15 Years of Critical Mass

www.critical-mass.info


Today marks the 15th aniversary of Critical Mass! For those of you who don't know about CM, it is the world's largest bicycle protest and happens on the last friday of the month around 6pm. CM is not organized and was started by two dozen biker friends in San Francisco, California. Over time, CM has grown like crazy in SF, usually getting around 5,000 people each month to join in on the ride.

Ok, so you may be saying, "So what, it's just a bike ride, what's the big deal." Well, not only is this a biker's rights advocacy protest, but a STOP DRIVING EVERYWHERE protest. The bikers have no set rout which severly messes up traffic, especially on the last friday of the month in the heart of rush hour. And don't say that it's bad for the environment because of all the idoling cars because it really has made a lot of progress in the city. When CM started in 1992 only 2% of trips in SF were made on bikes...now almost 10% of all trips in SF are on bikes. So many trips that the city government has designated "bike only" streets, making it easier for people to ride their bike, and more difficult to drive. If only everywhere was San Francisco...ha. But really, it's true.

I have participated in this event. One time was in SF and it was just about the best time I've ever had. Let me tell you, San Franciscan's know how to turn a protest into a party. Tons of music, pissed off Hummer drivers(but who cares about those people anyway), and the most fun cat and mouse game you could ever play with the cops. The police don't like it because CM doesn't ever have a permit, but that is the whole point. Biking is a right, unlike cars. And BIKES SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!

Critical Mass, 15 years later is all over the world and has helped so many people realize that the moral thing to do on the way to work or school is to ditch the car and and ride to work. Too bad the South is still in the dark ages. Which brings me to my next point. We, the students of BSC, should start our own Critical Mass in Birmingham. It would be difficult for a while, but something positive needs to happen in this city for once and we have the power to do it...So, who's with me?