community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
august critical mass photos
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
Friday, August 29 saw yet another in a long series of large, spirited and successful <a href="http://pghcriticalmass.org">critical mass bike rides in Pittsburgh</a>. 2003 has been a great year for critical mass all over.
birmingham bridge
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
10th St. Bridge
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
Tunnel Time
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
entering downtown pgh
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
ppg fountain
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
"no bikes in the fountain"?
hell yeah TALL BIKE
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
at the point
victory
by matt toups
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 9:22 PM
mtoups@indymedia.org
i
by i
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003 at 7:55 AM
When you kiddies growup and get jobs, you'll be annoyed by assholes like yourself tying up traffic too.
Tying up traffic?
by bugg
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003 at 9:55 AM
For the record, many of us have jobs or are full-time students. Why weren't we at work or in class? Because it was Friday from 5:30-7:30, and a whole lot of people aren't working that hour.
Secondly, we weren't tying up traffic. We *were* traffic. What would have been the result if we each were driving a car around, because we can? The roadways would have been more congested, more polluted, and we'd all be less healthy. Is that what you want?
obnoxious comments about kids and jobs....
by Mary
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003 at 11:47 AM
mh5r@andrew.cmu.edu
My guess would be that there are not several posters expressing this sentiment, but one poster with several pseudonyms- again.
ARRGH!!!
by Urban Guerrilla
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 12:30 PM
Where's the helmets?!!!!! Want to raise awareness? Raise awareness about HELMETS!!!!! Whoever organizes CM events ought to keep cyclists without helmets from participating.
....
by johnrpgh
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 1:37 PM
........No......
no
by noah
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 5:29 PM
we aren't required by law to wear helmets, alot of people don't wear them and some people can't afford them. it is everyone's choice.
can't afford them????
by Urban Guerrilla
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 12:20 PM
That's bull, you can pick up a bike helmet for under 20 bucks. Personal choice? Sure, I guess it's your choice to become a burden on somebody should you crash and injure your brain. It doesn't take much of a fall to get seriously hurt. Cycle responsibly and get a helmet.
U.G.
...
by johnrpgh
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 3:36 PM
It's a person's choice not to wear a helmet. I don't wear one becuase they make me hot and they get in the way.
Urban Guerilla is right
by bugg
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 4:37 AM
Helmets are a good thing to have. One person dying or being seriously injured in Critical Mass is enough to change public opinion against us.
Plus, really, it's a nice thing to have something "get in the way of" the pavement that your skull is rapidly approaching. I didn't have a helmet for CM and I was uncomfortable with that fact- but I had just been supplied with a loaner bike and my helmet was miles (500) away. I don't think anyone should be kept from participating because they don't have a helmet, that's excessive, but it always always always makes sense to encourage people to wear 'em.
helmets, cycling, activism and everything but the kitchen sink
by jeff
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 5:25 AM
I�m not against helmets. I don�t wear one at all times, only when I feel the conditions call for it or if I�m on a trail or an area where they are mandatory. But I have to say I�m not fond of laws, rules of whatever where you are forced to use safety equipment. If people want to trade safety for comfort then they should be able to do so without someone giving them as hassle or even have the police giving them a ticket> I can think of a lot of better things the police could be doing rather than pulling people over for not wearing a seatbelt or pulling bikers over for not wearing a helmet. I�ve not taken part in critical mass yet. I hope to do so for the next one. And considering it will be in late September and I�ll be riding thru middle of the city then I�ll probably wear a helmet. Frankly I wouldn�t want to see critical mass make it mandatory for someone to wear a helmet. If someone were to have an accident during a CM run then it�s the responsibility of the person riding and not the group if something happens to them and they weren�t wearing a helmet. If narrow-minded people blame the group, then it�s their own problem and not the groups. As for price for helmets, places like walmart and kmart often sell helmets for under $10. So that�s really not much of an issue.
