Publish to Newswire
Add an EventBerkeley Critical Mass Loves Rain
Yes, there were signs decrying War for Oil and Global Climate Change (which defied sogginess on this unexpectedly rainy day). Determined to defy slipping into a global warming feedback loop (more early rain means fewer cyclists), a spirited crowd took the streets.
Excitement #1: Chocolate cake delivery just before launch!
Excitement #2: Unable to accept a world without rolling music, the group descended on a private home where it was rumored a sound system lives. And it was! And lo, they were HAPPY.
Excitement #3: A kaboodle of kiddos joined the group in South Berkeley on pipsqueekie BMX bikes and robust attitudes of roadway deployment and play.
Meanwhile, small groups scavenged the surrounding blocks whilst awaiting the sound system's eeeeeruption, calling on friends to enjoy the pink and lemon pastry clouds above by joining the ride.
All was not well at all times, however; a disturbing trend was seen: aggression by motorists associated with income. A quick logit aggression-regression indicated (p<0.0000005) that noveau riche motormaniacs most often took aggressive action. In one case, a young woman was quite nearly plowed (shown on video). Numerous other dangerous and reckless passings, often across double-yellow lines, as well as curses, the middle finger foisted, odd comments about hippies, hunker-down honkings, and worse were foisted. High speed and intrigue pursued the otherwise happy and peace-bestowed group of well wishers to the world.
In another incident, a driver revved her engine and accelerated while attempting to pass the group on a narrow and dark street, hitting a cyclist, and damaging his bicycle. As shown in the video (one of numerous choice comments not all included), she pouted simply, "I didn't mean to hit you," indicating she had absolved herself of guilt.
Given that statistically it has been proven that riding in Critical Mass is safer and more fun than riding alone in the urban car hell, the thick-skinned cyclephiles turned the other cheek repeatedly and rolled on enjoying The Best This City Has To Offer.
Fortunately, most motorists and passersby were VERY NICE AND REALLY COOL and generally seemed to get a kick out of the ride, dancing along, honking, waving, cheering, and above all, smiling.
Other highlights included:
- Swirling and howling in a subterranean parking garage;
- Whooping and laughing in the Solano tunnel;
- Finding a huge painted PUMPKIN box and adorning the sound system with it;
- Dancing in the middle of the street, Shattuck Square;
- Saying "THANK YOU FOR WALKING!";
- Letting buses through the group on a regular basis (even one marked "BUS DEPOT");
- Handing out flyers to folks on the street;
- Watching smiling nice people stop their cars and wave the group on through;
- Buzzing through Chevron screaming "CHEVRON GO HOME!";
- Muncha-Buncha-Munching on donated pizza!
- Noting more people are asking "Is this Critical Mass?" than "What is this?" lately;
- Staying warm dry and friendly in the fresh air to the sound of tinkerbells and happy horns;
- &tc.!
The group also visited the intersection where Harlan Head attacked the group in May of this year with his "mini" van SUV. Three bicycles lay piled under his wheel when his forward crush into the defenseless crowd was finished, and two people were injured. Head's crime was aided and abetted by the Berkeley Police Department, which has a long history of disregarding bicycle and pedestrian rights.
Fortunately, no such traumatic motorist attacks have resulted at the ride since May, although harassment continues to be an everyday occurrence -- perpetrated not just by motorists but by police. The City of Berkeley has some serious work to do if it is to make good on its Climate Change goals; bicycling needs to be embraced and encouraged, not suppressed and discouraged, for the health and happiness of all. Bicycle facilities are inexpensive and more than pay for themselves, whereas current practices of promoting driving is nothing less than subsidized violence.
Another Berkeley Critical Mass video you might enjoy:
There's a trend in urban areas today, wherein the rich are moving back into the city centers. In this trend, they are changing the cities. They are driving prices up, they are displacing people, they are attracting new types of business, and they're taking out aggression on the people they find there.
And in the process of moving into the city, coming from a much more suburban or even more isolated and filtered environment, coming from a place of sheltered privilege, they're encountering the traditional problems of the urban environment, and they're reacting. Their reaction is important.
The laws against, for instance, sitting on the sidewalk, or gathering with dogs, are totally unconstitutional. If you think about it, they're absolutely outrageous and inhumane. Why on earth can it be considered a crime to simply sit on the sidewalk?
The wealthy have, in many senses, the most power, at any given moment in recent history, to direct society and its resources to resolve social problems, yet they appear to be the least likely to actually use it. Instead, they will go to great lengths to try to suppress or persecute social problems. The response to Critical Mass and to the bicycling movement in general is but one important symptom or evidence of a broad array of cases where this is true. It is also evidence of how counterproductive even to their own interests, those who hold power can be.
But no one can beat how 'rich' we feel when we take back the streets simply by daring to exist there.
Jack (O'Lantern)
p.s. Squash: Well said! I agree. Contradictions abound at every turn. Embracing them and feeling beyond them on all levels is warranted. Is there not a method to all this madness? At one intersection, Ashby and Telegraph, a man in a car shouted at the crowd that some of them had passed through a red light in retaining their continuity as a group. He was livid, as if there is no higher consideration than a flashing light hanging from wires. One of the riders called back to him: "Think! Think about reality," with an emphasis on "reality," in the short window of opportunity to reach the person in the car. May he be well.
Please check out this YouTube clip, "Attack of the Bicycles", for balance to Jason's account of the May CM Ride.
And, by the way "Systems Analyst", you strongly flavor the discussion that could lead to a fair sharing of roads and urban resources when you objectify your foes, e.g. "the rich...[are]... driving prices up, they are displacing people, they are attracting new types of business, and they're taking out aggression on the people they find there." While I understand your basic point, I think you hurt your statement by referring to one side as "people" and the other as "the rich" or "the wealthy", as if they were not also people. If you are serious about your argument, I urge you not to give others easy ways to dismiss it.
Donate
$120.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.