Critical Mass Mumbai

Indian Cyclist Network

 
Prossima Critical Mass: sabato 31 maggio 2014

Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists' right to the road. (MUMBAI). Every Last Saturday of the month here in Mumbai.

Critical mass is a small initiative to give back power to the people. Weather it is environmental issues, social issues or cyclist’s rights. The small act of riding together says that we matter and cannot be taken for granted. Start small, take charge! Ride free!
PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO READ THIS...

The mumbai segment of Critical mass was initiated by a few youngsters in an attempt to make more citizens aware of cycling as an alternate transport medium and also in a desperate attempt to request an ounce of respect for the urban cyclist (be it a daily labourer/working dabbawala/ office commuter/weekend rider.

While it worked great for a while to become a common meet for cyclists all around the city. And also inspired more citizens to get on the saddle,  it soon became quite evident that the original idea was quite lost with a few people coming to the meeting point in cars n offloading. A a few others taking just this one day in the month to ride.. This was turning into simply an exhibition of the richer commuter to find another luxury item to spend some money on, play around for a while and then leave it in their garage/basement to 'rust in piece' instead of a regular cyclists get-together spot(besides the regular weekend rides).

So while this idea did help inspire more people to take to the saddle, it soon took a different route. Hence the original minds behind this 'subtle attempt to change peoples outlook towards a cycling commuter' decided to bail out and continue their regular rides.

Anyone is free to take an initiative. This idea is no-ones 'sole entity'  SO GO AHEAD AND PLAN A RIDE! NOT just this type..just about any ride. START one and PEOPLE WILL JOIN YOU.

P.S (Journos/City planners/ public officials): The daily cycling commuter is not looking for special lanes. These lanes are frankly stupid, given the drastic overflow of regular traffic on Indian streets. All we are look for is an equal right to travel on regular roads without the fear of being mowed down by a larger vehicle AND/OR ending up in a ditch someday. While the value of human life in India is anyway not much, we still hope not to become roadkill for the IDIOTS on the ROAD.
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NOTE: During Critical mass
We ride in a particular formation; we take up a lane with two riders riding side by side.
The reason for this formation is to protect the not so experienced bikers from the traffic.
There is a tendency to slip through spaces in chock a block traffic. While that is an advantage a cycle has in traffic, but during critical mass with quite a few inexperienced riders every time the formation is broken we put riders in danger.
And believe me there are a lot of riders that are not comfortable with riding in traffic.
So please stick to the formation it makes it safer and easier to manage.


ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
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Critical Manners :
• Please follow lane discipline and road signals where necessary.
• Helmets dont bite! try them. They can be your best friend on your bike
• Please Carry Water with you ( Backpacks/ Bottle Holders)
• There is no leader/ organizer for Critical Mass.All for one,One for all.
• This is not a race. Ride without Hurry, not with Fury.

Fonte: qua