Hamish Grant posted a link to my polemic about Critical Mass on the Tribe magazine message board, and five pages (thus far) of discussion has ensued, featuring a die-hard Critical Masser, a number of unbelievers and more than the recommended daily dosage of internet forum snarkiness. But as George C. Scott said when playing the title role in the movie Patton, “I love it. God help me, I do love it so. I love it more than my life!”
Jerrold from Accordion City-centric blog BlogTO sent this link to a video shot on Car-Free Day 2006, in which the bicycle advocacy message of the day gets flushed down the toilet by a cyclist who does just about every stupid thing you can do on a bike in traffic.
My advice to all cyclists in the city: the best way to advocate cycling as a valid form of transport in the city is to just cycle, obey traffic laws and don’t be a jackass. Contrary to the Critical Massholes, arrogantly taking over the street on a Friday at rush hour, when all people want to do is get home, will not help the cause of the bicycle. You won’t be welcomed as liberators, and you will not be showered with flowers and candy.
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The trackback is prefaced with:
“…Joey daVilla’s AccordionGuy website is one of the most popular blogs in Canada…”
Wow. When did that happen? Congrats, brother Joe.
I always thought the best response to some self-appointed masshole “leading” the group was to change routes to some direction other than the one that guy (and it always seems to be a guy, sadly) is going.
Joey’s site has always been one of the most popular and important Canadian weblogs (largely because of the evenhanded, sensible qualities his original Critical Mass entry displays. Plus, ACCORDIONS).
JOEY,
MY PAESANO. WE’RE HAVING OUR 20TH DLS REUNION IN OCTOBER & I DON’T HAVE YOUR EMAIL TO SEND YOU INFO. GIVE ME A CALL AT MY OFFICE ASAP (I’M IN THE BOOK OR GET MY EMAIL FROM HERB. I’M NOT POSTING IT HERE). NICK
Colby! I’m flattered to receive such high praise from a journalist and blogger I hold in high regard. Thank you very much, sir!