[CMI-CM] Critical Mass & etc

[Prince, John M (O&M)]

I, for one, am offended by those who wish to tag along their pet UNRELATED
causes to this group.  These include rainforests, Buy Nothing Days,
NaderGoreBush for President,  ad nauseum.  Let's focus on the issue, safe
commuter cycling, locally in Champaign-Urbana.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	ellipse [SMTP:ellipse at shout.net]
> Sent:	Friday, November 17, 2000 8:28 PM
> To:	
> Subject:	[CMI-CM] Critical Mass & etc
> 
> While I understand that many people who ride have other issues that are
> important to them, me included, if critical mass strays far afield from
> the
> cycling related issues it will lose its raison d'etre. There are lots of
> issues which directly relate to this core wherein we can all bond. I
> really
> think that critical mass folks need to get involved in boring things like
> CATS, the Campus Area Transportation Plan. Boring stuff, but it's the
> intergovernmental agency which is looking at transportation issues and if
> serious cyclers aren't involved, it will be, "Oh, yeah, what do we do with
> the bikes?"  at the 11th hour. I am a city planner & I can tell you that
> in
> spite of my constant whining from the inside, bicycling is indeed usually
> an
> afterthought. Only a mass presence will help to abate that.
> 
> As for "Buy Nothing Day", whatever your thoughts on the usefullness of the
> concept, I seriously believe that the timing is just dumb. That day is
> guaranteed to be among the busiest shopping day of the year, so absolutely
> no $ effect of the boycott will be notable. Many avid consumers will avoid
> shopping that day because of the crowds. And except for not buying cars or
> gas, it has nuthin' much to do with the basic issue that unites this
> group.
> 
> What issue? As citizens who choose to ride bikes, we are not being treated
> with the respect we deserve by our fellow citizens who drive. Whether we
> ride for economic, environmental, exercise, or whatever reasons, our
> choice
> is a valid one that has many benefits on the community as a whole.
> 
> We cause less wear & tear on the streets (virtually none). We require lots
> less parking to be built. No matter how sweaty we are after we ride, we
> pollute less than even a Geo Metro, much less a Ford Explorer. The
> construction of a bike takes lots less resources than a car. Because we
> get
> our exercise when we ride, we can avoid clogging up gyms. No matter how
> expensive our bikes are (and I'm pretty guilty on this one) it costs a lot
> less than any car & the money I don't spend on a big ol' car I can spread
> around to many local businesses, rather than just to car dealers &
> manufacturers and big oil. (Even tho most of us have cars to use when we
> need them, my 9 year old car has only 43k miles, largely because of my
> bike.
> No need to trade in every 3 years.)
> 
> What do we ask for for all this good we do? Just a little more respect,
> and
> the yieldng of our rightful right-of-way. Better parking, 5-6 of us can
> fit
> into the space of 1 car. Maybe a little space in the basement at work to
> store our bikes, after all fit people help reduce insurance costs &
> absenteeism. Don't pass ordinances which blatantly discriminate against us
> (hear me, O Urbana). Cut us some damn slack. Add on the thing of your
> choice
> that would make your rides easier.
> 
> To these ends (and others) critical mass gathers together an amalgam of
> individuals occasionally to let drivers know: We're not gonna hide, We are
> gonna ride. Get used to it. (Marketing majors among us can surely come up
> with a much catchier slogan) We may not have much else in common, but this
> is quite a bit.
> 
> 
> 
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