As for tying up traffic, cyclists have all the rights to the road that cars do (except on interstates). But they also have the responsibility to follow the rules of the road as well. That means stopping at lights, signaling for turns, going the right way down one way streets and such (which I hope CM is doing). I think I was a bit disturbed buy the fact that there are picks of the cyclists riding down to the point (I�ve been down there and have seen the signs banning bikes from the park). Are bikes no longer banned down there? If so and if CM is going down there anyway, then I would say that reflects badly on the group as a whole. That fact that you are activists brings about a higher level of scrutany from the general public. Which means when you don�t follow the rules, it gives people the attitude that you are just into this to cause trouble rather than trying to make a statement. It�s much like the idiots that did things during like toss a brick thru the window of a marine recruiting station the Anti Iraq war protests. That sticks out more in the minds of the general public than anything else. Activists for peace causing destruction of public property. Kinda goes against the whole theme of the event, doesn�t it? Plus it makes the police act a lot more confrontational the next time you protest (and yeah we�ve seen that here). Don�t let your actions overshadow the statement you are trying to put out.
But getting back to the issue at hand, I think I�d rather see traffic tied up by a bunch of people on bikes than have to deal with traffic after a Steelers or Pirates game or after a concert. What these people in CM are doing has a lot more value than getting drunk and watching entertainment. Personally I�m far from being a kid, I just starting cycling to work after being off a bike for 14 years. It�s saved me money that I would have spent on gas plus it�s got me in much better shape than I was (but I�ve still got a way to go). I�d love to see attitudes towards cyclists in this country change and I think things like CM can help with that as long as see this as they stick to just being there for making people aware and not turning things into an us vs. them situation.
t
by t
Monday, Sep. 08, 2003 at 8:24 PM
"..we weren't tying up traffic. We *were* traffic."
Good to see you can regurgitate slogans like the well trained sheep you are.
"What would have been the result if we each were driving a car around, because we can?"
Ummm, I don't know. Idiots burning up gas? Yes, Penndot says vehicles should share the road with bicycles, fair enough. What you kiddies should acknowledge is that you aren't paying your way to maintain the roadways through registration fees. Another thing to consider is that you tykes aren't heeding traffic laws which IS a violation. People that actually work for a living (yes yes, some of you have jobs - jobs where you work maybe 20 hours a week) , are sitting at green lights, watching you reveling in your daring civil disobedience while they are merely trying to make their way home to their family. You think you're making friends? Fat f'ing chance.
to T
by jeff
Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2003 at 11:39 AM
To T
Hmm, I didn�t know it was only registration fees and gas taxes that pay for roads. T, maybe you should take into consideration that these �tykes� as you like to call them, the ones that work part or full time also pay state, federal and local taxes which are used to help build and maintain roadways as well as the gas taxes and registration fees you pay. And just because you might work more hours and pay more taxes doesn�t entitle you to have more of a right to the road than other citizens in this country. With your line of logic it would only be the rich that would be entitled to the road. It�s called public property. Property that anyone in this country has access to, no matter if they work 10, 20, 40 or 60 hours or don�t even work at all. If you live in this country then you�ll just have to learn to deal with it.
By the way, if you are looking down on the individual that said �we are traffic� because he�s regurgitating slogans, I don�t think you really have much room to talk. You are a master of generalization. There are those of us who are older (36 to be exact), that have full time jobs (and even go to school part time), have family members to take care of and still cycle to work and for enjoyment. And I also plan on taking part in the next CM ride at the end of the month. I know of at least a few more people around my age that will be taking part as well. Guess that means we aren�t all �tykes� huh?
As for breaking laws, I�m sure T you have never ran a red light, parked illegally, gone over the speed limit, forgotten to make a signal when turning, forgotten to buckle up a seat belt, etc��.. Right? No it�s not right if CM is breaking the law, just as much as it�s not right if a driver like yourself is breaking the law too. I do feel that because they are trying to be activists they should try to hold themselves up to a higher standard than the average driver just so they don�t give people like yourself more of a reason to bitch and moan than you already have. But because of the way some people drive around here, I don�t think the average driver has a lot of room to be critical of how bicyclists ride or if they break the laws.
