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Critical Mass - Group Cycling
When : the last Friday of every month. Where: Montebello Park Pavilion (Start-point) Why: Because our city streets are not bicycle friendly.Because cyclists' safety is perpetually in jeopardy when we attempt to share the roads with cars. Because every cyclist I know that uses their bike as their primary means of transportation has been hit by a car at least once. Because these accidents result in life altering disabilities and the death of our loved ones. Because cyclists continue to be targeted by the police. Because mother earth can only tolerate so much petrol-fueled pollution. BECAUSE CYCLING TOGETHER IS EMPOWERING!The Rules: there are no rules!!!! except those that we collectively agree to at the beginning of each ride through consensus decision making. Some things that are usually discussed include what route will be followed, how many lanes we will occupy and the delegation of safety roles. Fun Facts about Critical Mass Although in Stockholm Sweden, community bike rides that drew 100s of people were common in the 70s, the politicized version of critical mass begun on Friday September 25, 1992 in San Francisco. In Budapest, Hungary there are only two critical masses each year, one on Earth Day in April and one on International Car Free Day in September. Over 80, 000 cyclists attended the 2008 Earth Day ride. Corking is a term used to describe the tactic of blocking cars from interrupting or breaking up the stream of massers. In order to effectively cork, a cyclist will leave the flow of the ride for a while to plant their body and bike, in calm posture, a few feet from the front of stopped cars which would otherwise enter an intersection in use by Critical Mass. Best accompanied by smiles and eye contact, or signs that say "Thanks for waiting!" and "Honk if you love bikes!" 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 (THAT MEANS YOU!!!!) to create a "critical mass" of riders dense enough to occupy a piece of road to the exclusion of drivers of motorized vehicles. For more information on ride/protest guidelines see: Critical Mass
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What: Critical Mass is a monthly community bicycle ride that seeks to raise awareness about cycling in our community. It is an act of community building, a rallying call for a city dedicated to sustainable transportation, and most importantly an opportunity to meet folk who love bikes!