Comments on: Black Friday Critical Mass Meets Baton-Wielding Riot Police in Union Square

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:08:34 +0000

Learn some history, son. The League of American Wheelmen was responsible for vast road paving and improvement projects in the 1880-1890s, and boasted 100,000+ member cyclists. The car was a plaything of the wealthy until the ‘teens; one gallon of gas in 1902 San Francisco cost $15.18 in 2010 constant dollars. The Model T which put America on the road didn’t appear until 1908, and sold slowly for the first five years.

By: Ryo

Ryo — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 08:02:33 +0000

..is that one guy in the middle of the photo…naked?

By: melissa

melissa — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:06:32 +0000

Critical massholes.

By: greggers

greggers — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:12:07 +0000

Yeah, traffic was so bad that critical mass got backed up on traffic… never seen that happen before. We couldn’t even get through the Stockton tunnel because it was jam packed with cars — CM couldn’t get the blame for that traffic jam, at least.

By: Allan Hough

Allan Hough — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:34:48 +0000

There is no message! Why does everyone think there's a message?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:23:44 +0000

I was waiting for my bus and dudes were getting off their bikes in the middle of the intersection and pumping their bikes in the air. Reminded me of the opening scene from 2001, I mean I guess it was nice to see shit like that in a city but it also seemed like their message is lost.

By: Cranky Old Mission Guy

Cranky Old Mission Guy — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:27:43 +0000

shallow jim

By: jim

jim — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:04:21 +0000

You guys crack me up.

By: Cranky Old Mission Guy

Cranky Old Mission Guy — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:48:22 +0000

Also implies a worldview in which the streets are owned by only one mode of passage at a time, rather than being shared by several, in unequal proportions.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:46:09 +0000

This was my first ride after being away from the city for a couple of years. I’m ambivalent about the politics of it, but I found the atmosphere to be surprisingly positive and respectful on all sides. Most of the shoppers took it as a parade, cheering us on as we rolled around Union Square. Soaring through the tunnel was a highlight for me. Thanks, Allan, for getting the lead and taking us there!

By: Steven

Steven — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:12:41 +0000

“Taking the streets back from cars” implies that the streets once belonged to bicyclists (people riding horses could take the streets back).

By: jim

jim — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:52:58 +0000

Yeah, last time I checked, critical mass was about taking the streets back from cars, not shoppers.

By: ooeygooey

ooeygooey — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:53:06 +0000

They light the big tree in Union Square for the first time each season on the Friday after Thanksgiving. There are people who come from very far away to partake of the spectacle. I know this because some in my family used to rent a limo to take them to see it. It is INSANE with people, mostly tourists, and Critical Mass should never have even considered it. If for no other reason, because it would have been very dangerous for all the pedestrians looking anywhere but the street/sidewalk in front of them.

By: Al

Al — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 21:08:02 +0000

How did they conduct themselves, out of curiosity?

By: Joshua

Joshua — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:56:26 +0000

I saw critical mass lastn ight at market & van ness, it made me lose a lot of respect for bikers in this town, they way they conducted themselves was pretty juvenile, major disappointment.