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{{Short description|Group cycling advocating cycling friendly policy}}
:''This article is about the public event of bicyclists taking over roadways. For the concept in nuclear physics, [[critical mass]].''
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
[[Image:Critical Mass, San Francisco, April 29, 2005.jpg|thumb|right|256px|San Francisco Critical Mass, April 29, 2005.]]
'''Critical Mass''' is a form of [[direct action]] in which people travel as a group on [[bicycle]]s at a set location and time. The idea is for people to group together to make it safe for each other to ride bicycles through their streets, based on the old adage: ''there's safety in numbers''.


Critical Mass events highlight the numbers of people who want to use their bicycle on the streets, but are usually unable to do so without risking their [[bicycle safety|safety]]. They are a call to action to councils, governments and road planners to properly and thoughtfully design in the safety of all road users, including those who would prefer to walk and cycle, instead of prioritising motor traffic above all else.
{{POV}}


The event originated in 1992 in San Francisco (typically held on the last Friday of every month);<ref name="10years" /> by the end of 2003, the event was being held in over 300 cities around the world.<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite journal |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/729324/London-How-cyclists-around-the-world-put-a-spoke-in-the-motorist%27s-wheel.html|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120529190357/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/729324/London-How-cyclists-around-the-world-put-a-spoke-in-the-motorist%27s-wheel.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= May 29, 2012|title=London: How cyclists around the world put a spoke in the motorist's wheel|first=Richard |last= Madden|date=December 15, 2003|journal=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK}}</ref>
[[Image:Critical Mass, San Francisco, April 29, 2005.jpg|thumb|400px|San Francisco Critical Mass, 29th April, 2005.]]


Critical Mass has been described as "monthly political-protest rides", and characterized as being part of a [[social movement]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Holy Rollers | first=Ben | last=Mcgrath | date=November 13, 2006 | url=http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/061113fa_fact | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206072219/http://www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/061113fa_fact | archive-date=December 6, 2006 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> It has been described as a "monthly protest by cyclists reclaiming the streets."<ref>{{cite web | title=Critical Mass London | publisher=[[Urban75]] | year=2006 | url=http://www.urban75.org/photos/critical | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231063118/http://www.urban75.org/photos/critical/ | archive-date=December 31, 2006 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Participants have insisted that these events should be viewed as "celebrations" and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations.<ref>{{cite web |title= Pittsburgh Critical Mass |url= http://pghcriticalmass.org/ |access-date= November 16, 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090928023011/http://www.pghcriticalmass.org/ |archive-date= September 28, 2009 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Critical Mass: Over 260 Arrested in First Major Protest of RNC |date=August 30, 2004 |publisher=Democracy Now! |url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/08/30/1453256 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114174744/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04%2F08%2F30%2F1453256 |archive-date=November 14, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref> This stance allows Critical Mass to argue a legal position that its events can occur without advance notification of local police.<ref>{{cite news |title= Critical crackdown |first=Matt |last=Seaton |work=The Guardian |location=London |date= October 26, 2005 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,3604,1600570,00.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=[*BCM*] Hong Kong Critical Mass News | first=Adam | last=Rosi-Kessel | date=August 24, 2004 | url=http://www.bostoncriticalmass.org/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/2004-August/000146.html | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208094916/http://www.bostoncriticalmass.org/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/2004-August/000146.html | archive-date=December 8, 2006 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Though they are sometimes described as political, they are not necessarily.
'''Critical Mass''' is an event held typically on the last Friday of every month in [[city|cities]] around the [[world]], where [[bicycle|bicyclists]] and self-propelled people take to the streets ''en masse''. Critical Mass has no leaders, and no goals other than to meet once every month and enjoy the security of riding, rolling and travelling through the city together. Critics have claimed that this is a deliberate attempt to obstruct [[traffic]], and cause a disruption of normal city functions. Critical Mass does slow city traffic, but Critical Mass riders counter criticisms that they are causing congestion saying ''"We aren't blocking traffic, we '''are''' traffic.''"


==History and organization of the rides==
== History ==
[[Image:Criticalmass-sf-broadway-tunnel.jpg|thumb|right|[[Broadway Tunnel (San Francisco)]] September 29, 2006]]
Since rides started in [[San Francisco]] in [[1992]] they have spread to more than 325 cities around the world. The San Francisco Critical Mass&mdash;which traditionally starts at Justin Herman Plaza, at the end of Market Street, on the Embarcadero&mdash;has had an undeniable effect in exhorting local government and city planners to consider cyclists' needs and facilities in urban planning.


Critical Mass-like bicycle tours with hundreds of participants took place in Stockholm, Sweden in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wordpress.alternativstad.nu/cyklister-i-storstockholm/|access-date=January 1, 2025|title=Cyklister i Storstockholm|language=sv|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101192212/https://wordpress.alternativstad.nu/cyklister-i-storstockholm/|archive-date=January 1, 2025|df=mdy-all}}</ref> But the first ride within the present wave took place on Friday, September 25, 1992, at 6&nbsp;pm in San Francisco. At that time, the event was known as ''Commute Clot'' and was composed of a couple of dozen cyclists who had received flyers on [[Market Street, San Francisco, California|Market Street]].<ref name=10years>{{cite news
[[Image:Cm5.jpg|thumb|left|Melbourne Critical Massers are controlled by the police, with limited success]]
|last = Garofoli
The term "critical mass" was adopted from an observation made by American [[Human Powered Vehicle]] and [[pedicab]] designer George Bliss while visiting [[China]]. He noted that traffic, both motorists and bicyclists, in China had an understood method of negotiating unsignalled intersections. Traffic would "bunch up" at these intersections until the back log reached a "critical mass" at which point that mass would move through the intersection. This description was related in the Ted White documentary ''Return of the Scorcher'' ([[1992]]) and subsequently adopted by the ''Critical Mass'' movement.
|first = Joe
|title = Critical Mass turns 10
|work = San Francisco Chronicle
|date = September 28, 2002
|url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/09/26/BA133774.DTL
|access-date = July 2, 2007
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120165148/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F09%2F26%2FBA133774.DTL
|archive-date = January 20, 2008
|df = mdy-all
}}</ref>


