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Cyclists Rage Against the (Auto) Machine

Frustrated riders swarm SF once a month and spread cause worldwide

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 12, 2007 5:01 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Hordes of cyclists swarm San Francisco’s roads on the last Friday of every month for a day of two-wheeled protest, the Los Angeles Times reports. As many as 1,500 members of the cycling advocacy group “Critical Mass” spontaneously tour the streets as they trap stalled motorists “in their tin cans” and warn cross-walkers, “Get out of our way! We’re not burning fossil fuels!” 

So-called “massers” once drew the ire of former Mayor Willie Brown, who declared war on the gang and accused them of “the ultimate arrogance" - but today's SF mayor is burying the hatchet. Still, some protests end in arrests and assorted hijinks against motorists. “Critical Mass” has spread to six continents and seen bike commuters double during their 15 years in San Francisco.

San Francisco's Critical Mass War Protest
San Francisco's Critical Mass War Protest   (Getty Images)
A passerby asks information of a Velib' employee, left, at a Velib station in Paris in this June 13, 2007 file photo. Starting July 15, more than 10,600 bikes will be posted all over town, at 750 stations _ and the number of bikes and stations will nearly double...
A passerby asks information of a Velib' employee, left, at a Velib station in Paris in this June 13, 2007 file photo. Starting July 15, more than 10,600 bikes will be posted all over town, at 750 stations...   (Associated Press)
Men examine new bicycles known as Velib in Paris, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Starting July 15, more than 10,600 bikes will be posted all over town at 750 stations, and the numbers of both will nearly double by the year's end. The great news for tourists is that City...
Men examine new bicycles known as "Velib" in Paris, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Starting July 15, more than 10,600 bikes will be posted all over town at 750 stations, and the numbers of both will nearly...   (Associated Press)
Tourists and Velib' employees, are gathered at a Velib bicycle station on Georges V avenue, in Paris Wednesday June 13, 2007. By July 15, the city plans to park 10,648 bicycles at 750 stations and nearly double that by 2008, with riders able to take bikes from one station...
Tourists and Velib' employees, are gathered at a Velib bicycle station on Georges V avenue, in Paris Wednesday June 13, 2007. By July 15, the city plans to park 10,648 bicycles at 750 stations and nearly...   (Associated Press)
Minnesota Vikings' Jayme Mitchell, Erasmus James and Kenechi Udeze, from left, ride bicycles to practice, at the football team's training camp, in Mankato, Minn., on Sunday, July 29, 2007.(AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Minnesota Vikings' Jayme Mitchell, Erasmus James and Kenechi Udeze, from left, ride bicycles to practice, at the football team's training camp, in Mankato, Minn., on Sunday, July 29, 2007.(AP Photo/Nati...   (Associated Press)
e main avenues. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
e main avenues. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)   (Associated Press)
People ride their bicycles along Reforma Avenue, in Mexico City, Sunday, July 29, 2007. Since taking office in Dec., 2006, Mexico City's Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has imposed tougher traffic rules to increase respect for pedestrians, installed security cameras in high-crime neighborhoods and required city staffers to ride their bicycles to...
People ride their bicycles along Reforma Avenue, in Mexico City, Sunday, July 29, 2007. Since taking office in Dec., 2006, Mexico City's Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has imposed tougher traffic rules to increase...   (Associated Press)
Riders use new bicycles provided by Paris City Hall, around the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sunday, July 15, 2007. Paris City Hall launched a new bicycle service Sunday, with more than 10,600 posted at 750 stations all over the city and prices starting at a euro (US$1.36) for...
Riders use new bicycles provided by Paris City Hall, around the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sunday, July 15, 2007. Paris City Hall launched a new bicycle service Sunday, with more than 10,600 posted at 750...   (Associated Press)
Cyclists ride naked in downtown Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2007. Cyclists demonstrated to promote the use of bicycles and to highlight the danger due to lack of cycling lanes in the capital, and the increase of pollution. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Cyclists ride naked in downtown Paris, Saturday, June 9, 2007. Cyclists demonstrated to promote the use of bicycles and to highlight the danger due to lack of cycling lanes in the capital, and the increase...   (Associated Press)
Los Angeles police officers on bicycles lead the way down Wilshire Boulevard as activists take part in a rally and march marking the May 1 melee in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles Thursday, May 17, 2007. Four investigations are probing the incident, in which riot police used batons and rubber...
Los Angeles police officers on bicycles lead the way down Wilshire Boulevard as activists take part in a rally and march marking the May 1 melee in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles Thursday, May 17, 2007....   (Associated Press)
pan mass challenge
pan mass challenge   ((c) Paul Keleher)
Cyclists crowd a hill at the Women's Cycling World Cup in Montreal, Canada, on Saturday, June 2, 2007. Italy's Fabiana Luperini kept a narrow lead over 2nd place finisher Mara Abbott, of the U.S., to win the event. (AP Photo/Ian Barrett,CP) CANADA
Cyclists crowd a hill at the Women's Cycling World Cup in Montreal, Canada, on Saturday, June 2, 2007. Italy's Fabiana Luperini kept a narrow lead over 2nd place finisher Mara Abbott, of the U.S., to...   (Associated Press)
Cyclists are reflected on the road surface as they pedal under pouring rain during the 19th stage of the Giro, Tour of Italy cycling race, from from Treviso to Terme di Comano, Italy, Friday, June 1, 2007. Spain's Iban Mayo Diez attacked two thirds of the way through the 111-mile...
Cyclists are reflected on the road surface as they pedal under pouring rain during the 19th stage of the Giro, Tour of Italy cycling race, from from Treviso to Terme di Comano, Italy, Friday, June 1,...   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
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Frustrated American cyclists should look to Paris
USA Today

London pedals bicycles as solution to car clutter
Independent (UK)

Turkey adds emergency aid on two wheels
Turkish Daily News

 
San Francisco • biking • Critical Mass • Willie Brown • bicycling

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