When:
The last Friday of every month at 5.15 pm. With the weather now better, the first one is this month on 26th September.
So NTCA invites you all, bring along your friends and family and your bikes.
Where to meet at start:
In front of the Puke Ariki Library in Brougham Street.
What is a Critical Mass ride?
See http://criticalmass.org.nz/ or http://www.critical-mass.info/ for detailed information, but borrowing heavily from the NZ Critical Mass site:
Critical Mass is a spontaneous, leaderless bicycle ride that occurs on the last Friday of every month in almost every major city in the world. It is regarded by many participants as celebrations of self-powered transportation as opposed to a protest or organised demonstration.
What is meant to happen?
The purpose of critical Mass is not formalised beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and travelling en masse through the city streets. So those who turn up on the day will decide on where the ride will go and for how long etc.
What to expect and how to react:
Critical Mass is a celebration of cycling in order to assert our right to the road and not about denying others their right to use it.
You may slow down or even block the traffic by joining a Critical Mass ride, though cyclists are traffic themselves. To achieve mutual consideration on the road it is important to address motorists with respect and creativity:
• Leave at least one lane open for cars when you are not riding on a one lane road.
• Stay calm and friendly, especially towards motorists that get pissed off about the delay. Apologies, smiles will win more than arguments and power plays.
• Critical Mass is a coincidence with no leader or organisation but it means communication and cooperation.
• You are fully responsible for the things you do and their consequences, although poorly thought out moves could affect the whole group and perception by the public.
History:
Critical Mass emerged in September 1992 in San Francisco when 48 people gathered for the so called "Commute Clot". The ride increased in size every month and by the time 1993 came about, around 500 cyclists joined the event in San Francisco. Furthermore, the idea spread between cities, countries and continents. The cycling minority became visible to the rest of society.
The name "critical mass" was inspired by Ted White's documentary "Return of the Scorcher" dealing with bike culture overseas. In this film the human powered vehicle designer George Bliss describes a typical scene in China: at intersections without signals bicyclists slowly amass, until a sufficient "critical mass" accumulates to cause cross traffic to yield which gives them power to move. This term was applied by participants after the first ride in San Francisco.
The last Friday of every month at 5.15 pm. With the weather now better, the first one is this month on 26th September.
So NTCA invites you all, bring along your friends and family and your bikes.
Where to meet at start:
In front of the Puke Ariki Library in Brougham Street.
What is a Critical Mass ride?
See http://criticalmass.org.nz/ or http://www.critical-mass.info/ for detailed information, but borrowing heavily from the NZ Critical Mass site:
Critical Mass is a spontaneous, leaderless bicycle ride that occurs on the last Friday of every month in almost every major city in the world. It is regarded by many participants as celebrations of self-powered transportation as opposed to a protest or organised demonstration.
What is meant to happen?
The purpose of critical Mass is not formalised beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and travelling en masse through the city streets. So those who turn up on the day will decide on where the ride will go and for how long etc.
What to expect and how to react:
Critical Mass is a celebration of cycling in order to assert our right to the road and not about denying others their right to use it.
You may slow down or even block the traffic by joining a Critical Mass ride, though cyclists are traffic themselves. To achieve mutual consideration on the road it is important to address motorists with respect and creativity:
• Leave at least one lane open for cars when you are not riding on a one lane road.
• Stay calm and friendly, especially towards motorists that get pissed off about the delay. Apologies, smiles will win more than arguments and power plays.
• Critical Mass is a coincidence with no leader or organisation but it means communication and cooperation.
• You are fully responsible for the things you do and their consequences, although poorly thought out moves could affect the whole group and perception by the public.
History:
Critical Mass emerged in September 1992 in San Francisco when 48 people gathered for the so called "Commute Clot". The ride increased in size every month and by the time 1993 came about, around 500 cyclists joined the event in San Francisco. Furthermore, the idea spread between cities, countries and continents. The cycling minority became visible to the rest of society.
The name "critical mass" was inspired by Ted White's documentary "Return of the Scorcher" dealing with bike culture overseas. In this film the human powered vehicle designer George Bliss describes a typical scene in China: at intersections without signals bicyclists slowly amass, until a sufficient "critical mass" accumulates to cause cross traffic to yield which gives them power to move. This term was applied by participants after the first ride in San Francisco.
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