TV broadcasters used to believe they were the centre of the universe. Newspaper publishers used to believe the earth was flat. Radio? Got squashed by a falling video star. Moral of the story = when looking to
connect people with diseases and bicycles, that multi-headed internet beastie’s always gonna win out.
Net Bicycles
“We’re not blocking traffic… We ARE traffic!”
Back in 1992, a San Francisco cyclist encouraged other cyclists to “coincidentally meet” on the last Friday of the month to ride home together. Through word of mouth it grew into a raucous monthly two-wheeled celebration, with up to 5,000 cyclists on the ride. In 2005, with the internet behind it, there are now over 400 such ‘critical mass’ rides happening in cities all over the world. Decentralised masses swarming their pedals together on the last Friday of every month the globe over.
Although no-one claims responsibility for the rides ( “it’s an organized coincidence” ) a vast array of sites have helped popularise the monthly rides – www.critical-mass.org – www.criticalmasshub.com – http://critical-mass.info. Email lists keep people in touch and discussing the rides, and other sites show how to start a critical mass in your own city.
Sydney and Melbourne snare Australia’s largest mass rides, with Melbourne’s recent 10 year birthday ride having over 1000 grinning pedallers on it, including a cycling turntablist lizard – complete with fat speakered sound system in tow! Sound systems on bikes – surely a National Day of Celebration in waiting. Must’ve been near a dozen amplified sound systems on that bike ride ( see the group flickr photos ) , which doesn’t count the noise from a variety of horned and stringed instruments, drums, bells and accordians
. There were a few scuffles between cyclists and motorists, but most drivers and pedestrians seemed to revel in the spontaneous spectacle, the unfolding carnival passing them by. The smell of summer. E-mail if you’ve come across any good sites / ideas for attaching portable sound systems to bikes, and will gather them here.