Critical Mass bike ride Philadelphia, May 2008

Critical Mass meets on the west side of Philadelphia City Hall at 6:00 on the last Friday of every month.

CM is an opportunity to take the lane without any fear of being run over. For an hour and a half each months bicyclists are taking over the streets instead of putting our lives in the hands of motor vehicle operators.

Weather was beautiful this month, but the ride was marred by a couple of wipeouts, one extremely serious. I'm not sure what happened to the rider, but I heard that a man was taken away unconscious in an ambulance after falling in the 5th Street tunnel. I hope he's OK

Another guy wrecked in the first few minutes of the ride while riding a bike with no rear tyre. There's commitment! You can see him endo in the top right of the screen between 0:45 and 0:49. Later, you can see him walking home with the wrecked bike over his shoulder at 1:45.

As usual the ride attracted little attention from the police. A bike cop did join the ride on the second loop around City Hall. I was curious to see what would unfold, but actually the officer was only interested in busting the BMX riders who you can see crossing the Critical Mass to go go do tricks around City Hall at 1:16.

The people in orange uniforms standing in the road near the start were demonstrating against the US base in Guantanamo Bay.

Other landmarks this ride include Philly's Avenue of the Arts, the Kimmel Center, University of the Arts, and the Cirque du Soleil which is paying the city a visit with its show "Kooza."

Also shown are the Italian Market, South Street, including a new mural on the fire station, the Constitution Center, and Logan circle. The latter was not part of the route, but I ended up there trying to get back to the ride after the accident on 5th.

I rode for a while with a splinter group that met up with the main crew in Rittenhouse Square, which is probably my favorite CM locale.

No tall bikes or other craziness this ride, but there were a couple of off the shelf cruisers, a tandem and a couple of folding bikes.

Is Mass a perfect advocacy tool? Far from it, but CM does help us get a taste of what it's like to really have some power on the streets.

Music is by Motorhead... probably not big cyclists judging by the name, even though the song "Silver Machine" is allegedly about a bicycle.




See you next month.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Critical
• Mass
• Philadelphia
• Philly
• bike
• ride
• bicycle
• messenger
• fixed
• gear
• cyclist
• advocacy
• tandem
• fixie

[BestTits]

Critical mass is illegal, the cyclists should be arrested for mob action, along with getting tickets for every stop light and stop sign they run.

[HowardFair]

@BestTits You might be surprised to learn that I agree that we should have the same responsibilities and penalties as motorists. But the Mass is a demonstration, and is not, in fact, illegal in Philadelphia. Perhaps you want it to be, but maybe you haven't given enough thought to what it's like to live in places like Saudi Arabia. But my guess is that you enjoy having the Bill of Rights, and are smart enough to realize that for you to have those rights then everyone else here has to as well!

[majorpainful]

just don't cross the way with my 400hp, 2ton SUV you faggots.

[HowardFair]

Sorry majorpainful, but people have been threatening to kill me with their cars for the past 30 years but none of them really have the balls to do it. What am I supposed to think? You're just a bully who doesn't have what it takes. I bet you don't even have a 400hp SUV, which makes you a liar as well as a coward. Nobody's afraid of you.

[blazon508]

0:48 Spiro flips his bike because his brake line snapped while riding a bike with only a rear rim, rear tires and tubes are for sissy lala's !

[HowardFair]

Thanks for the clarification of what happened, blazon. Couldn't really have planned a better stunt if he'd wanted to, in my opinion.

[drexelur1]

Gosh! That looks like FUN! And I love the music that accompanied the video.

[viaductdream]

you just show up, dude. bring your bike and have a blast.

[BestTits]

@DaringDirk100 If you block traffic or do not stop at stop signs or lights it is breaking the law. I ride my bike often but always obey the rules. A real cyclist is not someone who breaks the law.

[DaringDirk100]

@BestTits

Riding your bike with a friend is not breaking the law, dummy.

You're probably just too lazy and out of shape to get any exercise. I bet you drive everywhere.

[BestTits]

@DaringDirk100 mob action is just 2 or more people together breaking the law, critical mass is exactly mob action

[DaringDirk100]

@BestTits

It's not mob action you idiot. Mob action is where there is violence, or something else disturbing the public. This is just a group of friends riding their bikes. Hardly a "mob".

[DaringDirk100]

@BestTits

suyi

[BestTits]

@DaringDirk100 illegal

[DaringDirk100]

@BestTits

Shut up you idiot.

[MsMesem]

Great idea! So many cyclists are killed by ignorant automobile drivers, I almost joined them.

[BestTits]

@HowardFair You are right I havent researched the law in Philly, in Chicago it is considered mob action, in addition to the numerous traffic violations for which a cyclist can be ticketed.