The futility of critical mass

I disagree with people riding in critical mass because: 1) critical mass feeds the egos of bikers but not their ethics, 2) critical mass escalates the animosity between bikers and drivers, and 3) critical mass does not actually educate drivers about the current laws for bike traffic, nor does it properly reflect bike culture and etiquette. I will be the first to admit that driver/biker relations need a lot of work, however, I fail to see how critical mass has a positive impact on the situation. Most drivers seem to have no clue or skill when driving (a pretty simple task) so how can bikers expect them to understand the significance of a critical mass?

Your thoughts on the matter?

Tags: Critical, drivers, mass

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on May 23, 2010 at 11:23am

Michael,
It takes a bit but eventually you learn to just change the subject when you get the anti-critical mass rant from people who have never experienced it firsthand. If that doesn't work you can find a different bike shop . . .

Be sure to join the "Berwyn Bike Mafia" group on here.

Michael Klapper said:

What do you do just do, like the bike commute, it make a statement, I did it years ago before you could get text alert about it, before there was alot of great stuff on the web, that like the other day I stopped in the bike shop at Oak Park, IL. was so charged up the last critical mass bike ride, and it like all they wanted to do was to take the air out of my tire. Is that what you want to do is take the air out of some tire? Have you done a critical mass bike ride, if not I think you as bike rider should not be so harsh on it. The last critical mass bike ride was amazing, with over 1500 people on bicycle, the chicago police as the escort, or what I like the most were the trailer with the music, it was a like a party, I wish every Friday was a critical mass bike ride. And it raise the awareness of drivers of the fact of the bicycles on the road, now of the Secretary of State was doing His job, there would be more education of sharing the road, so what is Jesse White doing for those on bicycle?