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two months pass...
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chicago Critical Mass On Behalf Of DUDE
> Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 8:08 PM
> To: CHI-CRIT-M✧✧✧@U✧✧.E✧✧
> Subject: Re: [*CCM*] Naked oil spill protest
>
>> How does a bicycle parade in oil covered costumes do anything
>> but demonstrate to the general public that cyclists like to
>> throw parties that stop traffic when something really awful
>> happens, and do so in the name of "political justice?"
>
> =v= Ah yes, the "throw parties that stop traffic" misemphasis.
> You seem to have forgotten the inevitable we-are-traffic angle.
> (So what if we're having party levels of fun in traffic? The
> whole point is that bikes are better.)
> <_DUDE_>
>
in response DUDER wrote:
> It's not a misemphasis DUDE. It's what the other people think. We can ride
> for whatever reason we feel in our hearts, but that doesn't explain it to
> the thousands of people who sit through it. It's a nice idea to think that
> a bike parade just by being a bike parade would speak the message of
> commuter equality to everyone, but it doesn't.
>
> Though I am a cyclist, daily and year round bike commuter, I am the only one
> of my primary and secondary social circles (less you guys), co-workers,
> family members, who fits that description.
>
> Since I communicate primarily with non-cyclists, the feedback I hear is that
> Critical Mass is frivolous at best and an abominable nuisance at worst. I,
> of course, feel differently about CCM and my loved ones are wonderful enough
> to accept and support my appreciation of all things bike (for the most
> part). I've learned important lessons from CCM. However, I've also
> witnessed PLENTY of behavior at CCM that would lead on-lookers to feel
> differently. I know the list has been through plenty of "bad element"
> emails in the past...but I'm not so concerned about the rowdy few.
>
> I believe we are traffic, and deserve the same observance as other cars on
> the road. The fact of the matter is though, we are not behaving as regular
> "traffic" when we participate in CCM. We are politely asking regular
> traffic to hold up while we exert our might in numbers on this one day a
> month, because we're constantly being overlooked when we're only one rider
> amidst a sea of autos.
>
> By straying from the norm in bicycle behavior on the road, we beg the
> questions from on-lookers, "hey, what is this all about," or, "what are you
> guys protesting," or, "what are you guys riding for?" The drunk assholes
> throwing beer bottles are few and far between. It's everyone else who
> passes these people up and shout, "it's Critical Mass," who to me are more
> concerning. The party on wheels doesn't stop to help these people
> understand. There are a dedicated few who in the past have made flyers to
> hand out to drivers, with ideas behind CCM in print, and better yet a few
> angels who actually stop to have a conversation with these people about how
> cyclists feel their rights are being ignored and taken advantage of every
> day. Those people are even fewer than drunk and disorderly.
>
> Furthermore, a lot of summer massers just hear about it through word of
> mouth and show up. Those kids are not on this list, and aren't being
> heavily engaged at Daley Plaza. Newcomers are sometimes just as in the dark
> as some of the drivers who get stopped by a mass of bikers. They learn that
> "Happy Friday" is a customary greeting, and maybe they get a derailleur, but
> few people actually get approached in the first place.
>
> So we can talk on an email listserv of CCM'ers all day about what CCM stands
> for, but having a polite and constructive conversation on the streets is
> where it matters.
>
> Admittedly, it's late, and I've had a couple of beers...so I apologize if
> I'm a bit ranty. I guess it's just that when I hear talk of "action" being
> taken I get confused about what CCM is supposed to be. If it's JUST bikers
> getting together to show that they have power in numbers, then that's one
> thing. But if it's a vehicle for more advanced social action, then it seems
> like massers need to step it up to get the word out.
>
> Viva la Bicicleta,
> DUDER
Critical Mass is a lot of things to a lot of folks.
I'm surprised at the focus on what it's communicating to onlookers,
coming from you DUDER . . . that's typically a preoccupation of people
who haven't participated more than a few times in the mass (if at all),
and/or aren't immersed enough in bike culture to see the value of CCM as
a rolling celebration of ourselves and our culture, a monthy "refueling"
among the like-minded, a chance to ride around city streets and feel
relatively safe once a month, a chance to taste what this city could be
like if we were able to wrestle it out of the grip of the private
automobile and give it back to people.
Chicago Critical Mass is largely responsible for creating a youth
bicycle culture that wasn't there before, which in turn is fueling all
kinds of positive things, from demands for infrastructure to support for
greater saturation of bike-related retailing across a broader swath of
neighborhoods, and a voting body that cares about having a bikeable city.
I've stopped and watched the mass go by, and listened to what onlookers
had to say about it enough to be free of any illusions that it's
"showing" anybody anything, but it's been many years since that seemed
to matter.
-DUDELY'
― We are pleasure to inform you about (jdchurchill), Wednesday, 14 July 2010 18:00 (thirteen years ago) link
two weeks pass...
UNDERWEAR RIDE this Friday July 30th
All are invited to July's Chicago Critical Mass* ride, which Barbra planned, creating a theme and map that strives to relive the amazing spirit of WNBR Chicago: ”The Underwear Mass!” This Friday July 30th, meeting downtown at Daley Plaza after 5pm, leaving after 6pm. This is NOT a naturist/nude event per se.
Barbra says: "This mass is about being free, pushing limited social ideas concerning our human body, and is meant to help people think about the human body as natural, beautiful and consider the reality that we don't have to be sexualized or perfect to enjoy our body and have others enjoy our body. This ride challenges us to consider gender equality... and as women who choose to be top-free must cover their nipples by law, this ride encourages men to show their solidarity by covering their nipples as well. I hope to challenge the media-pushed dichotomy of over-sexualization vs. shame over our bodies. This mass will most likely end at GORGEOUS Montrose beach for a dance party and to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand for an fabulous summer mass ending! I will have a limited about of body paint and tape to share starting at 4:30 (I'll be there early). Hope you can make it, and that everyone's summer is as fun and amazing as it began with WNBR!"
four weeks pass...
six months pass...