July 2009 Critical Mass!

I rode in the Critical Mass yesterday (Friday July 31 2009) for the first time in many years. (I rode some of them back in the 20th century, and some in Seattle during the years I lived there.) It was great to see a good sized turnout of committed riders, but I made a few observations about the ride that suggest ways in which we could improve it.

First, the ride was too fast for a CM. At its best, CM is a street party-- complete with festive bikes, vintage bikes, kidbikes, trikes, rolling audio, keg trailers (oops, did I say keg trailers out loud?), costumes as appropriate, and other elements that are incompatible with a sporting ride pace. I noticed that except for one trike, one Xtracycle with a sound system, and my own chopper, there were no fanciful machines on the ride. After the ride took off, it was not hard to figure out why. There are plenty of fast rides to go on. CM should be accessible to young and old, fast and slow, sporty and practical and occasional riders on any kind of bike. That means fast riders on fast bikes have to go slow or stop often... so deal with it.

Second, and on a related note, the group became too stretched out. Folks in front were both riding too fast and not keeping adequate tabs on the folks in back. Remember the key to Critical Mass is mass, and it's hard to form an overwhelming force if we get strung out into a thin line or a series of small groups. Watching and waiting for a blocks-long procession of straggling cyclists makes drivers feel taunted, rather than making them feel like witnesses to a movement when a huge pack rides by. I believe we're much better off asserting our rights to the road in a way that makes other road users feel baffled or awestruck instead of antagonized.

Third, and also related: If we get spread out, we really should keep to one lane. Otherwise we're just inviting conflicts in the left lane between frustrated motorists and small numbers of riders. I think it's totally appropriate to take the whole street width if we have the numbers to fill it. But that means _filling_ it and not just having a few intrepid riders out there to provoke hothead motorists. Bunching up more effectively would allow us to accomplish this easily.

By the way-- When drivers try to squeeze through, they are just elevating the risks for everybody. Crowding the lane and blocking their attempts quickly, rather than after they are surrounded on all sides, is doing them and us a favor. If they can get by safely, let them go by! But if they can't, block them immediately.

It was fun to go to the river, but it sure wasn't "taking back the streets". If we're gathered to make a point to the public, it's a good idea be out there where they can see us. For example, we could ride to Barton Springs instead and take a dip in the lower overflow. That's nicer water and more witnesses along the way.

I think this event can be more fun if we roll our most whimsical rides, carry refreshments and extra lighting and sound on our bikes, take along passengers with musical instruments and/or exceptional sex appeal, and do whatever else we can to make it a scene as well as a ride. Trikes and trailers that take up room are a huge plus! Eyed-catching bikes are a huge plus! (Hint: even gaily colored fixies are common as grackles now, and thus no longer eye-catching. But you do what you gotta do.)

Anyway, here's to a fun, festive, thriving future for Critical Mass, both here in Austin and everywhere!

Cheers,

Chalo