Critical Mass Hits Modesto

Critical Mass, a grassroots, totally decentralized, autonomous movement of bike activists and riders has been riding every month since it's first San Fransico bike ride in 1992.

Modesto seems ripe for a total critque of the oil and car industries as a whole, (and capitalism in general), as it's urban sprawl machine heats up. As Bay Area folks are pushed out of the bay area because of rising rent, they are moving into towns and cities generally associated with agriculture. As Starbucks, Borders, and McDonalds pop up every where, farmland is disappearing and open green space is swallowed up to make way for trach homes.

Modesto, which has in essence only two major roads that lead to the 99 Freeway (Briggsmoore and Standiford), can not realistically accomidate the majority of people commuting to work, and to various destinations around town. Thus, traffic and congestion is at an all time high, and seems to be getting worse and worse. Modesto's homeless are also felling the heat, as their needs (emergency shelter, low income housing), are swept under the rug, and the city spends 9 million on a new over pass with old fashioned light posts, and a new fountains that spills over and wastes water. Larger corporations are coming in, and driving out or replacing the independent and largely more community oriented stores in the downtown area, (although some near by towns are resisting Wal Marts etc, for instance Turlock).

Critical Mass is an alternative to this, although it may only be symbolic and celebratory. The Situationists said, "Beneath this concrete - a beach!", we ask, "We you join us in a swim?" Swim we did. Through flyers, wheatpaste, and talking to friends, Critical Mass Modesto organized it's first ride in Downtown Modesto with about 30 people, and a handful of skateboarders.

The ride was a success, and lasted for about an hour, and ended in a small gathering in a local park with Food Not Bombs sharing food. The only problems that occured was the falls of several skateboarders, and a poor merging causing a trucker to spit on one of us. Several younger children attended, and we has some particpants from out of town. One rider carried a sign saying, "Let's End Our Fuelish Ways", another carried a black flag with the anarchist (A).

The corporate media has shown some interest in this, but more of the novelty aspect than an actual interest in the ethics, ideas, and critques that Critical Mass, it's partipants, and supporters try and bring up.

We are hoping that the next Critical Mass in Modesto will be event better. It will take place on March 26th, Downtown Modesto 10th and J Street, 5pm.

Email: modanarcho [at] yahoo.com

Corporate Media Coverage: http://www.modbee.com/local/story/8203906p-9054034c.html
Valley IMC Pictures: http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/02/1671619.php