[Netnews-action] 27 Jun: critical mass and bbq

[Networking Newsletter]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "nes" <nesthebear_23 at riseup.net>
> Date: 23 June 2008 16:36:40 BDT
> To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
> Subject: [GMCC-Talk] critical mass and bbq THIS FRIDAY
> Reply-To: nesthebear_23 at riseup.net
>
> OH MY!
>
> It's CRITICAL MASS this Friday....how ace is that?
>
> Friday 27th June 6pm
> Central Library Manchester
>
> Afterwards we'll have a BBQ and hang out a park, so bring BBQ's, food,
> music, drinks etc. (vegan BBQs preferred as then it can be  
> accessible to
> everyone!)
>
> A totally ace bike ride around our city to meet other cyclists and  
> ride on
> our roads...For a few hours once a month we can show how beautiful our
> city can be when bicycles, instead of cars, dominate the roads.
>
> it's such a nice and sociable and fun way to spend a Friday evening  
> on a
> bicycle..wow. so ace. and now we're getting bigger and bigger..someone
> said they counted at least 150 people on the one last month, how  
> ace is
> that?!!. come and be part of our lovely friendly cruise around..to
> collectively enjoy the beautiful experience that is riding a bike.
>
> ----
>
> People's comments about Manchester Critical Mass
>
> "...it's brilliant. Usually I'm charging around on my bike, getting  
> where
> i need to go as fast as i can. Critical mass is different. It's about
> enjoying riding. It's the most relaxed ride around the city I've  
> ever had.
> Where all my worries and fears float away. And I've met some lovely  
> people
> too"
>
> "I was scared it would be some angry bike militants but everyone is so
> friendly and the ride is fun no aggro at all. See you next month!"
>
> "it's quite something to have that many peeps riding round at once."
>
> "Critical Mass sometimes has a reputation for being an angry rabble of
> cyclists that want to string up any car drivers they see. This is  
> not true
> of Manchester Critical Mass, it is a fluffy mass of people that  
> like to
> have fun on bikes, there are often have children with us and a bicycle
> sound system to add to the party fun atmosphere. As well as being  
> fun and
> a social event it is also to show how great a car free city will  
> be. This
> is achieved every month by showing motorists an alternative, yet  
> critical
> mass Manchester doesn't aim to annoy drivers we want them to join  
> us.."
>
> "I spend all month, every month, riding around behind exhaust pipes  
> and
> swerving out of the way from angry, disrespectful drivers, I live in a
> world that is dying from climate change..only the other day it was
> announced the white rhino is extinct, it tears me up inside. Riding  
> a bike
> isn't going to change all of that instantly but I believe that not  
> only
> does it mean less cars on the roads but riding a bike also gives a  
> feeling
> of connection with one's surroundings and other people and through  
> this we
> can start to act in other ways that can create social change"
>
> "Critical Mass isn't a place to vent the anger that comes from  
> having to
> deal with cars (I don't think), because it's nice to, instead,  
> spend that
> time enjoying riding my bike. Sometimes it can feel so alienating  
> riding a
> bike surrounded by so many motorists. Critical Mass shows that we  
> are not
> alone and that we are growing. It's the most fantastic piece of direct
> action I've ever done- I want there to be less cars on the roads  
> and by
> being one less car there is!!!"
>
> (taken from emails we've received)
>
> -- 
> ............................................
>
> "This is because I really, very sincerely, do not want to be killed  
> in a
> traffic accident. Such a banal way to go, so tediously modern.  
> Better to
> die at your desk. Better to fall off a cliff. Better to be lost at  
> sea.
> Better, even, to be slaughtered, like the machine-gunner, in a hail of
> bullets on some foreign field. I would also like, while I'm alive,  
> to be
> free to enjoy my harmless, pollution-free, environmentally responsible
> means of transport in safety. I would like to be free to breathe air
> unfouled by exhaust, to gaze at the city's many beautiful statues. And
> free not to have to irritate you, dear motorist, by repeatedly  
> pointing
> out these self-evident truths."
>