2008 Woodie Awards
Biking for a greater cause than fun
Staff Report
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Life
Last Friday was the first Critical Mass meeting in Grand Forks.
Critical Mass is about bringing awareness to everyone that people use bikes as a mode of transportation. It is also supposed to enlighten motorists about the rights on the road, bikes and bike riders have.
Critical Mass is only a small part of a greater movement. The first step is to get on the roads and put oneself where they can be seen. These personal experiences only help to enhance points being made when members of Critical Mass lobby local and state governments for bike lanes and progressive legislation.
A great thing about Critical Mass is that it has no leaders because everyone has a part of it. It has no hierarchal structure, which helps everyone become more comfortable with each other.
Critical Mass is an event, not an organization because no one authorizes your ride, you just ride wherever your heart takes you. Also, because it is an event, this means participants need only be as involved as they which to be. If someone just wants to ride their bike and doesn't feel like doing the lobbying part that often accompanies Critical Mass, than they can do this.
Despite the poor weather, the first bike ride was held as scheduled. The ride went very well and the organizers were thrilled because persons other than the original planners showed up.
Friday had a late start because the organizers wanted to make sure that people had time to get to Time Square to participate.
As the group of nearly ten rode around, they were flipped off, cursed at and cars were generally hostile. This just went to prove the point of Critical Mass and the unnecessary anger motorists feel towards those on their bikes, despite the rights to the road they commonly share.
For persons interested, Critical Mass meets the last Friday of every month because it coincides with International Critical Masses all around the world. Meet at Town Square at 6 p.m. on these days. Another group that meets are the Vicious Cycles who meet every Friday at the same place, same time.
If you're interested in biker's rights, and everyone who uses their bike for transportation should be, just show up with your bike. The event has no leaders or formality so there is no need to be nervous. This event is a great way to meet people, see Grand Forks and help an important cause.
Critical Mass is about bringing awareness to everyone that people use bikes as a mode of transportation. It is also supposed to enlighten motorists about the rights on the road, bikes and bike riders have.
Critical Mass is only a small part of a greater movement. The first step is to get on the roads and put oneself where they can be seen. These personal experiences only help to enhance points being made when members of Critical Mass lobby local and state governments for bike lanes and progressive legislation.
A great thing about Critical Mass is that it has no leaders because everyone has a part of it. It has no hierarchal structure, which helps everyone become more comfortable with each other.
Critical Mass is an event, not an organization because no one authorizes your ride, you just ride wherever your heart takes you. Also, because it is an event, this means participants need only be as involved as they which to be. If someone just wants to ride their bike and doesn't feel like doing the lobbying part that often accompanies Critical Mass, than they can do this.
Despite the poor weather, the first bike ride was held as scheduled. The ride went very well and the organizers were thrilled because persons other than the original planners showed up.
Friday had a late start because the organizers wanted to make sure that people had time to get to Time Square to participate.
As the group of nearly ten rode around, they were flipped off, cursed at and cars were generally hostile. This just went to prove the point of Critical Mass and the unnecessary anger motorists feel towards those on their bikes, despite the rights to the road they commonly share.
For persons interested, Critical Mass meets the last Friday of every month because it coincides with International Critical Masses all around the world. Meet at Town Square at 6 p.m. on these days. Another group that meets are the Vicious Cycles who meet every Friday at the same place, same time.
If you're interested in biker's rights, and everyone who uses their bike for transportation should be, just show up with your bike. The event has no leaders or formality so there is no need to be nervous. This event is a great way to meet people, see Grand Forks and help an important cause.
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