Critical Mass is a bicycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world.
While the ride was originally founded in 1992 with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to bicyclists, the leaderless structure of Critical Mass makes it impossible to assign it any one specific goal. In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass is not formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city or town streets on bikes.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass
Critical Mass is seen by some as a protest, others as a celebration, party, festival or simply a bike ride.
In New Zealand rides happen in Auckland, Rotorua, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Wellington, Timaru [and other places?] Frocks on Bikes could be seen as a variant. And here it is on Facebook. CAN has no official policy on Critical Mass.
Some cycling advocacy groups have expressed concern that the "subversive" nature of Critical Mass and altercations with motorists could weaken public support for bicyclists.
Guidelines:
- agree on a route
- ride together (hence the term 'Mass')
- be ambassadors for courteous cycling
- obey traffic laws
- have fun
Wellington critical mass, 2009
