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Pedicab Drivers Sue Governor Sutiyoso for Operating Ban by A. Rahman Paul BARTER submitted: 2000-02-20 Website Covers Car-Free Day Actions Worldwide by Eric Britton submitted: 2000-02-20 Evolution of a BAD Show Topic for Oprah by Biker-X submitted: 2000-02-12 Italy Bans Cars For One Day In 150 City Centres by Loris Tissino submitted: 2000-02-11 Oprah Wondering if Bicyclists Are Endangering Safety of Motorists! by Brian List submitted: 2000-02-09 Bike Commuting: A Better Way to Travel by Paul Dorn submitted: 2000-02-03 Art Students' Polar Bike Gives New Meaning To 'extreme Cycling' by Byron Spice submitted: 2000-02-01 Drivers Who Kill Could Be Investigated For Murder by Stewart Tendler submitted: 2000-02-01 NYC Mayor Responds To Spike In Cycling Deaths by Kristen Fountain submitted: 2000-01-18 Car Busters Relocate to Prague by Car Busters submitted: 2000-01-17 |
Chapel Hill, Raleigh, NC Resumes Critical Mass Rides [22 November 1999] Sean Elliott and Scott Devine Chapel Hill, North Carolina We (Chapel Hill, Carrboro NC) had a great Mass with a good 40 riders. It was probably the biggest ride since last Halloween. It was great to see all the costumes. I rode the high-bike and had it and myself wrapped in kudzu. It was big crowd-pleaser. Other costumes included feather masks, the Scream ghoul, a cardboard bike-boat, a Japanese dragon kite, a tuxedo, Dorothy, and various crazy hats, wigs and masks. The costumes created a more festive feel and got great response from the streetside and motorists going the other way :) After complying with police wishes last month to take one lane, we took two lanes on Franklin this month. We had zero police presence during the ride, but I'm worried the decision might have ramifications next month. While most riders want to maintain a good relationship with the police, there is agreement that a two-lane Mass is a much better way to ride. There seemed to be less of a pissed-off vibe from motorists this time, possibly because of the costume-parade effect. One SUV did cross the yellow line to pass us and yell something out the window. A white car coming the other direction had to swerve rather quickly to miss it. The dangerous passing was completely for show because the vehicle simply turned right at the next street which they would have reached in a matter of seconds had they waited. It was good to see some new riders as usual. A mother and young son rode together for their second Critical Mass. One father towed his two daughters in costume in a trailer. I approached one quiet middle-schooler who was riding by himself. He said it was his first ride. I asked how he heard about it and said that he and his dad got stuck behind the last ride in a car and his dad started complaining about all these bicyclists. The boy, Nick, said he told his dad it was a good thing and that he shouldn't complain about it. He said his dad finally agreed! I asked if his dad would ever ride in one and he said he didn't think so, but maybe if he wanted him to. What a great kid. What a great ride. Seth Elliott Raleigh, North Carolina About thirty-five people showed up and twenty-five actually rode (3 guys on skateboards and one gal on rollerblades). At first, the basic consensus was just to take up one lane, but the mass was becoming too extended and we were getting cut off by traffic lights, so the back came up from behind and took over a second lane. We rode all the way downtown on Hillsborough and came back. Of course, there were a few angry drivers behind us and it seemed like it got dangerous when there was a middle turning lane and cars could try to pass us. I think a few SUV's even passed over the double yellow line. Near the end of the trip things became eventful. A sport-utility load of college students passed slowly, and one passsenger rolled down his window, emptying a beer on a few massers. Several minutes later, we heard sirens behind and it took a little too long to convince people to get out of the road in case it was an ambulance. It wasn't a cop or an ambulance, but some sort of weird emergency management vehicle. We probably delayed it for twenty or thirty seconds because so many cars were stacked up behind us. After that, we rode by a cop and he told us to move into one lane. This happened reluctantly and anyways, we were about a block from completing the ride. Afterwards, everyone met on the brickyard and discussed the ride--most felt it was a success and were excited about doing another one. Scott Devine |