“What are you guys doing?” asks a woman from inside her parked car on Spring Garden.
More than a hundred cyclists, some dressed as skeletons, sex workers
and bears, are blocking her from pulling out of her pit-stop at
Timmy’s.
“We’re going for a bike ride,” answers one of the Canadian
Olympians. It’s Critical Mass, Halloween edition, and the answer is
typical of the critical mass movement: slightly enigmatic, almost
evasive, yet simple enough. A big ole bike ride, last Friday of every
month, lots of people, howling good fun.
This Critical Mass is a pretty big one by Halifax standards, it
being Halloween and also one month after the triple ticket incident. On
the September ride three cyclists were nailed with traffic infraction
tickets around Oxford Street and Quinpool Road.
“It was a left turn,” recalls Scott MacPhee, who was fined $135.75
for his participation in September’s event. He’s been a Halifax masser
since 2004. “We don’t usually make left turns.”
MacPhee says a paddy wagon shot past the 65 bikes in the mass that
evening and blocked the road, holding traffic at a standstill for 20
minutes. “They asked us who our leader was,” he says. He was near the
front and stepped forward to explain the Critical Mass’s organizational
structure, or lack thereof.
Critical Mass started as large informal bike rides in 1970s
Stockholm, which were later named after the Beijing cycling practice of
“massing up” at intersections and crossing in unison, for protection
from Beijing drivers’ complete indifference to human life. Even when
Critical Mass became a movement 20 years later in San Fransisco, it
kept its dedication to being disorganized, with no leaders or members.
Now, the event is held in more than 300 cities around the world, a
celebration of self-propelled bipedalism and a cry for better cycling
infrastructure.
“If you had leaders they could get picked out of the crowd by
police,” MacPhee explains of the diffuse structure. As it turns out,
that is exactly what happened to him. “I think they nailed me for
speaking up.”
His ticket reads: “Failing to ride bicycle on extreme right of
highway.”
“I didn’t break any law,” MacPhee says. “I was in the process of
making a left turn as per the Canadian Cycling Handbook.” He is a
certified Canadian Cycling Association (Can-Bike) Instructor—that’s
the same course bike cops take and sometimes instruct.
MacPhee acknowledges that “technically mass is illegal, because you
are supposed to be single file,” and the bike mass takes up an entire
lane of traffic. But the beauty is that cops can’t ticket the whole
mass. “Most times police don’t even come.” MacPhee was told that in
this case, a driver called in a complaint about cyclists holding up
traffic.
The lords of the road being dissatisfied, somebody had to pay.
MacPhee says it won’t be him. He’s challenging the ticket in traffic
court and he expects to win, but he hopes for much more. “I would like
the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicles Act to be changed,” he says.
It may sound nitpicky, but MacPhee points to a serious contradiction
between our Act and the Canadian Cycling Handbook, which is the gold
standard for safe cycling in Canada. It instructs cyclists to stay one
metre away from the curb and parked roadside vehicles. This distance
saves cyclists from “the big door prize,” an opening car door straight
to the ribs. Yet our provincial traffic act wants cyclists on the
“extreme right.”
At a more fundamental level, MacPhee hopes for better dialogue
between cyclists and the police. Whether it’s cycling in general or
Critical Mass as an event, he sees no reason to criminalize people
practicing and celebrating sustainable active transportation.
Twenty cyclists at a recent meeting to discuss how to prevent such
criminalization agreed that mass is a celebration rather than a
protest, MacPhee says. “In Halifax, sometimes some anarchist wannabes
ride all over the road and sidewalk yelling at cars with no helmets on,
but that aggressive behaviour turns people off—if we piss off the
general public we’ll be looked at as just a fringe group.”
But because most of the riders at mass are respectful and kind to
car drivers, the event has grown steadily in the five years MacPhee has
been participating. “It’s getting bigger every year,” he says. “Its
power is just in having that many people—kids, seniors, teens,
hardcore and utilitarian cyclists. We don’t want to hold up traffic; we
just want to get the word out on the need for better infrastructure.”
This article appears in Nov 12-18, 2009.
“But because most of the riders at mass are respectful and kind to car drivers”
What, really?
