NOTE: All timestamps are in the future because WE are in the future. The care takers of Midnight Ridazz.com reserves the right to remove, edit, move or delete anything for any reason. None of the opinions expressed on these boards represent the Midnight Ridazz nor can anyone purport to speak on behalf of Midnight Ridazz.
Let me get you up to speed and let you know that this is an ALTERNATIVE to Critical Mass.
Lafayette Park meet 600pm ride at 700pm
-A destination will be announced
-4 groups will be led randomly to the destination.
-We will be observing all road rules. (No running reds. Especially Nobody in the second lane unless turning
left)
I am hoping the wish to seek a better alternative to the old ways of CM will lead towards a cooperation on a
full scale level.
It is my ultimate wish that this ride either become a catalyst for LACM to transform itself in our image or for
LACM to fizzle out and our alternative ride to become adopted as the New Critical Mass.
There is opposition out there. I say we stay flexible to ideas, encourage the group to lead each other through
example, speak out against those who break the rules and cause aggression, and grow to be a strong source
of what a respectful and responsible ride can be while demonstrating that bikes are traffic.
"If bikes are traffic, then ride as traffic should."
(Please ignore all trolls on this thread and see you on the streets!)
You are designing a ride with the ultimate theme; following rules of the road. And yet you're having it split into 4 groups. Why is this? I always believed that splitting into multiple groups was a tactic to keep the police from pursuing or focusing on the mass of the ride. If you're following road rules, however, this is a non issue. You're going to be unimportant to them.
If that's not your reason, again, why split your already small group? It will only impact on the public impact your ride will make... "gee, look at that small group of bicyclists stopping at the stoplight." Is that the unimpressive impression you're trying to make?
If you're going to be following the rules of the road, why even bother sponsoring an alternative CM? That's what the cops want anyway and you can ride in the traditional LACM with police support and help influence the behavior of other ridas.
Call me crazy, but to me today's Alternate CM Ride should be one that reverts to the time when bicyclists acted in the true spirit of CM... one night a month where cyclists owned the streets.
Regardless of my feelings, good luck on your ride. I'm going to take a more rebellious approach at changing the face of the new CM.
But one of the tenets of the original CM credo was: this is not a protest. It is a celebration. An exertion of rights. Not a rebellion.
By taking a rebellious approach you are creating something that is not CM at all. That's not necessarily a problem, but it is hypocritical to criticize Borfo's ride for not being enough like CM, when the thing you're creating is also not at all like a traditional CM.
If you want to have a rebellious ride with that goes around town just breaking laws to get in people's face, you should probably not use CM for that any more than Borfo should set up an Alternative to CM.
Fun side note: "Alternative to CM" does not mean the same thing as "Alternative CM."
I got a bit of a fever, not sure any of this is making sense.
I would say that a bunch of smallish groups (20-60 ridazz?)would be far more effective than a mob of 1000.
Why?
Because one big mob takes over the road to the exclusion of auto traffic. Therefore, most people in cars have no idea that the ride is happening. Conversely, a small group functions similarly to, say, a big rig, and auto traffic is forced to deal with it. Even better, by splitting up CM into a number of smallish groups, that makes the exposure even greater! But wait, it gets even better. By keeping the groups small, the I'm-part-of-a-mob-I'm-invisible/invincible mentality is less likely to set in, and ridazz can better police themselves.
lackflag responding to a comment by indigis
11.24.10 - 8:36 pm
I understand your frustration. But Borfo's ride is just that. A Bike Ride.
Let's all back up and take a bigger view of things. We are alive, we care about our town and are all interested in promoting cycling. It's ok if we employ different strategies to achieve a common goal: fun.
Be thankful you have 2 arms and 2 legs and a bike under you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
alexdc responding to a comment by fixie4life
11.25.10 - 6:44 am
Please do understand that I'm NOT criticizing Borfo's ride theme, I am asking him to simply question the wisdom of splitting the ride into four groups. Until it's explained to me, I really don't understand the benefit of doing so.
Something you do say, however, is contradictory. "It is a celebration. An exertion of rights." One can have a celebration of rights OR an exertion of rights. And an exertion of rights by civil disobedience (ignoring certain cvc) is protest and rebellion. CM has always had elements of both.
