In August 2005 FM first got involved with Atlanta's Critical Mass...with a little persuasion and promotion, CM has grown to crowds of a couple hundred people each month. Thats a lot of people showing up and so should you! Critical Mass appears around 6 PM (leaving around 6:30 PM) on the last Friday of every month at Woodruff park in downtown Atlanta. Here's some pictures from each month someone from here has been there with a camera and if you'd like some more information on the phenomenon, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass. There are also some Videos over on Google Video.
Sometimes it's not easy or safe riding a bike on Atlanta's streets. Thanks to people like you, for a few hours on the last Friday of every month, Critical Mass transforms choked streets in nearly 400 cities on six continents into rolling festivals. By riding a bike, you help. You're not endangering other folks, you're not hogging more space than you need, you're not wasting energy, you're not contributing to greenhouse gases, and you're not crying for more roads. Together, we can envision a more bike-friendly city and together, we can have fun making it happen.
The goal is to raise bicycle awareness and celebrate/improve rider solidarity. With enough riders CM occupies the entire street and requires less sustainable forms of traffic (i.e. cars & SUVs) to take notice. The message is simple - Bikes don't interfere with traffic, bikes ARE traffic. It is by no means a difficult ride and riders of all skill/experience levels are encouraged to join. We ride slowly to maximize our density and impact. Past rides have been high in energy and enthusiasm with positive vibes flowing like crazy. Rides often end with drinks and conversation at a friendly bar. Faster Mustache encourages its members and other riders to strip off unnecessary clothing to improve our visibility and simplify everything. Wear a Speedo, or underwear, or take your shirt off, or wear nothing.
Here's some things we have to say about Critical Mass:
- This is NOT a protest or war or fight or anything like that. It's people riding bikes because they want to. If you want to ride to protest, awesome. If you want to ride because theres a beer at the end, awesome. If you happen to ride because you were just on a bike and don't even know whats going on, awesome. If you're itching for aggravation, provocation, confrontation, an argument, a fight, or a riot, please, please curb your rage during the ride.
- This is not an FM event. We just spread the word.
- Publicity should say every month instead of this specific month so the same places don't need to be revisited every time.
- Routes are good.
- The ride is supposed to stay massed up. If you are up front, look behind you and see if everyone is keeping up--if not, slow down.
- If the police are trying to stop people, and you stop, you will be arrested. It's tough for a police officer to arrest hundreds of people riding bikes so they have to pick and choose. Don't do something to let yourself be the scapegoat for the actions of someone else or the crowd. Riding a bike on the street is not illegal. And don't be stupid by back talking to a police officer.
- Stay away from Buckhead. For real. Every time CM heads to Buckhead, bad things happen.
- Ride like you normally ride. If you wish people a Happy Monday, Tuesday, etc, then feel free to wish them a Happy Friday too!
- Act decently and with common sense, and have a good time!
Some Things You Should Know
Who's in charge here? We all are but it's crucial for you to remember: you're responsible for your own actions. We're all responsible for Critical Mass being fun and safe so if you see someone doing something you think is wrong, talk with them. They may tell you to stuff it but Hey! This is Atlanta and It's your Mass!
Where are we going? Wherever we feel like going. Friendly chats amongst riders at the front of Critical Mass usually help decide where we go. If you'd like to have a say, get to the front and offer your suggestion. If you want to hand out maps of a route you want to take, that's good too. It's your Mass!
What's our route? You'd better re-read the preceding answer.
Critical Mass works best when it's tightly bunched, not strung out and scattered: keep together and always keep moving forward. If you see the ride thinning out, if you see gaps, or if the front of the Mass rides too fast, shout out. Call out to people in front to slow down so the ride can regroup. If you're at the back of the Mass, don't be a snail. We don't set a fast pace so everyone: please keep up. Don't dawdle. You undermine our strength, our Mass. Help keep the ride tight, coherent, and safe. The power of the Mass lies in its numbers and in staying together. Stay with the Mass! Don't be a hero. You're not invincible. If you're reasonable, not threatening or abusive, you shouldn't have any problems. Relax, enjoy the ride, and encourage others to do the same. It's your Mass!
Is it okay to scream at car drivers? Critical Mass imagines a possibility in which anger and violence don't rule the road. If you're itching for aggravation, provocation, confrontation, an argument, a fight, or a riot, please, please curb your rage during the ride. Smile. Wave to the silly drivers. Remember, you're having fun, right? It's your Mass!
Okay, should we share the road? ALWAYS YIELD TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
We should also open a lane for buses: folks who ride public transit are our allies. And even if pedestrians do bone-head things right in front of your bike and you're sure their skulls are filled with dead insects, pedestrians are our friends too. Let's yield to them as cars should yield to us. Help by reminding other riders. Hassling pedestrians and drivers is no fun for anyone. Smile, wave, and talk to drivers and pedestrians when you have a chance. Hand them flyers explaining Critical Mass. If a light turns red and you're in the middle of the ride, you should probably keep going. If you're at the front of the ride, stop. Watch how others deal with traffic -- and learn. It's your Mass!
But what about the cops? In the past, several riders have been arrested during Critical Mass. If cops come along for the ride, try not to clash with them. Why give the police an excuse to stop our ride or to bust anybody? Confronting the police and going out of your way to obstruct other traffic could get you arrested. Don't cork opposing traffic--stay on the same side of the road. Keep together, learn from others, and remember: you're responsible for your own actions. A hint with dealing with police officers: they're more concerned that you listen to them than anything else. That means, if you're polite and project a positive image (i mean, isn't that a part of CM?) you might be able to get out of whatever situation you found yourself in. But if you go all middle school on an officer of the law, you might find yourself in worse trouble. Just a suggestion.It's your Mass!
Why are YOU riding? Critical Mass is a blank slate. Some of us are just riding from here to there ... on bikes, skates, and skateboards. Some of us ride to encourage other cyclists, promote bicycle commuting, and advocate bicycle world domination, but mostly, we ride to bring people together in the open air to have fun. Invent your own reasons for riding. Wear a costume if you'd like. Bring your own flyers to hand out to other riders or to folks we meet along the ride.Have an excellent time. It's your Mass!
Most important, come back, help us, and join us again: 6 pm, last Friday of every month, downtown Atlanta at Woodruff Park,corner of Peachtree St. and Auburn Ave. Bring water (you'll get thirsty), lights (it gets dark), and noisemakers. Dress for the weather. We usually end up someplace where the fun can continue so bring a lock. And bring friends!
