From telesco.a at gmail.com  Wed Sep  1 12:17:15 2010
From: telesco.a at gmail.com (Tony Telesco)
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:17:15 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 74, Issue 1
In-Reply-To: <mailman.1.1283356805.3189.bostoncriticalmass@bostoncriticalmass.org>
References: <mailman.1.1283356805.3189.bostoncriticalmass@bostoncriticalmass.org>
Message-ID: <AANLkTint2uAWkt4C5hgd+unpiN9dGxF13pCNtXk+bBRq@mail.gmail.com>

The Boston Globe ran the article today, and as predicted a shit-storm of
reader comments ensued...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/01/critical_mass_rider_says_officer_pushed_him_off_bike/

-Tony T.

On Wed, Sep 1, 2010 at 12:00 PM, <
bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org> wrote:

> Send Bostoncriticalmass mailing list submissions to
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> than "Re: Contents of Bostoncriticalmass digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Cop attacks Boston Critical Mass cyclist in Central
>      Square: Follow up... (ykurland at gmail.com)
>   2. Re: Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 73, Issue 20 (Yoni Kurland)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:54:05 +0000
> From: ykurland at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Cop attacks Boston Critical Mass cyclist in
>        Central Square: Follow up...
> To: "Galen Mook" <gmmook at gmail.com>
> Cc: Danny Piccirillo <human at thesilentnumber.me>,
>        "list at bostoncriticalmass.org" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>,
>  Jonathan
>        Fertig <jonathan.fertig at gmail.com>,     stephen messinger
>        <s.messing at gmail.com>,  Lauren Saraiva <lauren.saraiva at gmail.com>,
>        "smessing at gmail.com" <smessing at gmail.com>,      "
> oliver.jahn at gmail.com"
>        <oliver.jahn at gmail.com>,        "daf at rhydd.org" <daf at rhydd.org>
> Message-ID:
>
>  <1270090720-1283288039-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-572682905- at bda285.bisx.prod.on.blackberry
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> Hi everyone-
>
> Attached is the police report.
>
>  I will update later tonight with the developments of yesterday and this
> morning. They're all good news.
>
> I'm also planning to write the complaint against the officer tonight and
> submit it tomorrow. I'll email a draft to the list when I complete it.
>
> -Yoni
> --
> Yoni Kurland
> ykurland at gmail.com
> 781.249.1612
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Galen Mook <gmmook at gmail.com>
> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:53:35
> To: Yoni Kurland<ykurland at gmail.com>
> Cc: Danny Piccirillo<human at thesilentnumber.me>; stephen messinger<
> s.messing at gmail.com>; Chris Ball<chris at printf.net>; daf at rhydd.org<
> daf at rhydd.org>; Greg Hum<thehum at gmail.com>; oliver.jahn at gmail.com<
> oliver.jahn at gmail.com>; smessing at gmail.com<smessing at gmail.com>; Dave Earth
> Music<dave.earthmusic at gmail.com>; Lauren Saraiva<lauren.saraiva at gmail.com>;
> Jonathan Fertig<jonathan.fertig at gmail.com>; list at bostoncriticalmass.org<
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Cop attacks Boston Critical Mass cyclist in Central
> Square: Follow up...
>
> I'm glad this will be an article -- though expect a ShitStorm of online
> comments from Globe readers.  They will be aggressive and degrading and
> one-sided and probably extremely inflammatory so Seriously, don't take them
> too hard and keep in mind the solidarity of cycling in this city.  We have
> created a "spontaneous" parade for bikes and I'd like to keep the beauty of
> what we do away from the trolling hands of nasty internet bloggers.
>
> ha, that said this has also turned into a thread on BostonBiker.org so keep
> your eyes on the press.
>
> as Nicole Freedman, the Boston bike-czar signs her emails; "keep smiling"
>
> (this message was sent from a mobile Internet communication device, please
> pardon any typos)
>
> On Aug 30, 2010, at 5:19 PM, Yoni Kurland <ykurland at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Thank you all for your support in this matter. I wanted to send out this
> email simply to say that I am still here and reading all the responses.
> >
> > I spoke to Brian Ballou (sp?) at the Boston Globe for the story that
> should run tomorrow.
> >
> > As for further actions, they are somewhat up in the air, though I have no
> desire for a lawsuit against CPD, nor would I desire any involvement with
> the ACLU.
> >
> > In the past hour, I have received some conflicting information regarding
> the actions CPD plans to take, so I am currently awaiting clarification and
> completely panicking at the same time. I may send out an update when I know
> more, depending on the results of the clarification (sorry for the
> vagueness- don't want to spread any rumors).
> >
> > Best,
> > Yoni
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 12:56 PM, Danny Piccirillo <
> human at thesilentnumber.me> wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I spoke to the ACLU today and they were very professional. They
> > assured me that 100% of information you provide them is kept
> > completely confidential. The only people who would have the
> > information is the person you speak to, and the attourney who reviews
> > it. They seemed very interested, so if you decide to call them, i'm
> > sure they can help you. They might even have know-how on getting the
> > surveillance footage to make this case rock-solid.
> >
> > I hope you are not feeling guilty for not obeying the erradic
> > officer's unwarranted order to stop. You said you knew in your heart
> > that you didn't stop, but you should also know that he had no right to
> > assault you either way and also no grounds to order you to stop. Here
> > is a good quote: "The first issue--whether cyclists must obey the
> > orders of law enforcement officers--was central to the "motion to
> > dismiss" hearings for Tony and Ryan. As the Court held, if the cyclist
> > hasn't broken a traffic law, then the cyclist can't be lawfully
> > arrested, and the order to pull over is itself unlawful. Therefore, if
> > the order is unlawful, the cyclist is not required to obey the order,
> > and can't be arrested for failure to comply."
> > - http://www.bicycling.com/news/advocacy/when-cop-says-stop
> >
> > I hope you are doing well, and that things haven't been overwhelming.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > -Yoni Kurland
> > ykurland at gmail.com
> > 781.249.1612
> > AIM: sinmosTaza
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:36:59 -0400
> From: Yoni Kurland <ykurland at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 73, Issue 20
> To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> Message-ID:
>        <AANLkTikFFssFoXzzGNtvJaup5zEc_eORY7Hg_mtO7e8Z at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Some randomness:
>
> Can any witnesses please send over their contact info?
>
> I'm still working on the complaint, I'll share it at a future time.
>
> It appears as if the listserve won't let me attach files. I'll find some
> other way to share Officer Pina's report.
>
> There are no active criminal charges against me. Apparently Officer Pina
> filed a Criminal complaint for "Failure to Stop" but did not notify me at
> the time of the incident. This charge has been subsequently "torn up" by
> the
> Prosecutor. I hope to obtain confirmation of this tomorrow.
>
> I think the Globe article will run tomorrow.
>
> These events have not scared me away from cycling, nor future Critical Mass
> events. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make the next ride, as I will be
> attending a wedding in Virginia on the last weekend of the month. I will
> try
> to make future rides, but my normal work schedule conflicts with the time;
> it was only a lucky fluke that I was able to attend the last one. Since I
> won't be there, can I make the suggestion that both Central Square and the
> Police Headquarters at 125 6th street seem like a nice scenic route?
>
> -Yoni
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> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>
> End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 74, Issue 1
> *************************************************
>
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From jym at econet.org  Wed Sep  1 12:30:14 2010
From: jym at econet.org (Jym Dyer)
Date: Wed,  1 Sep 2010 09:30:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [*BCM*] _Globe_ Story about Raymond Pina
References: <AANLkTint2uAWkt4C5hgd+unpiN9dGxF13pCNtXk+bBRq@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <Jym.01Sep2010.4c7e7ff7@scorcher.org>

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/09/01/critical_mass_rider_says_officer_pushed_him_off_bike/

=v= Overall, not a bad article, though I take issue with this:

| But it appears there have been a growing number of incidents
| in which Critical Mass participants have been ticketed,
| arrested, or had their bikes confiscated, Pomerantz said.

Joel Pomerantz is a friend of mine, and what he *actually* said
was that media coverage makes it *look* that way.  The wording
here leans towards an entirely different misinterpretation.

=v= I find it odd that the reporter called around San Francisco
looking someone to quote (and excerpt poorly, in this case), but
didn't check on folks in NYC about the Pogan case.
    <_Jym_>


From jym at econet.org  Wed Sep  8 15:57:56 2010
From: jym at econet.org (Jym Dyer)
Date: Wed,  8 Sep 2010 12:57:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [*BCM*] Predictable Coverage Prompts Predictable Letter
Message-ID: <Jym.08Sep2010.4c87e99e@scorcher.org>

=v= Such quality discourse, totally worth killing trees to
print.  Let's respond to some bad thing by fussing about a
totally unrelated bicyclist who did a completely different
bad thing at some point in our lives.  That way, we won't
have to think troubling thoughts about the most important
thing int he story:  a police officer with a history of
brutality.

=v= Bonus points for the psychoanalyzing in the headline.
    <_Jym_>

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2010/09/08/bike_friendly_cities_are_two_way_streets/

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE BICYCLING
Bike-friendly cities are two-way streets
The Boston Globe | 08-Sep-2010 

RE "CYCLIST says police officer pushed him: Critical Mass
rider was issued ticket" (Metro, Sept. 1): As a person who
enjoys cycling and occasionally urban bicycle commuting, I
was surprised to see the Critical Mass advocates' bicycle
ride described as "unencumbered because they didn't wait for
red lights."  Even small children learn that cyclists must
obey the rules of the road.

Recently in downtown Boston I was almost run over by a speeding
cyclist who did not even slow down for a large group of legally
crossing pedestrians, and barreled through the middle of us.
As a small person, I would have been seriously injured had a
collision occurred.

If the goal of the group Critical Mass is to make cities
more friendly to cyclists, it might want to first show that
bicyclists themselves intend no harm.

	Diane Pingeton
	Shrewsbury


From vmartelle at metmail.org  Wed Sep  8 19:14:11 2010
From: vmartelle at metmail.org (Victor Martelle)
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 16:14:11 -0700
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass questions
Message-ID: <AANLkTiko7duNx3fUo6U+=M=dJRBCRJwDeu810xDVSu4H@mail.gmail.com>

Hello, I currently recruit, and do the CM's in Rhode Island. I plan on
traveling to Boston to do a Critical mass there for the first time.

Is there anything I need? Lights, helmet? Any advice?

How many peoples usually come?

-Victor
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From rogersartistry at aol.com  Thu Sep  9 09:34:35 2010
From: rogersartistry at aol.com (rogersartistry at aol.com)
Date: Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:34:35 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] blog
Message-ID: <8CD1E3AE07582E4-1924-B068@webmail-d032.sysops.aol.com>

http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2010/09/03/a-unified-theory-of-new-york-biking/


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From dave at st.germa.in  Thu Sep  9 10:41:00 2010
From: dave at st.germa.in (Dave St.Germain)
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 10:41:00 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass questions
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTiko7duNx3fUo6U+=M=dJRBCRJwDeu810xDVSu4H@mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTiko7duNx3fUo6U+=M=dJRBCRJwDeu810xDVSu4H@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <F9D4AFFD-2421-4908-B7D0-E5D9E459B840@st.germa.in>

Yes, you'll need:
* helmet
* front and rear lights
* fenders
* reflective vest
* flippers
* mouth guard
* pepper spray
* eye of newt

If you don't have all of these things, the organizers of Critical Mass ? won't allow you to ride.
As for how many people usually show up, between five and one million.

I hope that helps.

