Critical Mass

[Axel1917]

Originally posted by Organic [email protected] 07, 2007 01:15 am


Block cars for slower bikers.


Yeah, that will really help the working class, you know, making them late to work and getting in trouble with the bosses, making them late to family events, making them burn more gas idling, etc. That will really increase their living standards and win them over to your side, you know. :rolleyes:

This idea reminds me of those Critical Mass reactionaries running rampant in Minneapolis. :angry:

[YSR]

Originally posted by [email protected] 07, 2007 02:05 pm
This idea reminds me of those Critical Mass reactionaries running rampant in Minneapolis. :angry:
Axel, come on down to CM next month in Minneapolis. Last Friday of the month, Loring Park, 5:30. We'll meet and you can see all of the workers, students, and lumpen who come out to ride. And all of them who, like myself, got attacked by the police in August because we threatened state control of the infrastructure.

The future of the working class is not in mass use of cars. Get over it.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 07, 2007 02:05 pm
Yeah, that will really help the working class, you know, making them late to work and getting in trouble with the bosses, making them late to family events, making them burn more gas idling, etc. That will really increase their living standards and win them over to your side, you know. :rolleyes:

This idea reminds me of those Critical Mass reactionaries running rampant in Minneapolis. :angry:
Cars are not the only form of transportation that exist- many workers use bicycles to get to and from work. I certainly do. They can often be quicker than cars. A mass of bicycles isn't putting a seriously delay in anyone's day, and blocking traffic for a second so a slower biker can keep up is nothing to complain about.

Hell, the entire point of mass rides is to raise awareness of bikes on the road, because car on bike accidents are all too common, and very damaging for the bikers involved- most of whom are probably workers.

And running rampant? Yeah, a once a month bike ride... watch out. I fell behind on the one in August to help a friend fix the chain on their bike, and got to see first hand how long it takes the traffic to pick back up. Here's a hint: not very long at all. So quit whining, and why not give it a shot? At least you won't get a tazer pointed at you like I did.

---


And all of them who, like myself, got attacked by the police in August because we threatened state control of the infrastructure.

What's the deal with some riders going and dealing with the police? And taking lots of cheap shots at the pReNC people, including calling people out for wearing masks? Is there anything being done to counter those assholes?

[YSR]

Originally posted by BCBM
What's the deal with some riders going and dealing with the police? And taking lots of cheap shots at the pReNC people, including calling people out for wearing masks? Is there anything being done to counter those assholes?

Naw, dude. The liberals are really trying to take over. I dunno. We'll probably get fucked up this month, since the media won't be watching over us like last time. That said, last month was so fucking giant that it blew my mind.

[bcbm]

That's some shit. Critical Mass isn't about working with the police, what a bunch of tossers.

[Axel1917]

Axel, come on down to CM next month in Minneapolis. Last Friday of the month, Loring Park, 5:30. We'll meet and you can see all of the workers, students, and lumpen who come out to ride. And all of them who, like myself, got attacked by the police in August because we threatened state control of the infrastructure.

The composition of the ride itself is irrelevant. The fact is that it does nothing more than to alienate drivers that rely on cars to get around. There have been instances when Critical Mass people have started spitting at drivers, smashing up their cars, etc. I think this was in San Francisco. In fact, I believe that in 1997 Critical Mass so alienated itself with the working class that some drivers fought back, beating the crap out of bikers and blocking the way only to let cars through.

Does critical mass raise the consciousness of the working class? That is a primary criterion, and the answer is obviously no. In fact, critical mass is reactionary as it has at times delayed traffic for hours in other places, and it could cause workers to get fired by the bosses. This is an anti-worker action and it can only serve to cause problems for the working class and alienate them from you.