Has Mr. Benjamin ever been near one of their “peaceful” rides? I think MacPhee is being a little coy with the truth when he says a few of the riders are anarchist wannabes.
They should have a big old tractor-trailer for them to ride into, so they can cart them off to jail.
Good article. I stopped going to Critical Mass when it stopped being about bikes and was turned into an anti-car, anti-war, anti-meat, anti-________ scene for people who just want to yell at people in cars. The chants are really lame, too.
While I appreciate the flat structure of Critical Mass, I admit that as an outsider, I found it really frustrating when I tried to bring up an issue on the Facebook group, and was told (nicely, mind you) that if I wanted to “educate” riders, it was up to me to do so, and to get involved. I don’t even own a bike. I walk everywhere.
So much focus is given to how riders get along with police and vehicles, but I feel like there’s a huge ignored issue with how pedestrians are treated by some cyclists (maybe the wannabe anarchists? dunno) during critical mass (e.g. sidewalk riding, cutting people off, blocking them from their destination). I would think those passionate about the cause would want walkers on their side, and not alienate or dismiss them. Let’s face it–pedestrians should be holding their own critical masses to get wheels off the sidewalk.
I totally appreciate the spirit of critical mass, but it would be great if there was a person, or group, who would take responsibility for others’ shitty behaviour and at least try and educate some of those who are ruining it for everyone else. Considering CM is basically an institution now, and it’s not the 1970s, maybe it’s time for someone to take charge…
Good comment Sue.
It is entirely accurate to say that the vast majority of Critical Mass riders are very respectful to motorists and pedestrians alike…if they weren’t then I would stop attending the rides.
and as for Crancky’s comments, he’s totally off base. It’s not an “anti-anthing” hippie scene at all, but in fact the biggest pro-bicycle scene around. I don’t know when the last time you attended a ride was, Crancky, but it sounds to me like it was a looong time ago, and possibly in another city.
The critical mass can be so much fun, and is such a safe event, that I feel perfectly comfortable bringing my four-year old on his trail-a-bike, which I did twice this past summer. If the ride was at all similar to what the critical comments above assume it is, I wouldn’t. If it ever becomes that, i won’t. Fortuntely the writers above don’t know what the’re talking about (with the exception of Sue. Sue: I am as respectful of pedestrians as possible, and encourage those around me to. however as critical mass has no leaders, it’s kind of hard to tell people what to do. It’s not an “institution” as you say, and never will be. I’ll keep using diplomacy to try to influence people, though, for your sake).
Sorry Peter, last time I was there we had people yelling “No Blood for Oil” while biking down Spring Garden Road. For the most part the CM in Halifax is a good scene and the majority of the people are respectful AND it does attract a wide range of people all the way from old folks who go get their groceries via bike to college hipsters to lycra clad road racers, so you are right. I might have to try it again sometime just to see how it goes.
Critical mass is just about people riding bicycles. As soon as anyone in the crowd tries to make it about anything else I just roll my eyes and ignore that shit. The ride last Halloween when it fell on the actual day was one the most fun I have ever had on a bicycle.
Having participated in about a dozen critical mass over the last few years (mostly in Halifax, some in Toronto), perhaps I am out of touch with what it is like to be an observer. I would have to deduce however, that it is a very split issue from one person to another. Regardless of what you think about it, I think we can all agree that the most irrational, dangerous, and outright stupid behaviour demonstrated by massers pales in comparison to some of the ludicrous actions of the irate drivers who sometimes opt to show their frustrations by gunning their cars up the wrong side of the road (oh wait, that was the police paddy wagon in September’s shameful debauchery) only to try to cut into the mass of riders with an apparent sense of self righteousness.
Pedestrians:
I know that you are setting a great example to the idling, gas guzzling, sloth-like commuters in their single-occupancy monstrosities that are the very essence of human ignorance and self-deprecation. On behalf of everyone who cares about reducing emissions and making cities sustainable and (lets not forget) liveable, thank you thank you thank you. However, you miss the point.