Dave


On Sep 8, 2010, at 19:14 , Victor Martelle wrote:

> Hello, I currently recruit, and do the CM's in Rhode Island. I plan on traveling to Boston to do a Critical mass there for the first time.
> 
> Is there anything I need? Lights, helmet? Any advice?
> 
> How many peoples usually come?
> 
> -Victor
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org


From bercu at limelaw.com  Thu Sep  9 10:46:03 2010
From: bercu at limelaw.com (Steven Bercu)
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 10:46:03 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass questions
In-Reply-To: <F9D4AFFD-2421-4908-B7D0-E5D9E459B840@st.germa.in>
References: <AANLkTiko7duNx3fUo6U+=M=dJRBCRJwDeu810xDVSu4H@mail.gmail.com>
	<F9D4AFFD-2421-4908-B7D0-E5D9E459B840@st.germa.in>
Message-ID: <002801cb502d$bb8754f0$3295fed0$@com>

Way to make an out-of-towner feel welcome.

Victor, just show up at Copley Square before 6:00 pm with your bike.  That's
the only essential equipment.

If the weather is decent, you can expect several hundred riders, perhaps
300.

Enjoy!

-----Original Message-----
From: bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org
[mailto:bostoncriticalmass-bounces at bostoncriticalmass.org] On Behalf Of Dave
St.Germain
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 10:41 AM
To: Boston Critical Mass
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Critical mass questions

Yes, you'll need:
* helmet
* front and rear lights
* fenders
* reflective vest
* flippers
* mouth guard
* pepper spray
* eye of newt

If you don't have all of these things, the organizers of Critical Mass R
won't allow you to ride.
As for how many people usually show up, between five and one million.

I hope that helps.

Dave


On Sep 8, 2010, at 19:14 , Victor Martelle wrote:

> Hello, I currently recruit, and do the CM's in Rhode Island. I plan on
traveling to Boston to do a Critical mass there for the first time.
> 
> Is there anything I need? Lights, helmet? Any advice?
> 
> How many peoples usually come?
> 
> -Victor
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org


From dave at st.germa.in  Thu Sep  9 10:50:12 2010
From: dave at st.germa.in (Dave St.Germain)
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 10:50:12 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass questions
In-Reply-To: <002801cb502d$bb8754f0$3295fed0$@com>
References: <AANLkTiko7duNx3fUo6U+=M=dJRBCRJwDeu810xDVSu4H@mail.gmail.com>
	<F9D4AFFD-2421-4908-B7D0-E5D9E459B840@st.germa.in>
	<002801cb502d$bb8754f0$3295fed0$@com>
Message-ID: <42C0C4D2-6C2E-4906-B946-21AF4E914BF9@st.germa.in>

On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:46 , Steven Bercu wrote:

> Way to make an out-of-towner feel welcome.

I was just setting you up for a chance to be helpful.  You did great!



From vmartelle at metmail.org  Fri Sep 10 19:39:31 2010
From: vmartelle at metmail.org (Victor Martelle)
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:39:31 -0700
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass questions
In-Reply-To: <42C0C4D2-6C2E-4906-B946-21AF4E914BF9@st.germa.in>
References: <AANLkTiko7duNx3fUo6U+=M=dJRBCRJwDeu810xDVSu4H@mail.gmail.com>
	<F9D4AFFD-2421-4908-B7D0-E5D9E459B840@st.germa.in>
	<002801cb502d$bb8754f0$3295fed0$@com>
	<42C0C4D2-6C2E-4906-B946-21AF4E914BF9@st.germa.in>
Message-ID: <AANLkTikv1fyf0pv9RW8LNzbHM4Jk+ud7KVHJxf6V1+_O@mail.gmail.com>

oh geez...300 Here in RI we're lucky to have 20!

Another question, how long is the ride and where does it usually end?





On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 7:50 AM, Dave St.Germain <dave at st.germa.in> wrote:

> On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:46 , Steven Bercu wrote:
>
> > Way to make an out-of-towner feel welcome.
>
> I was just setting you up for a chance to be helpful.  You did great!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
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From plytheman at gmail.com  Sat Sep 11 20:26:09 2010
From: plytheman at gmail.com (Patrick Lynch)
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:26:09 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass questions
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTikv1fyf0pv9RW8LNzbHM4Jk+ud7KVHJxf6V1+_O@mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTiko7duNx3fUo6U+=M=dJRBCRJwDeu810xDVSu4H@mail.gmail.com>
	<F9D4AFFD-2421-4908-B7D0-E5D9E459B840@st.germa.in>
	<002801cb502d$bb8754f0$3295fed0$@com>
	<42C0C4D2-6C2E-4906-B946-21AF4E914BF9@st.germa.in>
	<AANLkTikv1fyf0pv9RW8LNzbHM4Jk+ud7KVHJxf6V1+_O@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=+SCr9xwj8iKEkNc_+yw-oPn05Ro++=2gK5Hdw@mail.gmail.com>

It's as long as/ends at whichever bar or restaurant the Mass rides past that
you decide you want to stop at.  Or until the Mass passes your neighborhood
and you decide to go do other things!  Usually makes it about an hour or so
solid and then people start falling off as it goes along.  I think the
longest I hung with it was about 3 hours by which there were maybe 15 of us
cruising along in the dark.

So to answer your question: it lasts about as long as you like it to!

On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 7:39 PM, Victor Martelle <vmartelle at metmail.org>wrote:

> oh geez...300 Here in RI we're lucky to have 20!
>
> Another question, how long is the ride and where does it usually end?
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 7:50 AM, Dave St.Germain <dave at st.germa.in> wrote:
>
>> On Sep 9, 2010, at 10:46 , Steven Bercu wrote:
>>
>> > Way to make an out-of-towner feel welcome.
>>
>> I was just setting you up for a chance to be helpful.  You did great!
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
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From vmartelle at metmail.org  Tue Sep 14 20:55:10 2010
From: vmartelle at metmail.org (Victor Martelle)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:55:10 -0700
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0@mail.gmail.com>

Hello,

I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical mass,
are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do you get
motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the road so Ill
blare my horn for a few minutes"?
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From martian at MIT.EDU  Tue Sep 14 21:32:42 2010
From: martian at MIT.EDU (Mars)
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:32:42 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0@mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTi=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <4C90223A.6030303@mit.edu>

  It's odd you would ask this, as you seem to be somewhat of a Rhode 
Island CM organizer...

But, in regards to a real answer, I would say it's fair to say that a 
small percentage of the population (5%, 10%) is generally upset with 
what is happening, the same percentage range is thrilled to see what is 
happening, and of the rest, about half are confused, and the other half 
are ambivalent.

On 9/14/2010 8:55 PM, Victor Martelle wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical 
> mass, are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do 
> you get motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the 
> road so Ill blare my horn for a few minutes"?

From glaubman.jude at gmail.com  Wed Sep 15 21:48:19 2010
From: glaubman.jude at gmail.com (jude glaubman)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:48:19 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] looking for guidance on cambridge-jp commuting route
Message-ID: <AANLkTimgA3bVv0Gd6=nSLLrctCPXWeGdNa047YOSx9sm@mail.gmail.com>

hey

i'm biking from central square to jp quite regularly for work and still
haven't put together a good route.  (nearly got killed today by a jerk who
jumped his red light.)

any suggestions for a low stress route from central square to jp centre.

i currently take the bu bridge to the longwood t stop and across to the
lovely bike path but then it's chopped up at brookline--am i missing a
connecting path that goes more smoothly to the pond?

thanks,
jude

On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 12:00 PM, <
bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Critical mass question (Victor Martelle)
>   2. Re: Critical mass question (Mars)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:55:10 -0700
> From: Victor Martelle <vmartelle at metmail.org>
> Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
> To: bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
> Message-ID:
>        <AANLkTi=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hello,
>
> I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical mass,
> are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do you get
> motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the road so Ill
> blare my horn for a few minutes"?
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:32:42 -0400
> From: Mars <martian at MIT.EDU>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
> To: "list at bostoncriticalmass.org" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID: <4C90223A.6030303 at mit.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>  It's odd you would ask this, as you seem to be somewhat of a Rhode
> Island CM organizer...
>
> But, in regards to a real answer, I would say it's fair to say that a
> small percentage of the population (5%, 10%) is generally upset with
> what is happening, the same percentage range is thrilled to see what is
> happening, and of the rest, about half are confused, and the other half
> are ambivalent.
>
> On 9/14/2010 8:55 PM, Victor Martelle wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical
> > mass, are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do
> > you get motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the
> > road so Ill blare my horn for a few minutes"?
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>
> End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 74, Issue 6
> *************************************************
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From rinonvan at gmail.com  Wed Sep 15 22:25:46 2010
From: rinonvan at gmail.com (rinonvan at gmail.com)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 22:25:46 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] looking for guidance on cambridge-jp commuting route
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimgA3bVv0Gd6=nSLLrctCPXWeGdNa047YOSx9sm@mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTimgA3bVv0Gd6=nSLLrctCPXWeGdNa047YOSx9sm@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTin8W-2Xm53vEgZOu9cW9ObpoVcmbUMwPFCGqxx_@mail.gmail.com>

When I lived in JP I used to take the southwest corridor bike path to
the back bay, a safe and enjoyable ride.
May be a longer route for you, but you could do that and take Mass Ave
to Central.
Just a suggestion.

-S



On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 9:48 PM, jude glaubman <glaubman.jude at gmail.com> wrote:
> hey
> i'm biking from central square to jp quite regularly for work and still
> haven't put together a good route. ?(nearly got killed today by a jerk who
> jumped his red light.)
> any suggestions for a low stress route from central square to jp centre.
> i currently take the bu bridge to the longwood t stop and across to the
> lovely bike path but then it's chopped up at brookline--am i missing a
> connecting path that goes more smoothly to the pond?
> thanks,
> jude
>
> On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 12:00 PM,
> <bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org> wrote:
>>
>> Send Bostoncriticalmass mailing list submissions to
>> ? ? ? ?bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> ? ? ? ?http://lists.bostoncoop.net/mailman/listinfo/bostoncriticalmass
>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> ? ? ? ?bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>> ? ? ? ?bostoncriticalmass-owner at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of Bostoncriticalmass digest..."
>>
>>
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>> ? 1. Critical mass question (Victor Martelle)
>> ? 2. Re: Critical mass question (Mars)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:55:10 -0700
>> From: Victor Martelle <vmartelle at metmail.org>
>> Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
>> To: bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> Message-ID:
>> ? ? ? ?<AANLkTi=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0 at mail.gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical mass,
>> are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do you get
>> motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the road so Ill
>> blare my horn for a few minutes"?
>> -------------- next part --------------
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>> URL:
>> http://lists.bostoncoop.net/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/attachments/20100914/c7fb93f9/attachment-0001.htm
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:32:42 -0400
>> From: Mars <martian at MIT.EDU>
>> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
>> To: "list at bostoncriticalmass.org" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>> Message-ID: <4C90223A.6030303 at mit.edu>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>> ?It's odd you would ask this, as you seem to be somewhat of a Rhode
>> Island CM organizer...
>>
>> But, in regards to a real answer, I would say it's fair to say that a
>> small percentage of the population (5%, 10%) is generally upset with
>> what is happening, the same percentage range is thrilled to see what is
>> happening, and of the rest, about half are confused, and the other half
>> are ambivalent.
>>
>> On 9/14/2010 8:55 PM, Victor Martelle wrote:
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical
>> > mass, are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do
>> > you get motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the
>> > road so Ill blare my horn for a few minutes"?
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>>
>> End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 74, Issue 6
>> *************************************************
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>

From gh3451 at yahoo.com  Wed Sep 15 23:51:39 2010
From: gh3451 at yahoo.com (Peter)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:51:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [*BCM*] looking for guidance on cambridge-jp commuting route
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimgA3bVv0Gd6=nSLLrctCPXWeGdNa047YOSx9sm@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <14722.18421.qm@web37505.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

I'll second the Mass Ave to the bike path starting at the "O" line stop. ?I did it for a couple of years while in school. ?
The other option is to stay straight after the BU bridge (Essex St.) ?2nd right on Worthington Left on St. Paul, cross Beacon, road bears right where St. Paul ends and becomes Aspinwall road stays straight where Aspinwall ends and becomes Cypress. ?Follow Cypress across Rt 9 road bears right where Cypress ends and becomes High St then left on Chestnut thru a small roundabout and your at the back of the Pond on Perkins in JP. ?
Sounds way more complicated than it is, believe me it kind of flows once your on St. Paul and all of these roads are highlighted yellow on Google maps. ?(I've ridden it plenty but did have to look up the street names) I've always found traffic a bit tamer on these Brookline Roads anyway. ?Cypress after you cross Rt 9 is actually kind of a pleasant ride.
That Riverway/J'Way bike path gap was just written up this week in one of the papers. ?I will on occasion go up onto the bridge over Rt 9 but there can be a lot of junk against the curb there and I've never done it at rush hour. ?Good Luck. ??


