Critical Mass
Welcome! to the monthly moving motor-traffic-free zone that meanders around town dispensing doses of traffic calmness and clean air to the people of this city.
By excluding motor traffic from the streets were demonstrating how much better the urban environment could become if we planned our cities around people rather than around cars and lorries. As we pass by, you have a few moments to ponder the pleasantness of your surroundings without the usual noise, stress, danger and frustration which bombard your senses the rest of the time you are on the street.
It could be this pleasant all the time. Really, it could. All it needs is enough people to decide that they've had enough of living in this dirty, noisy, dangerous environment and to realise that there are viable and obvious alternatives to the endless pollution and congestion. What it needs is a minimum number of people to make something happen.
What it needs is Critical Mass.
This is not simpty a bike demo. This event aims to highlight wider transport issues and prompt people to consider sustainable alternatives to the present transport mess.
Cycling is one such sustainable alternative, which when used in a framework that also promotes walking and public transport, is an obvious solution to most People's transport needs.
As we cycle through the city now we invite you to consider the options.
Cities are for people... bikes are for cities
Dear Pedestrian.
Right, let's shatter a couple of misconceptions first.
* If you're currently waiting to cross the road, go right ahead: we're not stopping you! Go on - step out - just make it clear that you're going.
* We're pedestrians too, so we like you really. The bicycle was invented as an aid to pedestrianism, and we share many common aims for improving our urban environment.
Roll up! Roll up! Normal People on Bikes
Look at all these people on bikes. See how normal they all look. Strange, isn't it, because you thought that cycling was a lot of effort, difficult, even dangerous. "Wouldn't find me on a bike, not in that traffic" is a popular comment. Yet all these people look so ordinary; how come they can ride a bike?
The reason is that cycling isn't any more strenuous, difficult or dangerous than walking, waiting for a bus or crossing the road. When getting from A to B you can choose between walking for 20 minutes or cycling for 5. You can choose between carrying your load yourself or letting your bike carry it.
You can go anywhere on a bike that you can go on foot, only quicker and with less effort. Or if you cycle for those 20 minutes you can go places you wouldn't consider on foot. So what's your choice?
If you cycle for 30 minutes you can easily cover 5 miles, which means that most journeys you ever need to make you can do with a bike. What's more, those journeys are just as "door-to-door" as walking. And that's why we're here - to tell you that, because we think bikes are such a good idea we just have to spread the word. Only once a month, mind We don't want to give you too much of a good thing now do we?
Pedestrians are cyclists without bikes.
Dear Car Driver
You are aware of the rising congestion and pollution on the roads towns and cities. It is now accepted, even by the government and motoring lobbies, that car use has got out of control and that people should drastically reduce the driving they do, especially in urban areas. They realise at last that building more roads does not solve transport problems and that driving is a socially damaging activity
Of course, we're not suggesting that cars should be uninvented. They have lots of uses. You are no doubt all on important journeys which could not be made using public transport, a bicycle or by walking
Well, 39% of you, anyway.
At the most.
You see, 61% of all car journeys are less than 5 miles, and you can do that very easily on a bike. 26% of car trips are less than 2 miles. 2 miles! You can easily do that in 10 minutes on a bike. And the other 39%, it's a good bet that many of your journeys could have been made on public transport.
So what? The problem is, your little piece of this traffic nightmare has a direct negative effect on the surroundings you travel through. Your driving through this city makes it a worse place for everybody else t live and work in. Just take a look at any street full of traffic and feel the noise and pollution and danger. Is it a pleasant scene? Does it icc' "right"? Now imagine it with no motor traffic in it. Replace that traffic with pedestrianised areas, bike routes, gardens parks - whatever. Where would you rather live?
Now this isn't a personal attack on how you choose to live your life. There's a good chance you didn't "choose" to use a car - you just need it to do lots of ordinary things which shouldn 't need a car. You probably can't imagine living without one Your lifestyle probably depends on and revolves around your car. You probably can't go anywhere without it
Does that seem "right"?
Are you a victim of car culture? Think about it. We won't keep you long
Dear Bus/Taxi User...
We're sorry if our action causes you delay. By the very nature of the event it is impossible to avoid holding up buses and taxis, but we try to minimise this where possible.
"You're just making the traffic worse by cycling slowly around town". True. But then all demos hold up motor traffic. Ours just happens to be about motor traffic.
Dear Participant
This is a large unwieldy event and no-one is in overall charge. Please read the following points to help ensure we have a trouble-free and enjoyable time.
* Avoid confrontation, both verbal and physical. This is a happy event and trouble makers are not welcome.
* Keep together. Stay close to other cyclists and try to keep the whole mass in one lump.
* If you're at the front, stop at red traffic lights and wait for the junction ahead to clear before proceeding. Don't stop vehicles trying to exit the junction or this will block the mass's progress.
* If you're at the front don't go too fast. Make sure the back is keeping up. It will be necessary to stop at several junctions and wait through a change of traffic lights for the back to catch up.
* Don't block motor vehicles unnecessarily if they can be easily let out of the mass.
* Use density and weight of numbers to tackle difficult junctions.
* Obey police instructions. We are not here to argue with them.
* Use your common sense and keep your wits about you.
* Be prepared to share the road with drivers and pedestrians.
* Enjoy yourself, have a good time and spread a little happiness.
Cycling is stress-free, keeps you fit, costs very little and gets you from A to B. It is an ideal form of urban transport.
Cycling's not normal...just obvious.