As for tying up traffic. Well considering CM takes place in the city I imagine there are far more things that tie up traffic daily than CM (considering CM only takes place once a month). Things like concerts, sporting events, parades, jaywalkers, rubberneckers checking out an accident and much more... People that slow down when going thru tunnels on the parkways, and a host of others. Do these things raise your ire as much as CM? They probably should considering they happen more often. Plus I think I�ve be extra pissed off if I were stuck in traffic just because someone went to an entertainment event. Much more than I would about a group of people that are trying to make a statement (in fact I have been pissed off for that very reason when I�ve driven thru Pittsburgh at times). Please try a bit harder when making your case, ok?
Just some food for thought.
Round up PENDOT
by P.O.'d Pedestrian
Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2003 at 12:01 PM
If blocking streets is a crime, then all those magistrate's nephews on the road crews who have half of the state covered in orange barrels and Jersey barriers should be locked up.
t
by t
Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2003 at 12:18 PM
" There are those of us who are older (36 to be exact), that have full time jobs (and even go to school part time), have family members to take care of and still cycle to work and for enjoyment."
You are the extreme exception and you know it, don't try to BS me.
"As for breaking laws, I�m sure T you have never ran a red light, parked illegally, gone over the speed limit, forgotten to make a signal when turning, forgotten to buckle up a seat belt, etc��.. Right?"
For the most part no, and when I have in the past it never inconvenienced others I shared the road with.
I should mention that my experiences during Critical Mass have been in SF where the riders sole purpose is to create a public nuisance and be confrontational. I could understand if there was a starting and ending point but all they do is pick the busiest intersections and circle back and forth through it.
I apologise for the use of 'tyke', that was unnecessary.
to T
by jeff
Saturday, Sep. 13, 2003 at 7:08 AM
T, first off there are lots of people my age and even older than me that bike. The person that will be joining me for the next CM is 30. One of the people that told me about CM and just started riding in them is 37. My riding partner where I live is 40. We do a trail every weekend and see people in their 50�s and 60�s even. So no I�m not an extreme example. You just aren�t very observant. If you open your eyes and look around next time you are driving around in Pittsburgh you�ll see people of different ages cycling.
As for breaking the law, well you know breaking the law is breaking the law. It doesn�t matter if you inconvenience anyone else, you are just as wrong. But trust me when you do break the law and especially when you get caught then you inconvenience others. When you get pulled over by a cop because you were speeding then that�s one less cop that could be stopping a real crime. When you get a ticket then not only do your insurance rates go up, but the insurance company factors that in when they raise the rates of everyone. And besides, if people are doing things like going to the point, how are they inconvenience drivers if they are off the road? You are just trying to rationalize your behavior in order to feel superior to others, when you aren�t.
As for judging CM, Pittsburgh isn�t San Francisco. You should learn to judge things and people on their own merits. And maybe you should least have encountered the CM group around here at some point before you start being critical, huh?
But let�s get back to traffic. You seem to have a problem with it. What do you yourself do to reduce it? Do you do a lot of frivilous driving? Do you take your car to do things that you could either walk or bike to? Do you make shorts trips for just one item instead of combining trips? Do you take your car to work when you could take public transportation? If you answered yes to any of those then you help to create the gridlock we face daily on the roads in our area. 40, 60 or even 100 bikes in a group really don�t compare to the 1000�s of cars on the roads. Maybe instead of being critical of cyclists making more problems with traffic, you should probably look at yourself and see what you could be doing to reduce it. Till you do, you really don�t have a lot of room to be critical of anyone else tying up the roads when you yourself are part of the problem.
bikers
by yogi bear
Saturday, Sep. 13, 2003 at 5:52 PM
People hate bikers because they are jealous of them, jealous that they are in much better shape and health than they are. Bikers are sexy.
bah
by Jeff
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 8:43 AM
Don't you love when you try and debate something with someone and they ignore you?
jeff
by me
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 9:54 AM
I'm not t but I'll talk to you.
The roads were made for motorized transportation, not bikes. If any group if bikers, who travel more slowly than autos, were on the road and purposely holding up traffic, that was immature on several levels.
Mainly, you're doing nothing to cause the working class to view you in a positive manner. The only thing you do is to piss off people who need to get from A to B. Without the sympathy and assistance of the working class, this movement of yours is going nowhere. Their impression of you is a bunch of people who believe their message is more important than the rights of others to move along in the reasonable manner which they expected to move. You slowed them down for your own selfish reasons. In essance, you spit in their face.
