Critical Mass - Hipster Menace or Just a Good time

Swoly-D will rat you out for tearing the tag off a pillow.

 

So, Critical Mass exists primarily to induce change in a city that is generally not bike-friendly, right?

I assume the original intent was to demonstrate to the city and drivers that there are a ton of folks who ride their bikes, fair enough.

Then, how does it make sense to blatantly provoke drivers and disobey driving laws?

You do realize those same car drivers will be able to outvote you.

 

Tofu, I've biked before. I've also learned how to use the brakes on my bike. Why can't these people? And, no... of course not, I wouldn't run into a bunch of "young people" as you assume they all are... JUST TO PROVE A POINT... someone else who also isn't a law abiding person will.

macalu, you're dang skippy I will.

 

Outside the loop you have a-holes driving an unnecessarily lifted Ford, Dodge or Chevy truck with stickers and bull**** on it. Probably an Aggie emblem on there somewhere too. And a pair of nuts hanging off the towing hitch that they never use. As if you need a ****ing lifted truck in Katy, TX - to drive to the local chain establishment that is 4 miles away. Get outta here big truck guy.

 

I went on one of the very first of these rides in Austin 92ish to protest the helmet law -- it was pure chaos -- a thousand or so riders breaking every law possible and generally being obnoxious.

 

Automobile drivers are so entitled, some bike riders have a few hours a month to dominate roads and they get so riled up.

 

I foresee a " SUV runs over cyclist" thread getting made soon.

 

Geez that looks horrible. Already being stuck behind 5 bicyclists taking up the entire road, can't imagine being behind that many douche hipsters at once.

 

When the 500-1000 dirty hippie bike riders act like they own the road, hassle drivers, block roads, hit cars, throw water into cars...that will rile some people up. Keep on with your crusade though!

 

As long as cars keep running cyclists off the road and putting people in the hospital the crusade will continue.

 

I've been flipped off, almost run into, honked at...all while riding my bike TO the park and obeying every traffic signal and riding within the rules. Some people are just complete douches who just hate bikers all around. I just ignore 'em and have fun on the trails. I don't need a gathering to make me feel good about my choice to bike.

 

:grin: ^ Would like to see the video of the guy holding the camera-phone... Red Bull team guy? That was fast.

 

Excuse me, LonghornFan... some members of your Clutchfans community have already stated in this thread that they ride and that their friends ride in the CM event. I have 3 very, very close friends that enjoy this event every month and none of them are dirty, hippies, douchebags, law-breakers, or A&M fans. They're accomplished, responsible professionals, in fact.

It totally sucks that you've been victimized by some of these riders, but obviously not everyone that participates in the event behaves that way. Generalizing to such an extreme degree undercuts your argument and makes you lose credibility. Stop being a name-caller, get off the soapbox (the one perched on your high horse), and exercise a little civility, please.

 

Consider policing your fellow riders that don't obey traffic laws, etc. and the CM image within the city of Houston can be a positive one.

 

Nah, he wont. Those hipster bicycle jarbonès don't know how to do anything positive.

 

More bicyclists are harassed by drivers than the other way around.

 

Biased opinion is biased.

 

I actually side with Swoly-D on this one. I'm typically a pedestrian in SF, and I'm constantly having to pull up short in a crosswalk b/c some biker is flagrantly ignoring his stop sign and plowing past at high speed. Don't even get me started about the one who almost hit my dog.

it's constant, and it's stupid. It's like texting and driving -- "oh, it's safe when *I* do it; I would never endanger anyone." Except when you do.

The bikers in San Francisco are so radical that they wanted to actually start a ballot initiative to have driving laws changed for bicycles: stop signs and red lights would no longer apply to them. What a freaking joke.

All that said, America just needs better systems of traffic. Go to a place like Munich and check it out. Makes a lot of sense if you really provide bikes their own space.

 

I have a coworker/friend that will be participating. They're dressing up as one of those old time Charlie Chaplin like movies.

She doesn't make it seem as if they are a menace II society or anything but who knows what other type of people go just to start s**t and ruin other people's genuinely good fun time.