Critical Mass Turns 15 Today
As many readers know, I have very mixed feelings about Critical Mass. I am familiar with the history of civil disobedience and its merits, but in this instance I think we need to broadcast the joy of bicycling along with our willingness to obey rational bike laws. I think we get farther with the “share the road” message than the “we own the road” message, particularly since the latter message is not, it turns out, true.
But my friend Leo just stopped by to show me this article from the San Francisco Chronicle which makes some wonderful points and puts Critical Mass in its historic perspective on its 15th anniversary. The article describes some of the changes that have come about that Critical Mass has been a part of causing.
According to the article (and Wikipedia), the first Critical Mass was held on September 25, 1992.
–Erik Ryberg