Critical mass is not about alternative forms of transportation to cars, or cutting emissions, or advocating for bike rights, or a form of protest, or anything like that. It is undefinable. So arguing that critical mass should give special consideration to pedestrians under the premise that they are part of the same “cause” doesn’t really make sense. By the way, there is no safer way for a pedestrian to get around critical mass than by waiting for it to go by, and I think we can all agree that safety is a priority when dealing with anything road related.
One suggestion regarding the issue of developing better communication with the police:
Critical massers should begin phoning in complaints of cars that put us in danger, we certainly have enough witnesses to attest to any dangerous driving. Lets start getting the license plates of the offenders and leaving a few people behind to cork their asses until the cops show up to give them the tickets that they deserve. For each ticket we cyclists get, there are 5 cars that committed far more grievous violations of the motor vehicle act.
-Tom
Thanks for responding Peter. I have been to several masses this year and am yet to witness a rude or disrespectful rider. To the contrary, I have witnessed rude and yelling car drivers.
I certainly hope that Mr. MacPhee does fight the ticket, as there is no such stipulation in the law.
From http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/stat…, the
Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act, Section 171(3) states “No person shall ride a bicycle on a highway except as near as practicable to the extreme right of the main travelled portion of the highway…”.
As a cyclist, a pedestrian and what you might call a wannabe anarchist, I want to touch on what Sue said
“pedestrians should be holding their own critical masses to get wheels off the sidewalk.”
First I am sorry for any negative encounters you have had on foot with a cyclist. I wish I could say everyone on a bike was doing it with good cause, but as in all group (pedestrians and motorists included) there are the jerks. I too encourage everyone to practice safe and respectful riding, but please understand, its frightening on those roads. The amount of times a week I get yelled at, honked at, and sometimes things thrown at me is beyond count, Not to mention how many times I have been hit by a car while riding safely and peacefully.
I guess what I am trying to say is not that we have it worse than anyone, or that we aren’t guilty of anything either. I am trying to say we all need to share the roads, and respect the sidewalks, but to make it possible we need to urge systematic changes to make the roads a safe place for cyclists.
As mentioned above, CM is about sharing the road. Others be aware we are present. It is unfortunate that we get frustrated with someone who cuts us of or worse whether it be a pedestrian or vehicle of any sort. A few things could be learned from: http://www.streetfilms.org/
Pedestrian’s must also be aware, that even if a cyclist is on the sidewalk, think about why they are there?! Perhaps it’s because they find the road too dangerous! And this is why having our own lanes would be safer for everyone. So many other cities are far more ahead than we could be!! Halifax get with the program!! No more excuses!
I’ve heard that some are afraid to announce to the police of the CBM route, because more officers might try and take advantage and cause more trouble. Why not have the police cyclists escort and be part of it all!!!
Another note, a summation of the motor vehicle act, so even though we are to be to off to the right of the lane we also, assuming that a cyclist is a vehicle, we are not to be passed either unless there is a second lane!! If every street had a bicycle lane, there wouldn’t be confusion from both cyclists and motor vehicles about what side to pass when in another lane!!!
“commuters in their single-occupancy monstrosities that are the very essence of human ignorance and self-deprecation”
Okay, get it, don’t be ignorant.
“By the way, there is no safer way for a pedestrian to get around critical mass than by waiting for it to go by”
Oh, imagine, another righteous biker nutjob. It’s wrong when automobiles push themselves around but it’s okay for a mob of bikes to push around pedestrians? This is exactly why I don’t want to participate in CM. As much fun as it sounds on paper, mob mentality seems to always take over, and always seems to attract this sort.
although we definitely do hold up traffic during CM, i just don’t understand why people get sooo angry about having to sit put for maybe 5 mins at an intersection, with their radios playing and an interesting and goofy scene to observe. where are you going on this single night a month that is so friggin important that being an extra 5 mins late will be catastrophic? not to mention that it’s been going on for years. if you do have somewhere so important to be on the last friday of every month, you can plan to leave a few mins early just in case. everyone does need to take a breather on this one and not get so worked up.
I am sorry to the pedestrians who don’t get enough respect by anyone on the streets. i’ve been a frustrated walker many-a-time.
