Cycling UK Forum

Visit http://www.newcastlebybike.co.uk for more info on Ms Piggy's plans (v mysterious). Meet at Haymarket for 17:30 and take to the streets on every last Friday of the month starting in July 2010 !

Let me know what you think and spread the word!

See ya,
Katja
- - - - - - - -
Coordinator of the Newcastle Cycling Petition June 2010
http://www.katlayout.co.uk

thought i'd ping this as its tonight

Wasnt Ms Piggy kicked off the Bikeradar site, and taken down a peg or two whilst at it?

Never mind Ms Piggy stirring up the masses including bikeradar.

Here's what happened on Friday in Newcastle: http://newcastlebybike.brinkster.net/index0.html

So whats it in aid of?

reohn2 wrote:So whats it in aid of?

In aid of? Nothing!

I like to look at my local CM ride as a celebration of cycling. It's not in aid of anything, just an excuse to get on your bike and enjoy riding through your town / city with other people who like riding their bikes.

bigphil wrote:

reohn2 wrote:So whats it in aid of?

In aid of? Nothing!

I like to look at my local CM ride as a celebration of cycling. It's not in aid of anything, just an excuse to get on your bike and enjoy riding through your town / city with other people who like riding their bikes.

You can do that anyway. You dont need the bullying tactics of CM to get that fulfilment

downfader wrote:

bigphil wrote:

reohn2 wrote:So whats it in aid of?

In aid of? Nothing!

I like to look at my local CM ride as a celebration of cycling. It's not in aid of anything, just an excuse to get on your bike and enjoy riding through your town / city with other people who like riding their bikes.

You can do that anyway. You dont need the bullying tactics of CM to get that fulfilment

Don't worry there's no bullying on my local ride. Just lots of people enjoying riding their bikes.

bigphil wrote:

reohn2 wrote:So whats it in aid of?

In aid of? Nothing!

I like to look at my local CM ride as a celebration of cycling. It's not in aid of anything, just an excuse to get on your bike and enjoy riding through your town / city with other people who like riding their bikes.

It always seems to me as if CM rides are trying to make some kind statement or other which,whilst that statement may be meant as quite benign by those taking part, may not be seen as such by other road users that are affected by CM rides.
Whilst I wouldn't go as far to say CM uses "bullying tactics" it certainly can come across to some atleast as a "show of force" and if seen as that by others can only be a negative for cycling in general.
Another point is that it always comes across to me(a cyclist) as some kind of tribal show or parade.
Its for these reasons that I remain to be convinced of CM's usefulness.

reohn2 wrote:

bigphil wrote:

reohn2 wrote:So whats it in aid of?

In aid of? Nothing!

I like to look at my local CM ride as a celebration of cycling. It's not in aid of anything, just an excuse to get on your bike and enjoy riding through your town / city with other people who like riding their bikes.

It always seems to me as if CM rides are trying to make some kind statement or other which,whilst that statement may be meant as quite benign by those taking part, may not be seen as such by other road users that are affected by CM rides.
Whilst I wouldn't go as far to say CM uses "bullying tactics" it certainly can come across to some atleast as a "show of force" and if seen as that by others can only be a negative for cycling in general.
Another point is that it always comes across to me(a cyclist) as some kind of tribal show or parade.
Its for these reasons that I remain to be convinced of CM's usefulness.

Do you go on local club / audax rides? Are these 'useful'?

I get your point though. I must admit that a few road users may have an extra five on their journey one evening a month if drive at the same time as a CM ride. However if you drive in a city you are part of - and should generally expect to be in traffic. I would hope that people who regularly drive in cities display the same curtsey as you expect from city cyclists - but many clearly don't think about the impact of their city driving as they mindlessly do it every day. IMO it's negative in general for the reputation of driving to regularly drive into a city inflicting your pollution and congestion on everyone else.

I also agree that CM rides are some kind of tribal show or parade. I've got to know a new circle of friends through local rides. At the very least celebrating cycling in this way has encouraged the development of a cycling community. Some people on the rides had said that the CM has given them extra confidence to cycle around the city. Many pedestrians stop, smile and simply enjoy the spectacle. A queue of motorised traffic does not brighten up the city in the same way.

Even if you ignore all the positives I don't think a once a month celebration is a big ask. Especially as near traffic gridlock in many cities is a daily event.

bigphil wrote:Do you go on local club / audax rides? Are these 'useful'?

Not much,I don't like riding in big groups, by big I mean anything bigger than say ten.Audax rides tend not to be big groups,more like lots of small ones on the road spread out.

I get your point though. I must admit that a few road users may have an extra five on their journey one evening a month if drive at the same time as a CM ride. However if you drive in a city you are part of - and should generally expect to be in traffic. I would hope that people who regularly drive in cities display the same curtsey as you expect from city cyclists - but many clearly don't think about the impact of their city driving as they mindlessly do it every day. IMO it's negative in general for the reputation of driving to regularly drive into a city inflicting your pollution and congestion on everyone else.

I also agree that CM rides are some kind of tribal show or parade. I've got to know a new circle of friends through local rides. At the very least celebrating cycling in this way has encouraged the development of a cycling community. Some people on the rides had said that the CM has given them extra confidence to cycle around the city. Many pedestrians stop, smile and simply enjoy the spectacle. A queue of motorised traffic does not brighten up the city in the same way.

Even if you ignore all the positives I don't think a once a month celebration is a big ask. Especially as near traffic gridlock in many cities is a daily event.

I'm still struggling to understand how a group, (which can be quite large on some CM rides), of cyclists promotes cycling rather than just adding to the traffic problem and annoying/antaganising motorists.
I do take your point about vehicles polluting and blocking up cities,something which can cut to a minimum at a stroke by out of town parking and park and ride initiatives,but that would need some joined up thinking by local politrickians.
I can see that its a good way for cyclists to meet each other but then so can cyclist friendly cafes/meeting places etc, the negatives out weigh the positives IMO.
If I or a group of people want to celebrate something I/we would generally do it in private without affecting other people in the community,I take your point that its only once a month and as such is tolerated by other road users but I still can't see its usefulness other than for those taking part.
If it were a protest(say against pollution or gridlock caused by cars etc) I could understand a little more, but celebration doesn't sit well with me.

Everyone is in favour of the Sky rides aren't they? Good clean family fun.

Well a Critical Mass ride is like a Sky ride, but without the corporate sponsorship, without enforced helmet wearing for under-16's, and where someone forgot to ask permission from the authorities beforehand.

7_lives_left wrote:Everyone is in favour of the Sky rides aren't they? Good clean family fun.

Err, nope.I'm not exactly against them but they'd be the last thing I want want to do on a bike.

reohn2 wrote:Err, nope.I'm not exactly against them but they'd be the last thing I want want to do on a bike.

I think some Critical Mass riders wouldn't want to be seen dead at a Skyride either.

However I have enjoyed the few CM rides I have been on.

7_lives_left wrote:

reohn2 wrote:Err, nope.I'm not exactly against them but they'd be the last thing I want want to do on a bike.

I think some Critical Mass riders wouldn't want to be seen dead at a Skyride either.

However I have enjoyed the few CM rides I have been on.

Whatever strums yer strings.

What concerns me about mass rides in city centres is the negatives that are percieved by other road users that the rest of the cycling fraternity has to bear the burden of.
My concerns may be unfounded but its still a concern.