Modern day roads are meant for cars. That’s why they use Asphalt as the main material to adopt to the speed and heat generated by the tires, as well as withstand the weight. And there are roads meant for bikes – more than enough roads for bikes where bike’s have a designated lane while sacrificing a lane for more cars to go through in rush hour. I’m OK with that.

I may seem dictatorial to you, but I come from one of the greatest hotbeds of democracy in the world – Kwangju Korea, where the 1980 uprising and massacre occurred, where my mother almost died. I may seem that way – because most people here are so spoiled, and their idea of democracy is being punks and breaking the law and making a point by stirring shit up. I, on the other hand, have a much more mature view of democracy, and I abide the laws, respect the institution, and respectfully attempt to change the institution if I feel necessary (through education of the masses on the internet and spreading the message, talking to the local MLA or MP, etc.)

Besides – look at the Iranians. They are currently fighting for more important values than bikes-on-the-streets issue. Do you see them blocking the road as if they are more important than other people? No. They held green banners on either side of Georgia Street, and raised awareness for their cause, without inconveniencing people. The only slowdown was due to drivers slowing down a bit to look at the banners and read them. And the Iranians also managed to get so much of their news out through Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and other social media. THAT’s how you get a point across in a proper and effective manner.

Only a bunch of spoiled, self-righteous, anti-establishment North Americans could come up with such a thing as the Critical Mass – the rest of the world which views North America as the haven of spoiled, overfed, over-consuming corporate goons can come up with more sophisticated methods of protest and attention-gathering.

Sir you have a lot of mis-placed anger. And ROADS were never built for cars. they started out being built for the horse and buggy and before that carts and mules. They have always had to be shared and they will _always_ have to be shared! Get used it to it. Have you not been to Europe man! You need to expand your horizons.

I suspect all this anger on your part arose because you didn’t plan right. As a Vancouverite you should know that the CM is on every last friday of the month.

I would advise you to get a bike so that you can easily get around your neck of the woods which will be mostly inhospitable to cars during the Olympics security tie-down. Happy Cycling.

PS you have a strong anti-democratic streak to you. You have strong Dictatorial tendencies, which are never going to get you anywhere in this part of the world.

Proper ways to change things and educate people is to do this. Write. Spread. Promote. I’ve been encouraged to write a cleaned-up version of this article, submit it to the Georgia Straight and other magazines to publish, so that people read this, and realize how futile, stupid, ignorant the CM rally really is, and feel ashamed, so they stop the fucking madness.

And my time isn’t wasted – bringing traffic to this blog with controversy does me real good.

And I work at home. I have a car and a bike, which I take depending on the scenario.. on that day I had to pick somebody up from across downtown so I had to drive my car.

Of course, now I will avoid going anywhere at that time on the last Friday of each month.

I had a lovely bike ride today along the designated bike routes, and across Stanley Park, without pissing any drivers off. That’s the way I will bike – safely and respectfully.

For someone who has such little time to waste on other people in this world your not driving your point through very well by wasting your time ranting about some punks on bikes. “spoiled, self-righteous North American trash” eh? someones really making mama proud with their language and aggressive reaction to one day of traffic. Perhaps on this such day you should have taken the mass transit that wastes your time picking other people up to avoid those terrible kids on bikes. Someones being a little hypocritical and self-righteous dontcha think?

Problem solved right?
(i am a bicyclist and i’ve never been to a critical mass ride)

However. They do not have the common sense – they will simply attack this article with more zealousness and jealousy, unable to decipher the issue logically.

So yes, in that sense, I agree with Jen that this was also a waste of time, simply because logic and sense do not bring those people down to humility. However I agree with pretty much all the points in this article.

If you truly want CMass to stop or change, why don’t you take some of your own advice and try figuring out a productive way to move the discussion forward, rather than posting a pointless rant that’s just as designed to get people’s backs up as the ride you dislike so much?

-Jen
http://www.criticalmanners.wordpress.com