Shortly after this, some participants in that ride went to a local bicycle shop for a screening of Ted White's documentary ''Return of the Scorcher'', about bicycle culture in the Netherlands and China in comparison with that of the United States. In that film, American [[human-powered vehicle]] and [[pedicab]] designer [[George Bliss (pedicab designer)|George Bliss]] noted that, in China, both motorists and bicyclists had an "understood" method of negotiating intersections without signals. Traffic would queue up at these intersections until the backlog reached a "critical mass", at which point that mass would move through the intersection. This term from the footage of the movie, was applied to the name of the ride,<ref>{{Cite book |first = Joel
Critical Mass differs from many other social movements in its [[Rhizome|rhizomal]] (rather than arboreal) structure. Critical Mass claims to be an "organized coincidence", with no leader, no organizers, and no membership. For example, the term ''[[xerocracy]]'' was coined to describe the process for how the route for a Critical Mass is decided: Anyone who has an opinion makes their own map, and distributes it to the cyclists participating in the Mass. Some rides are decided "on the fly" by those at the front of the pack. Other rides are decided on the day of the ride before-hand by a popular vote of suggested routes. Still other rides decide the route by consensus. These methods free up the movement from the overhead costs involved in a [[hierarchical organisation]]: no meetings, no structure, no internal politics, and so on. In order for it to exist, all that has to happen is that enough people know about it and turn up on the day to create a 'critical mass' of riders large enough to safely occupy a piece of road to the exclusion of motorized road users.
|last = Pomerantz
|editor-last = Carlsson
|editor-first = Chris
|contribution = A Critical Mass Cultural Glossary
|contribution-url = http://www.joelpomerantz.com/genlresources/cmglossary.html
|title = Critical Mass: Bicycling's Defiant Celebration
|year = 2002
|place = Edinburgh, Scotland
|publisher = AK Press
|url = https://archive.org/details/criticalmassbicy0000unse
|isbn = 1-902593-59-6
|df = mdy-all
|url-access = registration
}}</ref> and the name caught on, replacing "Commute Clot" by the time of the second event.<ref name=10years/>


== Organization and tactics ==
[[Image:cm-timessquare.jpg|right|thumb|Cyclists in Critical Mass ride through New York City's famous Times Square on July 30, 2004]]
Some Critical Mass riders carry out an illegal action known as "corking", which involves blocking cross traffic so that the riders can freely proceed through [[traffic light|red light]]s. The mass always tries to accommodate and yield for emergency vehicles by splitting through the center when cyclists move over to the left and right sides of the road. Critics argue that this practice of corking is contrary to its claim that "we are traffic", since ordinary traffic (including bicycle traffic that does not participate in Critical Mass) does not have the privilege of being able to ignore traffic lights, however riders counter that keeping the ride as a single mass improves the safety of the riders and minimizes the disruption to other traffic. Sometimes, this act of corking has translated into hostility between motorists and riders, which has even erupted into violence during some critical mass rides. However, most rides pass off peaceably with little incident.


[[File:Massa Crítica - BICICLETADA - Lisboa Abril 2012.ogg|thumb|Full path of Critical Mass in [[Lisbon]] in April 2012]]
After the [[RNC]] ([[2004 Republican National Convention]]) coincided with the August 2004 [[NYC]] Critical Mass, many court cases resulted regarding the legality of the ride, whether police have the right to arrest cyclists and seize their bicycles, and whether the 'event' needs a permit. In December of 2004, a federal judge threw out the NYC's injunction against Critical Mass as a "political event." [http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/courtweb/pdf/D02NYSC/04-08621.PDF] On [[March 23]], [[2005]], NYC filed a lawsuit, seeking to prevent [[TIME'S UP!]] from promoting or advertising Critical Mass rides. The lawsuit also stated TIME'S UP! and the general public could not participate in riding or gathering at the Critical Mass bike ride, claiming a permit was required. [http://www.times-up.org/legal_newswire.php#2005-03-23] [http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/03/28/1434209]


Critical Mass has a decentralized (rather than hierarchical) structure. Critical Mass is sometimes called an "organized coincidence", with no leadership or membership. The routes of some rides are decided spontaneously by whoever is currently at the front of the ride, while others are decided prior to the ride by a popular vote of suggested routes often drawn up on photocopied fliers. The term ''xerocracy'' was coined to describe a process by which the route for a Critical Mass can be decided: anyone who has an opinion makes their own map and distributes it to the cyclists participating in the Mass. Still other rides decide the route by consensus. The disorganized nature of the event allows it to largely escape clampdown by authorities who may view the rides as forms of parades or organized protest. Additionally, the movement is free from the structural costs associated with a centralized, hierarchical organization. In order for the event to function, the only requirement is a sufficient turn-out to create a "critical mass" of riders dense enough to occupy a piece of road to the exclusion of drivers of motorized vehicles. Authorities in New York, California and Oregon have expressed concern with the difficulty of coordinating with the riders, due to the lack of leadership.<ref name=oregon>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pF1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qfADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4190%2C4508834|title=Rolling protests hit bump|first=Susan|last=Palmer|work=[[The Register-Guard]] |location=[[Eugene, Oregon]]|date=May 20, 2006|page=A1, A9}}</ref><ref name=usatoday>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-11-15-bikes-new-york_x.htm|date=November 15, 2004|work=USA Today|title=Big pack of bikes piques police|first=Martha T.|last=Moore|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706142039/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-11-15-bikes-new-york_x.htm|archive-date=July 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/04.03.97/bikes-9714.html|publisher=MetroActive News & Issues|title=Bicyclists see transportation as critical|first1=Dylan|last1=Bennett|first2=Gretchen|last2=Giles|access-date=November 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727213956/http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/04.03.97/bikes-9714.html|archive-date=July 27, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==Current active rides==
Unless otherwise stated, rides are held on the last Friday of every month at 5:30pm.
===Australia===
*[[Adelaide]], at [[Tarndanyangga]]
*[[Hobart]], at Franklin Square
*[[Melbourne]], in front of the State Library in Swanston St.
*[[Sydney]], around fountains in Hyde Park.
===Canada===
*[[Vancouver, British Columbia]] [http://www.bikesexual.org/cm], meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery on the Georgia Street side
*[[Victoria, British Columbia]] meet at centenial square
*[[Toronto, Ontario]], meet at Bloor and Spadina


