[*BCM*] Critical Mass Confrontations

[Jeremy Chase]

Well put Jasmine,

An often overlooked aspect of cycling is that we are just people
trying to get from point A to point B. Bikes are not trying to slow
the cars down, and we mean no ill will. I also believe the converse is
just as true, and car drivers are just trying to get around. The
cyclists who approach critical mass with that attitude are helping the
cyclists, and people purposefully aggravating traffic are doing the
rest of us a disservice.

Jeremy


On Dec 21, 2007 12:39 PM, jasmine laietmark <jasmine at bikesnotbombs.org> wrote:
> hi marc punk larocque,
>
> i appreciate your enthusiasm, but i urge you to please do use caution when
> painting a "kick-ass" portrait of critical mass, blocking traffic, and
> taunting of drivers in the globe. not all cyclists are all for all of these
> happenings - and it might be easy for a non-cyclist reader to read "all
> people on bikes are aggressive" etc- -
> perhaps an interesting article will critique as well as praise the
> multi-layered phenomenon.
>
> it is a sensitive time in boston--- a (long-awaited) (and slow) (and maybe
> big, greeny) shift towards bike awareness in the works it seems--- if i were
> writing an article that a lot of city drivers and pedestrians (cyclists and
> non-cyclists) would read, i would try to win impressionable masses over with
> clever honey. just my opinion // we all have a lot at stake right now, i
> think.
>
> one simple, flower encrusted daydream that has struck me while riding in cm
> is: ::: "why aren't the angry drivers ecstatic to see such a wonderful and
> unusual occurance: a huge crowd of excited people on bikes!" shouldn't they
> be? maybe we can help get them to that happy place - - as opposed to
> reminding them why they daydream of smashing humans on bikes.
>
> with respect,
>
> jasmine laietmark
> bnb staff member
> and
> editor of the boston bicycle reflector
>
> ps a bit of promotion: keep eyes peeled for january issue of the REFLECTOR -
> a chart/article re: critical mass inside.
>
>
>
>
>
> On 12/21/07, Marc Larocque <marc.p.larocque at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hows it going everyone!?
> >
> > This is Marc, the conspicuous reporter, once more. I can't wait to join
> the next ride, albeit an expected low-turnout because of the New England
> climate and unpredictable weather. I hope to write a nice, fun, fair, and
> positive article about Critical Mass. So far, I've talk to a lot of newbies
> and veterans alike. I'm going to interview Adam, who created the CM route,
> who was around during the origin of CM Boston, who knows people involved
> with founding CM in those locales. I hope to talk to more. If you think you
> have an idea that must be expressed in this piece, or just want to touch
> base, please reply to me.
> > Some ideas have been ingrained in to my brain, like the fact that CM is
> leaderless and, generally, an unorganized movement, an "organized
> coincidence," as the Wiki entry describes it. The history and context is
> important, like the founding in San Fran and the RNC in NYC. The values.
> > YouTube is a treasure trove for CM clips filled with conflict. But I want
> to let you all know, that I'm not going to take "one of these 'kinds' of
> events" and "have a field day" with it to smear CM. I love CM! It kicks ass.
> That's why I pitched the story for my first feature. The way I found out
> about it was when friends told me all the crazy, cool stuff CM does. For
> example, and this is something I'm going to include in my piece, the fact
> that participants hawked around a Hummer during the last ride. That's funny
> and kicks ass. In my opinion, there is absolutely no need for Hummers in
> Boston, that's just embarrassing and deserves lambasting. I think the
> "corking" or "plugging" of intersections is exciting. So please don't
> self-censor your behavior on the ride solely because of my presence.
> Seriously, if there is anything else you want me to understand before doing
> some prospective reporting and, then, writing, let me know.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Marc Larocque
> > Punk Journalist
> > Boston Globe
> > City Weekly
> > 508-692-8164
> > larocque.m at neu.edu
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> >
>
>
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