--- On Wed, 9/15/10, jude glaubman <glaubman.jude at gmail.com> wrote:

From: jude glaubman <glaubman.jude at gmail.com>
Subject: [*BCM*] looking for guidance on cambridge-jp commuting route
To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 9:48 PM

hey
i'm biking from central square to jp quite regularly for work and still haven't put together a good route. ?(nearly got killed today by a jerk who jumped his red light.)
any suggestions for a low stress route from central square to jp centre.

i currently take the bu bridge to the longwood t stop and across to the lovely bike path but then it's chopped up at brookline--am i missing a connecting path that goes more smoothly to the pond?

thanks,jude

On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 12:00 PM,  <bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org> wrote:

Send Bostoncriticalmass mailing list submissions to

 ? ? ? ?bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org



To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit

 ? ? ? ?http://lists.bostoncoop.net/mailman/listinfo/bostoncriticalmass

or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to

 ? ? ? ?bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org



You can reach the person managing the list at

 ? ? ? ?bostoncriticalmass-owner at bostoncriticalmass.org



When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific

than "Re: Contents of Bostoncriticalmass digest..."





Today's Topics:



 ? 1. Critical mass question (Victor Martelle)

 ? 2. Re: Critical mass question (Mars)





----------------------------------------------------------------------



Message: 1

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:55:10 -0700

From: Victor Martelle <vmartelle at metmail.org>

Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass question

To: bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org

Message-ID:

 ? ? ? ?<AANLkTi=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0 at mail.gmail.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"



Hello,



I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical mass,

are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do you get

motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the road so Ill

blare my horn for a few minutes"?

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------------------------------



Message: 2

Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:32:42 -0400

From: Mars <martian at MIT.EDU>

Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Critical mass question

To: "list at bostoncriticalmass.org" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>

Message-ID: <4C90223A.6030303 at mit.edu>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed



 ?It's odd you would ask this, as you seem to be somewhat of a Rhode

Island CM organizer...



But, in regards to a real answer, I would say it's fair to say that a

small percentage of the population (5%, 10%) is generally upset with

what is happening, the same percentage range is thrilled to see what is

happening, and of the rest, about half are confused, and the other half

are ambivalent.



On 9/14/2010 8:55 PM, Victor Martelle wrote:

> Hello,

>

> I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical

> mass, are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do

> you get motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the

> road so Ill blare my horn for a few minutes"?





------------------------------



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Boston Critical Mass mailing list

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http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list



End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 74, Issue 6

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From thehum at gmail.com  Thu Sep 16 00:07:17 2010
From: thehum at gmail.com (Greg Hum)
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:07:17 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] looking for guidance on cambridge-jp commuting route
In-Reply-To: <14722.18421.qm@web37505.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
References: <AANLkTimgA3bVv0Gd6=nSLLrctCPXWeGdNa047YOSx9sm@mail.gmail.com>
	<14722.18421.qm@web37505.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTiktCUbsFq0=eXD0nH5oGWXXfPoMQUy6Z5fxfSoY@mail.gmail.com>

I usually take that route. Here it is on google maps, zoomed into that break
you're talking about:
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=central+square+cambridge+ma&daddr=42.36194,-71.10797+to:42.34942,-71.11004+to:42.34753,-71.10554+to:42.3275986,-71.1155378+to:jamaica+plain+centre&hl=en&geocode=FZlxhgIdFwjD-ynpwOBIUXfjiTFLx8G9sLwZUg%3BFVRkhgIdfvrC-ynB8J2VV3fjiTEyxdnF-G7sbQ%3BFWwzhgIdaPLC-yk30zLM73njiTG3jagXZYVsag%3BFQoshgId_APD-ynbk2cO8XnjiTGKa-3FhFHcdQ%3BFS7ehQId79zC-yktsAn8m3njiTE7G66n05tHig%3BFRWhhQId2OHC-ylbRzQyMXnjiTH6VlQi_N7-Gg&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4&dirflg=b&sll=42.327395,-71.113365&sspn=0.008535,0.014098&ie=UTF8&ll=42.334295,-71.110876&spn=0.008534,0.014098&z=16&lci=bike>

<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=central+square+cambridge+ma&daddr=42.36194,-71.10797+to:42.34942,-71.11004+to:42.34753,-71.10554+to:42.3275986,-71.1155378+to:jamaica+plain+centre&hl=en&geocode=FZlxhgIdFwjD-ynpwOBIUXfjiTFLx8G9sLwZUg%3BFVRkhgIdfvrC-ynB8J2VV3fjiTEyxdnF-G7sbQ%3BFWwzhgIdaPLC-yk30zLM73njiTG3jagXZYVsag%3BFQoshgId_APD-ynbk2cO8XnjiTGKa-3FhFHcdQ%3BFS7ehQId79zC-yktsAn8m3njiTE7G66n05tHig%3BFRWhhQId2OHC-ylbRzQyMXnjiTH6VlQi_N7-Gg&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4&dirflg=b&sll=42.327395,-71.113365&sspn=0.008535,0.014098&ie=UTF8&ll=42.334295,-71.110876&spn=0.008534,0.014098&z=16&lci=bike>If
it's nighttime I'll skip the path and take mass ave to Huntington to
south Huntington to
centre<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=central+square+cambridge+ma&daddr=42.3545841,-71.0913268+to:42.3421422,-71.0858764+to:42.3363901,-71.098729+to:jamaica+plain+centre&hl=en&geocode=FZlxhgIdFwjD-ynpwOBIUXfjiTFLx8G9sLwZUg%3BFZhHhgIdgjvD-ym5QekpAXrjiTEw6tuj4OUL0g%3BFf4WhgIdzFDD-ykFhfxVF3rjiTHawUjnIchrxQ%3BFYYAhgIdlx7D-ykZf6MVinnjiTEFwuPafw6Atg%3BFRWhhQId2OHC-ylbRzQyMXnjiTH6VlQi_N7-Gg&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=3&sz=15&via=1,2,3&dirflg=w&sll=42.335707,-71.100426&sspn=0.017067,0.028195&ie=UTF8&ll=42.339768,-71.092186&spn=0.068265,0.112782&z=13>

<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=central+square+cambridge+ma&daddr=42.3545841,-71.0913268+to:42.3421422,-71.0858764+to:42.3363901,-71.098729+to:jamaica+plain+centre&hl=en&geocode=FZlxhgIdFwjD-ynpwOBIUXfjiTFLx8G9sLwZUg%3BFZhHhgIdgjvD-ym5QekpAXrjiTEw6tuj4OUL0g%3BFf4WhgIdzFDD-ykFhfxVF3rjiTHawUjnIchrxQ%3BFYYAhgIdlx7D-ykZf6MVinnjiTEFwuPafw6Atg%3BFRWhhQId2OHC-ylbRzQyMXnjiTH6VlQi_N7-Gg&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=3&sz=15&via=1,2,3&dirflg=w&sll=42.335707,-71.100426&sspn=0.017067,0.028195&ie=UTF8&ll=42.339768,-71.092186&spn=0.068265,0.112782&z=13>
-greg <http://thehum.bostonbiker.org>

<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=central+square+cambridge+ma&daddr=42.36194,-71.10797+to:42.34942,-71.11004+to:42.34753,-71.10554+to:42.3275986,-71.1155378+to:jamaica+plain+centre&hl=en&geocode=FZlxhgIdFwjD-ynpwOBIUXfjiTFLx8G9sLwZUg%3BFVRkhgIdfvrC-ynB8J2VV3fjiTEyxdnF-G7sbQ%3BFWwzhgIdaPLC-yk30zLM73njiTG3jagXZYVsag%3BFQoshgId_APD-ynbk2cO8XnjiTGKa-3FhFHcdQ%3BFS7ehQId79zC-yktsAn8m3njiTE7G66n05tHig%3BFRWhhQId2OHC-ylbRzQyMXnjiTH6VlQi_N7-Gg&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4&dirflg=b&sll=42.327395,-71.113365&sspn=0.008535,0.014098&ie=UTF8&ll=42.334295,-71.110876&spn=0.008534,0.014098&z=16&lci=bike>

On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 11:51 PM, Peter <gh3451 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I'll second the Mass Ave to the bike path starting at the "O" line stop.  I
> did it for a couple of years while in school.
>
> The other option is to stay straight after the BU bridge (Essex St.)  2nd
> right on Worthington Left on St. Paul, cross Beacon, road bears right where
> St. Paul ends and becomes Aspinwall road stays straight where Aspinwall ends
> and becomes Cypress.  Follow Cypress across Rt 9 road bears right where
> Cypress ends and becomes High St then left on Chestnut thru a small
> roundabout and your at the back of the Pond on Perkins in JP.
>
> Sounds way more complicated than it is, believe me it kind of flows once
> your on St. Paul and all of these roads are highlighted yellow on Google
> maps.  (I've ridden it plenty but did have to look up the street names) I've
> always found traffic a bit tamer on these Brookline Roads anyway.  Cypress
> after you cross Rt 9 is actually kind of a pleasant ride.
>
> That Riverway/J'Way bike path gap was just written up this week in one of
> the papers.  I will on occasion go up onto the bridge over Rt 9 but there
> can be a lot of junk against the curb there and I've never done it at rush
> hour.  Good Luck.
>
>
>
> --- On *Wed, 9/15/10, jude glaubman <glaubman.jude at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: jude glaubman <glaubman.jude at gmail.com>
> Subject: [*BCM*] looking for guidance on cambridge-jp commuting route
> To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 9:48 PM
>
>
> hey
>
> i'm biking from central square to jp quite regularly for work and still
> haven't put together a good route.  (nearly got killed today by a jerk who
> jumped his red light.)
>
> any suggestions for a low stress route from central square to jp centre.
>
> i currently take the bu bridge to the longwood t stop and across to the
> lovely bike path but then it's chopped up at brookline--am i missing a
> connecting path that goes more smoothly to the pond?
>
> thanks,
> jude
>
> On Wed, Sep 15, 2010 at 12:00 PM, <
> bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> > wrote:
>
> Send Bostoncriticalmass mailing list submissions to
>        bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>        http://lists.bostoncoop.net/mailman/listinfo/bostoncriticalmass
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>        bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>        bostoncriticalmass-owner at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=bostoncriticalmass-owner at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Bostoncriticalmass digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Critical mass question (Victor Martelle)
>   2. Re: Critical mass question (Mars)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:55:10 -0700
> From: Victor Martelle <vmartelle at metmail.org<http://mc/compose?to=vmartelle at metmail.org>
> >
> Subject: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
> To: bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID:
>        <AANLkTi=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0 at mail.gmail.com<http://mc/compose?to=Jr_-Jd1P9ZDWer4Bf09Han0cJ9m1UT4qoz0r0 at mail.gmail.com>
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hello,
>
> I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical mass,
> are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do you get
> motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the road so Ill
> blare my horn for a few minutes"?
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL:
> http://lists.bostoncoop.net/pipermail/bostoncriticalmass/attachments/20100914/c7fb93f9/attachment-0001.htm
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:32:42 -0400
> From: Mars <martian at MIT.EDU <http://mc/compose?to=martian at MIT.EDU>>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Critical mass question
> To: "list at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=list at bostoncriticalmass.org>"
> <list at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> >
> Message-ID: <4C90223A.6030303 at mit.edu<http://mc/compose?to=4C90223A.6030303 at mit.edu>
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>  It's odd you would ask this, as you seem to be somewhat of a Rhode
> Island CM organizer...
>
> But, in regards to a real answer, I would say it's fair to say that a
> small percentage of the population (5%, 10%) is generally upset with
> what is happening, the same percentage range is thrilled to see what is
> happening, and of the rest, about half are confused, and the other half
> are ambivalent.
>
> On 9/14/2010 8:55 PM, Victor Martelle wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am just wondering, when you guys are in the middle of the critical
> > mass, are pedestrians and motorists usually supportive? How often do
> > you get motorists who basicly think that "bicycles shouldnt be in the
> > road so Ill blare my horn for a few minutes"?
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>
> End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 74, Issue 6
> *************************************************
>
>
>
> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org<http://mc/compose?to=list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>
>
>
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> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
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From hlewis at challiance.org  Fri Sep 17 15:35:41 2010
From: hlewis at challiance.org (Lewis, Henry)
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:35:41 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] 4th Cambridge Bow Tie Bike Ride
Message-ID: <5E041CE4C6ED414885EA2E81ED27C11D1CA77566@sasquatch.cphc.local>

