DC Critical Mass

[Mark Blacknell]

Belated answer here: could be that our version is just taking the Super Punk Anarchist approach to organization. Or it’s more likely that this isn’t a particular Critical Mass kind of town. Which is both a bit of a blessing and a shame. I’ve gone to a few, and while I met a lot of cool people and it’s always fun to see bikes on the road, there was some serious douchebag (nevermind unsafe) behavior going on at the front and edges. Every time. Just not the kind of riding I want to promote or associate with, so I bounced. I know at least a few other people who’ve gone through the same experience. That was a couple of years ago, so maybe it’s changed.

[CCrew]

Pretty much why they call them “Massholes”

Critical Mass has done more to set back cycling advocacy than anything else I can think of.

[Brock]

I had asked about this on the short-lived WABA forums a few months ago. I’ve never been to a Critical Mass, but my feelings about it are mixed: good to get bikes on the road and show a presence, bad to do so by riding in a way that pisses off the drivers we need to win over.

[Mark Blacknell]

I think there was at least one successful effort to launch a “Critical Manners” ride in the area this past year (maybe out of Fairfax?). Maybe something to check back into, in the spring?

[planetmike]

Critical Mass or something like it could improve bicycle awareness if it is well organized with marshals, sanctioned, etc… The problem with the one here in DC is that it is not.

[CCrew]

@planetmike 1635 wrote:

Critical Mass or something like it could improve bicycle awareness if it is well organized with marshals, sanctioned, etc… The problem with the one here in DC is that it is not.

It’s pretty much the same as DC everywhere if you google others. Heck, the famous NY Cop knocking the guy off a bike was a CM ride there.

While it has it’s roots in some genuinely well meaning thought the reality is it attracts more of the ones you’d want at an event so that you could have the real event somewhere else!

[mvs202]

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the critical mass, I collected some pix from the DC ride: Looking Back at the Critical Mass

In general, it’s a good group of riders, though I wish people would stop “corking” intersections.

[Author]

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