Critical Mass "WHOS STREETS ! OUR STREETS !!

Critical Mass rides have been perceived as protest activities. A 2006 New Yorker magazine article described Critical Mass' activity in New York City as "monthly political-protest rides", and characterized Critical Mass as a part of a social movement; and the UK e-zine Urban75, which advertises as well as publishes photographs of the Critical Mass event in London, describes this as "the monthly protest by cyclists reclaiming the streets of London." However, Critical Mass participants have insisted that these events should be viewed as "celebrations" and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations. This stance allows Critical Mass to argue a legal position that its events can occur without advance notification of local police.
Critical Mass rides vary greatly in many respects, including frequency and number of participants. For example, many small cities have monthly Critical Mass rides with fewer than twenty riders which offer safety in numbers[9] to cyclists in those locales, while on the opposite extreme, in what have been the largest events using the name Critical Mass, cyclists in Budapest, Hungary hold only two rides each year on April 22 (Earth Day) and September 22 (International Car Free Day). The 'Budapest style' attracts tens of thousands of riders.[10] The April 20, 2008 Budapest ride participation was estimated at 80,000 riders.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• CRITICAL
• MASS
• bike
• ride
• 2008
• newyork

[psteverific]

"More bikes, Less cars!"

Sure sounds like a protest to me

"Who's Streets? Our Streets!"

Sounds like they've lost interest in sharing the road as well

[FrederickTheTooth]

As if driving drunk, while texting, putting on makeup, etc. makes me respect motorists any more. Ha!

[ImTheRiffRaff]

Yeah, I'm sure that blocking traffic and acting like mindless retards will help "promote non-polluting transportation".