Posts Tagged: ‘Critical mass’

Friday’s Critical Mass Miami route

June 26, 2014 Posted by Frank M

Critical Mass for June is still on in Miami.

According to the Miami PD, it will be a “surprise” whether or not cops start cracking down on infractions inherent with the protest ride.

The coy comments came at a press conference this week where officials called the Critical Mass event unsafe.

This map was available at a Meetup group dedicated to the end-of-the-month rides, but tellingly not on Raydel Baluja-Herrera ‘s Miami Bike Scene blog. The Miami PD say Baluja-Herrera is the de facto organizer.

Most comments on the Meetup group seem to confirm they will be at the ride this Friday. However a poster named Richard Sanda said he would skip the circus he fears the event will become.

“Sorry; just not in the mood for the media or the cops…at this stage in the game, I try and avoid the whole hectic thing,” wrote Sanda.

Some have asserted the City of Miami is making a play for money. Hilda Diaz on the Meetup Group disagreed: “No, all the bullshit is happening because there are assholes joining the rides who have no business riding a bike in traffic. No helmet, no lights, cutting between cars and then ruin it for everyone one else. “

Riders meet at Government Center at 6:30p.m. and ride off at around 7:15.

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Miami Police calls Critical Mass unsafe

June 25, 2014 Posted by Frank M

The Miami Police Department has put Critical Mass Miami on notice. They have the certified mail receipt to prove it.

On Wednesday in front of a throng of reporters, Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa declared the monthly bike event unsafe, and unsanctioned.

“When you have three thousand people riding bicycles you would think you would want control over it. This is why Critical Mass has turned into a Critical Mess,” said the chief.

“There is no order, there is no control,” said Orosa.

Critical Mass is a monthly bike event held on the last Friday of the month in hundreds of cities around the world. It is generally believed the biking is meant to draw attention to existing laws, or the lack of them, that establish a safe sharing of the road between bicycles and automobiles. Because of this, the event can become a moment of activism for some, and the rules of the road are purposely ignored.

“For bicyclists the same rules as a vehicle apply when you are on the road,” said Orosa. “Critical mass runs red lights, runs stop signs, and basically makes everyone wait for them.”

To some, that’s the point.

“Critical Mass is slight civil disobedience,” said Chauncey O’Connor a bicycle enthusiast who attended the press conference. He believes civil disobedience is the most powerful tool for change.
(more…)

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