You cross posted this, that is usually considered counterproductive.

OK, you were appalled. Blocking intersections, running traffic lights, seems to have happened on every critical mass that I've ever been apart of, so maybe you should be forthright and let us know this was maybe your first one.

Ignoring police orders: You don't give us much detail. Was it a *legal* police order?

The hostility toward cyclists is already fueled. One way of the other with critical mass is not exactly going to influence it much either way.

I think we have made advocacy progress with the critical mass. I would love to try and make it a nicer ride, and to give some guidance on better ways to behave, but I somehow feel you would be the last to step up on the street, in the plaza with flyers, and take a role. Am I incorrect? Who said these people were arrested for nothing?

First off, I'm sorry I cross posted, that was my mistake. I think we could draw a parallel between the cycling movement and the environmental movement. Radical environmentalists have been talking about global warming for years, but it took Al Gore's clear, conscious, and civilized argument to really get the general publics attention. If we want to draw attention to the needs of cyclists, we can't allow cycling to continue to be seen as chaotic mess. We need to be more aware of how we present ourselves, and how that will reflect on our cause. I do agree that critical mass drew the initial attention that cycling needed, and I applaud the rides early supporters, but we are now at a point where we need to change our strategy and start leading by example.

Freedom of speech is guaranteed by our nation's constitution, so its immaterial what the ride might have been founded on, our country limits certain types of speech like libel and espionage and such. So to start right out with the debate, Michael, I assume, must follow the laws we must all follow.

That being said, I don't see a force in the critical mass of chicago that is trying to limit his speech. If there is someone limiting freedom of expression, I would be very interested to hear details.

*please* consider naming some specific individuals, and use some SPECIFIC ACTIONS they undertook, so we can make up our minds about it.

What is this reference to "a little history"
I don't understand what you are getting at.

Travis D.

I came on board with this when Michael B asked me to work on some graphic work for logos. I like the overall idea because, in the short time since I started riding regularly, I've noticed that while there are NO LEADERS there definitely are those who influence CCM. These influentials are no big deal for me. There's a good body of social research that points to the fact that even the most anarchistic groups are led from time to time by individuals. And the founders of anarchism wrote that the point of their ideology was not NO RULES or LEADERS but the fewest and most humane rules possible with everyone getting a crack at making decisions - take a look sometime at Monty Python's Holy Grail: the scene where the knights come across a syndo-anarchistic peasant%)

What has been a big deal for me is my observations of the general exhaustion of the CCM influentials with no one else stepping up take a crack at routes, map-making, corking, or fliers. It seems to me then that The Grand Finale and all the discussion around it has encouraged an emerging group of influentials. So I don't believe that the CCM will die in September. Nor am I concerned about the rise of smaller, more local masses. The more influentials, the more possibilities. And that is the collective genius of critical mass.

This sentence sums my opinion nicely. You seem to prefer this term "influencials," and you want to avoid "leaders," perhaps because it implies something you don't think is there.

I think I prefer no OFFICIAL leaders, to just "no leaders."

"To commemorate the original values on which the rides were based: civility, self-reliance, fresh air and fellowship"

So we still have fresh air, we still have fellowship, I think we mostly have civility, and I think self reliance can be debated.

For me its interesting that I had to read this in the Sun Times, and that Michael didn't bring these ideas forward to the community before that. Instead he called an end to the mass. Its just not the way I would have gone about it, and I've tried to address these issues before. Trying to get him to discuss these issues, has led to being ignored, mocked, etc. Its not what I would call anything but him doing what he wants to do, and I guess that is fine. I tried.

Civility and Self Reliance:
It is the job of the cops to maintain civility, they have the authority and the power, we can only exert social pressure I believe. But that is enough I think, if its organized and if we have the numbers. We are not Self Reliant, and never really have been, because we live under a government.

Payton has an excellent flyer, and others have been produced, that describe some excellent advice on how to have a safe ride, how to cork, and how to keep everybody else safe.
But the issue gets more complex. Its not in winter that any of this matters, its in spring/summer when the rides get big. Lets get a group together ready to flyer that group when spring begins next year. Lets be ambassadors for folks who think that just having a calm relaxing bike ride is enough, and that if you want to get falling down drunk or initiate fights with cars, you are doing something that a large group riding along with you do not approve of.

Ride too large:
We had a discussion about this last year that kind of petered out. It was the idea that there can be two routes. People separate and take the route they want, south, north, etc. I think when there are 2000 people, it becomes more possible, and I think it is better than calling an end to it all.

Blocked Bus routes, pedestrians:
when ever I see a pedestrian trying to cross, I let them cross. I slow down, swerve away from them, and even at times holler out "pedestrian coming through," its not impossible to accomplish. But people would have to be paying attention, and that might be more than we can expect in every case.

