The Blizzard of 2005 - Critical Mass

01-23-2005, 05:53 AM

As I sit here watching the Blizzard of 2005 in the Northeast, I wonder
if I should have purchased a snowmobile instead of a bicycle. I can
count on my fingers how many times I have been able to ride that bike
since October.

I have to go into NYC tomorrow (work related) and I can't even imagine
trying to park.

I am always reading about the NYC bicycle commuters...I know Critical
Mass started in San Francisco where people commute all year round.
They never have to give up months of riding because of weather
conditions.

Who could give up their car and commute by bicycle in NYC? I am trying
to understand Critical Mass as I am thinking of becoming a supporter. I
might try one of the Moonlight Rides in Central Park. (Next one in
February, weather permitting). I want to understand Critical Mass
before I become a supporter. It seems that there are passionate people
on both sides of the fence.

It also seems NYC has the most problems when they organize a ride. A
friend of mine was hurt on a critical mass ride in NYC. He lives and
works there. I am trying to figure out if Critical Mass is a good
thing or comprised of extremists of this sport. As we know, there are
extremists in everything and I try to support efforts that are within
the boundaries of at least "slightly realistic."

Maggie

01-23-2005, 06:52 AM

On 23 Jan 2005 06:53:37 -0800, "Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>
>Who could give up their car and commute by bicycle in NYC?

So why is are these the only two choices that you have? Buses, trains,
subways, taxis... And you can split a commute. Drive or bike to one
spot, then use a bus or train, etc.

I hope that you know that you are going to get lots of opinions on CM
here. A newsgroup is probably not the best place for a 'reasoned
consideration' of something like this topic, but you sure can have fun
watching the fur fly.

If you get the chance, go on a CM ride. Or show up and decide that it
isn't for you. Or go along and then break off early. Or find one later
and ride along. There is no membership badge, no deadlines, etc. Come
and go as you please (at long as the police don't decide to hem you
in, declare you an illegal assembly, not let you leave, then arrest
you for not dispersing).

01-23-2005, 06:52 AM

On 23 Jan 2005 06:53:37 -0800, "Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>
>Who could give up their car and commute by bicycle in NYC?

So why is are these the only two choices that you have? Buses, trains,
subways, taxis... And you can split a commute. Drive or bike to one
spot, then use a bus or train, etc.

I hope that you know that you are going to get lots of opinions on CM
here. A newsgroup is probably not the best place for a 'reasoned
consideration' of something like this topic, but you sure can have fun
watching the fur fly.

If you get the chance, go on a CM ride. Or show up and decide that it
isn't for you. Or go along and then break off early. Or find one later
and ride along. There is no membership badge, no deadlines, etc. Come
and go as you please (at long as the police don't decide to hem you
in, declare you an illegal assembly, not let you leave, then arrest
you for not dispersing).

01-23-2005, 06:52 AM

On 23 Jan 2005 06:53:37 -0800, "Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>
>Who could give up their car and commute by bicycle in NYC?

So why is are these the only two choices that you have? Buses, trains,
subways, taxis... And you can split a commute. Drive or bike to one
spot, then use a bus or train, etc.

I hope that you know that you are going to get lots of opinions on CM
here. A newsgroup is probably not the best place for a 'reasoned
consideration' of something like this topic, but you sure can have fun
watching the fur fly.

If you get the chance, go on a CM ride. Or show up and decide that it
isn't for you. Or go along and then break off early. Or find one later
and ride along. There is no membership badge, no deadlines, etc. Come
and go as you please (at long as the police don't decide to hem you
in, declare you an illegal assembly, not let you leave, then arrest
you for not dispersing).

01-23-2005, 09:02 AM

Dan Daniel wrote:
> On 23 Jan 2005 06:53:37 -0800, "Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
> wrote:
>
>
> >
> >Who could give up their car and commute by bicycle in NYC?
>
> So why is are these the only two choices that you have? Buses,
trains,
> subways, taxis... And you can split a commute. Drive or bike to one
> spot, then use a bus or train, etc.
>
> I hope that you know that you are going to get lots of opinions on CM
> here. A newsgroup is probably not the best place for a 'reasoned
> consideration' of something like this topic, but you sure can have
fun
> watching the fur fly.
>
> If you get the chance, go on a CM ride. Or show up and decide that it
> isn't for you. Or go along and then break off early. Or find one
later
> and ride along. There is no membership badge, no deadlines, etc. Come
> and go as you please (at long as the police don't decide to hem you
> in, declare you an illegal assembly, not let you leave, then arrest
> you for not dispersing).

I thought I would do that Moonlight ride in Central Park. I like to
read opinions concerning something that seems to be controversial. I
think critical mass is one of those groups that people are very
passionate about or totally against. I don't think there is a middle
ground according to what I am reading about the rides and the people
involved. It's like gun control, PETA, Pro Choice, the NRA or any other
topic that makes people want to choke each other.

I lost some friends during the Presidential election as I think
everyone is entitled to my opinion. ;-) I am a liberal democrat and
proud of it. I worked hard for Kerry. But life goes on.

I was just trying to figure out critical mass and where I stand. So far
I have not formed an opinion.

Maybe I just enjoy a good argument or have a desire to understand how
people think. Who the hell knows. I think it stems from my creative
side. Aside from being a lunatic working in commerical construction, I
am also a writer. I've had many short stories published.

My goal is to have a book published. The book all stems from my
experiences. You have to be a lunatic to write, and I certainly fit
the bill. All creative people are nuts. Some of the people who post to
this NG are good material. ;-)

Maggie.

