[CMI-CM] CMI Critical Minimum Demonstrates the Need for a Cri tical Mass!

[Prince, John M (O&M)]

I agree.  It can't be critical unless it's a mass.  I showed up a few times
this summer, but remained in the distance since I didn't think it would have
the proper effect (i.e.. we would just look like any ordinary people out for
a bike ride).  We were moving this weekend, (ironically within SE Urbana),
so I was unable to participate, but I don't think I want to ride in such a
small group. 

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Ellen Knutson [SMTP:eknutson at uiuc.edu]
> Sent:	Saturday, July 28, 2001 6:56 PM
> To:	
> Subject:	[CMI-CM] CMI Critical Minimum Demonstrates the Need for a
> Critical Mass!
> 
> ...or South East Urbana, Land of Angry Drivers
> 
> Yesterday's ride was attended by THREE people, but the ride took place 
> nonetheless. The route was Green  east to Race, Race north to Main, Main 
> east to Vine, Vine south to Florida, Florida east to Phillo, Phillo north 
> to Washington, Washington west to Vine, Vine north to Main, Main west to 
> IMC (end of route.. because it was more convenient for the three riders to
> 
> end in downtown Urbana, than the Alma Mater).
> 
> Highlights of the Ride
> 
> *Many angry honks and shouts to get out of the street.
> *A lot of illegal passing and squealing tires as they sped ahead
> *On Florida one driver who drove up along side of us (straddling the line 
> and nearly causing two accidents) to berate us and tell us we were stupid.
> 
> We informed her that bike have a legal right to the road and she
> concurred, 
> but that we need to be in the slow lane. She had no response when we 
> pointed out that there was only one lane on the street so we can be in an 
> imaginary slow lane... She then returned to yelling just how stupid we 
> were. Next she pulled in front of us and commenced  to drive very slowly
> as 
> if to slow us down, this of course did not make any difference to us, but 
> did succeed in angering other drivers. And to cap off her demonstration of
> 
> anger, she pulled to the side of the road, got out the car standing with 
> hands on hips, and was sure to let us know that we were idiots in her
> mind.
> *On Phillo another driver drove out of her way into a parking lot so she 
> could be closer to yell at us. I imagine that she ended up "wasting" even 
> more time than if she had been more patient and just stayed behind us and 
> waited until it was safe and legal to pass or until we were making our
> turn 
> on Washington.
> 
> While I haven't been on every ride, I have been on most, and this one 
> definitely wins the prize for number of angry drivers. I would guess that 
> part of the reason we were incurring the rath of so many drivers was at 
> least in part due to our small number. If we had been even just 10 riders,
> 
> there may have been some annoyance, but people may have figured that there
> 
> might be something going on that they didn't know about, especially if the
> 
> riders have signs and/or music and/or chants. OR perhaps even more
> crassly, 
> 10 riders are more intimidating than 3. Two women and one guy on bikes may
> 
> just not be threatening enough whereas 10+ people on bikes might kick your
> 
> ass.
> 
> At any rate, it is this kind of mentality that cars rule the road and far 
> be it from an cyclist to take their rightful place as PART OF TRAFFIC if
> is 
> makes a driver take a few minutes longer to get to their destination that 
> Critical Mass is railing against. And even though we were only three, we 
> definitely made an number of people at least take NOTICE of the fact that 
> bike are on the road!!
> 
> Enough of this rant...
> 
> Cheers,
> Ellen
> 
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