Calling all bike geeks, activists for sustainable transportation and other velorutionaries – critical mass montreal is happening this evening. The meeting will occur at 17h30, downtown, at Philips Square (Ste-Catherine and Union).
What’s critical mass? It’s direct action with no real point other than to assert the right to ride bicycles on city streets. And, I guess, to protest how badly cyclists are treated by cars, police, municipal governments, other people, etc. But there’s no manifesto, maybe a few home-made flags, and no leadership.
Bicycles are considered vehicles, and along with being entitled to share the roads, the riders are expected to follow roughly the same rules as cars. But in practice, cyclists, who are vulnerable travelling in the midst of larger vehicles, are often resented by drivers and treated disrespectfully by pretty much everyone, with traffic law apparently selectively applied, even when they are following the rules.
“We’re not blocking traffic. We are traffic.”
Critical mass started in San Francisco but has become a global phenomenon. On the last friday of every month a bunch of bike-people get together and ride together in the streets, taking over a lane, or even the whole road. This annoys people in automobiles, and cities such as New York have tried various tricks to squash the protest. Montreal police have strong armed cyclists as well.
So come out in solidarity for a bike ride, it’s a beautiful day.
Facebook event here.
