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Friday, April 03, 2009
DAYTON — If you saw a bunch of people riding their bikes around downtown Dayton on Friday afternoon, April 3, you caught a brand-new idea/event/experiment: Courteous Mass.
It's Dayton's version of Critical Mass, a monthly ride that happens in some 300 cities around the world to gain attention of motorists and policy makers and promote the message that bicyclists use city streets, too.
Organizer Matt Lindsay said he became aware of these types of rides because he's been working on bicycle-related projects for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. (The ride, however, is not affiliated with the agency.)
"My thought was that these sorts of urban cycling rides are pretty popular in lots of places all over the world," Lindsay said. "And I thought that we don't have one and it might turn out to be very popular. It might be fun. So I just wanted to give it a go and see if it would take off."
Lindsay, an avid cyclist who supports his riding habit (and family) as manager of environmental planning at the MVRPC, admits that the title is an obvious rip-off of the Critical Mass rides.
Critical Mass, which started in 1992 in San Francisco, is a loosely organized event generally aimed at raising the visibility of bicyclists as users of city streets. Some of the events have gotten headlines when riders block intersections, take over streets, and enact "die-ins" where cyclists lie down to symbolize bicyclists' deaths and injuries caused by automobiles. During rush hour.
But these kinds of behaviors are highly controversial — even in the cycling community — and local police are typically not amused.
And besides, this is Dayton not San Francisco.
"The major difference is that Courteous Mass stands for street cycling within the law," Lindsay said.
Riders will be expected to obey all street signs and traffic laws, he said.
Aside from not particularly wanting to be arrested, Lindsay says such tactics aren't needed here.
"I'm not opposed to civil disobedience, but I don't see that cyclists lack any rights in Ohio," he said. "We're allowed on any road except for interstates. We just need to be visible and recognized so our cities can develop in ways that accommodate street cycling."
So this afternoon, April 3, at 4:45, Lindsay and whoever else shows up will take off on a 4 or so-mile bike ride around downtown. Rain or shine. The ride will start and end at c{space at 20 N. Jefferson St. For more information, search for Courteous Mass Ride on Facebook.
No need to worry about the ride being too counter-culture: It's been adopted by the Downtown Dayton Partnership as part of its First Friday festivities — an "art hop" that involves art galleries in the Oregon District and downtown. The art hop begins at 5 p.m. and runs until 10. For more information, visit www.downtowndayton.org.
Lindsay says Courteous Mass is a ride, not an organization. At least not yet.
"Now if we bring all these people and energy together and some want to branch off and create an organization that does bike-oriented social projects, that would be great," he said. "If other people want to branch off and form a bike co-op, that'd be great. But Courteous Mass is a ride."
Today, maybe a wet one.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2393 or kmccall@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Do you want your community to make the streets more bike-friendly?
Comments
By Emily
April 4, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this
Folks, by law, bicyclists share the road with motorists. People in cars do not own exclusive road privileges. I agree with the below comment that both groups should be better educated in traffic signals and etiquette, which is what Courteous Mass seems to be attempting to bring attention to.
By JohnnyBoy
April 3, 2009 3:14 PM | Link to this
Right. Cyclists will stay on the bike paths. Just add the cost of the bike paths to the automotive related taxes and there you go! YOU CAN HAVE YOUR WISH!!! But no b**ing about having to pay higher taxes. OK?
By L2
April 3, 2009 2:43 PM | Link to this
My brother lives in NYC where bicyclists drive like bats out of hell. While crossing a street, in a sidewalk with the light, my brother was hit by a cyclist going downhill at an estimated 30-35 MPH. My brother suffered a broken wrist, rib & many cuts/bruises and required almost 50 stitches in his leg (which the bike literally drove up). The cyclist had no vehicle insurance (because he didn’t own a car)and no health insurance because he was unemployed. Guess who paid and suffered for months? BRO
By bike 4 life again..