This awareness of not pissing off the working class is something that seems to be a difficult thing for activists to grasp, for they continually do things to cause it over and over and over again. Yet when told about it, like I'm doing now, undoubtably someone will claim otherwise, futher demonstrating that you continue to ignore the problem.
Cars are not going away. How people use their cars is not up to you to decide. And especially, do be careful out there. Remember: When it comes to car vs. bike in a crash, car wins.
Revisionist History 101
by Heredotus
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 10:21 AM
Roads which have existed on Earth for 3000+ years and in Allegheny County for 200 were invented for the automobile which in either case did not exist yet?
Explain this to me without getting into UFO's.
If you're looking for a good laugh. . .
by Matt
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 10:29 AM
http://www.americandecency.org/
If you're looking for a quick laugh, take a 5 minute tour around this site. It is hard to believe that people like this still exist. Sorry, this has nothing to do with critical mass, but I thought some people might find the site funny.
There's lots of backwards preaching against the evils of hoooooooooooomosexuality and pooooooooornography (said in a thick southern evangelist accent, of course).
What's actually interesting about the leaders of organizations like these is that they often are as passionate about their cause as the people who organize meaningful events on sites such as indymedia. If only these watchdog people had brains to go along with their dedication. . .
bikes
by the REAL me
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 1:05 PM
Sorry, but roads were invented for TRANSPORTATION which includes bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, trucks, street cars, unicycles, and everything else that can use a road. Just because lots of people use cars in the U.S., doesn't mean that bikes shouldn't be allowed on the road!
I have one question for the people angry with the critcal mass event: Were you angry at the motorcycle run, where hundreds of bikers drive through the city expressing their rights to ride a motorcycle and not wear a helmet? What's the difference?
And how angry do you get in traffic caused by people coming out of concerts, stadiums, races, and other events?
bikes
by The real me
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 1:06 PM
In Japan, more people have bikes than cars and they are much healthier.
Bikers are sexy.
CM
by me
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 3:54 PM
>Roads which have existed on Earth for 3000+ years and in Allegheny County for 200 were invented for the automobile which in either case did not exist yet?
Think about what I'm saying and don't be so literal. Modern highways are made primarily for automobiles. When you go out to a road, do you mainly see automobiles, horse draw carriages, people walking, or bicycles? What's the majority?
People mainly use cars. Now, stay on subject.
>Sorry, but roads were invented for TRANSPORTATION which includes bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, trucks, street cars, unicycles, and everything else that can use a road. Just because lots of people use cars in the U.S., doesn't mean that bikes shouldn't be allowed on the road!
I agree. Slower traffic keep right and don't block your fellowman from moving along at the speed in which his particular mode of transport is permitted to go. It's polite.
>And how angry do you get in traffic caused by people coming out of concerts, stadiums, races, and other events?
None. I expect traffic for those events. So does everyone else. It's part of the deal. The same way I expect bicyclists and mopeds and the like to stay to the right in single file since they are slower moving traffic. It's simply courteous.
>In Japan, more people have bikes than cars and they are much healthier.
So what. You can't *make* people ride bikes.
You need to address the main point, that being how your selfish behavior and believing your message is more important than other peoples time causes a disconnect between you and the working class, the same people you need to try and appeal to. Who wants to be a part of a group who value what they are doing over angering other people? Not very many.
I go to mass very month!
by laura
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 9:40 AM
lalaimc@hotmail.com
Congratulations on another successful critical mass.
Cleveland has been recently becoming active in Critical Mass. It is strange how many folks are nasty and reactive, afraid that they will be lost without their autos. Bicycles: the transport of the future.
You all probably weren't affected by the blackout, but it was underscored to us in Cleveland that when armageddon comes, you best have a bicycle!
Keep up the good work and keep those pictures coming!
I've included the link below, because the link above is not functioning.
http://www.pghcriticalmass.org/
Incorrect Statement
by PBJ
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 10:03 AM
--It is strange how many folks are nasty and reactive, afraid that they will be lost without their autos.
