Courteous Mass, does it work?

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright mean
towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in several cities
around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where riders go at a slower
pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and are encouraged to smile, wave
and say “Thank you” to motorists. When it was tried in San Diego however
this is what happened...

"Even with their mom approved behavior, though, they weren’t always met with
kindness. Robles herself was yelled at by a cop who wanted the group to stay
single file. She intends to write a strongly worded letter to the police
department. That is, after she thanks them for their service. Robles says a
few other riders got earfuls from angry motorists, and there were some
defectors who thought the pace was too slow."

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with anger
however polite and lawful they may try to be.

-- .
Critical Mass London.
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
"Get out of my way you f*ing cyclist"

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright mean
towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in several cities
around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where riders go at a
slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and are encouraged to
smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists. When it was tried in
San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with anger
however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are at
odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder people
get angry at them.

--
Paul - xxx

On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright mean
towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in several cities
around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where riders go at a
slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and are encouraged to
smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists. When it was tried in
San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with each
other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with anger
however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are at
odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder people
get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of cyclists
be treated differently?

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of cyclists will
be treated as second-class road users who are bound to annoy motorists and
taxi drivers who think they own the roads.

-- .
Critical Mass London.
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
"Get out of my way you communist Effing scum, dole cheats”, said a taxi
driver.

Doug wrote:


On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright
mean towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in
several cities around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where
riders go at a slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and
are encouraged to smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists.
When it was tried in San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

So Critical Mass isn't Courteous then?

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with
each other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

Heheheh, the 'anarchic' element eh ..

So which leaders decided courtesy might work?

I find it hard to believe that a mass of anarchists come to the same,
or similar, conclusion together.

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with
anger however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are
at odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder
people get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of
cyclists be treated differently?

Not a mass of cyclists, they are an anarchic mass who use cyclists in a
deliverate attempt to block roads, traffic, traffic congestion is a
by-product of people wanting/needing to be in similar places at similar
times .. motorists don't set out to cause congestion, CM does. That's
why they are treated as scum.

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of
cyclists will be treated as second-class road users who are bound to
annoy motorists and taxi drivers who think they own the roads.

No, they annoy people 'cos they set out to block the roads.


--
Paul - xxx

On 18/08/2011 08:16, Doug wrote:

"Paul - wrote:
Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright mean
towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in several cities
around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where riders go at a
slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and are encouraged to
smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists. When it was tried in
San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with each
other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with anger
however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are at
odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder people
get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of cyclists
be treated differently?

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of cyclists will
be treated as second-class road users who are bound to annoy motorists and
taxi drivers who think they own the roads.

There's your problem, though one marvels that you haven't already spotted it
for yourself.

Courtesy requires the deference of slow-moving traffic (any slow-moving
traffic) to faster traffic (any faster traffic) by not obstructing the
highway and by keeping to the left (or, as the case might be in California,
to the right) in order that faster traffic may pass on the offside. That's
the way that traffic works. I am not aware of anywhere in the world where
that isn't the basic rule and where basic and common decency does not demand
adherence to that rule.

Failing to accord the requisite basic consideration (and, on the contrary,
deliberately obstructing the full width of the carriageway) cannot, by any
stretch of the imagination, be termed "courteous".

On Aug 18, 8:16*am, "Doug" wrote:
On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright mean
towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in several cities
around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where riders go at a
slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and are encouraged to
smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists. When it was tried in
San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with each
other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with anger
however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are at
odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder people
get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of cyclists
be treated differently?

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of cyclists will
be treated as second-class road users who are bound to annoy motorists and
taxi drivers who think they own the roads.

-- .
Critical Mass London.
*http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
"Get out of my way you communist Effing scum, dole cheats”, said a taxi
driver.

It is very courteous to block a major junction & wave your bikes in
the air, or decide to hold a picnic in the middle of a London bridge.
Any comment on these incidents whice are recorded on your CM web site?

On Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:16:41 GMT, "Doug" wrote:


On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright mean
towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in several cities
around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where riders go at a
slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and are encouraged to
smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists. When it was tried in
San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with each
other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with anger
however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are at
odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder people
get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of cyclists
be treated differently?

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of cyclists will
be treated as second-class road users who are bound to annoy motorists and
taxi drivers who think they own the roads.

There is a significant difference between cyclists annoying motorists,
and motorists getting annoyed by cyclists.

Your phrasing implies the former, but I feel the latter is the case.

On 18-Aug-2011, francis wrote:

On Aug 18, 8:16*am, "Doug" wrote:
On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright
mean
towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in several
cities
around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where riders go at a
slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and are encouraged to
smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists. When it was tried in
San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with
each
other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with
anger
however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are at
odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder people
get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of
cyclists
be treated differently?

