You are hereChronicle 'Page 2' Column Addresses Critical Mass
Chronicle 'Page 2' Column Addresses Critical Mass
I'm sure many of you remember the article from Stephen Moser a few weeks back about his (supposedly joking) desire to run over cyclists. It prompted quite a few responses, including one by myself which was published the following week as a latter to the editor. Well, Louis Black has responded. This article should be in tomorrow's Chronicle, so if you want to get your hands dirty while reading it, there you go.
One interesting comment Mr. Black makes is the following:
"The mass bike rides of Critical Mass are acts of civil disobedience. At one time, they were even proudly labeled as such. There is nothing inherently or disingenuously critical in that statement: Civil disobedience is a powerful political social tool, one to be respected and appreciated."
I've never thought of Critical Mass as an overtly political or dissident group. Sure, there are some people for whom Critical Mass is their outlet for political protest or blowing off some steam, but I think there are as many reasons for riding as there are riders. One of the things I LOVE about Critical mass is its lack of purpose statement or organized hierarchy. No one runs things, no one is the "boss", and most importantly to me, no one tells me why I'm riding or what I'm riding for. Contrary to what the article states, I've rarely seen anyone disobey the police and be carted away. Usually we do EXACTLY what the police tell us, be it to merge right, stop in place (thereby causing further delays), or whatever arbitrary order they decide to issue at the moment. Usually they let us go. Rarely they still issue tickets or unjustly arrest.
I agree with a lot of the points made in the article, but I think the author is trying too hard to lump all the riders under a single category of political dissidents. It's just not that simple, and I urge all of you to post a comment to the article and let him know why YOU ride. Maybe through doing so we can do something to dispel the notion that we're all a bunch of stinky pot smoking freegan anarchists on bikes. Sure some are (hi y'all!) but that's just one facet of this incredible event.
Oh, and remember that tomorrow's the Full Moon Cruise and the next Friday is CRITICAL MASS!
That makes it sound like riding your bike on the street is illegal or something. Or is it ok if it's one of us, but illegal if there's a bunch of us?
Sure, red lights are often run, `two abreast' is flaunted, but it's hardly an integral part of CM.
critical mass is all about the trophies and ribbons I get when I win the race.
fixed gears are like butt holes, every one has one.
its all about the bicycling...
and the screaming.
The chron's right to defend freedom of speech in just that way and I do ride as a matter of protest even though I enjoy the livin' f*** out of it because it's a "lil' boy thrill".
oh yeah, who you callin' stinky?
Yes, my letter to the editor made it in last weeks Chronicle, too.
His "rebuttal" to our letters wasn't too impressive, and of course, warranted another letter from me. He says that he has come on rides before and is a cyclist, but its tough for me to believe a cyclist would support comments like that.
oh well.
cheers to the never ending, vicious cycle of trying to make people see things from your perspective.
Jenn
http://austincyclenews.com/?p=120
I titled it:
"Austin Chronicle defends Encouraging hate crimes as “Free Speech”"