I've kept up with this thread and have yet to read anyone write anything "nasty and reactive" towards the thought of losing their autos. There has been discussion on helmets, blocking traffic on purpose, and obeying traffic laws, but no one "afraid" of being lost without their autos.
to me
by jeff
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 1:40 AM
>Roads which have existed on Earth for 3000+ years and in Allegheny County for 200 were invented for the automobile which in either case did not exist yet?
Think about what I'm saying and don't be so literal. Modern highways are made primarily for automobiles. When you go out to a road, do you mainly see automobiles, horse draw carriages, people walking, or bicycles? What's the majority?
People mainly use cars. Now, stay on subject.
Being in the majority doesn�t entitle someone to more rights than those in the minority. I thought that was one of the founding principals of out country. The PA bike code states the following:
3501. Applicability of traffic laws to pedalcycles.
(a) General rule.--Every person riding a pedalcycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except as to special provisions in this subchapter and except as to those provisions of this title which by their nature can have no application.
b) Application of subchapter.--The provisions of this subchapter apply whenever a pedalcycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of pedalcycles subject to the exceptions stated in subsection (a).
Comment: Bicycles are considered vehicles under Pennsylvania Laws and
must obey all the rules of the road which apply to vehicles. These are the "responsibilities" mentioned above. The "rights" refer to the roadway space required to operate the bicycle in a safe, lawful manner.
So then in this state, you can see cyclists have the same rights as motorists. They also have the same responsibilities as well. Motorists have the responsibility to respect the rights of anyone in a vehicle, no matter what the size.
But you bring up a good point. Cars are in the majority. Therefore its cars and not bikes that create more traffic on the roads. If your biggest criticism about CM or about cyclists in general is that they create traffic tie ups, then you should look to motorists instead. Because the roads wouldn�t as filled with traffic if people would use their cars less and find other modes of transportation to get to and from work, school, shopping or whatever reason they are traveling.
Sorry, but roads were invented for TRANSPORTATION which includes bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, trucks, street cars, unicycles, and everything else that can use a road. Just because lots of people use cars in the U.S., doesn't mean that bikes shouldn't be allowed on the road!
I agree. Slower traffic keep right and don't block your fellowman from moving along at the speed in which his particular mode of transport is permitted to go. It's polite.
According to the PA bike code:
� 3505. Riding on roadways and pedalcycle paths.
(b) Operation on shoulder.--A pedalcycle may be operated on the shoulder of a highway and shall be operated in the same direction as required of vehicles operated on the roadway. All turns shall be made in accordance with Section 3331 (relating to required position and method of turning).
Comment: A bicycle may be operated on either a shoulder or on the roadway (the travel lanes). The locations will be based upon traffic volume, the physical condition of the travel lanes or the shoulder, traffic speed, the bicyclist's intended direction, and other safety factors.
(c) Slower than prevailing speeds.--A pedalcycle operated at slower than prevailing speed shall be operated in accordance with the provisions of section 3301(b) (relating to driving on right side of roadway) unless it is unsafe to do so.
Comment: Taken together, 3505 (c) and 3301 (b) state that slower vehicles should keep to the right, which is the normal expectation of all road users, while permitting bicyclists to make movements consistent with their intended route.
>And how angry do you get in traffic caused by people coming out of concerts, stadiums, races, and other events?
None. I expect traffic for those events. So does everyone else. It's part of the deal. The same way I expect bicyclists and mopeds and the like to stay to the right in single file since they are slower moving traffic. It's simply courteous.
(e) Limitation on riding abreast.--Persons riding pedalcycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of pedalcycles.
Cyclists by law can ride more than in single file. Like it or not.
You say you have no problem with traffic jams after entertainment events. But you have a problem with people riding in a large group promoting cycling who are creating traffic. I�d say you would have to deal with traffic from an entertainment event far more often than you would CM�s once a month ride. Which is the bigger problem here?
>In Japan, more people have bikes than cars and they are much healthier.
So what. You can't *make* people ride bikes.
You need to address the main point, that being how your selfish behavior and believing your message is more important than other peoples time causes a disconnect between you and the working class, the same people you need to try and appeal to. Who wants to be a part of a group who value what they are doing over angering other people? Not very many.