The only solution is socialist revolution, where cars powered by hydrogen and compressed air (there is some prototype car that uses compressed air to move the pistons instead of the explosion from a spark and gasoline. In fact, if the engine could somehow power an alternator that was powerful enough to take air to compress into some kind of reservoir, this car could theoretically travel forever, given that it does not break down. The only "exhaust" of such a car is cold air), or some other source, becomes a reality as oil barons won't be able to deliberately slow down progress to make a buck.


The future of the working class is not in mass use of cars. Get over it.

It is not in the mass use of bikes. The future of the masses will need to be in the form of an economical car that does not cause all kinds of pollution. Bikes are only good for short distances, and when you are not in a bit of a rush at times.


Cars are not the only form of transportation that exist- many workers use bicycles to get to and from work. I certainly do. They can often be quicker than cars. A mass of bicycles isn't putting a seriously delay in anyone's day, and blocking traffic for a second so a slower biker can keep up is nothing to complain about.

True, but cars are often better at getting around, especially in my case, where I work in a suburb over 20 miles away from home.

They can perhaps only be quicker than cars in rush hour over short distances. I have read that Critical Mass has indeed slowed up traffic for hours. This drove motorists to actually fight back against Critical Mass in 1997 in San Francisco. When you have workers beating the crap out of you for your actions and blocking bikes to only let cars through, you know you are not winning them over to your side. Getting workers in trouble for being late, stressing them out over missing important events, beating on their cars, etc. is only going to make them angry and alienate you from them.


Hell, the entire point of mass rides is to raise awareness of bikes on the road, because car on bike accidents are all too common, and very damaging for the bikers involved- most of whom are probably workers.

But the end product is making workers angry and getting them in trouble for being late to work, having insurance premiums go up due to people bashing their cars up, and causing stress over missing family events. This is anti-worker to the core. It makes their lives more stressful, it can cause workers to get fired, and it really gives bikers a bad name. Most bikers I see out there are already rude enough, with me getting stuck behind one going 15 MPH, when that biker could easily use a perfectly good sidewalk or a bike lane. Motorists are already sick of the churlish behavior exhibited by many bikers. This is only going to make you look bad and drag in some innocent non-CM bikers into being hated by motorists.


And running rampant? Yeah, a once a month bike ride... watch out. I fell behind on the one in August to help a friend fix the chain on their bike, and got to see first hand how long it takes the traffic to pick back up. Here's a hint: not very long at all. So quit whining, and why not give it a shot? At least you won't get a tazer pointed at you like I did.

Really? Then why have I read reports of traffic being clogged up for hours in some instances in the past? Why don't you stop attacking the living standards of the working class and do something to raise their consciousness instead of being a bunch of goons in their eyes?

Critical Mass is not going to have an effect on me because I don't have to go to work during the morning rush hour, but if I were a worker that ended up late to work or a parent that missed some event one of my kids had, I would be enraged. If anything, due to a lack of class consciousness out there, you could in fact end up helping the police get sympathy from many people for cracking down on you.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 08, 2007 10:30 pm
The composition of the ride itself is irrelevant. The fact is that it does nothing more than to alienate drivers that rely on cars to get around.
Actually, the ride serves to raise awareness of bicycles on the road and provide a safe space for bicyclists. How much of the road the ride takes up depends on the size... if there are several hundred riders, why not allow them access to the roads?


There have been instances when Critical Mass people have started spitting at drivers, smashing up their cars, etc.

The only time I've ever seen things like that happen is when drivers became aggressive and were endangering bikers. I can't count how many times I've been heckled, threatened and almost hit by cars while riding safely.


True, but cars are often better at getting around, especially in my case, where I work in a suburb over 20 miles away from home.

They can perhaps only be quicker than cars in rush hour over short distances.

Actually, it all really depends. The ways roads are organized in some places as well as traffic patterns, even during non-rush times, can make bikes a convenient way to get around and in some cases, the only way they can afford.

This isn't to undercut the need for cars- many people do need them, and that's fine. But bicycles shouldn't be considered a secondary or unimportant form of transportation, and should be given equal consideration.


