An uphill battle for change
Critical Mass, the mass bicycle gathering that sees hundreds and sometimes thousands of bikers weave their way on the streets cities throughout the globe, turns 20 this year. The movement has taken on various forms throughout the years, but the original ride, which occurred on September 25, 1992, in San Francisco, sparked the idea that a monthly protest ride could force us examine how we use our urban spaces.
While the inevitable conflict has played out between cyclists, drivers, and law enforcement officials, Critical Mass has not only become an end-of-the-month ritual that is widely if sometimes begrudgingly accepted, it has also accomplished its share of change.
Former San Francisco Bike Coalition policy director Andy Thornley explained how movements like Critical Mass have opened up the idea that streets can be appropriated for community use in a safe and responsible manner.
Taking Back the Streets: City Cyclists Want Fewer Cars from Commonwealth Club on FORA.tv