I don�t think anyone expects cars to go away. I use one when I need to. And I ride my bike when I don�t need the car. I do so in order to cut down on the amount of traffic on the roads, to better my my own health and to cut down on the demand for foreign oil. The US is far more spread out than Japan, China or even countries in Europe so that it makes it hard to get everywhere we wish to be on a bike. I don�t think anyone is naive enough to think everyone in the US can toss away their cars and start riding nothing but bikes. But we CAN do things to REDUCE the amount of cars on the road and the amount of traffic they cause. We can do that by carpooling, taking public transit, walking or even cycling. That is the point of CM, to promote cycling as an alternative mode of transportation for people that are able to do it . I also don't see anyone telling anyone else what to do with their cars. No one here has the authority to do so. I do see people trying to promote alternative modes of transportation. That's all.
As for selfishness. Tying up the road when you have an alternative way to get to and from downtown or wherever you are going is selfish as well. You say you have no problem with traffic coming out of a sporting event or something like that but you have problems with things like CM and call them selfish. Isn�t a traffic jam caused by people that have come out of a sporting event a selfish reason as well? In fact I would say it�s a far more selfish reason than CM. At least CM is trying to promote something to actually benefitsociety, not simply entertain it.
Like I said before, if traffic is such a big problem to you then look to yourself to make a change instead of pointing a finger at someone else. Traffic is indeed a problem. Being critical of a bunch of people bikes doesn�t even begin to solve it. It just gives the person being critical a false sense of superiority. Like it or not cyclists have all the rights to the road as you do. They aren�t second class citizens. And they should be treated with the same respect as you would any other vehicle.
ack
by jeff
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 1:42 AM
Sorry about the screwed up HTML. I forgot the <p> and <br> comands
Critical Mass Today!
by Fixie
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 6:10 AM
Whatever your opinion may be, Critical Mass will be happening today, September 26th! 5:30pm at the Dinosaur in Oakland in front of the Carnegie Museum and Library.
how'd it go
by yakov chodosh
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003 at 8:38 AM
pghyakov@yoohoo.com 412-337-6145 wightman st., squirrell hill
how'd it go last month? i plan on being a firsttimer this month after meeting a critmasser who seemed on the ball and seeing these pictures and finding out getting arrested isn't the norm. also my sprained foot is almost healed. (it's in a weird place now because i'm biking and walking all over the place but still sit with my foot up in class, people look at me funny)
i believe that bikers should always wear helmets and follow the law; in this case, it seems that two abreast is the maximum.
but storming the birmingham bridge and the tunnel, that looks like hella fun, i must say. :-)
will people be in costume?
also: what happened to the web site? will it be reinstated? if someone wants brings up a donation pot to bring the site back, i could donate.
(change the "yoo" to "ya" to email me.)
email list
by yakov chodosh
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003 at 8:39 AM
pghyakov@y00hoo.com 412-337-6145 wightman st., squirrel hill
another one:
is the Critical Mass email list still active? can someone get me on there? thanks.
-yakov
just one more
by yakov chodosh
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003 at 8:41 AM
i clicked on that christian site... silly but anyone who promotes not watching TV and not buying from Burger King, Taco Bell or Nintendo -- is OK in my book.
Helmets and rules
by Adam Retchless
Monday, Oct. 27, 2003 at 1:44 PM
I agree that bicyclists should wear helmets. I once saw a guy flip over on his bike for no apparent reason and hit is head on the concrete. There was a lot of blood. I think every experienced biker knows that he'll fall every once in a while, generally just getting a scratch, but sometimes it is worse.
With that being said, there is nothing that Critical Mass can do to force anyone to wear a helmet. CM is just a bunch of bikers meeting at a particular place and then going for a ride on the road. Nobody in the group has any right, legal or otherwise, to stop anyone from participating.
Regarding the fountain at the point, I was there on the July ride (which I think is the source of those fountain pictures) and we walked our bikes to the fountain. While the sign says "no bikes" I think it only applies to riding of bikes in Point Park. I can't imagine why anyone would have a problem with walking the bikes in there, and there wasn't a place where we could park our bikes.
![[masthead]](/images/masthead_140.png)