The Critical Mass Bike Ride is a monthly cycling event that celebrates bicycling while also reminding the public about alternative modes of transportation as well as the unique safety issues that cyclists face. Since 1992, the Critical Mass Bike Ride has taken place on the last Friday of each month in cities around the world. The monthly Critical Mass Bike Ride is an example of direct action, as bikers take their grievances to the streets, and the ride frequently receives extensive media coverage in major cities. The majority of the time, Critical Mass is a peaceful and enjoyable event; however, on rare occasions, violence and social disruption have been associated with the event.
The Critical Mass Bike Ride may have a set route or riders may choose their own route depending on the city. The location and time of the Critical Mass Bike Ride’s start point are usually determined in advance. The riders will be given the route once it has been established. Otherwise, riders can vote on which route they want to ride that day, or they can take turns leading the Critical Mass Bike Ride through the streets. Participants disperse at the conclusion of the ride to resume their daily routines. Critical Mass has no formal leadership and no organizational charter or governing body. Every bike rider in a Critical Mass Bike Ride is a member of Critical Mass, but there is no organizational charter or governing body.
Social theory coined the phrase “critical mass.” The idea is that a group of people or a movement will tend to stagnate until enough people join together to form a critical mass that can overcome obstacles. This can be seen in traffic in many parts of Asia, and it can also be seen in social groups that start out small before eventually growing large enough to act.
Participants in a Critical Mass Bike Ride hope to demonstrate that bicycles are a great alternative to automobiles, but that most cities lack adequate safety measures to protect cyclists. Many cities lack protected bike lanes and other street improvements that could make bicycling much safer. The group ride is not only entertaining, but it also teaches cyclists how to ride safely in groups.
Many Critical Mass chapters practice “corking,” which involves cyclists blocking cross traffic so that the group of bikes can stay together. Some criticize corking because it obstructs traffic, but Critical Mass advocates argue that it is safer for cyclists, moves bicycles through traffic much more quickly than following traditional traffic laws, and allows Critical Mass cyclists to educate motorists and pedestrians while they wait. Emergency vehicles and pedestrians are given priority during most Critical Mass rides.
“We aren’t blocking traffic; we are traffic,” says one of the main slogans of the Critical Mass movement. Bicyclists hope to change people’s minds about bicycles as a legitimate mode of transportation that deserves to be respected. Despite the Critical Mass Bike Ride’s relatively peaceful intent, there have been incidents of violence between motorists and cyclists during rides, prompting a police response. These incidents are extremely rare, and they should not be interpreted as representing the views of anyone other than the parties involved.