Mission Mission

In the comments section of an earlier post, we’ve been having a serious talk about Critical Mass. On Monday, reader William wrote:

When I first rode in Critical Mass, it was great to have that feeling of safety, that thrill of being in control of the road. And riding with so many happy people? Awesome!

But in watching what it does to drivers, I’ve come to think that Critical Mass is a giant dick move. I’m sure it was useful once, but that time is long past. And I say that as a guy who hasn’t owned a car in more than a decade, somebody who commutes by bike every day. I’m tired of apologizing to non-bikers for a giant monthly inconvenience, and I wish everybody would give it up.

Yesterday, reader Hugh rebutted:

When I first drove a car in San Francisco, it was great to have that feeling of safety, that thrill of being in control of the road. And driving alone in my car? Awesome!

But in watching what it does to bicyclists, I’ve come to think that owning a car is a giant dick move. I’m sure it was useful once, but that time is long past. And I say that as a guy who likes to drive, somebody who uses a City Car Share pretty regularly. I’m tired of apologizing to bicyclists for a giant daily inconvenience, and I wish everybody would give it up.

Point Hugh!

Read the whole dialogue here.

Photo by davekeane.

This here is the official route map for some Critical Mass they had back in 2006. Tonight, “organizers” will meet at Dolores Park to “plan” the “route” for Friday’s ride.

What’s that you say? You, like me, thought Critical Mass was unplanned and spontaneous. Think again! Back in the day, apparently, routes were planned, destinations were decided upon in advance. And some want to bring that M.O. back. Head over to the “official” “unofficial” SF Critical Mass “website” to read all about it.

The meet is at 7pm at 18th and Dolores if you want in.

See previous Mission Mission coverage of Critical Mass here.

Critical Mass riders demonstrate that, yes, their bicycles can come to a complete stop at an intersection… if they want them to.

Apparently, this was part of the 15-year anniversary event. Consider yourselves more aware of cyclists now!

[photo by |\\ |) |=]

Critical Mass Detroit looks like kind of a blast. Definitely a different-looking ride than San Francisco’s. Summer road trip anyone?

(Thanks, Lizzy!)

Previously:

Critical Mass Sacramento

Critical Mass Seattle

The great thing about Critical Mass in Sacramento is that with only 14 people on the ride, if you get a flat, the entire Mass will pull over and hang out while you patch it up.

The terrible thing about Critical Mass in Sacramento is there’s this dude who thinks he’s the leader. Gives a welcome speech (he actually says “Welcome to Critical Mass!”) where he explains how Critical Mass works, cautions you not to break any rules, gets all serious if you make a joke about throwing bricks at cars, and informs you in which direction he’s decided we’ll be starting off. And then he barks orders at everybody the whole time: “LIGHT!!” “JOIN US!!” “IT’S CRITICAL MASS; JOIN US!!” “LIGHT!!” Gag me!

Sacramento is beautiful though. It’s a nice place to bike.

Previously:

Critical Mass Halloween

Critical Mass Seattle

Critical Mass at Ocean Beach

Critical Mass Louisville

The Halloween Critical Mass ride is always one of my favorite events of the year because I inevitably get to watch 3 bananas savage some aggro dude in an SUV.

Despite this unfortunate scene at the staging area, Critical Mass Seattle was tons of fun. The mass itself was about a tenth the size of even a modest San Francisco turnout, but it sticks together real good, up gnarly hills and over heavily trafficked bridges and in and out of a thoroughly present police presence.

And before things got underway, Food Not Bombs Seattle handed out peanut butter and homemade plum jelly sandwiches. Size wise, SF’s event may be way more impressive, but nobody ever gave me a peanut butter and homemade plum jelly sandwich.

Seattle is nice.

Lots more pictures after the jump:

(more…)

Jackson West over at the SF Appeal, who just moved to to the neighborhood and therefore isn’t qualified to have an opinion, gives his two cents about Dolores Park and the community meeting the other night:

…A few dozen others arrived, most from the blocks directly around the park but a few from further afield in the Mission and beyond. And everyone did admit there was a problem, at least with trash. Other problems cited included the bathrooms, hipsters, Mexicans, irrigation, wind, people who don’t own property next to the park, Critical Mass, politicians and, despite all these apparent defects, too many people.

And that, friends, is the essential irony. For a park that is “dying,” it is quite popular! Internationally so. Leaving the younger crowd counter-intuitively arguing to maintain the status quo, and even the older crowd admitting that it’s a better place than it was at some arbitrary point in the past when it was ruled by gangs and drug users, as opposed to now.

But there was a clear generation gap, with the introduction period amounting to one-upsmanship as to who lived closer and longer. The implication being that somehow factoring proximity and longevity mathematically lent one’s point of view more weight. Which it does not. Especially when it is matched with complaints about people and their sense of entitlement.

Read on…

Everything is Everything just put up lots of gorgeous shots of the sun setting over Ocean Beach — and a gaggle of Critical Massers — on Friday. Link.

Is it true some of the team breached the perimeter of Outside Lands?

Previously:

Highly Recommended: Sunset Bike Rides Out to the Beach (Especially on Days When Fires in Santa Cruz Light the Sky Up All Extra-Gnar)

For proof, check out Everything is Everything for a series of photos that includes fire and smiles and full-frontal nudity:

june critical mass 2009