April 3, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this
Wheres the common sense? Owning and driving in your car own is a PRIVELEDGE, not a right. The street was not manufactured specially for you. Unfortunatly for you, you have to share it with whoever the Government says is authorized to use it. Some of us enjoy the physical exercise, some of us have DUIs and cannot drive a car, some of us are just bike freaks. Either way, being in your car does not give you a right to be a jerk. Some bikers can be a bit rude but assume we are all that way.
By Cityresident
April 3, 2009 2:14 PM | Link to this
ATTY GREEN CAN YOU BE A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. IF SO, LOOK INTO THIS OPTION AND CAMPAIGN.
By Cityresident
April 3, 2009 2:10 PM | Link to this
PLEASE, ATTY GREEN DON’T GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO GET ON THE BALLOT. I SAW MCLIN ON A BIKE TODAY WITH A BROOM IN HER HAND.:)
By hussein
April 3, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this
Well, maybe this will bring everyone back to reality. Courtesy or lack of courtesy, politics, way of life, agendas and attitudes all get thrown out the window when something that weights 3000 pounds strikes a 150 pound human on a 10 pound bike. I will let a car have the right of way every time.
By JJ
April 3, 2009 1:46 PM | Link to this
Bikes absolutely have a right to be on the road. It’s the healthy, free,environmental way to travel. I would love it if bike trails could get you everywhere you want to go, but they can’t. I would love to bike to work everyday—it would make me healthier, and I could actually fit daily exercise into my schedule; however, there is just no safe road between my house and the bike trail to utilize.
By Mel238
April 3, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this
NO! That’s why we have spent countless dollars building and rebuilding the ‘bike path’. Motorized vehicles are not permitted there. Slower cars on the road are ticketed because they cause dangerous conditions. Bicyclists should realize that safety should be first!
By David
April 3, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this
Yes!!! Bicyclists do belong on the road! We are not burning gasoline. We are not polluting. We are burning calories/fat. I always ride courteously as much as possible (literally riding on the right white line anytime there are cars). And when do people in cars obey the laws and drive courteously/safe? This goes for when I’m on my bike and/or in my own car. Share the Road!
By tommie
April 3, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this
..yes the same rights and the same obligations to follow all traffic laws. ALL OF THEM.
By bike 4 life
April 3, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this
Bikes do in fact belong on the streets. It is authorized by Ohio State Law and has the same rights as a motor vehicle.
Just because you drive in your safe little bubble of a car does not grant you are superiority on the road. Try riding a bike for once, and experiencing how liberating it can be. And for those of us who use it for transportation would prefer not to be harassed about it. Time to grow up Dayton. Orville and Wilber would be ticked.
By mikey
April 3, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this
Harrass??? The only attitude I see is when a biker blows a stop sign, drives in a traffic lane 20 miles slower than posted and won’t move, scrapes my car at a stop sign because he feels like he’s being crowded, or flips me off because I apparently have different “political” views than he or she has. Bikers thrive on confrontation with their arrogant holier -than -thou attitudes. I think you have it reversed.
By No bicycles on the road
April 3, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
I agree with the comment that bicycles should have tag’s and pay insurance, just like the vehicles that use them! What if I am hit by a cyclist and they are at fault? Who pays my car damages? I’m covered if I hit them, aren’t I? If bicyclists want to use the road, then they should have to pay just like the rest of us…otherwise use the bike paths that we dished out tax dollars for!!
By Dan
April 3, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
This is a fantastic idea, more motorists need to learn about how to share the road with a cyclist. As far as riding on the sidewalk, that is not as safe as one would think, when most motorists make turns they don’t look at the sidewalk to see if they are about to hit somebody. “THEY SHOULD HAVE TO GET TAGS,INSURANCE, AND OBEY THE LAWS JUST LIKE US DRIVERS.” Who said that motorists obey the laws? I would guarantee you that more motorists ignore the law than cyclist.