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]]<ref name=unsw>{{cite web
===Hungary===
|last = Gaffney
*[[Budapest]] [http://www.criticalmass.hu/], at Heroes' Square.
|first = Dan
===Italy===
|title = A virtuous cycle: safety in numbers for riders says research
*[[Turin]] [http://digilander.libero.it/massacritica.torino/]
|date = September 3, 2008
*[[Rome]] [http://www.inventati.org/criticalmass/wiki/doku.php/]
|url = http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/a-virtuous-cycle-safety-in-numbers-for-riders-says-research
===Poland===
|access-date = October 3, 2008
*[[Warsaw]] [http://www.masa.waw.pl], at Zamkowy Place (6 pm)
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080920012845/http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/a-virtuous-cycle-safety-in-numbers-for-riders-says-research/
|archive-date = September 20, 2008
|df = mdy-all
}}</ref> 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 ([[Car Free Days|International Car Free Day]]). The "Budapest style" attracts tens of thousands of riders.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.budapestsun.com/news/48369|publisher=Budapest Sun Online|title=A critical mass critique|date=April 20, 2008|access-date=November 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526012435/http://www.budapestsun.com/news/48369|archive-date=May 26, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The April 20, 2008, Budapest ride participation was estimated at 80,000 riders.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://mti.hu/cikk/266730/|publisher=MTI|title=Minden eddiginél többen vettek részt a Critical Mass felvonuláson|language=hu|access-date=November 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623093602/http://mti.hu/cikk/266730/|archive-date=June 23, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.budapestsun.com/news/60058|publisher=Budapest Sun Online|title=Critical Mass wheels away|date=April 23, 2008|access-date=November 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314075216/http://www.budapestsun.com/news/60058|archive-date=March 14, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In [[Vienna (Austria)|Vienna]], close to Budapest, a Critical Mass Ride has been held every month since 2006 and attracts up to 1,000 or more riders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.criticalmass.at/4139 |title=Kommentare zu: Frühlingszeit – CM-Zeit – Graz 25.03.11 |date=March 12, 2012 |access-date=2016-04-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407115512/http://www.criticalmass.at/4139 |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>


In the Critical Mass practice of "corking", a rider breaks away from the group to block the side streets of an intersection as the mass crosses. This prevents traffic travelling through the intersection on a green signal and allows the riders to ride through red lights. This both contains cross-traffic while the mass passes and protects the mass from splitting or from drivers who might attempt to pass through the mass.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=VuUJBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA95 Rethinking Policing and Justice: Exploring Alternatives to Law Enforcement], p. 95</ref>
===Russia===
*[[Moscow]] [http://massa.tr.ru] (in Russian), rides are held on the last Saturday of every month at 01.00pm starting from Turgenevskaya Square.
===United Kingdom===
*[[Glasgow]], at George Square
*[[London]] [http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/] & [http://cmlondon.dyndns.org/], 6pm outside [[National Film Theatre]] (river entrance), [[South Bank]]
*[[Exeter]], starting at Bedford Square
*[[Bristol]], starting outside the [[Arnolfini]] Arts Centre on the Floating Harbour


[[File:Critical Mass Chicago Time Lapse 2009.08.28.webm|thumb|right|200px|Timelapse video of a Critical Mass in Chicago in 2009]]
===United States===
*[[Albany, New York]] 5:00pm in Washington Park by Henry Johnson and State streets
*[[Baltimore]], at Charles and Redwood.
*[[Boston]] [http://www.bostoncriticalmass.org/], at Copley Square.
*[[Buffalo, New York]], at Buffalo City Hall.
*[[Chicago]] [http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/], at Daley Plaza
*[[Cincinnati, Ohio]] [http://www.cincycriticalmass.org/], at Fountain Square
*[[Cleveland, Ohio]] [http://www.clevelandcriticalmass.com], at the North West Quadrant of Public Square
*[[Columbus, Ohio]] [http://comacrew.homestead.com/criticalmass.html], at the Statehouse lawn.
*[[Detroit]] [http://www.criticalmassdetroit.org/], at Grand Circus Park, Adams & Woodward Aves.
*[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], at Riverside Park, near Oakland Ave. and Locust Street
*[[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], at Loring Park
*[[Nashville, Tennessee]], at Dragon Park
*[[New Haven, Connecticut]], at the flagpole in the center of [[New Haven Green|The Green]].
*[[New Orleans]] [http://www.nolacriticalmass.org/], Jackson Square cathedral
*[[New York]] [http://www.times-up.org/cm.php], 7:00pm at Union Square (north side)
*[[Philadelphia]] [http://www.philamass.org], 5:00pm at City Hall (west side)
*[[Pittsburgh]] [http://www.pghcriticalmass.org/], Carnegie Museum dinosaur statue
*[[Portland, Oregon]] [http://www.RoseCityCriticalMass.org/], North Park Blocks by the Elephant
*[[Raleigh, North Carolina]] at the NC State University Bell Tower, 4:30pm
*[[San Francisco]] [http://www.runmuki.com/paul/writing/urban.html], at Justin Herman Plaza
*[[Seattle]] [http://www.seattlecriticalmass.org], 7:00pm at Westlake Center, rain or shine
*[[Tallahassee]], in front of the state capital building.
*[[Urbana, Illinois|Urbana-]][[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]] [http://critical-mass.groogroo.com/]
*[[Washington DC]] [http://cm-dc.mahost.org/], at Dupont Circle


