First Atlanta Courteous Mass a slow success (updated)

Submitted by rebecca on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 3:07pm.
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Atlanta's first experiment with the idea of a more Courteous Mass was a slow, but successful ride. Slow because it takes a long time to get 103 riders through the many red lights downtown, and successful because there were 103 riders stopping at red lights! Check out this follow-up in the AJC or watch the video on 11 Alive news. And then answer this question - should we do it again?

I think this is an odd twist on the Mass

Submitted by visitor on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 11:37am.

Since I repeatedly did the SF Critical Mass over a span of five years, I think that even relating a ride like this to Critical Mass is a bit funny or something. It puts the original idea of reclaiming the streets for cyclists on its head, returning cyclists into visibly second-class status on the road.

Critical Mass can be a lot of things to a lot of people, but one of the points is to show how roads are engineered to favor motorized vehicle traffic. This design includes traffic light timing. A set of 300-400 cyclists moving through an intersection using corking is a less disruptive way of using the road, one that just happens to be illegal because the system favors motor vehicles.

There are many stupid and dangerous things that cars may and can do everyday. Having one day a month for cyclists to pretend that the roads were built for us is a great memorial act for everyone. It should not be put aside as "discorteous" just because it brings to the surface the conflict between different road user groups that is always present in the current situation. After all, the AAA is not sponsoring a "be nice to cyclists" day!

I do not necessarily think that having one conflict with the police should put the kabosh on CM in Atlanta. CM in Atlanta has been happening for ten years, and its just now gaining strength. Don't give up on the idea.

Cops will get over Critical Mass in any city if given enough time and activism. But merely backing down puts cyclists in the form of beggars. "Oh please, dear sir, could you spare a little piece of your asphalt?" Don't be beggars. Take what's yours. If the cops want to block traffic (as they can be seen to do in this video, I guess it can't be helped. Cyclists, on the other hand, should keep moving in a block, month after month after month, until everyone gets used to the fact that cyclists have one afternoon a month free of the inconveniences of gas guzzlers.

Once this happens, it gives other bike advocates wiggle room. If CM can be unapologetic in its radicalism, the other advocacy activities can situate themselves as "more respectable" while still taking pretty strong positions.

Atlanta, don't give up on CM. You need it.

I think this is an odd twist on the Mass

Submitted by visitor on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 11:34am.

Since I repeatedly did the SF Critical Mass over a span of five years, I think that even relating a ride like this to Critical Mass is a bit funny or something. It puts the original idea of reclaiming the streets for cyclists on its head, returning cyclists into visibly second-class status on the road.

Critical Mass can be a lot of things to a lot of people, but one of the points is to show how roads are engineered to favor motorized vehicle traffic. This design includes traffic light timing. A set of 300-400 cyclists moving through an intersection using corking is a less disruptive way of using the road, one that just happens to be illegal because the system favors motor vehicles.

There are many stupid and dangerous things that cars may and can do everyday. Having one day a month for cyclists to pretend that the roads were built for us is a great memorial act for everyone. It should not be put aside as "discorteous" just because it brings to the surface the conflict between different road user groups that is always present in the current situation. After all, the AAA is not sponsoring a "be nice to cyclists" day!

I do not necessarily think that having one conflict with the police should put the kabosh on CM in Atlanta. CM in Atlanta has been happening for ten years, and its just now gaining strength. Don't give up on the idea.

Cops will get over Critical Mass in any city if given enough time and activism. But merely backing down puts cyclists in the form of beggars. "Oh please, dear sir, could you spare a little piece of your asphalt?" Don't be beggars. Take what's yours. If the cops want to block traffic (as they can be seen to do in this video, I guess it can't be helped. Cyclists, on the other hand, should keep moving in a block, month after month after month, until everyone gets used to the fact that cyclists have one afternoon a month free of the inconveniences of gas guzzlers.

Once this happens, it gives other bike advocates wiggle room. If CM can be unapologetic in its radicalism, the other advocacy activities can situate themselves as "more respectable" while still taking pretty strong positions.

Atlanta, don't give up on CM. You need it.

I don't do Critical Mass,

Submitted by visitor on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 9:51am.

I don't do Critical Mass, but I would go to Courteous Mass again.

should you do it again?

Submitted by visitor on Mon, 07/21/2008 - 10:32am.

YES! I think this was a great (and safe!) advocacy effort that should be repeated. My only suggestion is to break into groups from the start and spread out - it'll have the same effect and reach more drivers if there are 4 groups of 30 instead of one VERY SLOW moving group of 120. Just a suggestion...