Being that one of djiboogo’s members is now halfway across the world traipsing around in what some would consider the transportation cycler’s mecca, Amsterdam, it seemed like a good time to mention djiboogo’s love of bikes and critical mass here in SF. i also wanted to post the photo of marcus’ bike after his run in with an unseeing car. I’m no physicist, (shit, i barely recognize gravity) but it seems to me that a good amount of force is needed to split open a metal frame like that. And while Marcus had his lights on fully, and wasn’t biking recklessly, he was still hit pretty much head on by a car and driver that just didn’t see him.
combine these facts with the recent surge in tensions and debate on the relevancy of critical mass here in SF. Just recently, the police have started actually cycling in mass themselves, as opposed to the usual motorcade of CHiP style herding techniques.
Most of the people i’ve spoken with who complain about critical mass are serial drivers. If they eat while driving, they could become cereal drivers. They all have great points and strong opinions on the car/cycling dynamic in SF here, are all safe drivers, and all speak logically and calmly about “the rules of the road”. Not a single one of them in my knowledge has ever relied on a bicycle as a valid means to get themselves around the city here. Their opinions on the dynamics of car versus bike on the city streets are in my estimation as useful as a man’s on pregnancy.
Certainly a huge bike mob disobeying traffic is somewhat frightening, and potentially a mild road hazard for poor, unsuspecting car drivers. And yes, there are cyclists who are assholes just as there are people who recycle who also beat their dogs. (huh?) I mean to say that, no, a thoughtful act does not equate to a thoughtful person. And yet, fundamentally, one idea/ideal behind critical mass is very, very simple: get car drivers to notice bikes. This happens every mass, without debate, no question. People notice bikes. The attention may happen with an abrupt swear, or in a fit of rage, or a chuckle, but however it happens, bikes get noticed. This is a good thing. Ask marcus. Or better yet, ask his bike.
May 29th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
What’s amazing to me is that his tire/wheel remained totally intact, all of the force of the impact was absorbed by the frame.
I am as well a critical mass madman myself, but I will now play the devil’s advocate: ok, so we get drivers’ attention, is any old attention good? By pissing them off are we creating a safer riding environment for ourselves? Are we not also reinforcing to ourselves as riders that it’s ok to ride through stops signs and lights and then perpetuate accidents?
May 30th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Yeah, I always wonder how much of an ass I am when I take the right of way going straight when a car is turning. The car usually thinks it has the right of way, but real rules of the road say different. So I am one of those that eeks in by the skin of my teeth, avoid getting hit, but maybe wake up the driver.
However, I am to blame on occasion when in my car and there is a biker…
Maybe we could all just smile more and be understanding?
June 4th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
I think some critical mass riders get carried away a bit, with the high of the attention. I don’t believe all attention is good. It’s almost as though some bikers have an inferiority complex that comes out during mass rides, causing trouble. That said, I don’t think CM should stopped.