== Other bicycling groups ==
==See also==

*[[Reclaim the Streets]]
=== Similar organizations and movements ===
*[[Travel blending]]
The Critical Mass rides have inspired a number of other bicycle movements, that range from political movements to the "Critical Tits" ride during the yearly [[Burning Man]] festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.criticaltits.com/faq.html|title=Critical Tits Party FAQ|access-date=February 22, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119171118/http://www.criticaltits.com/faq.html|archive-date=January 19, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*[[Flash mob]]
In Chicago, a movement has grown out of the Critical Mass community to promote [[winter cycling]] via the Bikewinter campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bikewinter.org|title=Chicago Bikewinter|access-date=November 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316063830/http://bikewinter.org/|archive-date=March 16, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The extensive news coverage of San Francisco's July 1997 ride spawned an international celebration of bicycling, called Bike Summer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bikesummer.org/2006/history/history.php |title=BikeSummer 2006: History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828115227/http://www.bikesummer.org/2006/history/history.php |archive-date=August 28, 2006 }}</ref> [[Kidical Mass]] originated in Oregon, and encourages bicycle riding for children and families.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kidicalmass.org/|title=Kidical Mass|access-date=November 16, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202185516/http://www.kidicalmass.org/|archive-date=February 2, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The movement gained momentum in North America and Europe and set a record in September 2019, when 1100 riders took part in Dortmund, Germany.<ref name="kidical-do">{{cite web |title=Kidical Mass Dortmund: 1100 Teilnehmer wollen bessere Radwege |url=https://velocityruhr.net/blog/2019/09/15/kidical-mass-dortmund-1100-teilnehmer-wollen-bessere-radwege/ |website=VeloCityRuhr |date=September 15, 2019 |access-date=17 September 2019}}</ref> "Critical Sass" was an all-female version of the ride in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that took place the second Friday of every month. The [[Tweed Run]] (along with various other vintage bike rides) is a well dressed mass which takes place annually in a number of cities across the world. Examples of Critical Mass rides for political movements includes the Free Tibet Rides (May 2008): Free Tibet Critical Mass in [[Columbia, Missouri]], "Tibetan Freedom Bike Rally" in San Francisco (Aug 2008), and in "Bike Ride for Tibet" in London (Aug 2008).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/05/02/free-tibet-protesters-hit-streets-bikes/ |title=Free Tibet protesters hit the streets on bikes |access-date=November 26, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722235346/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/05/02/free-tibet-protesters-hit-streets-bikes/ |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
*[[Smart mob]]

[[San Jose, California|San Jose]] is the home to [[San Jose Bike Party]]. Bike Party rides on the third Friday of the month with a different starting point and route each time. Rides are typically 15–25 miles in length and usually 1000-2000 riders in Summer. The ride aims to build a community of cyclists and prove that bicycles can co-exist with cars. It is different than Critical Mass in that it rides after rush hour and obeys all traffic laws and has a pre-determined route.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sjbikeparty.org/how-we-ride|title=San Jose Bike Party – How We Ride!|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Gary |date=2009-08-19 |title=Roadshow: San Jose Bike Party hits the road Friday |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2009/08/19/roadshow-san-jose-bike-party-hits-the-road-friday/ |work=[[San Jose Mercury News]] |access-date=2019-08-26 }}</ref><ref name="2010-10-merc-gonzales">{{cite news
| last = Gonzales
| first = Sandra
| date = 2010-10-20
| title = San Jose Bike Party, monthly ride attracts thousands of die-hard bicyclists, but no politics
| url = https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/10/20/san-jose-bike-party-monthly-ride-attracts-thousands-of-die-hard-bicyclists-but-no-politics/
| work = [[San Jose Mercury News]]
| access-date = 2019-08-26
}}</ref>

San Luis Obispo, California, is the home of the "Bikes are happening..." meetup. Bikes are happening... starts at Mission Plaza at 9:30&nbsp;pm on the first Thursday of the month. The ride consists of a continuous half mile loop through downtown San Luis Obispo. Since there is no permit for the ride, riders are asked to follow three rules: have fun, respect the community, and obey all traffic laws.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Bike Happening|url=http://bikehappening.org/?page_id=4|access-date=26 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703003505/http://bikehappening.org/?page_id=4|archive-date=July 3, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In [[Portland, Oregon]] a tactic called a "bike swarm" has been used by [[Occupy Wall Street]] protesters to separate marching protesters from police.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bikeportland.org/2011/11/23/the-bike-swarm-evolves-into-a-movement-of-its-own-62399 |first=Jonathan |last=Maus |title=The 'bike swarm' evolves into a movement of its own |publisher=Bike Portland |date=November 23, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128063905/http://bikeportland.org/2011/11/23/the-bike-swarm-evolves-into-a-movement-of-its-own-62399 |archive-date=November 28, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.katu.com/news/local/134050068.html |title=Riot police use pepper spray to try to control Occupy crowd |publisher=KATU |date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017003334/http://www.katu.com/news/local/134050068.html |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

