-=:::[ C R I T I C A L M A S S ! ]:::=-

-=:::[ C R I T I C A L   M A S S ! ]:::=-

"Those who ride in Critical Mass are participating in a form of street
theater that is nothing less than an ecological revolution"
-Paul Krassner

Critical Mass has spread around the globe. Starting off in San
Francisco in 1992, CM fever has taken a roundabout journey from London
to Rio de Janeiro and hundreds of cities in between, finally finding
its way back here to California's second largest city, San Diego. What
is it, why is it, where is it, and why is it spreading like wildfire?


::: Critical Mass Video ::::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfanu3rLmas


::: Yelling "Theater!" in a Crowded Fyre :::

It can be depressing to contemplate myriad problems like pollution,
urban blight, driveby shootings. Where do you start correcting them?
Thinking too much about these things tends to induce hopelessness
which leads to paralysis. The best antidote is action! Imagine cities
with peaceful, treelined streets filled with bicycles and pedestrians.
Critical Massers have. Critical Mass is a "(dis)organized (semi-
coordinated) coincidence," a big group (the more the better) of
cyclists who all ride together, leaving too little room for cars to
ride in their midst. The Critical Mass thus creates a "bikesafe" zone
everywhere along its route. Bicyclists met in passing are encouraged
to join in. Critical Mass has been described variously as "street
theater," "political protest," "bicyclist revolution," "a fun
afternoon with your friends." But what does this have to do with
pollution and urban blight?


========================================
What Difference Does "Critically Massing" Make? A lot!
========================================

::: The need for participation :::

The first step towards change is admitting the necessity and the
possibility of it. The single biggest obstacle is the sense of utter
passivity induced by the mass media, consumer society, which leads
people to assume they are powerless and insignificant. Simply by
physically extricating yourself from a car, even if only one day a
month, even if only for Critical Mass, you are making a powerful,
noteworthy statement. Are you sick of ever more congestion, ever more
pollution, ever fewer places for kids to play safely? Then join
Critical Mass! Do you want to meet like-minded people? Then join
Critical Mass! Do you want to exercise the limbs that God gave you?
Then join Critical Mass!

Sitting around complaining is depressing and boring. But bicycling in
Critical Mass is fun! Bored complainers sitting around in cars don't
exercise influence in our democracy. People who make their voices
heard do!


::: The need to "make a scene" :::

To quote the Critcal Mass Times quoting Frederick Douglas, "Power
concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." To
change the gloomy state of affairs that has been described will
require revolutionary change. Such change does not occur without
standard bearers to demonstrate massive support. Making "nice, nice"
will not undo the fact that General Motors and friends, with their
billions, have their hands on the levers of the means of persuasion.
Only by large numbers of ordinary citizens speaking out strongly
against the rapacious blight spread by the unopposed dictatorship of
the automobile will matters be improved. And the easiest group of
people to motivate to bear this standard should be cyclists. Cyclists
know firsthand how much their mobility and safety is impeded by
automobiles. They also know how effective bicycling can be as
transportation. They almost all share a constellation of common
concerns and problems. And together they can set a provocative example
to their fellow citizens of the alternatives available in place of the
"God on Four Wheels."


::: Where is it? :::

Everywhere! People in cities all over the world face similar problems.
In many countries, people are alarmed by the menace of automotive
hegemony. Across the world, the Powers That Be have decided that the
Reign of the Almighty Automobile is upon us, much to the misfortune of
rickshaw drivers in Bombay, asthmatic children in Mexico City, ancient
monuments in Athens and Rome, and cyclists everywhere. But they're not
all taking it lying down!  Here is a great link pointing to Critical
Mass Rides worldwide.

Here in San Diego, we are in the early stages of what we hope will
eventually become one of the great Critical Mass Rides. San Diego,
with its great weather, many good bike paths, and many enthusiastic
riders, is an almost ideal place to promote bicycle transportation.

We meet during the summer months on the "traditional" Critical Mass
day: last Friday of each month. Times have varied, but starting in
June they will be 5:30 or later.

Be pseeing you...

               -=oOo=-

-Brother Blue, B:.B:., 33�, 8�=3�
 http://www.bleujefe.com/BB/
 Dr. Blue Resonant Human, Ph.D.
 Interdimensional Intelligence Analyst
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 An Equal-Opportunity Mystickal Fraternity
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 brotherblue93 at ]-[ot|\/|ail dot com dot org dot gov dot mil
'Ad hoc, ad hoc and Quid Pro Quo ... So little time, so much to know.'