Just went to my first CM!

Really fun! Some guy in a Corvette was pissed!:D:D

I have no idea what you're talking about! I guess it's the age difference (I'm much younger).

I have no idea what you're talking about! I guess it's the age difference (I'm much younger).

Not an age thing! Believe me! Critical Mass is a cycling , or other human powered vehicle, ride. It started in San Francisco. The core purpose is to bring attention to the concerns that cyclists have regarding their right to the road. It is a "non organized" political action. It does have the tendency to clog the streets for a bit.:p

It has been an effective tool for gaining some awareness and respect for cyclists by the motorized fellow users of the road.

Yes, indeed, some drivers do seem to take offense at sharing!

Cheers,
Geary

I went to my first meeting here in Iraklio too.
We ended up being about ten of us. That is twice as much as the anarchists' meetings and half what the communist party gathers in their rallies. Last time I heard they were at least sixty bicycles and the time before that more than eighty, coupled with music concerts.
Its right in the middle of summer though, is to be expected.
We didn't have that much trouble with the traffic.

I have no idea what you're talking about! I guess it's the age difference (I'm much younger).

You're younger than me?:o

We are all younger than you Marko... well, at least in some hidden corner of our mind!! ;)

gene

You're younger than me?:o

Of course :D. My avatar is a pretty good indication, even though it's a photo of a bust of Pavlov.

Isn't there a "Critical Mass" thing that is apart of the Photo Lucida in Portland, Oregon.

Just went to my first CM!

Really fun! Some guy in a Corvette was pissed!:D:D

I have always been a bit worried about some backlash directed towards me as I commute to work by some irate driver...even tho I have not participated in a CM.

Vaughn

Just went to my first CM!

Glad you're enjoying your new Leica! I usually take photos with mine.:D

H!
On my last Critical Mass I've tried some techniques of taking photos while cycling. I had almost no accidents.

H!
On my last Critical Mass I've tried some techniques of taking photos while cycling. I had almost no accidents.

I just swung my courier bag to the front, got out the Olympus stylus epic, set it to no flash and fired away. We were going slow enough for it not to cause a problem.

I have no problem sharing the road with cyclists, but most that argue for sharing the road refuse to obey the traffic laws themselves. At least that is the experience I have had. It may be regional (Miami, FL).

I have no problem sharing the road with cyclists, but most that argue for sharing the road refuse to obey the traffic laws themselves. At least that is the experience I have had. It may be regional (Miami, FL).

I would not agree with the "most". The percentage of @$$holes in cars and on bicycles is probably the same. The @$$holes just are most noticeable!

Cheers,
Geary

I have been in Miami for one year. In that time I have yet to see one single bicycle, moped, or motorcycle obey the traffic laws. Only half of the cars do either. And I don't mean the little laws that everybody looks past, I mean major ones that put lives in danger.

I'm a cyclist and I think Critial Mass is a bunch of jackasses. There's better ways to make change than blocking freeways and other roads (which they do here in Portland).

recently i saw a policeman stop a fellow on a bicyle who went through a red light, first time i have seen that , and thought good for the cop. some would think why take the time away from other important functions, but i agree with the others about following traffic laws.

I have no problem sharing the road with cyclists, but most that argue for sharing the road refuse to obey the traffic laws themselves. At least that is the experience I have had. It may be regional (Miami, FL).

It's funny, when I spent a year in Ft. Lauderdale and Delray Beach it seemed to me that drivers there were consistently more reckless, or at least clueless and inattentive, than most other places I've been. To be fair, folks in this town don't seem to realise that you're supposed to stop at stop signs. Many don't even "almost stop". These are highly unscientific findinds compared from memory to Toronto, where traffic often doesn't move. To my memory, the biggest traffic problem in Toronto was sudden and unsignaled lane changes. That is, other than the traffic itself.