A huge bicycle demonstration is the "Fahrrad-Sternfahrt" in Berlin, Germany, since 1976. Each year in June and usually have 150.000–250.000 riders. Together the 19 rides are more than 600 miles long including two sections of motorway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angloinfo.com/berlin/events/listing/berlin-bike-rally-sternfahrt-2016|title=Angloinfo Berlin|publisher=[[Angloinfo]]|access-date=14 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701050034/https://www.angloinfo.com/berlin/events/listing/berlin-bike-rally-sternfahrt-2016|archive-date=July 1, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Critical Manners ===
[[File:World of Coke cycling.jpg|thumb|Critical Mass riders in [[Atlanta]]]]

In San Francisco, an event known as "Critical Manners" was created as a response to Critical Mass. Critical Manners rides through the city on the second Friday of the month, with riders encouraged to obey all traffic laws such as stopping at red lights and signaling.<ref>{{cite news
|last = Steve
|first = Rubenstein
|title = Critical Manners takes a stand for sharing, harmony, red lights.
|work = San Francisco Chronicle
|date = April 14, 2007
|url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/14/MNGB6P8R1U1.DTL
|access-date = July 2, 2007
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070712000808/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F04%2F14%2FMNGB6P8R1U1.DTL
|archive-date = July 12, 2007
|df = mdy-all
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Critical Manners ride starts at 6&nbsp;pm|author=Steve Rubenstein|date=April 13, 2007|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/13/BABADIGEST4.DTL|access-date=February 23, 2008|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622112919/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F04%2F13%2FBABADIGEST4.DTL|archive-date=June 22, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Tucson, Arizona holds the Tuesday Night Community Bike Ride as their alternative to Critical Mass. The weekly ride encourages bicycle commuting and motor vehicle awareness in a peaceful and friendly way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Currents/Content?oid=102923
|title=Tucson on Two Wheels
|access-date=December 10, 2008
|author=Herreras, Mari
|date=November 8, 2007
|work=Tucson Weekly
}}</ref>

In 2007 there were conversations about starting Critical Manners in [[Portland, Oregon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/14/would-critical-manners-catch-on-in-portland/|title=Would Critical Manners Catch On In Portland?|access-date=November 16, 2009|date=August 14, 2007|author=Jonathan Maus|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928082441/http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/14/would-critical-manners-catch-on-in-portland/|archive-date=September 28, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to the Critical Mass book, a similar project known as Courteous Mass is described as "an alternative to Critical Mass."

An alternative ride named RideCivil formed in [[Seattle]] in late 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bikehugger.com/2007/10/critical_mannerds_ride_report.htm|title=Critical Man-nerds ride report|date=October 16, 2007|publisher=Bike Hugger|access-date=February 25, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018103806/http://bikehugger.com/2007/10/critical_mannerds_ride_report.htm|archive-date=October 18, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Rides are on the second Friday of every month, and focus on encouraging civility between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattle.ridecivil.org |title=Seattle Ride Civil website |access-date=November 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510083752/http://seattle.ridecivil.org/ |archive-date=May 10, 2009 }}</ref>

The Mobile Social is an alternative ride in [[Atlanta]] sponsored by the [[Atlanta Bicycle Coalition]]. Rides start on 2nd Thursday of every month, meeting at [[Woodruff Park]] in downtown Atlanta and a focus on promoting local small business and cycling for commuting, social and civic engagement.<ref>{{cite web | title=Mobile Social Monthly Bike Ride | website=Downtown Atlanta, GA | date=November 12, 2020 | url=https://www.atlantadowntown.com/do/mobile-social-monthly-bike-ride | access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Darnell | first=Tim | title=Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Planning Major Midtown Event on Friday | website=Midtown, GA Patch | date=August 17, 2016 | url=https://patch.com/georgia/midtown/atlanta-bicycle-coalition-planning-major-midtown-event-friday | access-date=March 25, 2021}}</ref>

On June 12, 2009, an [[Indianapolis]] Critical Manners ride called "Courteous Mass" was launched<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theindycog.com/labels/Critical%20Manners.html|title=Courteous Mass, Critical Manners|date=June 3, 2009|access-date=November 1, 2010|publisher=INDYCOG|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717003654/http://www.theindycog.com/labels/Critical%20Manners.html|archive-date=July 17, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> but is no longer active as of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111752148046&ref=ts|title=Indianapolis Courteous Mass, Critical Manners Facebook page|access-date=November 1, 2010|publisher=Facebook}}</ref>

On August 14, 2009, there was a Critical Manners ride in [[Vancouver, British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://criticalmanners.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/the-long-awaited-route/|title=The Long-Awaited Route|access-date=November 16, 2009|date=August 12, 2009|publisher=[[WordPress.com]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718092118/http://criticalmanners.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/the-long-awaited-route/|archive-date=July 18, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The ride consisted of between 70 and 100 cyclists riding through the downtown core, making all attempts to follow the rules of the road (stopping at red lights / stop signs, using hand signals to turn, using the right-most lane or bike lane when applicable). The event generated some coverage in the local media<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theprovince.com/travel/Cyclists+launch+rival+Critical+Mass/1850693/story.html |title=Cyclists launch well-mannered rival to Critical Mass |date=August 1, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2009 |newspaper=The Province |author=David Carrit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028131345/http://www.theprovince.com/travel/Cyclists%2Blaunch%2Brival%2BCritical%2BMass/1850693/story.html |archive-date=October 28, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and was generally deemed a success by the participants, although there were some criticisms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://criticalmanners.wordpress.com/2009/08/14/we-did-it/#comments|title=We did it!|publisher=Wordpress|access-date=November 16, 2009|date=August 14, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922092708/http://criticalmanners.wordpress.com/2009/08/14/we-did-it/#comments|archive-date=September 22, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The ride only survived one outing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://criticalmanners.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/ride-postponed/|publisher=Wordpress|title=Ride postponed|access-date=November 16, 2009|date=September 9, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814023408/http://criticalmanners.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/ride-postponed/|archive-date=August 14, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Critical Mass (Kathmandu, Nepal).jpeg|thumbnail|Critical Mass (Kathmandu, Nepal)]]In Kathmandu, Nepal, it has been organised since April 2013. Cyclists gather at [[Kathmandu Durbar Square]], [[Kathmandu Durbar Square|Basantapur]] and ride round the city before grouping together again. Sometimes there are people organizing awareness programmes in this gathering. People who really love cycling and feel awareness about own health, environment they doing Critical Mass Gathering even after the heavy Nepal Earthquake 2015 with slogan "Quake or Shake, Sunny or Rainy, we have to flow with time for next smile..."

