LexRides

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

yeah, something about having a police escort for any group bike ride sends a message that something about what we are doing is not legit in some way, and needs some form of "official" condoning in order for it to happen.

while I understand the reasons for contemplating a police escort, I think it is highly unnecessary. The most illegal thing about a well-mannered CM ride is when traffic is corked at intersections - and I think under the circumstances, most drivers and pedestrians would much rather see a group of cyclists hold up one intersection at a time to let the entire group pass, rather than have a group of dozens of cyclists broken up into several scattered groups, all stopping at each light trying to follow the legal rules of the road... when you do that, you're just asking for a mess.

I know it all sounds contradictory. Pretty much everything about CM is one big mess of contradiction and conflicting ideas. That is why, as Tim stated, it always seems to be a struggle to keep it going, keep it fluid, and keep it positive.
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illride · hipster Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 56 Location: I.L.L.

Agreed
I believe that an escorted ride would absolutely kill the essence of a critical mass. We don't need any kind of official influence to wave a flag and make it look like they are letting us enjoy the road, it should be about many individuals making a choice to say that they are able to freely enjoy the road when they choose to do so.

On a side note though, I think it would be great to get something together where they could go over safe road riding with those not so comfortable to do so. That way we could attempt to get rid of the jam-up of idiots flying down sidewalks and riding the wrong way. With more people riding correctly it could give the bike community more respect as a whole. Less idiots making everyone look bad.

chadwick2wheels · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:50 am Post subject:

ok no cops. I was just rambling out what came to my mind to get more people to show up.

maybe we should do a naked ride in lexington? How many blocks do you think we could make it before being shot with rubber bullets?
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The sound of a car door opening in front of you is similar to the sound of a gun being cocked. ~Amy Webster

taylor · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:56 am Post subject:

now is certainly not the time to be thinking about a naked ride. have you been outside lately?

elzie5000 · cutter Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 1177

I've researched naked rides here before previous WNBRs. It is a lot more illegal here than other places. Essentially they can arrest you even if no passers-by are offended.

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

one thing about this discussion that is slightly bothering me is the fact that some here are talking about using a Critical Mass ride as a ride to teach people who may be unaccustomed, or uncomfortable on their bikes safe lessons about riding in traffic and the rules of the road as it pertains to cyclists.

I'm not saying that it couldn't be done, or shouldn't be attempted, but I think we might want to think a bit more about how to approach some of the higher-minded notions of what is needed to come about from starting up CM rides again.

A Critical Mass ride couldn't be further from a typical situation where you would exercise safe road riding habits and predictable behavior in traffic. It is an exceptional circumstance that you put yourself in when you ride as a critical mass, and it could impress upon others who may not know any better, that this is what you have to do in order to ride a bike on city streets with cars.
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taylor · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:29 pm Post subject:

Brian- I think you're right about a typical CM being the antithesis of usual road riding and a terrible way to break people into good habits on the road. but that is exactly why it is important that we don't buy into the "anything goes" mentality that alot of CMs around the world do - especially given Lexington's now shady history with Critical Mass.

I think an organized group ride (however large) that follows the rules of the road and maintains a positive and nonabrasive attitude is an excellent thing. the ride we did in torrential downpour early last April had maybe 30-40 people and went off without a hitch. I know we've had CM in the freezing cold before, but I've never seen so many people riding in the rain - and we had very few, if any, altercations or ill will directed towards us. This is precisely because it was organized as something separate from CM and the fuck-all-you-guys-I-wear-all-black-and-think-I-know-what-anarchism-is dudes stayed home, or chose to follow the rules.

that seems to be the ideal situation. whether it could last more than one time may be a different issue - but April was great. a throwback to what CM should be

mofokuban · townie Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 172 Location: Dayton, OH

I think something along the lines of the Earthdays ride would be great. If I remember correctly, it was a pre-planned route and Lexington's laws pertaining to bikes were printed off and handed out at the beginning of the ride.

I'm definitely wanting to do a large group ride; after doing just two alleycats and one large group ride, I'm itching for more.

jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

taylor · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

I doubt the dude who threw the bike into the car windshield two summers ago has ever read Emma Goldman.

iridetoobs · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject:

you're wrong, i'm certain he did. we should move past that stuff.

i really like the style of rides they have in columbus ohio. large group rides that take place on mondays. its called monday night rides. its a no drop ride. so if someone gets a flat then everyone pulls over. they also had exceptional communication with in the group. very much like a critical mass but not at all cuz its just a ride. it started in the evening and went as long as the participants wanted. i rode till 1 am when i did it. it had some stops where people would stop and take a break and pull out what ever sort of refreshments they had handy. it was a lot of fun.

jkizzle · cutter Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 519 Location: I.L.L.

that does sound fun toobs, but columbus is much much larger than lexington, how do you see this working? or did they actually ride out of the city as well?

brokebike · cutter Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2434 Location: local

nah... hell we can do this. if Lexington can pull out 120+ people for an alleycat, we can do a large group ride on a regular basis.

I say, take out all the inherent pretense and baggage that is associated with Critical Mass, and do exactly what Patrick described.
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taylor · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject:

only problem that I can think of is coordinating the group (esp. if it is the least bit large) to be able to stop and start so frequently, assuming someone has something go wrong, wants to chug a PBR, etc.

or maybe I'm just overthinking it - I can see the benefit in making the group more symbiotic, just wonder how it would work out in practice. might as well give it a shot, though. seems like it'll be 70 until January, when do we wanna do this?

illride · hipster Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 56 Location: I.L.L.

Could try it as a weekly thing? Really promote it and see if it grabs any interest at first?

and it seems that good communication would just require

A-people not afraid to be heard
B-everyone listening