I think you’d be hard pressed to find any cyclists who doesn’t agree more bikes on the roads means safer cycling conditions for all cyclists. How we go about achieving this volume of cyclists, however, is far more critical.
For those who didn’t make last months meeting, we had a pretty lively discussion prior to the start about the Critical Mass movement. For those who don’t know what Critical Mass is, Wikipedia has a pretty decent article describing the movement and it’s history. Where the discussion gets interesting is when you start talking about how successful the movement has been versus how much negative publicity the movement has garnered.
There is a growing Critical Mass movement in Providence and I thought it was a good time to bring this discussion into the public light. What’s your take on Critical Mass? Is it necessary to get the attention of public figures and motorists or is it just likely to escalate the conflicts and bring in law enforcement? Will a solid Critical Mass effectively demand attention in Providence? Can Critical Mass exist in a non-confrontational way, where the cyclists send a clear message to motorists and government officials, without causing conflict?