When you have workers beating the crap out of you for your actions and blocking bikes to only let cars through, you know you are not winning them over to your side.

All workers are motorists, and allowed to use the roads as they please even if it endangers other, but bicyclists who are just as likely to be workers can't use the roads to have a safe ride?

And if traffic is getting backed up for hours it probably speaks more to horrible city planning than bikes. Look at many major cities- they jam up perfectly well without bikes, because they just aren't designed for that volume of traffic.


Getting workers in trouble for being late, stressing them out over missing important events, beating on their cars, etc. is only going to make them angry and alienate you from them.

You're right. And when people hit my friends with their cars, that doesn't matter? Being able to have a bike ride without worrying about getting killed or assaulted or threatened, that isn't important?



But the end product is making workers angry and getting them in trouble for being late to work, having insurance premiums go up due to people bashing their cars up, and causing stress over missing family events.

Oh please, you're taking "examples" that aren't even proven to happen, and extrapolating them to happen during every ride, which isn't the case.


Most bikers I see out there are already rude enough, with me getting stuck behind one going 15 MPH, when that biker could easily use a perfectly good sidewalk or a bike lane.

Biking on the sidewalk is illegal and has a pretty hefty fine. Beyond that, its dangerous due to pedestrians, doorways, etc. Bike lanes don't exist in all areas, and are often poorly maintained and full of potholes, forcing bikers in to the street.


Motorists are already sick of the churlish behavior exhibited by many bikers. This is only going to make you look bad and drag in some innocent non-CM bikers into being hated by motorists.

CM is a reaction to motorists actions toward bicyclists. I'm pretty sick of a lot of things drivers do, but I don't hate all drivers or heckle them when they're just going past.


Why don't you stop attacking the living standards of the working class and do something to raise their consciousness instead of being a bunch of goons in their eyes?

Attacking the living standard? Please. Nevermind that many members of the working class (myself, most of my co-workers, millions more) ride bicycles, right?

[YSR]

Originally posted by Axel+--> (Axel)Really? Then why have I read reports of traffic being clogged up for hours in some instances in the past?[/b]

Because you read the bourgeois press. Which lies. Like it lied when it said that the Minneapolis CM in August started "rioting," when in fact we were attacked by cops. BCBM was there, he can back me up. It was fucked up.

The media lies about things that challenge the bourgeoisie. CM challenges state control of the roads and reclaims space for people, bikers, pedestrians, workers. That is why the media lies and the state attacks us.

Really, you're terribly inconsistent Axel.


BCBM
You're right. And when people hit my friends with their cars, that doesn't matter? Being able to have a bike ride without worrying about getting killed or assaulted or threatened, that isn't important?

Word. I'm a biker, a student, and a worker. I got hit by a rich motherfucker in his yuppie-ass car this summer.

As a side note, Axel: You know what happens when CM drives through the poor communities, like in north Minneapolis? People cheer, people grab bikes and join us. People who have been so beaten down by capitalism that they don't know how to articulate resistance find it in the simple action of stealing back the roads from the bourgeoisie. I've seen it, Axel. If that's reaction, then I am a proud reactionary.

[apathy maybe]

I have done critical mass with less then 12 people a number of times in a small city.

Going down a one way street (with four lanes) we have taken over two, leaving the right most two for cars.

It normally isn't even peak hour.

I've been hit once by a car, and almost hit twice.


I'm a biker, and I'm proud of it. And fuck you Axel1917 for suggesting that my friends and others who have been on those critical masses aren't proletariat (I don't care what you say about me...).


Critical Mass is important, for a number of reasons.

[Everyday Anarchy]

Critical Mass around here becomes a sort of festival with everyone shouting "Happy Friday" and other silly yet encouraging cheers and yes, I too have seen people come out of their homes to wave and cheer and even join us.

We usually try to leave a lane for cars except when going through dangerous intersections when it is necessary to block traffic to ensure everyone can make it through safely.