Bus routes: this one is tougher, but I have personally escorted a bus through the mass. I didn't need any help, I just hollered at people and waved the bus slowly through. People would just go around it, blocking its way, people even stopped to cork the bus, but I informed them of my plan and the bus got through.

Why can't we "uncork" the busses and pedestrians? I see no reason why this cannot become a world wide innovation in the critical mass formula. But I cannot do it as one man, I cannot stop and escort EVERY bus through that I see, I won't even see every bus. I need some comrades, some compatriots, some help. If nobody steps up to help, then I guess the ride will continue in its present form.

Travis D

While there are more then 6 major arguments for ending the Daley Plaza critical mass ride. Lets address the ones listed.

#1: No argument, it is a good way to draw attention to the anniversary ride. It has turned into quite a publicly stunt.
#2: Actually this point, is in conflict with argument #3. When each month more and more people join the ride; the demographic grows & new people bring new ideas. The rides this year have been great! But why assume future rides won't be as good, if not better.
#3: Bikes are traffic too, and as such we should obey traffic laws. And the riders do (er kinda). However, the safety of the riders should be key, this creates the need to block cross traffic, (quite often with support from the police) but for every unhappy motorist I have seen, I have seen far more cheering or waving as we go by. A 15 to 25 minute delay is hardly a hardship.
#4: Sometimes the path is the goal.
#5: Ok what do you need? The critical mass riders represent a huge potential pool of volunteers. Unfortunately, it would require a certain degree of organization (boo hiss). There is the get involved link on this website, But some specific postings for "Volunteers Needed" or a pamphlet, would help. In addition to a large pool of potential volunteers, just size of the CCM can help bring about change.
#6: If it was truly coopt'ed, your point has merit. But depending on the ride you are referring to. It could also be looked at as an example of how the mass can be used to bring attention to a cause, and a method for getting people involved.

#1: a publicly stunt.
Argument: It was conducted by one man, who basically lied, and tried to bring forth a critique of the ENTIRE movement and say it failed. Only time will tell if this is positive for the movement or not. I can do without major media coverage.

#2: Actually this point, is in conflict with argument #3.
Don't see the conflict you highlight

When each month more and more people join the ride; the demographic grows & new people bring new ideas.
MAYBE: Its still largely white, largely male, but I think it is not an indiana frat party like the sun times recently quoted H above as saying. That is just more lies I think.

The rides this year have been great! But why assume future rides won't be as good, if not better.

I agree, I have no reason to assume they will not be better.

#3:
A 15 to 25 minute delay is hardly a hardship. I can remember years ago it was no more than 5 minutes. Try sitting on a steet corner in your car or waiting to cross for 15 minutes. I think you might find it a hardship, it is a worthy critique in my mind.

#4: Sometimes the path is the goal.

Sometimes the goal is the goal. For me the goal is better conditions for cycling in Chicago, and other more personal goals.

#5: Ok what do you need? The critical mass riders represent a huge potential pool of volunteers. Unfortunately, it would require a certain degree of organization (boo hiss).

I don't understand this boo hiss on "a certain degree of organization" I think you are being naive. Grand plans that need more hands don't just magically come together. There has to be a common goal, a common path, an understanding, or at least some talk to reach that. Also, alot of plans cannot be done by individuals working alone. It needs to sometimes be many individuals who plan and work in concert to achieve a goal. An example, rarely is a route map designed, drawn, the flyer designed/printed/handed out, and the front led/suggested on what is the right turn to take ALL BY THE SAME SINGLE PERSON. It has been most successfully done by a group of friends or like minded individuals who work in concert. Duh!

Ending the mass as a big publicity stunt did damage to our movement. It basically was said that we failed to achieve our goals, but "our goals" were not something clear and written down, and held up for scrutiny. I would agree with kastigar that our goal was to ride together once a month out of a central urban location. Mission accomplished! I see no reason to buy into this 'we didn't achieve our goals' or 'the demographic is not representative of chicago's diverstity' without a note that not a lot has been done to address that. Its not exactly time to throw in the towel, and yet everything this publicity stunt seems to demonstrate, is that some small group is saying just that, its time to throw in the towel.

Let THEM throw in the towel. Nobody is asking them to continue participating if they feel that the whole thing has lost its aim, its edge, its whatever. They represent only one side in this debate. Is anybody reading this little corner of cyberspace anyway?

Travis D.

With a few minor exceptions, the PATH is always more important than the goal.

I do a little bike touring. I'm always disappointed when I get to my goal. Sometimes I take a scenic detour, just to delay the goal and continue the path.

Even commuting to work, I'm always a little disappointed to get there, sometimes I'd like to extend the ride a little, especially on a nice day. Same on the way home.

Even a trip to the grocery store, I can take the long-way-home, maybe through a park or a street I rarely ride. (Don't do that with ice cream in the bags, though!)

When all is said and done, the Critical Mass is just a bike ride.

onto and saved the above, and it reverted to the initial draft.
Some other night, maybe . . .