Chicago Critical Mass: Come join the circus!

So I've done every Critical Mass ride in Chicago since I bought my bike, sometimes with a big group, but also by myself. It's always an interesting experience, but I am torn about it's usefulness in promoting bicycling awareness in the city.

It is a circus parade. Literally, there was a clown juggling last friday. Don't get me wrong...Unlike some people, I have no problem with clowns. What bothers me is the simple-minded, anarchist-loving, ultra-cool and drunk hipster crowd that gives off the "F*CK YOU" attitude to anyone and everyone in a car. That is really not going to help our biking cause! Spurring animosity is no way to get what you want. But I guess what I want is different from what they want. Damn it! Join my cause! I actually heard someone yell, "F*ck the government!" And another guy was encouraging people to hit a police officer on foot with their bikes. I'm sure that the police officer has a new-found love for bicyclists and now wants to ticket cars parked in bike lanes and look out for our safety. Yeah, right.

And the other thing that I have problems with is when the Mass spends too much time in the Loop. It's one thing to make your presence felt, its another to create gridlock for miles...All those cars idling are getting 0 mpg and polluting the f*ck out of our city. We're causing that pollution.

The CM rides I've enjoyed the most were mostly riding through neighborhoods without a lot of traffic, where little kids come running out to give you high fives and yell, "Happy Friday!" right back at you, like this picture:



My two cents. Comments?

I'll post more pictures. The trip to Berwyn was the best!





10th Anniversary Ride (September):