After the VPD’s announcement requesting motorists avoid downtown tonight because of the Critical Mass ride, I was explaining to a friend who’s been out of the country for the past decade or so what exactly Critical Mass is.
I am not a fan of Critical Mass as it currently stands, and while looking up the original origins of what’s become an excuse for a large-scale act of civil disobedience, I found another, small event called “Critical Manners.”
Originating in San Fransisco in 2007 as a response to their own “Critical Mess,” Critical Manners consists of nothing more than a small group of cyclists who ride together, following all the rules of the road.
I thought it seemed nice! Why not do it here? So I tweeted, and suggested a date.
And holy hell the response was phenomenal! Seems a lot of cycling Vancouverites feel the same way I do, and before you know it there were re-tweets and requests to help coming out the ying-yang.
Within 48 hours of taking a few minutes to set up a twitter account, website and email address, I’ve been on the radio, and the site has had over 300 page-views.
I’m overwhelmed and mostly amazed.
So, uh… if you’d like to join our friendly, law-abiding bike ride on August 14th at 6:00pm, go check out the Critical Manners Vancouver website.
Hope to see you there, and thanks!
Strong work! The ad hoc activists are often the most effective ones, as they’re outside the NGO/activism world and thus have fresh ideas.
.-= Darren´s last blog ..“Hung” is a Poor Man’s “Weeds” =-.
I’d love to be a part of this, but Vancouver is a bit too far for me; I’m in the tiny border town of Sumas, just south of Abbotsford. I’d have to do a bike/bus combo (my bicycle is my car), and the logistics of that are a bit hellish. I tried to start a riding group here, and will try again. It’s either that or move to Bellingham…although, Vancouver would be very nice, indeed…
Manners, always. Be the change you want to see in the world. I hope to someday live in a world where the roads are big enough (and kind enough) for all of us.
.-= Tee´s last blog ..All I want for Christmas… =-.