I think we all agree what we would eventually like to see... people out on their bikes for enjoyment or transportation in Los Angeles, smiling and safe. Borfo's ride can congregate the "Welcoming Arm" of Ridas and put a smiley face on bicycling to invite viewing drivers into the great experience of cycling. Very important!
Political change has to occur too. And if they don't see PROBLEM, they won't seek SOLUTION.
Hence, problem: "One day a month cyclists will own the road until thirty days a month we can share it."
Happy T-Day!
indigis responding to a comment by outerspace
11.25.10 - 8:15 am
I think this ride is an excellent idea. Let's face it, in its current state, Critical Mass begins on Wilshire and Western, and ends 10 minutes after the crowd rolls out. The starting point is the only organization we have--to an extent, the starting point *IS* critical mass; everything afterward is just chaos, and LAPD herding riders like sheep.
indigis, I think the purpose of "split into 4 groups" is a tentative idea that depends on rider turnout to maintain __manageable-sized groups__. Obviously, if only a handful of riders show up, it won't make sense to split up the group, but if 400 riders show up, 4 groups of 100 sounds better than trying to get the entire mass through red lights.
Having the groups take separate routes does not necessarily mean the ride is up to no good. Sure, it has the indirect benefit of making it more difficult for LAPD to trail, and stalk like hungry wolves, but I think its bigger purpose is to minimize confusion between the groups mentioned above (i.e. there's less pressure on one group to keep up with another group, and feeling like they have to run reds).
I think the main meeting point of Critical Mass still serves a purpose in demonstrating the sheer size of the biking community, however, a meeting point, by itself, is simply not enough.
The only thing I would change about this ride is to make its meeting time 8 (or later), so that all riders can show up at Critical Mass and make their presence known, then roll out and make it on time to satellite rides like this one.
---------->attention:the soulution to get rid of lapd at critical mass is to not have critical mass anymore in the city of la!!!!!!aint that a big duh.........<------------------
change the meet up to a unicorporated city like per se glendale and lapd will have no juristiction in entering such unincorporated cities....
LACM...Is In LA. Besides if you think LAPD is bad , Glendale PD is far worst. Seems like to many people have lost focus, on what LACM is about . Cant blame the cops for
riders being caught doing things that put others at risk. And no I am not a narc, I did not like some of the things lapd did last ride.But the things we did ourselfs hurt the ride, We started with a left turn on the first intesection. This set the stage for a fragmented ride.
By Starting at another site ,are you not giving into those who brake the rules and cause aggression. Can you not lead by example at the old start point, let people know a meet point and even if we all go in differnt directions we can end at the same point.
There WILL be efforts at the old start point to do the same exact thing as what I'll be trying to do at the new start point.
This movement towards change is bigger than you think.
And I encourage ALL of you to work together towards this new idea of riding-
Ride any way you choose to get to the chosen destination. (You can ride fast, you can ride slow, you can ride with or without the four groups, but you will ride according to the rules of the road as a demonstration of our ability to do so.)
When this happens. Bikes will be everywhere getting to the same place in a legal fashion.
So jump on your General Lee or put on your or your Daisy Dukes, and let's show Roscoe and Boss Hog they can't put a vise on LA bike rides anymore.
Joe Borfo responding to a comment by twinns2boy1
11.26.10 - 4:39 am
i was talkin to paul yestrday about this cool ride n he wanted me post this up.
hey yall, paul here from Imperial Stars. were realy stoked ur makin owr video ur video!
"PARTY IN THE TRAFFIC JAM LIVE IN LA, NO ONE BETTER GET IN MY WAY, PLAYING LIVE ON THE FREEWAY TODAY"
There are 1.5 million homeless children in the U.S.A.. WHAT ARE WE DOING"?
Great work Borfo & Crew!
This is exactly what we need to do.
Change, experiment evolve.
LACM has been kind of stagnant
I think making alternatives like this its what CM needs.
This is a viral movement, and a virus survives by mutating.
Why should a wednesday night have 5 different types of rides to choose from and friday be limited to just one?
I hope this starts a trend for people who may not like the way LACM is going down or even the "alternative" LACM and start another and a another and another.