Please forward this email liberally!

First Announcement!

What: The 4th Cambridge Bow Tie Bike Ride

When: Sunday, October 3, 2010
Meet at 12:30 PM, ride departs at 1:00 PM sharp!

Where: Start and end at Lechmere Canal Park
Behind the CambridgeSide Galleria Mall, near Sears
http://www.cambridgebikes.org

Ever notice that the city of Cambridge is shaped like a bow
tie? Come see for yourself, at the 4th Cambridge Bow Tie Ride!
Join us for 14.5 scenic miles by bike, as we circle our fair
city's Western perimeter, "tie the knot" in the center of
Cambridge, then loop around the Eastern border. This will be
a gorgeous Autumn ride, at an easy pace on mostly level
terrain.

Everyone is invited to untie with us post-ride at the launch
site (Lechmere Canal Park). Complimentary food and drinks
will be provided by the CambridgeSide Galleria and Whole
Foods Market.


If you would like to participate in the bike tour but don't
have a working bike, here's your chance. Urban AdvenTours
is offering free bike rentals for the first 10 people who
sign up (additional bikes are available to rent, of course).
Urban AdvenTours is a short distance from Lechmere. You
must contact Urban AdvenTours directly no later than
Wednesday September 29.

Urban AdvenTours - Boston Bicycle Tours and Rentals
103 Atlantic Ave
Boston, MA 02110
Office: (617) 670-0637
http://www.urbanadventours.com


The CambridgeSide Galleria Mall is offering free parking for
people bringing their bikes by car. Vouchers will be issued
at the start of the ride.


No rain date. Heavy rain cancels.

For more information, visit:

http://www.cambridgebikes.org

Organized by the Cambridge Bicycle Committee:

http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/bike/bike_com.html

And the Cambridge Public Health Department

http://www.cambridgepublichealth.org

----------------------------------------------------------------

"Cambridge Bikes!" Facebook Group

Check out the Facebook group for people who bike (or want to
bike) in Cambridge. Join the group if you are on Facebook,
or just visit the group if you are not. See:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78469433513




__________________________________
Henry A. Lewis 
Cambridge Public Health Department
119 Windsor Street, Ground Floor
Cambridge, MA 02139
Office (617) 665-3686
Cell (617) 599-0543
Fax (617) 665-3888
hlewis at challiance.org

This message, including any attachments, is solely for the use of the
intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged
information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of
this communication is expressly prohibited. If you are not the intended
recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy any and
all copies of the original message. Thank you.





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From rinonvan at gmail.com  Tue Sep 21 10:43:20 2010
From: rinonvan at gmail.com (rinonvan at gmail.com)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:43:20 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Video recording the rides
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=78z1S66SyrTF6EVKnTXr4zyWQu9LnMc5nxei-@mail.gmail.com>

This is twofold actually.

Firstly, looking forward to the next ride in a few days as I have
immensely enjoyed the last four or five.
I've seen several people recording the rides and wonder how people
feel about this.
I actually like seeing the videos and wish there were more online, but
also wonder if others would rather not be documented as we do actually
run red lights and stop signs and "cork" intersections. Being still
quite new to CM rides, is there some kind of general understanding
about recording or photographing? Has a video ever been used as
"evidence" against a participant?
I'm also interested in any recommendations on recording techniques,
what people use, et cetera as I'm not terribly comfortable with a
handheld phone or camera while I ride.

Secondly, in regards to the incident last month (hope things are going
well for Yoni, any update?) I just found this interesting link via
Boing Boing that I thought I would share:
http://reason.com/archives/2010/09/20/how-to-record-the-cops
Has anyone tried recording wirelessly, instantly streaming and archiving online?
Could have been extremely helpful.

Thanks.

-S

From vmartelle at metmail.org  Tue Sep 21 11:06:24 2010
From: vmartelle at metmail.org (Victor Martelle)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:06:24 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Video recording the rides
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=78z1S66SyrTF6EVKnTXr4zyWQu9LnMc5nxei-@mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTi=78z1S66SyrTF6EVKnTXr4zyWQu9LnMc5nxei-@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=vbLyisXxoVzXbUTohH+Mk6zsEG2SN0aG4OAD9@mail.gmail.com>

Corking, running red lights, and running stop signs; theres a purpose on why
its done. In my opinion, I'd say record. I don't live in Boston, and attend
Rhode Islands CM's, but I love watching boston, SF, and other peoples rides
on youtube, old and recent.

There are vests you can buy that hold a camera right on your chest. I have
seen a camera mounted on the handlebars. I don't know what there called, but
they are around.

And yes, police officers have been FIRED due to video tapes being used
against them. They had an incidient in NY were an officer assaulted a
critical mass participant, and long and behold, another CM'er was taping it.
The officer was then fired.

just be careful on who and when you video tape. I have seen people who video
tape arrests, then being arrested themselfs.

On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 10:43 AM, <rinonvan at gmail.com> wrote:

> This is twofold actually.
>
> Firstly, looking forward to the next ride in a few days as I have
> immensely enjoyed the last four or five.
> I've seen several people recording the rides and wonder how people
> feel about this.
> I actually like seeing the videos and wish there were more online, but
> also wonder if others would rather not be documented as we do actually
> run red lights and stop signs and "cork" intersections. Being still
> quite new to CM rides, is there some kind of general understanding
> about recording or photographing? Has a video ever been used as
> "evidence" against a participant?
> I'm also interested in any recommendations on recording techniques,
> what people use, et cetera as I'm not terribly comfortable with a
> handheld phone or camera while I ride.
>
> Secondly, in regards to the incident last month (hope things are going
> well for Yoni, any update?) I just found this interesting link via
> Boing Boing that I thought I would share:
> http://reason.com/archives/2010/09/20/how-to-record-the-cops
> Has anyone tried recording wirelessly, instantly streaming and archiving
> online?
> Could have been extremely helpful.
>
> Thanks.
>
> -S
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
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From tjvitolo at tommyvitolo.com  Tue Sep 21 11:29:03 2010
From: tjvitolo at tommyvitolo.com (Thomas Vitolo)
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:29:03 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Video recording the rides
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=vbLyisXxoVzXbUTohH+Mk6zsEG2SN0aG4OAD9@mail.gmail.com>
References: <AANLkTi=78z1S66SyrTF6EVKnTXr4zyWQu9LnMc5nxei-@mail.gmail.com>
	<AANLkTi=vbLyisXxoVzXbUTohH+Mk6zsEG2SN0aG4OAD9@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <4C98CF3F.6010609@tommyvitolo.com>

I would just point out that unlike many states, Massachusetts has two 
party consent for audio taping.  This means that you must make sure that 
the camera is clearly visible if you're recording audio.  IANAL, and 
this is not legal advice... just be careful on this, as a MA resident 
ran into legal trouble for recording (video and audio) between a police 
officer and herself in her own home.

  - TV


On 9/21/10 11:06 AM, Victor Martelle wrote:
> Corking, running red lights, and running stop signs; theres a purpose 
> on why its done. In my opinion, I'd say record. I don't live in 
> Boston, and attend Rhode Islands CM's, but I love watching boston, SF, 
> and other peoples rides on youtube, old and recent.
> There are vests you can buy that hold a camera right on your chest. I 
> have seen a camera mounted on the handlebars. I don't know what there 
> called, but they are around.
> And yes, police officers have been FIRED due to video tapes being used 
> against them. They had an incidient in NY were an officer assaulted a 
> critical mass participant, and long and behold, another CM'er was 
> taping it. The officer was then fired.
> just be careful on who and when you video tape. I have seen people who 
> video tape arrests, then being arrested themselfs.
>
> On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 10:43 AM, <rinonvan at gmail.com 
> <mailto:rinonvan at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     This is twofold actually.
>
>     Firstly, looking forward to the next ride in a few days as I have
>     immensely enjoyed the last four or five.
>     I've seen several people recording the rides and wonder how people
>     feel about this.
>     I actually like seeing the videos and wish there were more online, but
>     also wonder if others would rather not be documented as we do actually
>     run red lights and stop signs and "cork" intersections. Being still
>     quite new to CM rides, is there some kind of general understanding
>     about recording or photographing? Has a video ever been used as
>     "evidence" against a participant?
>     I'm also interested in any recommendations on recording techniques,
>     what people use, et cetera as I'm not terribly comfortable with a
>     handheld phone or camera while I ride.
>
>     Secondly, in regards to the incident last month (hope things are going
>     well for Yoni, any update?) I just found this interesting link via
>     Boing Boing that I thought I would share:
>     http://reason.com/archives/2010/09/20/how-to-record-the-cops
>     Has anyone tried recording wirelessly, instantly streaming and
>     archiving online?
>     Could have been extremely helpful.
>
>     Thanks.
>
>     -S
>     _______________________________________________
>     Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>     list at bostoncriticalmass.org <mailto:list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>     http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>     To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>     <mailto:list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

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From ralbrecht at speakeasy.net  Wed Sep 22 22:46:56 2010
From: ralbrecht at speakeasy.net (Rebecca Albrecht)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:46:56 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
Message-ID: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>

In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I 
organized  the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second 
Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people 
though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride 
Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I 
didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people 
would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical 
mass could become more courteous.

Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
1. When CM  comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the 
light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass 
up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a 
big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the 
cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the 
front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the 
light changes.
2. Once CM has started through the intersection & then the light changes 
they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that 
everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?) 
jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves 
the purpose of keeping CM together.
3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.

Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I & 
it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and 
feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month. 
Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed 
to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who 
determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big 
obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to 
get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole 
month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature 
of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous 
Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we 
can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow 
some very basic guidelines.

From hyamada at MIT.EDU  Wed Sep 22 22:56:40 2010
From: hyamada at MIT.EDU (Hiroyuki Yamada)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:56:40 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
References: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
Message-ID: <4C9AC1E8.7060800@mit.edu>

I'd be up for this sort of mass as well. Mostly because I missed most 
(read:all) of the Boston summer masses due to being silly and 
out-of-town the whole summer, so I would be in favor of any and all safe 
and populous city bike rides. (I ride in and out of the city all the 
time, but it's much more enjoyable with a mass.)

Any interest in advertising at this week's [critical] mass for an 
october 8th courteous mass? Actually.. now that I think about it, the 
8th might not work for me, but in general I would be up for riding a 
2nd-friday-of-the-month ride.

I can get access to a large amounts of printing, but I don't think I 
have time to design one or cut them into 1/2 or 1/4 sheet size... If 
someone has an old design they can re-work, I can print 100 or so copies 
and give them back tomorrow night for someone to cut up for friday. Or 
just hand out full-size posters, but that's a monstrous waste of paper 
for what amounts to "Come ride again in 2 weeks!"

-Yuki

On 9/22/2010 10:46 PM, Rebecca Albrecht wrote:
> In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I
> organized  the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second
> Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people
> though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride
> Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I
> didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people
> would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical
> mass could become more courteous.
>
> Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
> 1. When CM  comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the
> light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass
> up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a
> big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the
> cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the
> front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the
> light changes.
> 2. Once CM has started through the intersection&  then the light changes
> they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that
> everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?)
> jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves
> the purpose of keeping CM together.
> 3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
> 4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.
>
> Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I&
> it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and
> feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month.
> Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed
> to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who
> determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big
> obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to
> get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole
> month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature
> of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous
> Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we
> can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow
> some very basic guidelines.
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

From benmoss at gmail.com  Wed Sep 22 22:59:42 2010
From: benmoss at gmail.com (Ben Moss)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:59:42 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: <4C9AC1E8.7060800@mit.edu>
References: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
	<4C9AC1E8.7060800@mit.edu>
Message-ID: <AANLkTikk+LdcUeOQ9WxOmSfpAWO3Ni1ZRi6mnRUoxtaw@mail.gmail.com>

I love the Oct. 8 Courteous Mass idea - let's do it!

Ben

On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 10:56 PM, Hiroyuki Yamada <hyamada at mit.edu> wrote:
> I'd be up for this sort of mass as well. Mostly because I missed most
> (read:all) of the Boston summer masses due to being silly and
> out-of-town the whole summer, so I would be in favor of any and all safe
> and populous city bike rides. (I ride in and out of the city all the
> time, but it's much more enjoyable with a mass.)
>
> Any interest in advertising at this week's [critical] mass for an
> october 8th courteous mass? Actually.. now that I think about it, the
> 8th might not work for me, but in general I would be up for riding a
> 2nd-friday-of-the-month ride.
>
> I can get access to a large amounts of printing, but I don't think I
> have time to design one or cut them into 1/2 or 1/4 sheet size... If
> someone has an old design they can re-work, I can print 100 or so copies
> and give them back tomorrow night for someone to cut up for friday. Or
> just hand out full-size posters, but that's a monstrous waste of paper
> for what amounts to "Come ride again in 2 weeks!"
>
> -Yuki
>
> On 9/22/2010 10:46 PM, Rebecca Albrecht wrote:
>> In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I
>> organized ?the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second
>> Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people
>> though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride
>> Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I
>> didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people
>> would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical
>> mass could become more courteous.
>>
>> Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
>> 1. When CM ?comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the
>> light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass
>> up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a
>> big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the
>> cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the
>> front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the
>> light changes.
>> 2. Once CM has started through the intersection& ?then the light changes
>> they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that
>> everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?)
>> jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves
>> the purpose of keeping CM together.
>> 3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
>> 4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.
>>
>> Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I&
>> it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and
>> feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month.
>> Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed
>> to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who
>> determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big
>> obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to
>> get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole
>> month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature
>> of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous
>> Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we
>> can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow
>> some very basic guidelines.
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>

From hyamada at MIT.EDU  Wed Sep 22 23:02:00 2010
From: hyamada at MIT.EDU (Hiroyuki Yamada)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:02:00 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
References: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
Message-ID: <4C9AC328.1000403@mit.edu>

Actually, now that I think about it, I can't remember; does the ride 
meet in Copley at 5:30 and leave at 6? Or meet at 5 and leave at 5:30...

Thanks, and see you friday!
-Yuki

On 9/22/2010 10:46 PM, Rebecca Albrecht wrote:
> In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I
> organized  the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second
> Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people
> though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride
> Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I
> didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people
> would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical
> mass could become more courteous.
>
> Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
> 1. When CM  comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the
> light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass
> up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a
> big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the
> cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the
> front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the
> light changes.
> 2. Once CM has started through the intersection&  then the light changes
> they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that
> everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?)
> jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves
> the purpose of keeping CM together.
> 3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
> 4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.
>
> Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I&
> it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and
> feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month.
> Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed
> to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who
> determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big
> obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to
> get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole
> month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature
> of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous
> Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we
> can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow
> some very basic guidelines.
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

From jym at econet.org  Wed Sep 22 23:31:10 2010
From: jym at econet.org (Jym Dyer)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:31:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: Message from Rebecca Albrecht of "Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:46:56 EDT."
References: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
Message-ID: <Jym.22Sep2010.4c9ac9ac@scorcher.org>

=v= I am in support of courtesy.  It is the exact opposite
of courteous to hijack another event's name and alter it in
an insinuating way.
    <_Jym_>


From ralbrecht at speakeasy.net  Wed Sep 22 23:51:15 2010
From: ralbrecht at speakeasy.net (Rebecca Albrecht)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:51:15 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
Message-ID: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>


Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think 
it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday 
of the month ie. this Friday.



From danny.piccirillo at gmail.com  Wed Sep 22 23:58:00 2010
From: danny.piccirillo at gmail.com (danny.piccirillo at gmail.com)
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:58:00 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
In-Reply-To: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>
References: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=0Hqp-TGDmFz_OQPeK_uN2Mjw2ehKUsPLNe6Gg@mail.gmail.com>

Shouldn't all critical mass rides be "courteous"? That's not to say it
isn't an act of disobedience, but the guidelines in the original
message, should be the guidelines for all mass rides. We can be
disruptive and show that we don't want pure chaos. I'd also like to
add that we should avoid riding on sidewalks and pissing off
pedestrians.

I'm glad someone posted this because i've had a draft email that i've
been meaning to write and send about this very issue, i just never had
the time!

On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 23:51, Rebecca Albrecht <ralbrecht at speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
> Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think
> it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday
> of the month ie. this Friday.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>



-- 
.danny

??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters.

From aarondball at gmail.com  Thu Sep 23 00:02:27 2010
From: aarondball at gmail.com (Aaron D. Ball)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:02:27 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
In-Reply-To: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>
References: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>
Message-ID: <AANLkTim2wZKAQCs=MZ5S7SiGRpZJx+TJHQmv8e98OaYa@mail.gmail.com>

On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 23:51, Rebecca Albrecht <ralbrecht at speakeasy.net> wrote:

> Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think
> it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday
> of the month ie. this Friday.

Rebecca,

I say this as someone who likes Courteous Mass enough to have ridden
in the rainy one, and someone who will happily participate in the next
one whenever it may be:

I ride in Critical Mass because too many drivers think cyclists should
be afraid of them, and because the intentional and the reckless
violence they commit has hurt friends and family and made my mother
and my fiancee afraid to ride on the streets.

Critical Mass is a direct-action protest.  Watering it down to the
point that no one is inconvenienced is not going to fly.  Trying to
turn Critical Mass into Courteous Mass or to hold them at the same
time will harm your goals more than it helps.

From danny.piccirillo at gmail.com  Thu Sep 23 00:05:23 2010
From: danny.piccirillo at gmail.com (danny.piccirillo at gmail.com)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:05:23 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTim2wZKAQCs=MZ5S7SiGRpZJx+TJHQmv8e98OaYa@mail.gmail.com>
References: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>
	<AANLkTim2wZKAQCs=MZ5S7SiGRpZJx+TJHQmv8e98OaYa@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=wGnkFY9gwn9coSzRyQVs5bfBtKOaYmbwi42w1@mail.gmail.com>

We should absolutely inconvenience them. We should not endanger
ourselves and use the wrong side of the road, or the sidewalks.

On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 00:02, Aaron D. Ball <aarondball at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 23:51, Rebecca Albrecht <ralbrecht at speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
>> Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think
>> it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday
>> of the month ie. this Friday.
>
> Rebecca,
>
> I say this as someone who likes Courteous Mass enough to have ridden
> in the rainy one, and someone who will happily participate in the next
> one whenever it may be:
>
> I ride in Critical Mass because too many drivers think cyclists should
> be afraid of them, and because the intentional and the reckless
> violence they commit has hurt friends and family and made my mother
> and my fiancee afraid to ride on the streets.
>
> Critical Mass is a direct-action protest. ?Watering it down to the
> point that no one is inconvenienced is not going to fly. ?Trying to
> turn Critical Mass into Courteous Mass or to hold them at the same
> time will harm your goals more than it helps.
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>



-- 
.danny

??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters.

From thom3 at aol.com  Thu Sep 23 07:13:51 2010
From: thom3 at aol.com (thom3 at aol.com)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 07:13:51 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: <Jym.22Sep2010.4c9ac9ac@scorcher.org>
References: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
	<Jym.22Sep2010.4c9ac9ac@scorcher.org>
Message-ID: <8CD2927895ADF1C-864-1161A@webmail-m058.sysops.aol.com>


 

 And speaking of insinuation; 'hijack,' 'exact opposite' of courtesy....

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jym Dyer <jym at econet.org>
To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Wed, Sep 22, 2010 11:31 pm
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?


=v= I am in support of courtesy.  It is the exact opposite
of courteous to hijack another event's name and alter it in
an insinuating way.
    <_Jym_>

_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

 
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From thom3 at aol.com  Thu Sep 23 07:28:06 2010
From: thom3 at aol.com (thom3 at aol.com)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 07:28:06 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTi=0Hqp-TGDmFz_OQPeK_uN2Mjw2ehKUsPLNe6Gg@mail.gmail.com>
References: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>
	<AANLkTi=0Hqp-TGDmFz_OQPeK_uN2Mjw2ehKUsPLNe6Gg@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <8CD292986841142-864-11831@webmail-m058.sysops.aol.com>


 I can't say that I disagree with the sentiment and the issue of safety, but you know the argument, 'Critical Mass refuses to be defined.' That said, there have been led/theme rides before...the parking meter ride for one, so why not? 

I'm glad you put it out there Rebecca.

 


 T

 

-----Original Message-----
From: danny.piccirillo at gmail.com <danny.piccirillo at gmail.com>
To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Wed, Sep 22, 2010 11:58 pm
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass


Shouldn't all critical mass rides be "courteous"? That's not to say it
isn't an act of disobedience, but the guidelines in the original
message, should be the guidelines for all mass rides. We can be
disruptive and show that we don't want pure chaos. I'd also like to
add that we should avoid riding on sidewalks and pissing off
pedestrians.

I'm glad someone posted this because i've had a draft email that i've
been meaning to write and send about this very issue, i just never had
the time!