Although I (sadly) have not gone to a CM in a little while, I have attended many during the year leading up to this past summer, and I have to say it is an amazing and fun experience. It is true that I have on several occasions witnessed tense moments between motorists and cyclists, but the aggression in all cases originated from a motorist. And, to be honest, I have been quite impressed at how calm and composed cyclists have remained during CM when facing incredibly aggressive and dangerous behaviour from motorists – even cops.
I have seen motorists, yell at cyclists, step out of their cars to confront cyclists, and recklessly cut through a mass. Last summer, during the CM in solidarity with the residents protesting the widening of Chebucto, a cop paddy waggon blazed past me to cut through the mass at an intersection to prevent it from crossing, thus causing extreme confusion among cyclists and motorists. I had no reservations at letting him know, quite bluntly, the danger he was causing.
I have NEVER seen such aggressive behaviour coming from cyclists at CM. And in any case, for the most part, motorists (and pedestrians) support and enjoy CM too. By far, motorists honk and cheer us as we go along, and enjoy the few minutes of entertainment provided by the motley group.
About pedestrians, I agree with comments above. Cyclists on sidewalks are for the most part a symptom of the fear to ride on roads and face the dangers of a road system unsafe for cyclists. I do not agree with cyclists riding on sidewalks during a CM, maybe word should be passed around better to avoid such instances during rides. As for pedestrians wanting to cross the road, the safest thing really is for pedestrians to just wait a few minutes. Crossing through a mass of cyclists is unsafe for everyone. No one can guarantee that cyclists further back will see a pedestrian being let by.
Anyway, I fully support CM and think it is an awesome celebration and example of changing habits and realizing that the “the way things are” doesn’t mean that’s how things “have to be.”
It simply comes down to having a bit of respect for your fellow man. Whether they be on bike, foot or in a car. The same people in CM that are assholes about it, would be assholes regardless. The same can be said for those of us in our cars. Most people driving around like assholes are assholes anyhow. It doesn’t matter what mode of transportation they use. The province needs to clarify the supposed ‘rules’ of the road, so that bikers, peds and drivers can all stop being so confused about what the fuck it’s supposed to be like out there. Bikes yeild to peds, cars to bikes and peds. Suck it up. BUT…regardless of your ’cause’, you have no business holding up traffic and intentionally annoying drivers. (though I know most of the CM riders are decent)There are laws in the MVA that state obstructing traffic is an offence and you can and should be fined for it. I try to be as respectful as I can be out there, but if I have the right of way in my car, then ‘I’ have the right of way. If you in your bike or on foot have the right of way, I shall yeild to you as I should. I think the basis for CM is a good thing, but it needs to be executed in a better way…as they say, we can’t let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch….
Until those motherfuckers learn what a red light means with a walk signal at the intersection, and what a crosswalk is, they can fuck off with their bitchin’ about not being respected.
They don’t like Halifax drivers, yet they disobey the laws which protect pedestrians.
Getting hit by a bike isn’t as bad as getting hit by a car – but the principle is the same.
Tell you what, bi-ped, the next time you are walking to class I am going to stand in front of you and stop you from walking to class, for 5 minutes. No threats or anything, I’m just going to stand there and you are going to sit and wait for 5 minutes. Maybe I’ll blow a whistle or wave a balloon just to keep it interesting but you’re still going to be stuck sitting there even though you have somewhere to be and every right to continue on your way.
Just a little insight for ya.
I drive an SUV. Never would I consider driving a bike in the city. Yet I find these mass bike rides hilarious! I love watching them the few times I have happened by them. The first time I saw it I was in complete and utter disbelief (but not in a bad way). If you look closely there seems to be all types of people involved, even children. Its fun to see, like an unexpected parade! Embrace it! We don’t need to bicker about EVERYTHING out of the ordinary.
Funny you should preach from the Canadian Cycling Handbook and the NS Motor Vehicles Act. When you collectively blew through the red light on Windsor and Chebucto last week, hooting and hollering all the way about your little nibble of stoplight anarchy, I can pretty much bet that opinion for your wanna-be Critical Mass went from ‘pro social reform’ to ‘just another collection of self-entitled assholes’.
Karma dictates that you win door prizes for everyone, so I don’t want to see another “love/bitch” post about it when rich, creamy cosmic justice is ladled out.