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of cyclists
will
be treated as second-class road users who are bound to annoy motorists
and
taxi drivers who think they own the roads.


It is very courteous to block a major junction & wave your bikes in
the air, or decide to hold a picnic in the middle of a London bridge.
Any comment on these incidents whice are recorded on your CM web site?

Do you have a reading problem? 'Courteous Mass' and 'Critical Mass' are not
the same. The former do not wave their bikes in the air.

--
Critical Mass London.
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
"More bikes, fewer cars!".

On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:


On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright
mean towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in
several cities around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where
riders go at a slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and
are encouraged to smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists.
When it was tried in San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

So Critical Mass isn't Courteous then?

I am constantly amazed how little posters here understand Critical Mass,
maybe that is because most of them are motorists who don't want to
understand it.

and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with
each other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

Heheheh, the 'anarchic' element eh ..

So which leaders decided courtesy might work?

I find it hard to believe that a mass of anarchists come to the same,
or similar, conclusion together.

Its quite simple, they just decide to take part in an event which has no
organisers. There are probably loads of anarchists who decide not to take
part in CM or even people who are not anarchists but who do decide to take
part.

It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with
anger however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are
at odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder
people get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of
cyclists be treated differently?

Not a mass of cyclists, they are an anarchic mass who use cyclists in a
deliverate attempt to block roads, traffic, traffic congestion is a
by-product of people wanting/needing to be in similar places at similar
times .. motorists don't set out to cause congestion, CM does. That's
why they are treated as scum.

No you are quite wrong, CM as a whole has no such purpose. There may be a
few individuals on a ride who want to block traffic but CM as a whole does
not, indeed some riders are opposed to the idea and they may outnumber those
who do want to..

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of
cyclists will be treated as second-class road users who are bound to
annoy motorists and taxi drivers who think they own the roads.

No, they annoy people 'cos they set out to block the roads.

See above. Motorists knowingly contribute to congestion and therefore
intentionally block roads and they do it 24/7, not just for a couple of
hours once a month like CM cyclists.

--
Critical Mass London.
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
"More bikes, fewer cars!".

On Aug 19, 6:39*am, "Doug" wrote:
On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:





Doug wrote:

On 18-Aug-2011, "Paul - xxx" wrote:

Doug wrote:

Critical Mass has earned a reputation of being ugly and downright
mean towards motorists. Therefore attempts have been made in
several cities around the world to have a 'Courteous Mass' where
riders go at a slower pace, stop at red lights, obey all laws and
are encouraged to smile, wave and say “Thank you” to motorists.
When it was tried in San Diego however this is what happened...

I thought it wasn't organised?

Its not the same as Critical Mass, obviously.

So Critical Mass isn't Courteous then?

I am constantly amazed how little posters here understand Critical Mass,
maybe that is because most of them are motorists who don't want to
understand it.





and there were some defectors who thought the pace was too
slow."

Not everyone who goes on critical mass agrees with the leaders then?

Critical Mass is composed of individuals who do not always agree with
each other but they can still function as an anarchic Mass.

Heheheh, the 'anarchic' element eh ..

So which leaders decided courtesy might work?

I find it hard to believe that a mass of anarchists come to the same,
or similar, conclusion together.

Its quite simple, they just decide to take part in an event which has no
organisers. There are probably loads of anarchists who decide not to take
part in CM or even people who are not anarchists but who do decide to take
part.





It seems then that any large group of cyclists will be met with
anger however polite and lawful they may try to be.

Their main intent being to close streets to vehicles means they are
at odds with the majority of people using the streets, no wonder
people get angry at them.

But a mass of cars also causes congestion so why should a mass of
cyclists be treated differently?

Not a mass of cyclists, they are an anarchic mass who use cyclists in a
deliverate attempt to block roads, traffic, traffic congestion is a
by-product of people wanting/needing to be in similar places at similar
times .. motorists don't set out to cause congestion, CM does. *That's
why they are treated as scum.

No you are quite wrong, CM as a whole has no such purpose. There may be a
few individuals on a ride who want to block traffic but CM as a whole does
not, indeed some riders are opposed to the idea and they may outnumber those
who do want to..

'Courteous Mass' clearly demonstrates that any large group of
cyclists will be treated as second-class road users who are bound to
annoy motorists and taxi drivers who think they own the roads.

No, they annoy people 'cos they set out to block the roads.

See above. Motorists knowingly contribute to congestion and therefore
intentionally block roads and they do it 24/7, not just for a couple of
hours once a month like CM cyclists.

--
Critical Mass London.
*http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk
"More bikes, fewer cars!".- Hide quoted text -

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- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

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Yes Doug, you must be right, I often see motorists waving their cars
in the air in the middle of a major junction, they do that just before
they hold a picnic on the road.