It happens on the last Friday of every month. They meet in places like the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, under the Waterloo Bridge in London, and in the Chicago Loop. Bicycle riders from all over the world join to ride together in a group called Critical Mass. And kids, this is no ordinary afternoon bike ride. In fact, it would be an understatement even to call this a “group” of cyclists: sometimes the Critical Mass attendance hits the thousands on any given Friday in just one location. While never forsaking its humble beginnings in San Francisco in 1992, where a few dozen cyclists who had received flyers on Market Street joined for a ride, Critical Mass now stretches to every continent and has found global acclaim.
The dynamics of this phenomenon are simple: Bikers gather and ride through the city in a large swarm. They stay close by one another to appear as a giant, unified mass. With very large groups, bikers often practice a Critical Mass technique called corking, where a few riders block traffic on side streets so that the bikers can freely proceed through red lights as a group. Corking allows the mass to perform its signature activities, such as forming a cyclone, hoisting their bicycles in a tradition known as a “Bike Lift” (also known as a Chicago hold-up), or holding a “die-in” where participants lie on the ground to represent cyclist injuries caused by cars.
Because there is no formal leader of Critical Mass, it is hard to tell what the group’s mission is. Could it be merely a recreational celebration of cyclists? A monthly protest aimed at biker awareness? A rebellious reclaiming of the streets? Although Critical Mass may not fit into a neat category, it is clear that its activity makes car drivers wake up and notice this group, often to their dismay. As dozens of lights turn from green to red back and back again, drivers sometimes become frustrated, and a few even try to drive through the mass or engage in altercations with cyclists. While Critical Mass is troubling for drivers, some bikers explain that it is the one time a week they arent taking a backseat to cars. Critical Mass serves to raise awareness on the benefits of alternative transportation, and to assert cyclists’ right to the road.
Traditionally, cyclists have a hard time finding a place to ride, especially in urban areas. In Chicago, bicycles are not permitted on the sidewalks, but they are often in danger on the streets because of inattentive or impatient car drivers. Unfortunately, this means that bikers are uniquely susceptiple to personal injury; sometimes bikers are severely injured or killed after colliding with an automobile. Often the medical treatment required to aid and injured biker is complicated and intricate. Despite attempts at raising bicycle awareness, such as Bike To Work Week, it seems bikers are still getting the short end of the stick when it comes sharing the road.
A group like Critical Mass is a good reminder to be polite and conscientous on the road, but biker courtesy should be taking place each day of the week, not just Friday at 5:00 PM. Bikers should follow the rules like wearing helmets, signaling, and minding traffic flow, but drivers need to be aware of dangers too. Some of the driver behaviors that can cause personal injury to bikers are listed here:
- Dooring – When a driver opens his car door after parking, not noticing an oncoming cyclist.
- Impatient turning – When a driver aims to “make the light” or get ahead of cross traffic and proceeds hastily into an intersection.
- Parking or stalling in the biker lane – These lanes are here for a reason, drivers!
The benefits of biking are obvious – no exhaust fumes, parking right in front of the building, and good exercise. But even if you arent going to be biking to work anytime soon, you are still responsbile in part for the safety of bikers around you. Remember to share the road, obey traffic laws, and always look out for bikers.
For more information, see:
Bikes and Brain Injuries Go Hand in Hand – Steve Lombardi
Chicago Bicycle Law – Chicago Department of Transportation
Safe Cycling Project – The Iowa Bicycle Coalition
