Comments on: Critical Mass: For London, it’s time to move on http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/ Podcast and blog of the world's most popular bicycling radio show, rolling since 2004 Mon, 21 May 2012 12:30:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lorries/HGVs/LGVs killing cyclists: an appeal to London listeners | The Bike Show - a cycling radio show and podcast from Resonance FM http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4602 Lorries/HGVs/LGVs killing cyclists: an appeal to London listeners | The Bike Show - a cycling radio show and podcast from Resonance FM Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:00:23 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-4602 [...] ride that is going to show London’s cyclists making a united stand on the issue. I’m not the greatest fan of Critical Mass, but this month, with spate of deaths caused by lorries, I’m making an [...] [...] ride that is going to show London’s cyclists making a united stand on the issue. I’m not the greatest fan of Critical Mass, but this month, with spate of deaths caused by lorries, I’m making an [...]

]]> By: rakan http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-4 rakan Thu, 04 May 2006 21:30:00 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-4 After sharing my views with Jack in October about that ride (my views were pretty similair to his), I went on my first london CM on Monday morning for Mayday. I only stayed about 45 mins, but it was good fun and a lot different from that terrible october night :( After sharing my views with Jack in October about that ride (my views were pretty similair to his), I went on my first london CM on Monday morning for Mayday. I only stayed about 45 mins, but it was good fun and a lot different from that terrible october night :(

]]> By: Anonymous http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Anonymous Wed, 21 Dec 2005 18:05:00 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-5 We were amongst those stranded in central London that Friday night by the selfish actions of those who think that because they have a point of view that the entire population becomes disposable.<BR/><BR/>Well we aren't and it is becoming unfortunately more and more true that antics of these "free speechers" are actually going to end up achieving the exact opposite. The general public and authorites are growing less and less tolerant of their lives being disrupted by these never had anything never will carpetbaggers. <BR/><BR/>Enjoy your cycling by all means, but leave roadspace available for the other legally entitled users who pay for those roads - the ones ones with lights, audible means of warning, and third party insurance! We were amongst those stranded in central London that Friday night by the selfish actions of those who think that because they have a point of view that the entire population becomes disposable.

Well we aren’t and it is becoming unfortunately more and more true that antics of these “free speechers” are actually going to end up achieving the exact opposite. The general public and authorites are growing less and less tolerant of their lives being disrupted by these never had anything never will carpetbaggers.

Enjoy your cycling by all means, but leave roadspace available for the other legally entitled users who pay for those roads – the ones ones with lights, audible means of warning, and third party insurance!

]]> By: jon http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-6 jon Fri, 18 Nov 2005 11:43:00 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-6 Hi Jack,<BR/><BR/>There has been some concern here in San Francisco about young "lifestyle anarchists" screwing up the ride and I have heard sentiments like yours over the last year. It was a big topic of conversation after the post Mass screening of "Still we Ride" a couple of months ago. <BR/><BR/>Personally, I don't much care for blocking traffic for its own sake and I feel that beating up on drivers is not really productive.<BR/><BR/>Where I diverge from your opinion is when you say it is time to move on from Critical Mass. The ride goes through change over the years, either as a result of inertia and chance or because people decide to make it change.<BR/><BR/>Your employer put a copier in your office for a reason: so you can make take part in Xerocracy on the last Friday of the month! Let's educate the new riders and remind the older ones about the joy of reclaiming space for other types of traffic. When you see something you don't like at Critical Mass, make your feelings known. (Respectfully, of course)<BR/><BR/>While the common wisdom is that there are no leaders in Critcal Mass, the truth is that we are all leaders and as such we must all take responsibility. Hi Jack,

There has been some concern here in San Francisco about young “lifestyle anarchists” screwing up the ride and I have heard sentiments like yours over the last year. It was a big topic of conversation after the post Mass screening of “Still we Ride” a couple of months ago.

Personally, I don’t much care for blocking traffic for its own sake and I feel that beating up on drivers is not really productive.

Where I diverge from your opinion is when you say it is time to move on from Critical Mass. The ride goes through change over the years, either as a result of inertia and chance or because people decide to make it change.

Your employer put a copier in your office for a reason: so you can make take part in Xerocracy on the last Friday of the month! Let’s educate the new riders and remind the older ones about the joy of reclaiming space for other types of traffic. When you see something you don’t like at Critical Mass, make your feelings known. (Respectfully, of course)

While the common wisdom is that there are no leaders in Critcal Mass, the truth is that we are all leaders and as such we must all take responsibility.

]]> By: simon http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-7 simon Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:50:00 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-7 i'm surprised anyone really has a definition of what Critical Mass is or isn't.In the mid-nineties surely it was more of a protest ride on a regular basis.The last ride was not an organised protest.<BR/>It was not a ride with a political or protest objective,but yes spontaneous occasions of what could be termed protest occurred such as staying still in Parliament Square.<BR/>We have just heard that emissions from transport have gone up by 47% in this country since 1990 so its hardly as though great progress has been made.<BR/>Personally i think there is a place for Critical Mass either as Celebration of cycling or as Protest.But its hard to say its ever wholly one or the other and it does go through different phases over the years. i’m surprised anyone really has a definition of what Critical Mass is or isn’t.In the mid-nineties surely it was more of a protest ride on a regular basis.The last ride was not an organised protest.
It was not a ride with a political or protest objective,but yes spontaneous occasions of what could be termed protest occurred such as staying still in Parliament Square.
We have just heard that emissions from transport have gone up by 47% in this country since 1990 so its hardly as though great progress has been made.
Personally i think there is a place for Critical Mass either as Celebration of cycling or as Protest.But its hard to say its ever wholly one or the other and it does go through different phases over the years.

]]> By: Oliver http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Oliver Sun, 13 Nov 2005 04:11:00 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-8 Hi Jack,<BR/><BR/>I don't think it's true that Critical Mass is now a protest. I agree it's crap now but that doesn't mean it's a protest--it just means it's not Critical Mass any more.<BR/><BR/>Oliver. Hi Jack,

I don’t think it’s true that Critical Mass is now a protest. I agree it’s crap now but that doesn’t mean it’s a protest–it just means it’s not Critical Mass any more.

Oliver.

]]> By: Jonathan Maus http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Jonathan Maus Sat, 12 Nov 2005 23:42:00 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-9 Jack,<BR/>Interesting to hear your perspective. Here in Portland, OR, USA many folks are starting to feel the same way. I think Critical Mass has run its course in our city as well. Jack,
Interesting to hear your perspective. Here in Portland, OR, USA many folks are starting to feel the same way. I think Critical Mass has run its course in our city as well.

]]> By: alex bkbk http://thebikeshow.net/critical-mass-for-london-its-time-to-move-on/comment-page-1/#comment-10 alex bkbk Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:22:00 +0000 http://thebikeshow.net/?p=37#comment-10 biggups for this post Jack. You expressed this opinion when we met for the PATH interview, and so its a shame to have your growing suspicions confirmed by last friday's event. <BR/><BR/>I'm glad that you are speaking out against immature anti-everything kids who live to throw anarchist slogans around and crash the party. <BR/><BR/>Miranda and I will definetly make it down to one of the South London rides, just as soon as our work clears up a bit. <BR/><BR/>-Alex biggups for this post Jack. You expressed this opinion when we met for the PATH interview, and so its a shame to have your growing suspicions confirmed by last friday’s event.

I’m glad that you are speaking out against immature anti-everything kids who live to throw anarchist slogans around and crash the party.

Miranda and I will definetly make it down to one of the South London rides, just as soon as our work clears up a bit.

-Alex

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