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Two Wheels Good: Justine Shapiro gets out on her bike
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What's it About
Started in 1992 in San Francisco, Critical Mass has
grown into a worldwide movement to get people out of their
cars and into the streets, riding bikes to save the planet's
resources. By taking back the streets in unorganized, mass
protests, Critical Mass has enraged motorists who have been
trapped in a gridlock of hundreds of bicycles. Local San Franciscans
addicted to their cars usually commute on 'Mass' days. Through
the unorthodox views of the participants, Critial Mass has
gained notoriety, especially after a 2000 incident when Critical
Mass shutdown the Bay Bridge during Friday rushhour,
after which several dozen CM'ers went to jail.
Get On Your Bike
To participate in Critical Mass, all you need is a bike, and
advisably, a good crash helmet. It takes place on the last
Friday of every month, starting at around 5.30pm at the Ferry
building on Market street in downtown San Francisco. Sometimes
hundreds of people are there wearing costumes to mark current
events or upcoming holidays like Halloween and Christmas;
other times there are barely 50 paticipants. Whatever the
turnout there is a nervous, tense atmosphere as the police
cars are already lined up on nearby streets prepared to arrest
any rowdies and no one knows where they will be going or what
will happen.
Spirit of the Chase
With a shrill whistle and the crack of some starters pistols,
Critical Mass is off, and immediately the crush of bicycles
swarms around cars, stops traffic and gridlocks whole intersections
for minutes. As you ride along, people (especially tourists)
stare in awe at this mass rally that has suddenly brought
out so many police and wonder what is going on. Local residents
(especially in cars) will swear at you and honk their horn
as loud as they can; usually this is met with several bikes
totally blocking the cars path and a bullhorn screaming for
the end of oil consumption blasted in their face. Fistfights
have broken out and with the police not far behind the scuffle
doesn't last long.
As you ride the hilly streets playing follow the leader, it's
a great way to see the City from the seat of a bike; in one
Critical Mass session you can go around Chinatown, North
Beach, the Castro, Golden Gate Park and Fishermans
Wharf. All along the way cheering and jeering crowds will
greet you and enraged motorists will glare at you through
windshields, but overall it's a fun event that is all about
the spirit of San Francisco. |
