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

[Cope Cumpston]

Ellen -- I appreciate your report of the ride. Discouraging.

in response to where are all the riders -- we have to come up with a critical
core before the mass will grow, I think. I got discouraged after about my
third ride when numbers were shrinking and I'd pushed my schedule around to be
there. I juggle the things I can put time and energy into and this didn't make
high priority.

but this report makes me more determined to get out there and make our
presence known. I can put some energy into it, with an effort to get students
out for the August ride. I'd propose that we build a plan for the 31st. I can
do some flyering and calling to get publicity.

Cope

Ellen Knutson wrote:

> ...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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--
Copenhaver Cumpston
 Art Director
University of Illinois Press
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