Critical Mass wants free police escorts (illegal, suspect, boycott, free speech)

[979Texan]

And now for the latest in the ongoing cluster known as Critical Mass... Surely some of you folks have been impeded on a Friday evening by these crazies. They break traffic laws in the name of changing the public's opinions of cyclist laws. Please re-read that last sentence. THEY BREAK TRAFFIC LAWS IN THE NAME OF CHANGING THE PUBLIC'S OPINIONS OF CYCLIST LAWS!

Critical Mass is free, but Houston police may begin charging riders for escort - Houston Chronicle

When you have a family member pass on, you pay for the police the respectfully keep traffic open for the funeral procession. CM thinks they deserver better treatment than the dead and want FREE POLICE ESCORTS.

Hopefully there's a way to voice concern for the continued illegal bike rides conducted by Critical Mass.

[Glossa]

My opinion of them will never change. If they're so obsessed with riding, they can find some private trails and stay the h@%* out of our way.

[focus-izalco-pro]

CM is a political "free speech" action, unlike a private funeral. They are cooperating voluntarily with the police, but they don't have to. Many cities have tried unsuccessfully to shut this movement down, but it keeps growing. I would say, chill out: there's not much you can do about it.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by Glossa

My opinion of them will never change. If they're so obsessed with riding, they can find some private trails and stay the h@%* out of our way.

I second that, and I like bike riding.

[PedroMartinez]

Originally Posted by focus-izalco-pro

CM is a political "free speech" action, unlike a private funeral. They are cooperating voluntarily with the police, but they don't have to. Many cities have tried unsuccessfully to shut this movement down, but it keeps growing. I would say, chill out: there's not much you can do about it.

If I were to hold a large political rally on public land, I'd be required to submit forms for approval and pay for services such as police. CM should be required to do what everyone else must do.

[gsmj]

Originally Posted by focus-izalco-pro

CM is a political "free speech" action, unlike a private funeral. They are cooperating voluntarily with the police, but they don't have to.

They seem like a selfish bunch.

[focus-izalco-pro]

Originally Posted by gsmj

They seem like a selfish bunch.

Not really, maybe in this situation, but you can look at the 20-year history of critical mass in other cities. Mostly they just want enough awareness of their presence that drivers don't kill them.

They don't need HPD to keep safety and order. There have been zero injuries/fatalities in 10 years of Houston CM before October (when hpd offered to control intersections), and the the city backs out it will be fine.

Intersections are mostly controlled by the cyclists who stop and "plug" to keep the group safe. This is legit and done every day by citizens for construction (ie private profit) or accidents (basic safety). I've done it myself for both reasons.

When cyclists do it, for some reason it makes some people mad. But that's more of a power thing: "How dare they! The Punks!"

[gsmj]

Originally Posted by focus-izalco-pro

Intersections are mostly controlled by the cyclists who stop and "plug" to keep the group safe. This is legit and done every day by citizens for construction (ie private profit) or accidents (basic safety). I've done it myself for both reasons.

When done for construction, it's a necessity. When done for an accident, it's a necessity. When done for a group bike ride it's for recreation.

As for making their presence known, all they're doing is making more people aware of them in a bad way. One would think with all the recent examples of boycott backlash (chick-fil-a, starbucks, duck-dynasty, etc) that forcing your agenda on unsuspecting others does nothing to promote awareness, but instead garner resentment and misunderstanding.

They want mass public support? Then make the bike rides charitable, make the organization charitable, and work with local officials to make all gatherings as peaceful an event as possible. Like I said above, right now they just seem like a selfish bunch.

[xsatyr]

I love critical mass even though I rarely join. I couldn't care less about the complainers.

[979Texan]

Originally Posted by focus-izalco-pro

Not really, maybe in this situation, but you can look at the 20-year history of critical mass in other cities. Mostly they just want enough awareness of their presence that drivers don't kill them.

They don't need HPD to keep safety and order. There have been zero injuries/fatalities in 10 years of Houston CM before October (when hpd offered to control intersections), and the the city backs out it will be fine.

Intersections are mostly controlled by the cyclists who stop and "plug" to keep the group safe. This is legit and done every day by citizens for construction (ie private profit) or accidents (basic safety). I've done it myself for both reasons.

When cyclists do it, for some reason it makes some people mad. But that's more of a power thing: "How dare they! The Punks!"

People in your group have no right to impede traffic. You have an entitled groupthink attitude that does more to hurt your so-called "cause" than help it. You're kidding yourself and insulting lots of people's intelligence if you truly try to spin CM as a free speech and cycling awareness movement.