Critical Mass London: last friday of the month South Bank by National Theatre, 6.30pm

Critical Mass is about freedom.. For a small period of time the mass creates an area where participants are able to use the roads freely.
Unfortunately some people use that freedom to be dicks. I love the people who use their freedom positively.
Interesting point though, in regards to is this the best thing to do...
Can we make out behaviour more effective and harmonious?
If you objectively think about it the mass does little to communicate with those that experience it as observers.
Is it worth trying to increase communication, maybe through flyers or banners?
I know this is all about not having a set cause and everyone doing there own thing, but maybe us making communication between cyclists and observers smoother can be something we bring to the table?

That's a worthy goal, at the moment CM doesn't create freedom - it takes it from the people who are stuck on the bus, unable to cross the road, cannot continue their journey etc etc.

Agree with Dammit.

I used to really enjoy CM, but then got increasingly disappointed by the numbers of people being passive-aggressive or aggressive to other road users. What's worse is that even if such aggression is shown, no one else speaks out about it.

You can argue that CM is many things to many people, but aggression should not be an acceptable element of that. If we refuse to call people out on the night, and refuse to change at future events, there is a collective responsibility and collective blame for these actions when we allow them to continue.

This is not ok and I don't feel like I can be part of something that reflects badly on cyclists in the same way.

you can look at either aggressive people and see only this as CM, but you can also look at it as a group of random people and trust me CM is receiving a lot of smiles and positive comments along the way, kids are smiling and pointing, people are making pictures and chatting riders up, and becoming aware.

yes, there are some dickheads, but its london and wherever you accumulate more than 20 people you will always see some stupid retards showing off or being nedlessly aggressive.

you can also waste time arguing over this on the internet, which won't change anything.

'kin hell, last time (month ago) there were people derouting from their journey back home only to join the mass because it was fun. THIS is a success on its own.

I agree. In the same way that there are lots of riders with different purposes for the ride, there are lots of audiences with different responses.

I suspect that the majority receive the event very warmly. I've had lots of cheers, smiles and shouts on the rides that I've done. That has been fun.

But you will also get people who justifiably receive the event poorly. My argument is that we should challenge the riders that are dickheads as a group but we don't. I have attempted to do so in the past but been shouted down not just by the dickheads but those willing to accept them and their behaviour.

CM is at its heart a fantastic event that is good for cycling, and it's very good at celebrating it's successes, but not so good at weeding out those that taint it.

#deathtodickheads

#ReasonableAndProportionateChastisementOfDickheadsWithTheAimToProduceBetterAmbassadorsForCycling

Agree with Dammit.

I used to really enjoy CM, but then got increasingly disappointed by the numbers of people being passive-aggressive or aggressive to other road users. What's worse is that even if such aggression is shown, no one else speaks out about it.

You can argue that CM is many things to many people, but aggression should not be an acceptable element of that. If we refuse to call people out on the night, and refuse to change at future events, there is a collective responsibility and collective blame for these actions when we allow them to continue.

This is not ok and I don't feel like I can be part of something that reflects badly on cyclists in the same way.

@Chung you seemed to have summed up what I have been saying, my views align exactly with yours +1

How can we stop people being agressive?
Can we make it less acceptable for people to behave this way?
If the Mass is something you participate in do you want to have a responsablity to make it better?
Some people can handle being confrontatinal but others may not be comfortable defusing an agressive situation..
I have tried before and both drivers and cyclists often do not want to listen (especially if you are being logical rather than emotional)
These are questions and statements rather than answers but we could use this forum as a place to think of ways to improve the Mass.
If the sensible stop attending who is left to set an example?

Your last point is particularly good.

If we believe ourselves to be in the right, but never participate in CM and let it foster something we believe is wrong, then our inaction makes us at least partially responsible for aggression created as a result of 'dickheads' on the ride.

I would say probably now say that I'd go along for the ride. Have fun, do all the things that encourage cycling, foster community spirit, but also call out people for being knobbish. It might not have a great effect, but it's definitely worth trying to mould an already great monthly event even better for whatever positive cause you want it to be for.

Yes Chung, love it..

I think if the sensible crowd would stick together it could make a difference to the cunty part of cm

Personally I don't know any cyclists who do not drive also... In my little world there is no them and us, which seems to make all the difference.

@moserism
exactly, like I was saying, we can go along and not be dickheads.

@Dammit
People on the bus a free to not be on the bus.

Bump for this week, really should get a big group as there's been another london cyclist death in the past few days, really bad, awareness must be raised.

Where and what time...?

title.

In this week

Yes Sven.

In

Could be in for this will look at Train times or book some hours off work !!!!

Definitely in!

Reasons to go;

1. Lovely weather
   
2. My 4th anniversary of Mass
   
   

IN

Aggro aside, that was fun. Don't think I'll get the formation disco dancing at Buckingham Palace out of my head in a hurry.