Comments on: Critical Mass Göteborg http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/ Everyday Peculiarities Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:58:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Crt http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-145 Crt Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:25:36 +0000 http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-145 You don't need a permit to drive a car in a rush hour, because that's a spontaneous event. Well, it's not even an event, really. But if you had an old timers gathering, you would need a permit. (At least I think so, depends on the local laws.) What I'm trying to say is, if you initiate an event, you will probably be held responsible (either legally or morally) if something goes wrong because you failed to organise it properly. Of course, every bicyclist (old enough and sane enough) is responsible for himself. But still, someone will have to be blamed if the mass starts to run over pedestrians and torching cars. Guess who... My point is about organising an event, not about riding a bicycle. I'll check out the link. You don’t need a permit to drive a car in a rush hour, because that’s a spontaneous event. Well, it’s not even an event, really. But if you had an old timers gathering, you would need a permit. (At least I think so, depends on the local laws.)
What I’m trying to say is, if you initiate an event, you will probably be held responsible (either legally or morally) if something goes wrong because you failed to organise it properly. Of course, every bicyclist (old enough and sane enough) is responsible for himself. But still, someone will have to be blamed if the mass starts to run over pedestrians and torching cars. Guess who…
My point is about organising an event, not about riding a bicycle.
I’ll check out the link.

]]> By: mladen http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-144 mladen Thu, 05 Apr 2007 09:31:06 +0000 http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-144 I disagree. Of course, depending on the local laws, but if bicycles are allowed on the same streets as cars are (and we know when that is the case by the absence of "bicycles not allowed" traffic sign) then you can ride your bike there. Right? So, if there's more than one, well it counts just as much for being traffic as it does for a single cyclist. What you are trying to say is also that car drivers should report to the police that they will have a gathering every morning and afternoon rushhour because they are on the streets then in such masses that pretty much no one can use them in an efficient manner. But they don't, because streets are there for transportation purposes too. And likewise for bicycles. It's true, unfortunately it was not me who came up with this wonderful idea of Critical Mass gatherings. Did you check their <a href="http://critical-mass.info/howto/index.html" rel="nofollow">How to Start a Critical Mass Bike Ride</a> that I have already recommended in the post? Read it through and I'm sure you will find answers to a lot of questions straight out. Hopefully you will get convinced that you're not doing anything wrong by riding your bike with friends on the streets and start the event in Ljubljana. I'd definitely join and support you when around. Mladen I disagree. Of course, depending on the local laws, but if bicycles are allowed on the same streets as cars are (and we know when that is the case by the absence of “bicycles not allowed” traffic sign) then you can ride your bike there. Right? So, if there’s more than one, well it counts just as much for being traffic as it does for a single cyclist.

What you are trying to say is also that car drivers should report to the police that they will have a gathering every morning and afternoon rushhour because they are on the streets then in such masses that pretty much no one can use them in an efficient manner. But they don’t, because streets are there for transportation purposes too. And likewise for bicycles.

It’s true, unfortunately it was not me who came up with this wonderful idea of Critical Mass gatherings. Did you check their How to Start a Critical Mass Bike Ride that I have already recommended in the post? Read it through and I’m sure you will find answers to a lot of questions straight out.

Hopefully you will get convinced that you’re not doing anything wrong by riding your bike with friends on the streets and start the event in Ljubljana. I’d definitely join and support you when around.

Mladen

]]> By: Crt http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-143 Crt Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:19:07 +0000 http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-143 Well, if you say: "Everyone, get your bicycles and meet with me at 6. We'll ride down the main street, exercising our basic rights to bicycle!" That's hardly a spontaneous gathering. The fact that you didn't organise it properly hardly counts in your favor. Well, if you say: “Everyone, get your bicycles and meet with me at 6. We’ll ride down the main street, exercising our basic rights to bicycle!” That’s hardly a spontaneous gathering. The fact that you didn’t organise it properly hardly counts in your favor.

]]> By: mladen http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-141 mladen Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:39:56 +0000 http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-141 The point is, as far as I know, that it is not really organized by anyone, there is no institution or individual that keeps taps on the event. Or in other words it is more like an emergent gathering. As I see it, pedestrians on a busy crossing will keep the traffic at bay, while at the same time they cannot really be asked to have a permission for the obstruction. Of course, this very much depends on the local traffic laws. Mladen The point is, as far as I know, that it is not really organized by anyone, there is no institution or individual that keeps taps on the event. Or in other words it is more like an emergent gathering. As I see it, pedestrians on a busy crossing will keep the traffic at bay, while at the same time they cannot really be asked to have a permission for the obstruction.

Of course, this very much depends on the local traffic laws.

Mladen

]]> By: Crt http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-140 Crt Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:11:40 +0000 http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-140 Pedestrians do not need a permit to walk either. But for an organized event, you need a permit (or at least register the event?), as far as I know. It has nothing to do with the mode of transport. Pedestrians do not need a permit to walk either. But for an organized event, you need a permit (or at least register the event?), as far as I know. It has nothing to do with the mode of transport.

]]> By: Crt http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-139 Crt Tue, 03 Apr 2007 10:10:42 +0000 http://theslate.net/2007/03/31/critical-mass-goteborg/#comment-139 Pedestrians do not need a permit to walk either. But for an organized event, you need a permit, as far as I know. It has nothing to do with the mode of transport. Pedestrians do not need a permit to walk either. But for an organized event, you need a permit, as far as I know. It has nothing to do with the mode of transport.

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