== Conflicts involving Critical Mass ==
{{Main article|Conflicts involving Critical Mass}}
Critical Mass rides have generated controversy and public opposition.<ref>{{cite news|title=Clash reignites road wars:Skirmish between driver, Critical Mass participants triggers another round of debate about monthly ride|first1=Michael|last1=Cabanatuan|first2=Jaxon|last2=Van Derbeken|first3=Cecilia M.|last3=Vega|date=April 5, 2007|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/05/CRITICAL.TMP|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426001935/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F04%2F05%2FCRITICAL.TMP|archive-date=April 26, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The group has often protested in high-profile events, ranging from major political events<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/28/rnc.bike.protest/|publisher=CNN|title=264 arrested in NYC bicycle protest|author=Jonathan Wald|date=August 29, 2004|access-date=2008-02-23|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603125449/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/28/rnc.bike.protest/|archive-date=June 3, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> to the [[Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/jul/30/critical-mass-arrest-olympic-games?newsfeed=true |newspaper=Guardian |title=Cycling arrests raise questions about legacy Olympic organisers want to leave |access-date=2012-07-30 |location=London |first=Tom |last=Richards |date=July 30, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219062215/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/jul/30/critical-mass-arrest-olympic-games?newsfeed=true |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Some critics claim that Critical Mass is a deliberate attempt to obstruct traffic and disrupt normal city functions, asserting that [[individual]]s taking part refuse to obey traffic laws.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=[[Winnipeg Sun]]|url=http://winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/MacFarlane_Gord/2006/08/06/1722420.html|title=Critical Mass protesters too critical|author=Gord MacFarlane|date=August 7, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090843/http://winnipegsun.com/News/Columnists/MacFarlane_Gord/2006/08/06/1722420.html|archive-date=September 29, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Some bicycling advocacy groups have expressed concern that the nature of Critical Mass and altercations with motorists could weaken public support for cyclists.<ref name=usatoday /> Though it does not condone incidents of violence and rudeness, the [[San Francisco Bicycle Coalition]] credits Critical Mass with spotlighting bicycle issues and aiding their efforts in advocating for cyclists.<ref name=10years/>

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bike bus]]
* [[Clothing-optional bike ride]] including [[World Naked Bike Ride]]
* [[Cyclability]]
* [[Cycle touring]]
* [[Flash mob]]
* [[Road skating#Street skating|Friday Night Skate]]
* [[Go Skateboarding Day]]
* [[Kidical Mass]]
* [[Outline of cycling]]
* [[Public transport]]
* [[Reclaim the Streets]]
* [[Ride of Silence]]
* [[San Jose Bike Party]]
* [[Time's Up!]]
* [[World Carfree Network]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Critical Mass (bicycling event)}}
*[http://www.critical-mass.org/ Critical Mass]
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0784837/ Still We Ride] The [[IMDb]] page on a documentary about a 2004 police crackdown on Critical Mass
*[http://www.critical-mass.info/ Worldwide Critical Mass Hub]
*[http://www.criticalmass.org.au/ Critical Mass Australia]
*[http://massa.tr.ru Critical Mass in Russia] (in Russian)
*[http://www.inventati.org/criticalmass/where.htm Critical Mass Italy] (in Italian)


{{Cycling}}
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[[Category:Anti-car organizations]]
[[Category:Cycling]]
[[Category:History of cycling]]


[[Category:Recurring events established in 1992]]
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[[Category:History of cycling]]
[[be:&#1050;&#1088;&#1099;&#1090;&#1099;&#1095;&#1085;&#1072;&#1103; &#1084;&#1072;&#1089;&#1072;]]
[[Category:Cycling events]]
[[it:Massa critica (di biciclette)]]
[[Category:Cycling activism]]
[[lt:Kritin&#279; Mas&#279;]]
[[pl:Masa Krytyczna]]
[[Category:DIY culture]]
[[Category:International environmental organizations]]
[[Category:Direct action]]
[[Category:Cycling in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

Latest revision as of 21:12, 1 January 2025

San Francisco Critical Mass, April 29, 2005.

Critical Mass is a form of direct action in which people travel as a group on bicycles at a set location and time. The idea is for people to group together to make it safe for each other to ride bicycles through their streets, based on the old adage: there's safety in numbers.

Critical Mass events highlight the numbers of people who want to use their bicycle on the streets, but are usually unable to do so without risking their safety. They are a call to action to councils, governments and road planners to properly and thoughtfully design in the safety of all road users, including those who would prefer to walk and cycle, instead of prioritising motor traffic above all else.