I can't pretend to speak for the mighty Borfosaurus.
but I think the idea of multiple rides is worth trying.
The logic seems to be that a "Critical Mass" is any group big enough to take the road.
That a smaller group will have better communication, more easlity be able to police itself, will be less likely to drop ridazz etc.
Maybe it will have some characteristics of the Tron ride of early MR daze, that had multiple routes to suite different ridazz with styles of riding.
But whatever the result, it doesn't matter because this is all obviously an experiment.
Seriously, whats the worse that can happen.
It would be foolish to declare victory before this ride even happens, but I really think this is the solution.
Not the specifics of THIS particular mutation of CM, but just the fact that people are psyched to do something different and willing to experiment.
Its arguable that more rides of a smaller size will have a bigger footprint/ a bigger visual impact, and will make all of LA a CM.
There is no doubt, that having multiple rides will complicate efforts by the police to control or suppress the ride.
Why take ONLY the right lane? We're allowed to use the second lane as well...So why not use it? I'm assuming the police will be at the Wilshire / Western LACM so limited resources will be assigned to us if any at all...
I can think of two reasons why keeping the mass in one lane is a good idea:
1) Integration with auto traffic means more exposure to motorists
2) If a police officer feels like writing a ticket, that officer will interpret the law in a way that gets the ticket written. Everybody in one lane leaves less room for fudging on LAPD's part.
(I'm not sure if reason #2 is even really an issue. Reason #1 is good enough for me. I love interacting with motorists.)
lackflag responding to a comment by barleye
11.26.10 - 3:00 pm
I think it's a good idea to have three rides; fast, slow and medium and to clearly define what each means by desiging at maximum mph per ride.
Slow is 7-9, med 10-13, fast is 14 and abouve.
And then KEEP those three groups in tact by waiting at all the green and red lights for each group to catch up.
You could announce this at the start of the ride by saying" The fast pack is leaving now!." "The medium pack is leaving in 3 minuets". "The slow pack is leaving in 5 minuets."
This is what Joesph at The Flying Pigeon does for his rides and it works out perfectly, no one gets left behind.
But, I would do that at the original LACM start location, and not make a new location.
You can have three pack leaders for each group who will be in charge of making sure that everyone in that group catches up and makes it to BOTH the start and Finish line.
I had a blast tonight! Way to ride safe guys! So fun to all meet up at the chosen destinations.
This ride was a success. This will be our monthly ride.
We can give it a different name every time, but it will also be known as an ALTERNATIVE to Critical Mass with these following guidelines:
# 1. Follow all rules of the road.
(Keep the left lane open unless turning, & Do not cork or run red lights.)
# 2. A destination will be chosen and announced at every stop point.
( feel free to break up into smaller groups who can get there any direction your group chooses to.)*
I love how we met up with another ride that is also an Alt. to CM and who also rode following our guidelines. (Respecting all vehicular rules and announcing a destination) I consider these rides to be Midnight Ridazz rides. This ride belongs to all of you who ride it. So continue to make it work TOGETHER in a collaborative D.I.Y. manner. Our ride will hopefully be one of many who form and collaborate to converge at a destination sometimes together.
Let's keep Lafayette Recreation Center the ride's regular starting point unless something requires us to find a new place.
*It is my request that our ride always stay flexible to change and seek to gradually evolve as long as we follow the two guidelines I am suggesting.
I think we are making history in something good for bike rides. I am encouraging LACM to follow this template, but I only try being the change I want to see in LA though our own ride that is a Critical Retort to the old habit of riding - A dynamic and respectful direction towards a more positive image we represent of riding a bicycle in traffic as traffic.
Thanks for believing in this! This is so rad to me.
Ride On,
-Rev. Joseph H. Borfo III, D.D., T.W.B.G., B.d.S.C, .Com
Thanks guise for the wonderful night. Conversing and riding along side you fine cyclist was very enjoyable. I'm disappointing I didn't get to stay the whole ride but I'm glad I came out.
I'm excited to ride the alternative. I hope it keeps going, so I can start in the New Year.
