'Critical Mass' causes harm

By Dave Kannas

"Critical Mass" has different meanings for different people. To a physicist the term means one thing. To a driver attempting to get from point A to point B during a bicycle "Critical Mass" event, it means something quite different. To me, admittedly not a physicist, but a committed bicyclist, it means a quandary. How is one in my position to reconcile my dueling feelings about Critical Mass as it pertains to a recent event in Seattle during which a group of bicyclist who gather on given evenings came to blows with a motorist?

Here are these dueling feelings that cause me heartburn from time to time. I feel that bicyclists must be accepted as legitimate parts of the overall transportation plan. Seattle seems to have embraced this lately with some prodding from the bicycling community, primarily the Cascade Bike Club. The other feeling is that the faceless group that forms "Critical Mass" from time to time is doing damage to the work that has been done with great success by committed people in the bicycling community. "Critical Mass" may think that what they're doing is advancing the cause of bicyclists; I disagree. But they are committed bicyclists.

There is an analogy that I think will work to clarify my position. Let's say for the sake of illustration that one nation, because it's big and powerful and possesses a big military with a big budget, decides that it will, without provocation, invade another nation that is of no immediate threat to them. Let's also say that this big nation has worked very hard during its history to advance its place in the world by using diplomacy and aid to work through differences. With varying degrees of success and failure, this big nation was viewed by most nations of the world as the leader. Because of the invasion by this big nation, the world now sees them in a different light: as a bully and even a liar, which didn't really care about anything but themselves. This big nation continued on with its bullying tactics despite what the world now thinks of them.

Let's say that Critical Mass is this big bullying nation. Granted, Critical Mass doesn't have a big budget, nor is it preparing to invade any other nation (I don't, however, have any evidence that they aren't preparing to invade, let's say, Canada, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.).

What Critical Mass is doing on a periodic basis, however, is having the same impact as is the big bullying nation I describe for sake of illustration. Critical Mass is accomplishing this by undoing the hard work of the many committed bicyclists who have the interests of the community at heart, both the bicycling and the motoring. We can and must get along just as the world's nations must get along. Invading the streets of Seattle with a, and I use this term reluctantly, rabble of bicycling bullies in no way advances the bicycling community. The community of which I am a card-carrying member is diminished in the eyes of the non-biking world every time Critical Mass invades without provocation. Their actions make my life on my bike a little less secure. If I were a citizen of the big bullying nation I describe above, I would take my nation's actions as a personal attack on my and my nation's security.

What's a person in my position to do? I think that the first thing one must do is to take a thoughtful position. I've already stated my position. The next thing that one who is committed to a position like the one I hold on bicycling must do is to take some action. If one's nation happens to be bullying the world, the position that one might consider is to work to change that bullying stance. Likewise, if a part of the bicycling community is bullying the community by its actions, one might work to change their view of their place in the world of bicycling.

What I would propose that Critical Mass consider is the damage that they are doing to people like me who are committed to the community at large and the bicycling community in particular. Damaging that community can only be viewed as juvenile at best (Apologies to my grandson who also takes a strong position against the antics of Critical Mass. He is getting his first bike, a Skuut, for his first birthday. ).

I expect some strong response to this rant, and I have only this to say about that, "Bring it on." That has a familiar ring to it, but I don't recall from where.

While you consider your response, ride safely.

Dave Kannas may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com