Critical Manners takes a stand for sharing, harmony, red lights

– San Francisco Chronicle – Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, April 14, 2007

A bunch of bike riders pedaled through San Francisco on Friday night, and nobody got mad at anybody.

The cyclists were polite. The motorists were respectful. The pedestrians were happy. The cops were incredulous.

"We’re making a statement tonight," she said. "We believe in sharing and being nice."
Continue reading “Critical Manners takes a stand for sharing, harmony, red lights”

Film Screenings: Hurricane Katrina

Film Screening:
"Prisoners of Katrina"
"I wont drown on the levee and you ain’t gonna break my back"

Friday, August 25th, 8pm
Red Emma’s, 800 Saint Paul St.

Hey Folks,

On the eve of the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Red Emma’s will screen two films, "Prisoners of Katrina" and "I won’t Drown on the levee and you ain’t gonna break my back". The films take a critical look at how state and federal organizations dealt with the Katrina Crisis, and how those organizations neglected prisoners and criminalized survivors.

This event will be held after the Critical Mass ride which is recognizing the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina a "racist tragedy" and to raise awareness about the role of the oil industry and global warming in environmental injustice.

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More Cars = More Climate Change = More Katrinas

This came over one of the lists so I thought I would post it. I have no idea if our Critical Mass is joining in on this but the theme certainly fits within Critical Mass. (Critical Mass meets on the last Friday of the month at the corner of Redwood and Charles St (one block north of Lombard, near the Charles center metro stop.) Meet around 5pm and ride before 6pm.)

Join the direct action movement for climate protection and…

Join the August 25th Katrina Anniversary Critical Mass!

Last Friday in August: Critical Mass for Climate Justice on Hurricane Katrina Anniversary!

August 25th marks the 1-year anniversary Katrina reaching hurricane strength. In the days that followed the storm would strengthen rapidly over an unnaturally warm Gulf of Mexico, ultimately striking the coast and leaving thousands dead and homeless, victims of an uncaring government, centuries of racism, and an ever more chaotic global climate.

This year, let’s take to the streets with a reminder that the tragedy in the Gulf continues and a demand that it never be repeated.

Get ready for a Critical Mass for Climate Justice on August 25th in your town!

Why Critical Mass? Car Culture, Oil, and Environmental Injustice

Critical Mass is a celebration of bike culture, a meaningful alternative to car culture and greenhouse gas generating fossil fuels.

Continue reading “More Cars = More Climate Change = More Katrinas”

Critical Mass friday is tomorrow

Rain jacket. (check)
"Bicycles will take over the world" sign. (check)
Slide whistle. (check)
Rubber rat tied to the handlebars. (check)

I’m ready.

Last month was a great ride with new faces. More riders means higher
visibility, greater safety and more fun. Tell your bikee friends to
take the real tour of Baltimore and ride the Critical Mass. Then tell
your SUV-driving friends to actually do what the car commercials say
and "get away from it all" by getting out of their cars and
contributing to alternative transportation. It’s only one day a month.

We meet at the corners of Redwood and Charles st. (one block north of
Lombard, near the Charles center metro stop) Meet around 5pm and ride
before 6pm.

See ya -Bob

Time to MASS IT UP this friday!

It’s looking like a rain free day for a Critical Mass this friday.
Bring a friend; bring a few. New commers are our favorite….

Critical Mass meets THIS Friday the 28th. at 5:00, ride by 6:00

We meet at Rewood and Charles which is one block north of Lombard on Charles
street near the subway stop.

Bring: fun signs, lights and bells, costumes etc…
but please leave your "I’m a macho car crusher" attitude at home.

-Bob

We Are Traffic

Video 49 min 52 sec – Oct 23, 2005

There are a lot of interesting ideas and thoughts in this video. One of the comments in the video was about how we punish people in this society by confining their movement. Which got me thinking isn’t the space inside a car near equivalent to the space in a jail cell?

Cars were once the great enablers of freedom and now they are becoming jail cells in rush hour or at best, modified wheel chairs so the occupants do not have to do more then 5-15 minutes of
Continue reading “We Are Traffic”

WHAT IS THE AUTOMATRIX?

THE AUTOMATRIX IS A MARKETING-GENERATED DREAM WORLD BUILT TO KEEP US UNDER CONTROL, IN ORDER TO CHANGE A HUMAN BEING INTO AN OIL DEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE ADDICT.

The AutoMatrix Revealed: The oil and automobile industries spend over ten billion dollars a year on advertising, and billions more on lobbying, to keep you plugged into the system.

I know that you’re afraid. You’re afraid of us. You’re afraid of change. I don’t know the future. I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end, I came here to tell you how it’s going to begin.

Continue reading “WHAT IS THE AUTOMATRIX?”

Baltimore Critical Mass Bike Ride

The next Critical Mass is 10/29. Let’s keep the
momentum for bicycles going! Last September’s ride
was arguably the best ever. Let’s see if we can top
it again with our annual Halloween bike vibe.

As always, CM meets near Charles and Redwood streets.
We start to gather at 5:30 p.m. We typically start a
little after 6:00 p.m.

btw, Beth W. has made a pretty kick-ass flyer.
Interested parties should contact her to get copies of
it to spread around town.

Also, on the flyer she lists a “surprise destination”
and a “11 p.m. dance masquerade”. Sounds pretty
mysterious. I’m sure the people who are planning
these CM-related activities could use some more help
putting it all together. So, don’t be shy lending a
hand.

finally, don’t forget the ‘Reclaim the Streets’ event
coming on election day (Nov. 2). It should be a good
time for all.

cheers,
Scott

Reclaim the Streets, Nov. 2nd:
https://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/8218

September’s Critical Mass ride:
https://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/8114/index.php

for nostalgia…remembering last January’s CM:
https://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/6161