The event originated in 1992 in San Francisco (typically held on the last Friday of every month);[1] by the end of 2003, the event was being held in over 300 cities around the world.[2]

Critical Mass has been described as "monthly political-protest rides", and characterized as being part of a social movement.[3] It has been described as a "monthly protest by cyclists reclaiming the streets."[4] Participants have insisted that these events should be viewed as "celebrations" and spontaneous gatherings, and not as protests or organized demonstrations.[5][6] This stance allows Critical Mass to argue a legal position that its events can occur without advance notification of local police.[7][8] Though they are sometimes described as political, they are not necessarily.

History

[edit]
Broadway Tunnel (San Francisco) September 29, 2006

Critical Mass-like bicycle tours with hundreds of participants took place in Stockholm, Sweden in the early 1970s.[9] But the first ride within the present wave took place on Friday, September 25, 1992, at 6 pm in San Francisco. At that time, the event was known as Commute Clot and was composed of a couple of dozen cyclists who had received flyers on Market Street.[1]

Shortly after this, some participants in that ride went to a local bicycle shop for a screening of Ted White's documentary Return of the Scorcher, about bicycle culture in the Netherlands and China in comparison with that of the United States. In that film, American human-powered vehicle and pedicab designer George Bliss noted that, in China, both motorists and bicyclists had an "understood" method of negotiating intersections without signals. Traffic would queue up at these intersections until the backlog reached a "critical mass", at which point that mass would move through the intersection. This term from the footage of the movie, was applied to the name of the ride,[10] and the name caught on, replacing "Commute Clot" by the time of the second event.[1]

Organization and tactics

[edit]
Full path of Critical Mass in Lisbon in April 2012

Critical Mass has a decentralized (rather than hierarchical) structure. Critical Mass is sometimes called an "organized coincidence", with no leadership or membership. The routes of some rides are decided spontaneously by whoever is currently at the front of the ride, while others are decided prior to the ride by a popular vote of suggested routes often drawn up on photocopied fliers. The term xerocracy was coined to describe a process by which the route for a Critical Mass can be decided: anyone who has an opinion makes their own map and distributes it to the cyclists participating in the Mass. Still other rides decide the route by consensus. The disorganized nature of the event allows it to largely escape clampdown by authorities who may view the rides as forms of parades or organized protest. Additionally, the movement is free from the structural costs associated with a centralized, hierarchical organization. In order for the event to function, the only requirement is a sufficient turn-out to create a "critical mass" of riders dense enough to occupy a piece of road to the exclusion of drivers of motorized vehicles. Authorities in New York, California and Oregon have expressed concern with the difficulty of coordinating with the riders, due to the lack of leadership.[11][12][13]

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[14] 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.[15] The April 20, 2008, Budapest ride participation was estimated at 80,000 riders.[16][17] In Vienna, close to Budapest, a Critical Mass Ride has been held every month since 2006 and attracts up to 1,000 or more riders.[18]

In the Critical Mass practice of "corking", a rider breaks away from the group to block the side streets of an intersection as the mass crosses. This prevents traffic travelling through the intersection on a green signal and allows the riders to ride through red lights. This both contains cross-traffic while the mass passes and protects the mass from splitting or from drivers who might attempt to pass through the mass.[19]

Timelapse video of a Critical Mass in Chicago in 2009

Other bicycling groups

[edit]

Similar organizations and movements

[edit]

The Critical Mass rides have inspired a number of other bicycle movements, that range from political movements to the "Critical Tits" ride during the yearly Burning Man festival.[20] In Chicago, a movement has grown out of the Critical Mass community to promote winter cycling via the Bikewinter campaign.[21] The extensive news coverage of San Francisco's July 1997 ride spawned an international celebration of bicycling, called Bike Summer.[22] Kidical Mass originated in Oregon, and encourages bicycle riding for children and families.[23] The movement gained momentum in North America and Europe and set a record in September 2019, when 1100 riders took part in Dortmund, Germany.[24] "Critical Sass" was an all-female version of the ride in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that took place the second Friday of every month. The Tweed Run (along with various other vintage bike rides) is a well dressed mass which takes place annually in a number of cities across the world. Examples of Critical Mass rides for political movements includes the Free Tibet Rides (May 2008): Free Tibet Critical Mass in Columbia, Missouri, "Tibetan Freedom Bike Rally" in San Francisco (Aug 2008), and in "Bike Ride for Tibet" in London (Aug 2008).[25]

San Jose is the home to San Jose Bike Party. Bike Party rides on the third Friday of the month with a different starting point and route each time. Rides are typically 15–25 miles in length and usually 1000-2000 riders in Summer. The ride aims to build a community of cyclists and prove that bicycles can co-exist with cars. It is different than Critical Mass in that it rides after rush hour and obeys all traffic laws and has a pre-determined route.[26][27][28]

San Luis Obispo, California, is the home of the "Bikes are happening..." meetup. Bikes are happening... starts at Mission Plaza at 9:30 pm on the first Thursday of the month. The ride consists of a continuous half mile loop through downtown San Luis Obispo. Since there is no permit for the ride, riders are asked to follow three rules: have fun, respect the community, and obey all traffic laws.[29]

In Portland, Oregon a tactic called a "bike swarm" has been used by Occupy Wall Street protesters to separate marching protesters from police.[30][31]

A huge bicycle demonstration is the "Fahrrad-Sternfahrt" in Berlin, Germany, since 1976. Each year in June and usually have 150.000–250.000 riders. Together the 19 rides are more than 600 miles long including two sections of motorway.[32]

Critical Manners

[edit]
Critical Mass riders in Atlanta

In San Francisco, an event known as "Critical Manners" was created as a response to Critical Mass. Critical Manners rides through the city on the second Friday of the month, with riders encouraged to obey all traffic laws such as stopping at red lights and signaling.[33][34] Tucson, Arizona holds the Tuesday Night Community Bike Ride as their alternative to Critical Mass. The weekly ride encourages bicycle commuting and motor vehicle awareness in a peaceful and friendly way.[35]

In 2007 there were conversations about starting Critical Manners in Portland, Oregon.[36] According to the Critical Mass book, a similar project known as Courteous Mass is described as "an alternative to Critical Mass."

