[dc-critmass-list] Friday Critical Mass on The Web

[DC Rider]

I think it's great that someone is creating media about DC CM.

I do, however, feel uncomfortable participating in DC CM anymore because I 
don't want to participate in taking revenge on motorists or pissing them off 
intentionally in any way. I would love to participate in a celebration of 
bikes and the cycling community, to demand our right to share the road (not 
more than we need though), and to educate drivers about cyclist rights, but 
feel that this is incompatible with seeking confrontation. Often I see 
cyclists behaving exactly like drivers - acting like they are the only ones 
with a right to the road.

Yes, having drivers treat me like trash pisses me off and makes me want to 
seek revenge, but doing so never leaves me feeling better and I believe that 
it does little if anything to help our cause.

We used to have a lot more participants in DC CM, and although I can't claim 
to definitely know why most of them did not come back, at least some told me 
that they share my sense of discomfort with the aggressive nature of the 
ride. Does anyone remember when we used to hand out flyers to motorists 
about cyclist rights and driver safety?

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