To me, the difference between LACM as it currently exists and this LAACM is the difference between big sanctioned protests a la Answer Coalition and a guerilla-style flash mob type "protest" (for lack of a better word). The latter has the potential to make a greater impact, and a DIRECT impact. I think packs of 20 - 25 riders spreading out through the city and converging and spreading out and converging has so much potential. I'm glad people are willing to try different approaches to bike advocacy.
This is a repost, but I will be out of town on Friday Dec 31st.
I know that stilline and many other who attended Fridays Alt to CM will continue to pursue this vision:
A large amount of various original type rides that are riding simultaneously from different start points on the last Friday of the month - Many of which will converge at predetermined locations - All of which will continue to encourage stopping at all reds and leaving the left lane open.
This is a totally different approach to demonstrating our rights to ride the streets in a more successful, fun, and positive way.
You really need to see this in your mind in order to grasp it's significance.
This can happen on other nights as well. But last Friday holds significance because of the current nature of LACM. This is our collective wish from many ridazz on this forum. We all need to collaborate to make this happen.
thanks Joe for setting this up. It was truly an enjoyable ride and after seeing the way the ride developed I much prefer this format rather than any cop controlled parade. LACM as I know it, is in trouble. Some may say progress, some will say regress. I just don't feel like it represents my idea of biking awareness anymore, Just look at the fact that there were other rides that were compelling on a last Friday of the month. It used to be that LACM was the only ride, and now that it has become something that I can't be proud of (route communiceted to the cops before hand?? wtf? since when is Palucha the leader?) The Alternative ride really is the new Mass ride. I know some people would rather be safe in an escorted ride, and I guess it is good if it gets more people on bikes.
I would rather be free to explore and decide my own fate..I dunno, I guess I would rather be sorry than safe, you certanly live more that way!
This ride felt raw, exhilarating, adventorous, and alive! No knuckleheads, no cops, Just passionate bikers who had fun while riding safe! Meeting up with the other ride made it more fun, I get your concept of multiple rides in the city at the same time. That would be huge fun! I could not have asked for a better "Alternative". Thanks again!
marleydog responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
11.29.10 - 12:50 am
FROM LAF PARK - HEAD SOUTH ON HOOVER TO SUPERMARKET ON THE RIGHT - CUT THRU PARKING LOT AND PICK UP 11TH STREET
TAKE 11TH WEST STRAIGHT OUT TIL TURNS INTO COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE - KEEP GOING TO BRONSON
HEAD SOUTH 2 BLOCKS ON BRONSON TO PICO - PICO WEST UNTIL SAN VICENTE - TURN RIGHT
HEAD NORTH WEST ON SAN VICENTE TO WILSHRE - THEN LEFT 6 OR 7 BLOCKS PAST LA CIENAGA, WHERE FINE ARTS THEATRE IS TURN LEFT - ONE BLOCK SOUTH TO CHARLIEVILLE STREET IN BEV HILLS
TAKE THAT WEST FOR 3 MILES ALL THRU BEV HILLS TO LASKY THEN JOG UP TO LITTLE SANTA MONICA WHERE OLD FRIAR CLUB USED TO BE
TURN LEFT ON S AND M GOING WEST TO CENTURY CITY
RALLY BUS PARKING LOT ACCROSS FROM SOUTH ENTRANCE TO AMC ON CONSTILLATION - THEN FIGURE OUT WETHER TO -
----------------GO TO WESTWOOD
----------------GO TO VENICE
---------------GRAP BUS BACK TO DOWNTOWN
---------------PARTY IN CENTURY CITY PARKING GARAGE
---------------MUG A WHITE MAN
I HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR LACM, INSTEAD OF HANGING OUT WITH THE LAME-O COP-O'S, HOW ABOUT WE CHILL IN SILVERLAKE AND HIT UP SOME SWEET CLUBS AND PICK UP ON THE HOT HIPSTER GIRLS, OR GUYS IF YOU ARE A GIRL. WE ALL CAN GET DRUNK AND MAYBE GET IT IN, DOESN'T THAT SOUND MUCH BETTER THAN GOING TO LAPDCM?
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Ridazz Roulette!
Let me get you up to speed and let you know that this is an ALTERNATIVE to Critical Mass.
