Orlando Critical Mass
Critical Mass has been in cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Chicago for many years… did you know Orlando also has it’s own Critical Mass? What started off as a group of about 10 people a couple of years ago has now grown to over 300 cyclists! We meet the last Friday of every month at 5:30 pm at the Princeton entrance of the Orlando Science Center. ALL BIKES WELCOME! The ride is a casual loop through College Park and Downtown Orlando.
The idea of the Critical Mass is to raise awareness to bikes sharing the road. Dan and I started participating in the “Mass” shortly after we opened our shop, and we were excited when we would see 100 people out there. Now the turnout is incredible. The local guys who help organize the ride (including Retro City’s own Nick and Jared) do a great job of keeping the group together and they let traffic know why we are out there.
Please join us for the next Critical Mass, which actually falls on Halloween, so don’t be shy… put on that costume and grab a bike, and help us let cars know that we really do share the road!
I’m not completely against CM. There’s something to be said for the idea that streets are for more than just moving fast.
But I’m curious as to how it “raises awareness to bikes sharing the road.” I’d like someone to explain that for me. How exactly does 300 people blocking auto traffic on a Friday afternoon help me when I’m biking to work alone on a Monday morning?
When I saw the post, my first thought was “do these riders properly share the road?” or are they just another unruly mass of people on bikes? I’m guessing the latter.
I believe Keri described a similar ride philosophy, but my sieve of an alleged mind has forgotten the name of it/them. Would it be possible to catch this group while it’s “small” and make it a respectable, productive event?
As CM goes, Orlando’s group seems pretty benign. There’s a lot more celebration-of-bike-culture sentiment, than in-your-faceness of some other cities’ rides.
I’d really love to see some version of the ride head out University, or other multi-lane suburban roads. Law-abiding, of course.
I agree Orlando CM is pretty benign (as CM goes). I’m not against it, really. I just want people to think clearly about what they’re doing and what the results might be.
Just saying it will encourage motorists to share the road is a long way from proving it actually works.
So, my question stands: How does it actually achieve what they wish for?
I say let them ride.The bike was here first.Most poeple that do the ride are law abiding and God fearing Americans,they pay taxes too.The CM should stay.Thanks