On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 23:51, Rebecca Albrecht <ralbrecht at speakeasy.net> wrote:
>
> Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think
> it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday
> of the month ie. this Friday.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>



-- 
.danny

??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters.
_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

 
-------------- next part --------------
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From christollesbulk at gmail.com  Thu Sep 23 08:12:49 2010
From: christollesbulk at gmail.com (Chris Tolles)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:12:49 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: <Jym.22Sep2010.4c9ac9ac@scorcher.org>
References: <4C9ABFA0.6050708@speakeasy.net>
	<Jym.22Sep2010.4c9ac9ac@scorcher.org>
Message-ID: <A9B631DA-384E-46A3-A96E-46E97ABC932C@gmail.com>

Critical Mass, the "leaderless", "grassroots", "spontaneous" movement, is annoyed that its name is being "hijacked"?  Give me a a break.  A lack of courtesy does not a wrong act make, but you'd have to do semantic backflips to to claim that CM is a courteous act.

Critical Mass is cool, but I'm totally down for a Courteous Mass!  Sign me up!

- c

On Sep 22, 2010, at 11:31 PM, Jym Dyer wrote:

> =v= I am in support of courtesy.  It is the exact opposite
> of courteous to hijack another event's name and alter it in
> an insinuating way.
>    <_Jym_>
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org


From zsebkecske at gmail.com  Thu Sep 23 09:14:36 2010
From: zsebkecske at gmail.com (=?UTF-8?Q?Bence_B=C3=A9ky?=)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:14:36 +0200
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
In-Reply-To: <8CD292986841142-864-11831@webmail-m058.sysops.aol.com>
References: <4C9ACEB3.9060304@speakeasy.net>
	<AANLkTi=0Hqp-TGDmFz_OQPeK_uN2Mjw2ehKUsPLNe6Gg@mail.gmail.com>
	<8CD292986841142-864-11831@webmail-m058.sysops.aol.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTik=_ai909sW2OhsPjseMAAD1NRC+y8PRmXNFFxB@mail.gmail.com>

Hi,

just to let you know that the concept of Critical Mass can be fairly
different in other countries:

We had our ride last night. http://criticalmass.hu/english. The
National Cycling Club has put a lot of effort to organizing the event.
I was one of the few hundred volunteers making sure that the ten
thousand participants all ride responsibly. The police fined many
cyclists who didn't stop on red, didn't have lights or rode on the
sidewalk (fortunately generally forbidden in Europe). This was
partially about educating people how to ride without annoying other
participants of traffic, but the emphasis was on showing everybody
that cycling is a means of transportation with equal rights.

We have rides twice a year, the one on Earth Day is more a family
event, with motor traffic blocked around the city. Like a festival.
The one on Car Free Day is the one where we just ride around, as part
of traffic, to show that every vehicle is equal.

The special occasion this time was that city council election is
coming up in two weeks, so last night, after the demonstration, there
was a public forum with the representatives of the four major parties.
This was a nice chance for us voters to see how competent they are and
how seriously they take the issue of cycling.

I'm gonna return to Boston in October, see you guys around!

Bence

On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 13:28,  <thom3 at aol.com> wrote:
> I can't say that I disagree with the sentiment and the issue of safety, but
> you know the argument, 'Critical Mass refuses to be defined.' That said,
> there have been led/theme rides before...the parking meter ride for one, so
> why not?
>
> I'm glad you put it out there Rebecca.
>
> T
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: danny.piccirillo at gmail.com <danny.piccirillo at gmail.com>
> To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Sent: Wed, Sep 22, 2010 11:58 pm
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
>
> Shouldn't all critical mass rides be "courteous"? That's not to say it
> isn't an act of disobedience, but the guidelines in the original
> message, should be the guidelines for all mass rides. We can be
> disruptive and show that we don't want pure chaos. I'd also like to
> add that we should avoid riding on sidewalks and pissing off
> pedestrians.
>
> I'm glad someone posted this because i've had a draft email that i've
> been meaning to write and send about this very issue, i just never had
> the time!
>
> On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 23:51, Rebecca Albrecht <ralbrecht at speakeasy.net>
> wrote:
>>
>> Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think
>> it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday
>> of the month ie. this Friday.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>
>
>
> --
> .danny
>
> ??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
> Every (in)decision matters.
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>

From ralbrecht at speakeasy.net  Thu Sep 23 10:44:19 2010
From: ralbrecht at speakeasy.net (Rebecca Albrecht)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:44:19 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 74, Issue 11
In-Reply-To: <mailman.725.1285214595.2665.bostoncriticalmass@bostoncriticalmass.org>
References: <mailman.725.1285214595.2665.bostoncriticalmass@bostoncriticalmass.org>
Message-ID: <4C9B67C3.9030609@speakeasy.net>

On 9/23/10 12:03 AM, bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org 
wrote:
> Send Bostoncriticalmass mailing list submissions to
> 	bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> 	http://lists.bostoncoop.net/mailman/listinfo/bostoncriticalmass
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> 	bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> 	bostoncriticalmass-owner at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Bostoncriticalmass digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>     1. Courteous Mass? (Rebecca Albrecht)
>     2. Re: Courteous Mass? (Hiroyuki Yamada)
>     3. Re: Courteous Mass? (Ben Moss)
>     4. Re: Courteous Mass? (Hiroyuki Yamada)
>     5. Re: Courteous Mass? (Jym Dyer)
>     6. Courteous Mass (Rebecca Albrecht)
>     7. Re: Courteous Mass (danny.piccirillo at gmail.com)
>     8. Re: Courteous Mass (Aaron D. Ball)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:46:56 -0400
> From: Rebecca Albrecht<ralbrecht at speakeasy.net>
> Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
> To: bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
> Message-ID:<4C9ABFA0.6050708 at speakeasy.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I
> organized  the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second
> Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people
> though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride
> Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I
> didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people
> would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical
> mass could become more courteous.
>
> Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
> 1. When CM  comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the
> light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass
> up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a
> big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the
> cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the
> front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the
> light changes.
> 2. Once CM has started through the intersection&  then the light changes
> they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that
> everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?)
> jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves
> the purpose of keeping CM together.
> 3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
> 4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.
>
> Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I&
> it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and
> feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month.
> Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed
> to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who
> determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big
> obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to
> get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole
> month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature
> of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous
> Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we
> can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow
> some very basic guidelines.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:56:40 -0400
> From: Hiroyuki Yamada<hyamada at MIT.EDU>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
> To: Boston Critical Mass<list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Cc: Rebecca Albrecht<ralbrecht at speakeasy.net>
> Message-ID:<4C9AC1E8.7060800 at mit.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I'd be up for this sort of mass as well. Mostly because I missed most
> (read:all) of the Boston summer masses due to being silly and
> out-of-town the whole summer, so I would be in favor of any and all safe
> and populous city bike rides. (I ride in and out of the city all the
> time, but it's much more enjoyable with a mass.)
>
> Any interest in advertising at this week's [critical] mass for an
> october 8th courteous mass? Actually.. now that I think about it, the
> 8th might not work for me, but in general I would be up for riding a
> 2nd-friday-of-the-month ride.
>
> I can get access to a large amounts of printing, but I don't think I
> have time to design one or cut them into 1/2 or 1/4 sheet size... If
> someone has an old design they can re-work, I can print 100 or so copies
> and give them back tomorrow night for someone to cut up for friday. Or
> just hand out full-size posters, but that's a monstrous waste of paper
> for what amounts to "Come ride again in 2 weeks!"
>
> -Yuki
>
> On 9/22/2010 10:46 PM, Rebecca Albrecht wrote:
>> In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I
>> organized  the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second
>> Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people
>> though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride
>> Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I
>> didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people
>> would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical
>> mass could become more courteous.
>>
>> Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
>> 1. When CM  comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the
>> light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass
>> up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a
>> big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the
>> cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the
>> front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the
>> light changes.
>> 2. Once CM has started through the intersection&   then the light changes
>> they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that
>> everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?)
>> jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves
>> the purpose of keeping CM together.
>> 3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
>> 4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.
>>
>> Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I&
>> it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and
>> feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month.
>> Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed
>> to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who
>> determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big
>> obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to
>> get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole
>> month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature
>> of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous
>> Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we
>> can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow
>> some very basic guidelines.
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:59:42 -0400
> From: Ben Moss<benmoss at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
> To: Boston Critical Mass<list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<AANLkTikk+LdcUeOQ9WxOmSfpAWO3Ni1ZRi6mnRUoxtaw at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> I love the Oct. 8 Courteous Mass idea - let's do it!
>
> Ben
>
> On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 10:56 PM, Hiroyuki Yamada<hyamada at mit.edu>  wrote:
>> I'd be up for this sort of mass as well. Mostly because I missed most
>> (read:all) of the Boston summer masses due to being silly and
>> out-of-town the whole summer, so I would be in favor of any and all safe
>> and populous city bike rides. (I ride in and out of the city all the
>> time, but it's much more enjoyable with a mass.)
>>
>> Any interest in advertising at this week's [critical] mass for an
>> october 8th courteous mass? Actually.. now that I think about it, the
>> 8th might not work for me, but in general I would be up for riding a
>> 2nd-friday-of-the-month ride.
>>
>> I can get access to a large amounts of printing, but I don't think I
>> have time to design one or cut them into 1/2 or 1/4 sheet size... If
>> someone has an old design they can re-work, I can print 100 or so copies
>> and give them back tomorrow night for someone to cut up for friday. Or
>> just hand out full-size posters, but that's a monstrous waste of paper
>> for what amounts to "Come ride again in 2 weeks!"
>>
>> -Yuki
>>
>> On 9/22/2010 10:46 PM, Rebecca Albrecht wrote:
>>> In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I
>>> organized ?the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second
>>> Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people
>>> though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride
>>> Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I
>>> didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people
>>> would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical
>>> mass could become more courteous.
>>>
>>> Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
>>> 1. When CM ?comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the
>>> light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass
>>> up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a
>>> big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the
>>> cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the
>>> front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the
>>> light changes.
>>> 2. Once CM has started through the intersection&  ?then the light changes
>>> they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that
>>> everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?)
>>> jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves
>>> the purpose of keeping CM together.
>>> 3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
>>> 4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.
>>>
>>> Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I&
>>> it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and
>>> feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month.
>>> Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed
>>> to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who
>>> determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big
>>> obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to
>>> get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole
>>> month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature
>>> of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous
>>> Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we
>>> can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow
>>> some very basic guidelines.
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:02:00 -0400
> From: Hiroyuki Yamada<hyamada at MIT.EDU>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
> To: Boston Critical Mass<list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID:<4C9AC328.1000403 at mit.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Actually, now that I think about it, I can't remember; does the ride
> meet in Copley at 5:30 and leave at 6? Or meet at 5 and leave at 5:30...
>
> Thanks, and see you friday!
> -Yuki
>
> On 9/22/2010 10:46 PM, Rebecca Albrecht wrote:
>> In 2008 my son, the guy that rides the high bike with the air horn and I
>> organized  the courteous mass rides. They were to be held the second
>> Friday of the month. For the first ride we had a fair number of people
>> though it poured midway through the ride. By the time of the second ride
>> Brendan had gone off to college, and just a few people showed up. I
>> didn't continue after that. I and I know a significant number of people
>> would like to do a more "courteous ride". It would be nice if critical
>> mass could become more courteous.
>>
>> Here are some very basic guidelines of how it could be
>> 1. When CM  comes to a red light/yellow light, or to cars waiting at the
>> light CM stops behind the cars giving all the cyclists a chance to mass
>> up. Weaving through cars waiting for the light to change just makes a
>> big mess of things, understandably annoys car drivers and separates the
>> cyclists. Personally I do not like to weave between cars to get to the
>> front. I prefer to claim a lane which I feel entitled to be in when the
>> light changes.
>> 2. Once CM has started through the intersection&   then the light changes
>> they should just keep going (well, maybe not in Cambridge!) so that
>> everyone stays together which will result in less of a log (bicycle?)
>> jam for the cars/pedestrians. I think "corking is fine because it serves
>> the purpose of keeping CM together.
>> 3. Do not travel in the on-coming lane of traffic.
>> 4. Be aware that the riders stay together by adjusting the pace.
>>
>> Although complaints are continually made that CM is a protest ride, I&
>> it seems most people like to do the CM rides because it can be fun and
>> feels safe to ride amongst a crowd of cyclists once a month.
>> Occasionally there are the anti-car chants which I wish could be changed
>> to be more pro-cycling instead. In CM it is the "leader" of the ride who
>> determines whether CM waits for red lights etc. And that is a big
>> obstacle. The leader can be continually changing and it is difficult to
>> get that person to follow a few commonsense guidelines. For the whole
>> month I ride in a very focused manner so I find that the relaxed nature
>> of CM rides can be fun. Maybe we could change the rides to be Courteous
>> Mass rides -same place/same time but with balloons for everyone (so we
>> can identify one another) who just wants a fun ride and wants to follow
>> some very basic guidelines.
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:31:10 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Jym Dyer<jym at econet.org>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
> To: Boston Critical Mass<list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID:<Jym.22Sep2010.4c9ac9ac at scorcher.org>
>
> =v= I am in support of courtesy.  It is the exact opposite
> of courteous to hijack another event's name and alter it in
> an insinuating way.
>      <_Jym_>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:51:15 -0400
> From: Rebecca Albrecht<ralbrecht at speakeasy.net>
> Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
> To: bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
> Message-ID:<4C9ACEB3.9060304 at speakeasy.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>
> Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think
> it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday
> of the month ie. this Friday.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:58:00 -0400
> From: "danny.piccirillo at gmail.com"<danny.piccirillo at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass
> To: Boston Critical Mass<list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<AANLkTi=0Hqp-TGDmFz_OQPeK_uN2Mjw2ehKUsPLNe6Gg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Shouldn't all critical mass rides be "courteous"? That's not to say it
> isn't an act of disobedience, but the guidelines in the original
> message, should be the guidelines for all mass rides. We can be
> disruptive and show that we don't want pure chaos. I'd also like to
> add that we should avoid riding on sidewalks and pissing off
> pedestrians.
>
> I'm glad someone posted this because i've had a draft email that i've
> been meaning to write and send about this very issue, i just never had
> the time!
>
> On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 23:51, Rebecca Albrecht<ralbrecht at speakeasy.net>  wrote:
>>
>> Having tried to do a Courteous Mass in the middle of the month I think
>> it would work better to do it on the traditional day of the last Friday
>> of the month ie. this Friday.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>
>
>
"> I am in support of courtesy.  It is the exact opposite
> of courteous to hijack another event's name and alter it in
> an insinuating way."
>     <_Jym_>
If you think the name courteous hijacks the name critical so be it. We 
can keep the name Critical Mass. Its really just about riding in a 
cohesive mass. Thus some very basic guidelines. We would still be 
inconveniencing cars just as cars inconvenience one another because we 
are also traffic. It just would be more fun to stay together as a group.