CM is an act of peaceful protest, of the strength in numbers and of possibility. CM is beautiful in its simplicity, its humour and its hopefulness.
Be hard on the issues, not on the people. I love many people who drive cars; I despise car culture and the industrial military complex used to support everything cars are from foreign wars to environmental domination. I love Halifax; I hate that in this city, like in so many others, ways of getting around are dominated by cars that are dangerous, filthy, consumptive and, frankly, cruel.
To pretend that driving is in any way neutral is delusional. To assume it is effective, efficient or sustainable is, simply put, misinformed. CM, whatever its “cause”, still is about cycling and about something other than cars.
Drivers, breathe. Cause I hope CM is for far more than five minutes once a month. My hope is that driving becomes so cumbersome, so inconvenient that getting to where you need to go by cycling, buses, walking, skateboarding, roller blading or anything other than driving will be nothing less than common sense.
I do not support bicycles. They should be using side streets to protect themselves from cars, and vice versa.
Y’see, its not a ‘celebration of the bicycle’ when it veers into the anti-car rhetoric of “…despise car culture and the industrial military complex used to support everything cars are from foreign wars to environmental domination….ways of getting around are dominated by cars that are dangerous, filthy, consumptive and, frankly, cruel…My hope is that driving becomes so cumbersome, so inconvenient that getting to where you need to go by cycling, buses, walking, skateboarding, roller blading or anything other than driving will be nothing less than common sense….”
Wah wah, now cars are ‘cruel’.
What a joke.
Sebastian: thats part of the reason I am for/against bike lanes at the same time. Why should I take a lengthier route to get where I am going just because I’m a bike? I’m in a rush to get to work, too.
It happens ONCE A MONTH, people. The longest it can possibly inconvenience you is 5 MINUTES. Is it really that much of a hardship to allow a few cyclists to pass by on the street? Would you spew this kind of venom if it was a parade, or a cancer walk, or a marathon that held you up for a few minutes? Whether or not you agree with the ’cause’ is beside the point, the point is that it’s just a group of people doing something they enjoy and not causing anyone any harm. Some of them may have political motives, some of them may be trying to promote bicycle culture, and a lot of them are just out to enjoy a Friday night ride with their fellow cyclists. For the most part, they’re all just decent folks like the rest of us, who want something positive – a greener earth, friendlier roads, better infrastructure, healthier lifestyles, less pollution…What the hell is wrong with that???
There’s nothing wrong with that, but, thankfully there’s a few people in the CM community that volunteer or get involved within the city/province to actively promote the change, because in reality the CM does not accomplish much for cyclists other than give those taking part an evening of venting and ‘positive vibes, dude’.
I think the other problem with CM Meow is that parades and marathons and the like get their routes approved and sometimes get streets blocked off and sometimes get volunteers or police to direct traffic. These non-CM events are being responsible. The method CM uses leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths because they aren’t respecting the other users of the road. If they are going to hold regular rides, then why not get organized and do it properly? You might find drivers and pedestrians more understanding if CM didn’t come off as being an act of defiance.
Bureaucracy does not equal responsibility.
Don’t think car culture is cruel? Ask those whose homes are displaced by oil pipelines, by countries that have been thrown into civil wars over oil (and the ensuing displacement, injury, loss, death). If you’re motivated by some consideration for wildlife, consider vasts lands cut by roads that have decimated habitat. Don’t dismiss me as naive; the truth is I’ve worked with children orphaned by war and some who are worse off, selling their bodies as young as 7 years old.
I know it’s complex but cars and oil are, without a doubt, part of the problem.
And if you want to dismiss comments from folks b/c you’ve deemed them armchair pundits, I’d consider more carefully that many people are enormously active in cycling infrastructure, advocacy and education, nevermind being ordinary everyday cyclists.
My patience for the dialogue diminishes when justifications for continuing the status quo are as mundane as not wanting to be disturbed from your slumber, inconvenienced by a longer route, taking some extra moments for the improvement of all.
Much criticism is leveled at city council for its lack of vision but really, its our responsibility as residents to be bolder and show that we’re willing to see and make change.