I don't know what your experience is, but over here, it is important that people learn that bicycles also share the road and it is not exclusive for motorized vehicles. Considering the environment and circumstances here, I would warrant that a car and even a little scooter, is useless for the vast majority of transportation and completely unnecessary for inside the city. Also considering the fragility of a cyclist and the contempt that other drivers have for them, even scooter drivers, then it is important that societies that are not used to bicycles should change their attitude, at least for the safety of their fellow citizens.
Forget about the earth and gas prices and fitness and all that. A bit of respect for fellow citizens that happen to use that transportation method, should go a long way in making the roads better and safer for all of us.
Here's a nice article by John Forester, a transportation engineer from California:
http://sheldonbrown.com/cyclist_inferiority.html
It suits motorists, which means most people in the USA, and therefore the various governments of the USA, to have cyclists considered inferior to motorists. That provides the excuse for doing things that clear the roads of cyclists for motorists' convenience. And it assists them a whole lot if cyclists cooperate by considering themselves to be inferior to motorists.

Some photos from the local Critical Mass of a couple months past.

So, its not just the motorists who dislike bicyclists and the whole CM affair:
http://www.glumbert.com/media/nycbike

What is with those people? If bike driver made traffic violation, why they don't do what usually do, they don't have to throw them from bikes while drivig... Or that is what they usually do? I simply don't get it.

Cultures that are not used to bicycles have a hard time adjusting to them. Critical Mass is a passive aggressive demonstration. The whole concept of it is simple: show people that bicycles exist. They are not doing anything wrong, just normally riding their bicycles, just in mass. If they are following the laws, then it shouldn't really be offensive to anyone. But considering how motorists suffer in traffic, how they are in a hurry to get off their cars and how anything unusual is a problem to already tense nerves, you got trouble brewing. And ofcourse I speak from my experience as a car driver as well (Greece, Boston, NYC).
Policemen are just humans, with a bit of violent authority and often they don't waste much time to show it, in any country in the world. If Critical Mass is seeing as a demonstration, then the police will do what they are used to do: act aggressively and possibly violently against even lawful and peaceful protesters, because, well, they are taking space on the street. How common is to see the police beating up students, pensioners, politicians, or even their own coworkers if they go out protesting, in every part of the world. I am sure they are doing just want so many other people would do if they were given the chance.
I am certain that a large percentage of motorists would prefer it if bicycles didn't exist.

I'm a long time bicycle commuter in San Francisco and I'm not a fan of Critical Mass. I think the confrontational aspect of it does more harm than good in promoting bicycle rights. Critical Mass here is a lawbreaking event: riders ignore stop signs and traffic lights, ride on sidewalks, medians, and on the wrong side of the road. If we bicyclists want motorists to follow the law and respect bikes, how is this a good example?

I bike on the streets here for an hour or more every day and I can say confidently that bicyclists violate the law WAY WAY WAY more often then motorists do. I include myself in this observation. I do stuff on my bike I would never do in a car. A few weeks ago I got ticketed for running a red light on my bike. I told the cop that I thought he was doing a good thing, and that bicyclists needed to respect the law. I just wished he had found someone else to make a $120 example of!

I'm a bicycle commuter in San Francisco and I have to say I'm not a fan of Critical Mass. I think the confrontational aspect of it does more harm than good in promoting bicycle rights. Critical Mass here is a lawbreaking event: riders ignore stop signs and traffic lights, ride on sidewalks, medians, and on the wrong side of the road. If we bicyclists want motorists to follow the law and respect bikes, how is this a good example?
Its not the same everywhere, so you can't condemn a global movement based on the experience of your locale. Unfortunately, protesting often turns controversial when there is the environment or lack of organization.
I am personally all for peaceful, non-aggressive demonstration. As you mention, if the protesters break common laws they ruin the reputation, which is what the demonstration is about. Plus, you show the "other side" to be wrong.
If it is in your city as you say it is, maybe there is a matter to be fixed.