From vfalorn at yahoo.com  Thu Sep 23 12:40:33 2010
From: vfalorn at yahoo.com (Stephan Mathieu)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:40:33 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass
Message-ID: <949499.10211.qm@web30706.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

I totally agree with this...these are simple guidelines that make lots of sense. Also, for tomorrow's ride, be forewarned that the BPD is handing out $20 tickets to cyclists that are running reds at the BU Bridge. So the Po-lice will probably be feeling a bit "anti-cyclist empowered" tomorrow...good timing Mumbles...just a "head's up"...


      
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From danny.piccirillo at gmail.com  Thu Sep 23 12:42:58 2010
From: danny.piccirillo at gmail.com (danny.piccirillo at gmail.com)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:42:58 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass
In-Reply-To: <949499.10211.qm@web30706.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
References: <949499.10211.qm@web30706.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTine7pa3W3pOkAYasbTCF3Jd4ha0S8qHY=To5-_O@mail.gmail.com>

Thanks for the tip. Sounds like everyone should be armed with helmet cams
this time

On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 12:40, Stephan Mathieu <vfalorn at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I totally agree with this...these are simple guidelines that make lots of
> sense. Also, for tomorrow's ride, be forewarned that the BPD is handing out
> $20 tickets to cyclists that are running reds at the BU Bridge. So the
> Po-lice will probably be feeling a bit "anti-cyclist empowered"
> tomorrow...good timing Mumbles...just a "head's up"...
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>



-- 
.danny

??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters.
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From silivrenion at gmail.com  Thu Sep 23 12:49:06 2010
From: silivrenion at gmail.com (Angela Morley)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:49:06 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTine7pa3W3pOkAYasbTCF3Jd4ha0S8qHY=To5-_O@mail.gmail.com>
References: <949499.10211.qm@web30706.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
	<AANLkTine7pa3W3pOkAYasbTCF3Jd4ha0S8qHY=To5-_O@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <AANLkTin_7PNavb1+cDPijNAHb3oZ05r2E+xdbUbpkdEw@mail.gmail.com>

I encourage the police handing out citations for breaking traffic laws. It's
dangerous to run reds, and illegal.

On Sep 23, 2010 12:43 PM, "danny.piccirillo at gmail.com" <
danny.piccirillo at gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the tip. Sounds like everyone should be armed with helmet cams
this time

On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 12:40, Stephan Mathieu <vfalorn at yahoo.com> wrote:

> >
> > I totally agree with this...these are simple guidelines that make lots of
> sense. Also, for tomor...
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>



-- 
.danny

??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters.

_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
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From jym at econet.org  Thu Sep 23 12:50:57 2010
From: jym at econet.org (Jym Dyer)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:50:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: Message from Chris Tolles of "Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:12:49 EDT."
References: <A9B631DA-384E-46A3-A96E-46E97ABC932C@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <Jym.23Sep2010.4c9b8558@scorcher.org>

> Critical Mass, the "leaderless", "grassroots", "spontaneous"
> movement, is annoyed that its name is being "hijacked"?

=v= Gee, I dunno, why don't you ask her?  She turns 18 tomorrow,
so she's an adult and can answer for herself.

=v= If you find it strange that I'm referring to Critical Mass
as a person, well, I find it just as strange that you're using
my words (well, one of my words), dishonestly spun to attribute
a human emotion to an event.
    <_Jym_>

From clinti at ix.netcom.com  Thu Sep 23 13:15:28 2010
From: clinti at ix.netcom.com (Clintonella)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:15:28 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Subject: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass
Message-ID: <31157097.1285262129166.JavaMail.root@elwamui-muscovy.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

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From thom3 at aol.com  Thu Sep 23 13:51:35 2010
From: thom3 at aol.com (thom3 at aol.com)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:51:35 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?
In-Reply-To: <Jym.23Sep2010.4c9b8558@scorcher.org>
References: <A9B631DA-384E-46A3-A96E-46E97ABC932C@gmail.com>
	<Jym.23Sep2010.4c9b8558@scorcher.org>
Message-ID: <8CD295F1999E08F-1098-981@webmail-d026.sysops.aol.com>


 

 ...thou who doth spin, cries spun....she shall not be spun


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jym Dyer <jym at econet.org>
To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Thu, Sep 23, 2010 12:50 pm
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Courteous Mass?


> Critical Mass, the "leaderless", "grassroots", "spontaneous"
> movement, is annoyed that its name is being "hijacked"?

=v= Gee, I dunno, why don't you ask her?  She turns 18 tomorrow,
so she's an adult and can answer for herself.

=v= If you find it strange that I'm referring to Critical Mass
as a person, well, I find it just as strange that you're using
my words (well, one of my words), dishonestly spun to attribute
a human emotion to an event.
    <_Jym_>
_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

 
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From thom3 at aol.com  Thu Sep 23 13:54:15 2010
From: thom3 at aol.com (thom3 at aol.com)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:54:15 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTin_7PNavb1+cDPijNAHb3oZ05r2E+xdbUbpkdEw@mail.gmail.com>
References: <949499.10211.qm@web30706.mail.mud.yahoo.com><AANLkTine7pa3W3pOkAYasbTCF3Jd4ha0S8qHY=To5-_O@mail.gmail.com>
	<AANLkTin_7PNavb1+cDPijNAHb3oZ05r2E+xdbUbpkdEw@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <8CD295F78AD7BD1-1098-A7C@webmail-d026.sysops.aol.com>


 I have heard many say "not all red lights make sense for cyclist" and while that makes sense, there is no legal in between until laws, lights, policy or some combination of change is implement.

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Morley <silivrenion at gmail.com>
To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Thu, Sep 23, 2010 12:49 pm
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass


I encourage the police handing out citations for breaking traffic laws. It's dangerous to run reds, and illegal.

On Sep 23, 2010 12:43 PM, "danny.piccirillo at gmail.com" <danny.piccirillo at gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the tip. Sounds like everyone should be armed with helmet cams this time


On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 12:40, Stephan Mathieu <vfalorn at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> I totally agree with this...these are simple guidelines that make lots of sense. Also, for tomor...
_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org




-- 
.danny

??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters. 

_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org


 
_______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
list at bostoncriticalmass.org
http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org

 
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From ralbrecht at speakeasy.net  Thu Sep 23 22:57:31 2010
From: ralbrecht at speakeasy.net (Rebecca Albrecht)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:57:31 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] The original Critical Mass-1994
Message-ID: <4C9C139B.3000402@speakeasy.net>

 From the pamphlet "How to make a Critcal Mass" that was printed in 
early 1994 by the organizers of the original Critical Mass Ride in SF.
  http://www.scorcher.org/cmhistory/howto.html

  "Critical Mass is foremost a celebration, not a protest. A"Xerocracy", 
in which anyone is free to make copies of their ideas and pass them 
around. Leaflets, flyers, stickers and ?zines all circulate madly both 
before, during and after the ride, rendering leaders unnecessary by 
ensuring that strategies and tactics are understood by as many people as 
posssible. Xerocracy promotes freedom and undercuts hierarchy because 
the mission is not set by a few in charge, but rather is broadly defined 
by its participants. The ride is not narrowly seen as an attempt to 
lobby for more bike lanes (although that goal exists) or to protest this 
or that aspect of the social order (although such sentiments are often 
expressed). Rather, each person is free to invent his or her own reasons 
for participating and is also free to share those ideas with others. 
Some people are there to promote human powered transportation as a 
viable alternative, others seek the respect of motorists and city 
planners and some take part simply because they like riding bikes and 
feeling a sense of community with all the other cyclists on the Critical 
Mass ride.
This "organic system" doesn?t lead to chaos, but rather a festive, 
celebratory atmosphere. Great pains have been taken to avoid the common 
pitfalls of other movements, with much Xerocratic space being devoted to 
arguments against moralizing attacks on motorists and other unproductive 
tendencies. By presenting bicycling as a fun, positive alternative to 
the dreary destructiveness of car culture, Critical Mass has gained 
immeasurably

TRAFFIC TACTICS
When bicyclists take to the streets en masse, there will be a certain 
percentage of motorists who will not be amused. These motorists?a 
minority, to be sure?will have a hard time seeing a group of bicyclists 
as legitimate traffic, and may insist on forcing their way through the 
crowd. The interference of these frustrated individuals, trapped as they 
are in their cars, are a CONSTANT problem for Critical Mass. Tactics 
have to be developed, understood, and implemented by as many people as 
possible in order to ensure that this problem does not become too much 
of a drag on an otherwise fun and good-natured ride. Here are the ones 
we?ve found work.