An alternative ride named RideCivil formed in Seattle in late 2007.[37] Rides are on the second Friday of every month, and focus on encouraging civility between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.[38]

The Mobile Social is an alternative ride in Atlanta sponsored by the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition. Rides start on 2nd Thursday of every month, meeting at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta and a focus on promoting local small business and cycling for commuting, social and civic engagement.[39][40]

On June 12, 2009, an Indianapolis Critical Manners ride called "Courteous Mass" was launched[41] but is no longer active as of 2016.[42]

On August 14, 2009, there was a Critical Manners ride in Vancouver, British Columbia.[43] The ride consisted of between 70 and 100 cyclists riding through the downtown core, making all attempts to follow the rules of the road (stopping at red lights / stop signs, using hand signals to turn, using the right-most lane or bike lane when applicable). The event generated some coverage in the local media[44] and was generally deemed a success by the participants, although there were some criticisms.[45] The ride only survived one outing.[46]

Critical Mass (Kathmandu, Nepal)

In Kathmandu, Nepal, it has been organised since April 2013. Cyclists gather at Kathmandu Durbar Square, Basantapur and ride round the city before grouping together again. Sometimes there are people organizing awareness programmes in this gathering. People who really love cycling and feel awareness about own health, environment they doing Critical Mass Gathering even after the heavy Nepal Earthquake 2015 with slogan "Quake or Shake, Sunny or Rainy, we have to flow with time for next smile..."

Conflicts involving Critical Mass

[edit]

Critical Mass rides have generated controversy and public opposition.[47] The group has often protested in high-profile events, ranging from major political events[48] to the Olympics.[49] Some critics claim that Critical Mass is a deliberate attempt to obstruct traffic and disrupt normal city functions, asserting that individuals taking part refuse to obey traffic laws.[50]

Some bicycling advocacy groups have expressed concern that the nature of Critical Mass and altercations with motorists could weaken public support for cyclists.[12] Though it does not condone incidents of violence and rudeness, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition credits Critical Mass with spotlighting bicycle issues and aiding their efforts in advocating for cyclists.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Garofoli, Joe (September 28, 2002). "Critical Mass turns 10". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
  2. ^ Madden, Richard (December 15, 2003). "London: How cyclists around the world put a spoke in the motorist's wheel". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012.
  3. ^ Mcgrath, Ben (November 13, 2006). "Holy Rollers". Archived from the original on December 6, 2006.
  4. ^ "Critical Mass London". Urban75. 2006. Archived from the original on December 31, 2006.
  5. ^ "Pittsburgh Critical Mass". Archived from the original on September 28, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  6. ^ "Critical Mass: Over 260 Arrested in First Major Protest of RNC". Democracy Now!. August 30, 2004. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007.
  7. ^ Seaton, Matt (October 26, 2005). "Critical crackdown". The Guardian. London.
  8. ^ Rosi-Kessel, Adam (August 24, 2004). "[*BCM*] Hong Kong Critical Mass News". Archived from the original on December 8, 2006.
  9. ^ "Cyklister i Storstockholm" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  10. ^ Pomerantz, Joel (2002). "A Critical Mass Cultural Glossary". In Carlsson, Chris (ed.). Critical Mass: Bicycling's Defiant Celebration. Edinburgh, Scotland: AK Press. ISBN 1-902593-59-6.
  11. ^ Palmer, Susan (May 20, 2006). "Rolling protests hit bump". The Register-Guard. Eugene, Oregon. p. A1, A9.
  12. ^ a b Moore, Martha T. (November 15, 2004). "Big pack of bikes piques police". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011.
  13. ^ Bennett, Dylan; Giles, Gretchen. "Bicyclists see transportation as critical". MetroActive News & Issues. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  14. ^ Gaffney, Dan (September 3, 2008). "A virtuous cycle: safety in numbers for riders says research". Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2008.
  15. ^ "A critical mass critique". Budapest Sun Online. April 20, 2008. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  16. ^ "Minden eddiginél többen vettek részt a Critical Mass felvonuláson" (in Hungarian). MTI. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  17. ^ "Critical Mass wheels away". Budapest Sun Online. April 23, 2008. Archived from the original on March 14, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  18. ^ "Kommentare zu: Frühlingszeit – CM-Zeit – Graz 25.03.11". March 12, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  19. ^ Rethinking Policing and Justice: Exploring Alternatives to Law Enforcement, p. 95
  20. ^ "Critical Tits Party FAQ". Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
  21. ^ "Chicago Bikewinter". Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  22. ^ "BikeSummer 2006: History". Archived from the original on August 28, 2006.
  23. ^ "Kidical Mass". Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
  24. ^ "Kidical Mass Dortmund: 1100 Teilnehmer wollen bessere Radwege". VeloCityRuhr. September 15, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  25. ^ "Free Tibet protesters hit the streets on bikes". Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  26. ^ "San Jose Bike Party – How We Ride!". Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  27. ^ Richards, Gary (August 19, 2009). "Roadshow: San Jose Bike Party hits the road Friday". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  28. ^ Gonzales, Sandra (October 20, 2010). "San Jose Bike Party, monthly ride attracts thousands of die-hard bicyclists, but no politics". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  29. ^ "About the Bike Happening". Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  30. ^ Maus, Jonathan (November 23, 2011). "The 'bike swarm' evolves into a movement of its own". Bike Portland. Archived from the original on November 28, 2011.
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[edit]
  • Still We Ride The IMDb page on a documentary about a 2004 police crackdown on Critical Mass