01-23-2005, 09:02 AM

Dan Daniel wrote:
> On 23 Jan 2005 06:53:37 -0800, "Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
> wrote:
>
>
> >
> >Who could give up their car and commute by bicycle in NYC?
>
> So why is are these the only two choices that you have? Buses,
trains,
> subways, taxis... And you can split a commute. Drive or bike to one
> spot, then use a bus or train, etc.
>
> I hope that you know that you are going to get lots of opinions on CM
> here. A newsgroup is probably not the best place for a 'reasoned
> consideration' of something like this topic, but you sure can have
fun
> watching the fur fly.
>
> If you get the chance, go on a CM ride. Or show up and decide that it
> isn't for you. Or go along and then break off early. Or find one
later
> and ride along. There is no membership badge, no deadlines, etc. Come
> and go as you please (at long as the police don't decide to hem you
> in, declare you an illegal assembly, not let you leave, then arrest
> you for not dispersing).

I thought I would do that Moonlight ride in Central Park. I like to
read opinions concerning something that seems to be controversial. I
think critical mass is one of those groups that people are very
passionate about or totally against. I don't think there is a middle
ground according to what I am reading about the rides and the people
involved. It's like gun control, PETA, Pro Choice, the NRA or any other
topic that makes people want to choke each other.

I lost some friends during the Presidential election as I think
everyone is entitled to my opinion. ;-) I am a liberal democrat and
proud of it. I worked hard for Kerry. But life goes on.

I was just trying to figure out critical mass and where I stand. So far
I have not formed an opinion.

Maybe I just enjoy a good argument or have a desire to understand how
people think. Who the hell knows. I think it stems from my creative
side. Aside from being a lunatic working in commerical construction, I
am also a writer. I've had many short stories published.

My goal is to have a book published. The book all stems from my
experiences. You have to be a lunatic to write, and I certainly fit
the bill. All creative people are nuts. Some of the people who post to
this NG are good material. ;-)

Maggie.

01-23-2005, 09:02 AM

Dan Daniel wrote:
> On 23 Jan 2005 06:53:37 -0800, "Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
> wrote:
>
>
> >
> >Who could give up their car and commute by bicycle in NYC?
>
> So why is are these the only two choices that you have? Buses,
trains,
> subways, taxis... And you can split a commute. Drive or bike to one
> spot, then use a bus or train, etc.
>
> I hope that you know that you are going to get lots of opinions on CM
> here. A newsgroup is probably not the best place for a 'reasoned
> consideration' of something like this topic, but you sure can have
fun
> watching the fur fly.
>
> If you get the chance, go on a CM ride. Or show up and decide that it
> isn't for you. Or go along and then break off early. Or find one
later
> and ride along. There is no membership badge, no deadlines, etc. Come
> and go as you please (at long as the police don't decide to hem you
> in, declare you an illegal assembly, not let you leave, then arrest
> you for not dispersing).

I thought I would do that Moonlight ride in Central Park. I like to
read opinions concerning something that seems to be controversial. I
think critical mass is one of those groups that people are very
passionate about or totally against. I don't think there is a middle
ground according to what I am reading about the rides and the people
involved. It's like gun control, PETA, Pro Choice, the NRA or any other
topic that makes people want to choke each other.

I lost some friends during the Presidential election as I think
everyone is entitled to my opinion. ;-) I am a liberal democrat and
proud of it. I worked hard for Kerry. But life goes on.

I was just trying to figure out critical mass and where I stand. So far
I have not formed an opinion.

Maybe I just enjoy a good argument or have a desire to understand how
people think. Who the hell knows. I think it stems from my creative
side. Aside from being a lunatic working in commerical construction, I
am also a writer. I've had many short stories published.

My goal is to have a book published. The book all stems from my
experiences. You have to be a lunatic to write, and I certainly fit
the bill. All creative people are nuts. Some of the people who post to
this NG are good material. ;-)

Maggie.

01-23-2005, 10:37 AM

"Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

[snip]

I
> think critical mass is one of those groups that people are very
> passionate about or totally against. I don't think there is a
middle
> ground according to what I am reading about the rides and the
people
> involved.

[snip]

Well, I can't argue with that.

My slogan is, "A critical mass is one bike."

One bike, using the streets we have, is all that it takes to show
people that you can ride on today's street system efficiently and
enjoyably. If you want to get that message to as many people as
possible, logically you should have people riding in as many
different places, and at as many different times, as possible, not
all bunched up together in just one place.

Jeremy Parker

01-23-2005, 10:37 AM

"Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

[snip]

I
> think critical mass is one of those groups that people are very
> passionate about or totally against. I don't think there is a
middle
> ground according to what I am reading about the rides and the
people
> involved.

[snip]

Well, I can't argue with that.

My slogan is, "A critical mass is one bike."

One bike, using the streets we have, is all that it takes to show
people that you can ride on today's street system efficiently and
enjoyably. If you want to get that message to as many people as
possible, logically you should have people riding in as many
different places, and at as many different times, as possible, not
all bunched up together in just one place.

Jeremy Parker

01-23-2005, 10:37 AM

"Maggie" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote

[snip]

I
> think critical mass is one of those groups that people are very
> passionate about or totally against. I don't think there is a
middle
> ground according to what I am reading about the rides and the
people
> involved.

[snip]

Well, I can't argue with that.

My slogan is, "A critical mass is one bike."

One bike, using the streets we have, is all that it takes to show
people that you can ride on today's street system efficiently and
enjoyably. If you want to get that message to as many people as
possible, logically you should have people riding in as many
different places, and at as many different times, as possible, not
all bunched up together in just one place.

Jeremy Parker