DENSITY?STAY TOGETHER!
Think of Critical Mass as a density. It works by forming a mass of 
bicyclists so dense and tight that it simply displaces cars. Anytime the 
ride begins to spread too thin, with areas large enough for a car to 
drive into, you have a potential trouble spot developing.

The simplest and easiest way to deal with this problem is to encourage 
people to be aware of what?s going on around them, and to act when they 
see things go awry. If a gap large enough for a car develops, someone 
needs to ride into it and call over a friend. If the head of the ride 
moves too fast and the Mass becomes too thin, someone in front needs to 
call out for people to slow down, and for the ride to regroup. The same 
goes for those at the tail of the ride, who may be riding so slow that 
the ride, again, spreads too thin. Diagrams on the route sheet pointing 
out trouble areas and regrouping points are a great way to bring all 
this across.

Density is vital in ensuring safety and a solid image of bicycling as 
practical, safe and fun for the ride?s participants. When Critical Mass 
is still passing through an intersection after the light has turned red, 
in rush hour traffic, it is important to justify the long wait for cross 
traffic by maintaining a steady mass of bicyclists riding through the 
intersection.

CORKS
Corks are the diplomats of the ride. Their title comes from their 
function. Here?s how they work: one or two bicyclists block each lane of 
oncoming traffic as the ride goes through an intersection, making sure 
that even if a gap large enough for a car to drive through should 
develop, cars are stopped where they are. This tactic is especially 
effective if the cork takes a friendly, non-antagonistic stance with 
motorists, even holding up signs that say "thanks for waiting" and "honk 
if you like bikes!" Corks need to protect the rear of the ride, too, 
from cars turning into it. Of course, no one needs to be officially 
designated as a cork, and people will largely take on this role of their 
own initiative.

Red Lights
Should Critical Mass obey the same traffic laws that motorized traffic 
follows? Yes and no. For the most part, traffic laws were made for cars, 
as anyone who routinely bicycles through stop signs can attest, and they 
certainly weren?t written with large groups of bicyclists in mind. So 
the answer to this question is obvious: Critical Mass should bend or 
ignore existing traffic laws where the group?s safety and effectiveness 
will be served, and follow the law where it serves our interests and needs.

Red lights are a perfect example of this principle. When the head of the 
ride reaches a red light, it only makes sense to stop. This way, a) no 
one endangers themselves by riding into oncoming traffic, b) we allow 
motorists the simple courtesy of their right of way, and c) we give 
ourselves an opportunity to stop, regroup and form a solid Mass. But if, 
as Critical Mass passes through an intersection, the light changes, it 
does not make sense to break into two groups, and the ride should just 
continue through the intersection, shielded from the waiting cars by corks.

Breaking Mass
When the Mass thins out too much to justify holding an intersection 
through a red light, it can be useful for someone to yell out "BREAK 
MASS!" The first section of Critical Mass would continue through the 
intersection and the second part would wait for the light to turn green. 
If all goes well, the two groups will be reunited at the next light. 
This tactic is most often used when the Mass gets larger and less cohesive.

KNOW THE LAW
The above planning is the skeleton of what the Mass needs in order to be 
as enjoyable and carefree as it is. However, other issues arise as soon 
as bicyclists, hundreds of bicyclists, hit the streets. Should Critical 
Mass obey the same traffic laws that motorized traffic follows? For the 
most part, traffic laws were made for cars, as anyone who routinely 
bicycles through stop signs can attest, and they certainly weren?t 
written with large groups of bicyclists in mind. So the answer to this 
question is Critical Mass should bend or ignore existing traffic laws 
where the group?s safety and effectiveness will be served.

Traffic laws vary from state to state and city to city. Find out what 
the Vehicle Code says about bikes in your area. Know your rights; in 
California bicyclists "enjoy" all the rights and responsibilities of 
motor vehicles. Knowing the truth about what is in the book and being 
able to correct those who quote it wrongly empowers the riders on 
Critical Mass. You can obtain a traffic rules and regulations book at a 
Department of Motor Vehicles office.

TESTOSTERONE BRIGADE
What kind of approach do we take toward people who choose to drive, or 
who happen to be stuck in cars, maybe for business, when the ride 
passes? Just as important as devising strategies to deal with hostile 
motorists is the need to deal with those in the ride who may provoke them.

For some bicyclists, Critical Mass is an opportunity to berate 
motorists, now that WE own the road for once. Our society?s 
over-reliance on motorized traffic is a massive and overwhelming social 
problem, and it won?t be changed through the use of bitchy, ineffective 
tactics by a small minority of pissed-off bicyclists. But a movement for 
change based on a reclaiming of public space and the building of human 
community, open to people from across the social and political spectrum, 
could contribute to a deeper and more fundamental change in the way our 
society operates.

VANGUARDS
One of the important things to realize is that the Mass will tend to 
follow whoever is is front, whether they have a clear idea of where 
they?re going or not. "Vanguard" types, frustrated that their 
self-destructive antics are not put up with in the middle of the ride, 
will generally sprint ahead of the ride, go through red lights when it 
isn?t necessary, and try to block as much traffic as possible. Or, they 
may decide to lead the ride off the agreed route.

What happens then is that the head of the ride goes too fast, the ride 
spreads out, cars get in the middle of the ride, no one has any idea 
what is going on, dangerous situations occur pretty rapidly, and your 
Critical Mass becomes a Critical Mess.

The way to counter this is to get two or three friends at the head of 
the ride who have some idea of what the route is and, more importantly, 
are committed to staying in a group. If you all stick together as a 
clump, you can influence the course of the ride by riding slowly, 
speaking out where necessary, and trying to keep everyone together. If 
you do this, you have to be prepared to take a certain amount of shit 
from people who may see you as someone imposing your ideas on everyone 
else. But speaking your mind and actively asserting your initiative is 
not akin to being authoritarian?in fact, it?s the essence of democracy.

SNAILS
Snails are a group of antagonistic bicyclists who poke slowly behind the 
rest of the mass. This dawdling causes the mass to thin out and anger 
car drivers who are waiting for the ride to progress through the 
intersection or who are behind the mass and impatient for the mass get 
moving.

Again, make your opinion known and be comfortable with that type of 
interaction. Remember, these people are not out to have the best time 
for the greatest numbers. They are selfishly antagonizing motorists and 
destroying any positive association that the drivers once might have had 
when the rest of the jovial mass passed them.

COPS
Public demonstrations tend to make the government look bad, since they 
vividly show that the government does not always represent or have the 
support of the people. Naturally, the police are concerned about popular 
demonstrations, and they generally take one of two approaches: either 
they attack the demonstration?exposing the force on which this society 
is based?or they attempt to portray themselves as the demonstration?s 
sponsors and diligent protectors.

With the Bay Area Critical Mass rides, they have generally taken the 
second, paternalistic approach, allowing the ride to take place, 
blocking traffic for us and making sure their presence is felt as an 
"escort". On one occasion they even went so far as to announce over a 
bullhorn before the ride "Welcome to this event!"?an outsider might have 
surmised that the whole thing was planned and executed by the police 
themselves!

When police begin to arrest people or hassle riders, they are trying to 
provoke a confrontation which will justify a repressive crackdown?a 
confrontation in which their victory is almost guaranteed. It is 
important not to take them up on the offer. When the police demand that 
the ride move into the right lane, do it. Then, when the coast is clear, 
go back. After a few more attempts to control the ride, the police 
usually give in and realize, short of arresting everyone, there?s little 
they can do except ride along and actually act like the public servants 
they professed to be in the beginning.

The best strategy is to avoid breaking any laws you don?t have to, try 
to reason with those individuals on the ride who display a tendency to 
get out of hand and don?t give the police an excuse to stop your ride or 
bust anybody. Be up front and above board about the ride. After all, 
we?re just riding home together in an organized coincidence, so give the 
cops the route sheet if they want one.

As much as they may try to own or control the ride, Critical Mass is a 
popular movement that operates independently of government regulations, 
and as such, we don?t have any business with the police (although they 
may have business with us). Within the anti-authoritarian culture of the 
bicyclist milieu, refusing the arbitrary commands of the police might 
make sense. But the best approach to the police presence at Critical 
Mass is not to engage in some pathetic, losing confrontation, or embrace 
them as our saviors and protectors. Rather, we should ignore them and 
get on with the business of trying to build a Mass.



From vfalorn at yahoo.com  Thu Sep 23 23:11:56 2010
From: vfalorn at yahoo.com (Stephan Mathieu)
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:11:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass
In-Reply-To: <31157097.1285262129166.JavaMail.root@elwamui-muscovy.atl.sa.earthlink.net>
Message-ID: <521097.31573.qm@web30704.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Let's get the Idaho law passed here...
?
-S

--- On Thu, 9/23/10, Clintonella <clinti at ix.netcom.com> wrote:


From: Clintonella <clinti at ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass
To: "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>, "Boston Critical Mass" <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010, 1:15 PM



#yiv1129663951 {font-size:10pt;font-family:arial, sans-serif;background-color:#ffffff;color:black;}#yiv1129663951 p{margin:0px;}
Running reds is one thing: both stupid and dangerous.? But there's no reason a person on a bike should have to wait at a red light when no one is coming and it's perfectly safe to cross. That, to me, is what a child who hasn't yet learned?to reason?needs to do.? I don't think bikers or pedestrians should be made to wait at a light just "beause." (Actually, neither should cars, but you have to draw the line somewhere and we all know what Boston drivers would do with a privilege like that!)



-----Original Message----- 
From: Angela Morley 
Sent: Sep 23, 2010 12:49 PM 
To: Boston Critical Mass 
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] More courteous Cmass 


I encourage the police handing out citations for breaking traffic laws. It's dangerous to run reds, and illegal.

On Sep 23, 2010 12:43 PM, "danny.piccirillo at gmail.com" <danny.piccirillo at gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the tip. Sounds like everyone should be armed with helmet cams this time



On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 12:40, Stephan Mathieu <vfalorn at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> I totally agree with this...these are simple guidelines that make lots of sense. Also, for tomor..._______________________________________________
Boston Critical Mass mailing list
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-- 
.danny

??? - http://www.google.com/profiles/danny.piccirillo
Every (in)decision matters. 

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From rnewman at thecia.net  Wed Sep 29 16:45:47 2010
From: rnewman at thecia.net (Ron Newman)
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:45:47 -0400
Subject: [*BCM*] 18th Annual Tour de Somerville - Saturday 10/16
Message-ID: <7B501BF4-C520-483B-956E-3D783AFB75C2@thecia.net>

The Somerville Bicycle Committee will hold the 18th annual Tour de  
Somerville on Saturday, October 16. This year's theme is "Paths,  
Present and Future: A Mystic River Ramble".

This bike tour will explore current and proposed off-road paths in and  
near Somerville, especially those along Alewife Brook and the Mystic  
River.

Meet at 10 am at Seven Hills Park, behind the Holland Street MBTA  
entrance in Davis Square. We will depart promptly at 10:15.

The Somerville Police Department will help escort the ride, and  
Redbones will provide refreshments at a rest stop.

In case of steady rain, we'll try again on Sunday, October 17, same  
starting time and location.

More information will be available at http://SomervilleBikes.org/events.html 
  . A tentative route map is at http://tinyurl.com/TourSomerville2010 .

(Note: Some of the off-road route is unpaved and may be difficult for  
bikes with very narrow tires.)