico and ME · 01-31-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

It's a silly stunt. But if people are roused to violence over it, it probably best that the rest of the world knows they are unstable and can avoid them in future....

dar512 · 01-31-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Here it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk, for pedestrian safety.

It's legal in Ohio where Bullitt is from. But the article also explains why this is a really bad idea. If you want to stay alive on a bike, do not use the sidewalk.

Cars should learn to share with bikes. Bicyclists should learn to be considerate of cars.

HungLikeJesus · 01-31-2009, 05:34 PM

From Dar's link:

Quote:

§ 4511.711. Driving upon sidewalk area.
No person shall drive any vehicle, other than a bicycle, upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting local authorities from regulating the operation of bicycles within their respective jurisdictions, except that no local authority may require that bicycles be operated on sidewalks.

Comment: Although this section allows riding on sidewalks, don’t do it. Accident studies show that even low-speed sidewalk riding has about double the accident rate as riding on the road. The danger increases with speed. If you ride on the sidewalk, every intersection and even every driveway is a potential collision site. Motorists crossing your path do not look for conflicting traffic on the sidewalk, especially if you are coming from the "wrong way".

Griff · 02-01-2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

Cars should learn to share with bikes. Bicyclists should learn to be considerate of cars.

Yeah, critical mass is a thumb in the eye of law-abiding people and an excuse maker for idiots. I want to see more bikes out there, but the way to do it is by being polite and letting people see the advantages.

Billy Rubin · 02-17-2009, 12:08 PM

I used to live directly over the Broadway tunnel entrance and made it a point to NOT be in town on critical mass nights. Notwithstanding the fact that they created massive roadblocks wherever they went, the odd penchant people have for making noise in tunnels was rampant among that bunch. The air horns and yelling and bell-ringing as they went through the tunnel was enough to give every neighbor within earshot a migraine, and of course there were miles of these jokers traveling through the tunnel. *sigh*

Now, I live out in the woods at the end of a dirt road that's at the end of a dirt road. No bikes. No bells. No traffic of any kind.

Aaahhhhhhhh! Blessed silence!

01-31-2009, 11:13 AM	#1
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	I witnessed a Critical Mass bike ride last night We were sitting around in our hotel room on the 20th floor of the Sir Francis Drake last night waiting for one of my kids to come into town for dinner and suddenly we could hear a lot of noise from down on the street. We proceed to watch over 2000 on bicycles riding down the road (Sutter perhaps). They were wall to wall and most had bike tail lights which flashed red and made a great visual. We saw one group of about 300 do a Cyclone where they just start circling in a busy intersection and bring all traffic to a halt, even the street cars. I went on for what seemed like 5-6 minutes and when it all passed we could see them as they went west and the trail of bikes covered at least 7 blocks. I'm all for promoting bike riding and less use of cars but I don't know if I like their method

01-31-2009, 11:16 AM	#2
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Crazy. After a short google search it seems like they have been doing that in SF for quite a while now. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

01-31-2009, 11:17 AM	#3
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I left my bike in San Francisco. Bet I won't do that again. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

01-31-2009, 11:44 AM	#4
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Chris, did you grab any pics. There are few on the web. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

01-31-2009, 01:39 PM	#7
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I dunno, each time they do it here they inspire a bunch of road rage and occasionally some violence. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

01-31-2009, 12:03 PM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	My policy is: if you engage in repeated acts of civil disobedience, and it doesn't change anything one iota, then it's just masturbation.

01-31-2009, 12:15 PM	#6
Pico and ME Are you knock-kneed? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Hoosierland Posts: 3,549	Actually, I'd be willing to bet that each time they do it, they inspire a bunch of converts. Not that my husband witnessed this, but two years ago he started riding his bike to work and several people in his area have picked up the habit because of him.

01-31-2009, 03:36 PM	#9
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Here it's illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk, for pedestrian safety. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

01-31-2009, 03:47 PM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	It's a silly stunt. But if people are roused to violence over it, it probably best that the rest of the world knows they are unstable and can avoid them in future....

02-17-2009, 12:08 PM	#15
Billy Rubin Bloody old fart Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Out where the buses don't run. Posts: 8	I used to live directly over the Broadway tunnel entrance and made it a point to NOT be in town on critical mass nights. Notwithstanding the fact that they created massive roadblocks wherever they went, the odd penchant people have for making noise in tunnels was rampant among that bunch. The air horns and yelling and bell-ringing as they went through the tunnel was enough to give every neighbor within earshot a migraine, and of course there were miles of these jokers traveling through the tunnel. sigh Now, I live out in the woods at the end of a dirt road that's at the end of a dirt road. No bikes. No bells. No traffic of any kind. Aaahhhhhhhh! Blessed silence!

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