By Spinnies
April 3, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this
How many bicyclists have killed drivers of automobiles? Now ask the question in reverse: How automobile drivers have killed bicyclists? The balance of injury and death tilts towards the automobile drivers.
As a follow up: how many drivers (of all types of vehicles) harass bicyclists? Try bicycle commuting for a while (put yourself in the other guys shoes) and see if your attitudes don’t change!
By jackie
April 3, 2009 12:39 PM | Link to this
Let’s not forget that cycling is a way of life…a sometimes violent, confrontational holier- than- thou mode of transportation. One is no longer allowed to simply ride for enjoyment in shorts and a t-shirt. You are required to have 1500 bucks worth of clothing on top of your eco friendly 3000 dollar bike….and don’t forget the attitude.
By sammy
April 3, 2009 12:36 PM | Link to this
…..yea. So does failing to use caps when required…like “I”.
By hugh
April 3, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this
I think people should obtain a license prior to having access to the ‘Caps Lock’ button on their computer keyboard.
By rider
April 3, 2009 12:31 PM | Link to this
Bikes belong on the roads, read your drivers ed handbook. It’s been that way for a long time, and i don’t see it changing anytime soon, so deal with us.
By the way, typing in all caps makes you look like a loozer!
By voovoo
April 3, 2009 12:31 PM | Link to this
The Yard Barbers; 8051 N.Main—- will rip you off BIG TIME!!!!! Taking them to court in June
By Miss J
April 3, 2009 12:30 PM | Link to this
I think the best course of action would be to offer better education to both motorists and cyclists about the road laws that affect each group. I know many motorists who are unaware that’s illegal in most areas for to bike on the sidewalks and that by law, bikers are required to be on the streets. Likewise there are many bikers who don’t use the proper signals causing confusion and risk for both themselves and motorists.
By CITIZEN
April 3, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
THIS SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!!!!! We are fighting a drug war on our southern border, a cultural war in the middle east that noone cares about, a racial war in our cities, corrupt politicians running this whole country in to the ground, welfare scammers at every turn, con artists in the government and private sector wasting billions…and I should worry about BIKERS rights in a turn lane. This country deserves what it gets.
By D
April 3, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
Figured there would be a few ridiculous comments right off the bat.Cyclist have every right to be on the road. We pay taxes like every other citizen.What is dangerous is the amount of people I see texting, eating, talking on cell phones and not paying attention while driving. Speaking of dangerous, I would say the obesity epidemic in our country is what’s dangerous. More people should ride bicycles. As a cyclist I do think it is important to be selective about which roads you ride on.
By Jennifer
April 3, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this
I do not think that it is a good thing. Bicyclists do not always obey the traffic laws. They want to cut in and out of traffic and the cars and can get hurt. It will cause accidents, and it can cause backups in the lanes that they are in. Why not just let them ride thier bikes on the sidewalk it would be safer.
By KELLY
April 3, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this
IF THE BICYCLISTS WANT TO RIDE ON THE ROAD, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE TO GET TAGS,INSURANCE, AND OBEY THE LAWS JUST LIKE US DRIVERS. IAM SICK AND TIRED OF THE BIKERS COMING OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND JUST TAKING OVER, THERE ARE SO MANY THAT ARE SO DISRESPECTFUL. THE RIDE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD LIKE THEY OWN IT. THEY EVEN TAKE THERE BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WILL NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY. I HAVE EVEN SEEN THEM PASS TRACTORS ON THE WRONG SIDE. GET ON THE BIKE PATH WERE THEY BELONG.
By K
April 3, 2009 12:10 PM | Link to this
No!!! Bicyclists DO NOT belong on our streets!! It is far too dangerous for us drivers and the bicyclists. We need seatbelts to drive on the road then they shoud too! They also slow traffic down which can cause accidents. They DO NOT BELONG ON THE ROADS
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