Critical Mass

I was super eager to ride with Critical Mass but was hugely disappointed by the disregard of law enforcement and even more so by the leaving behind of less experienced riders. Glad that I found San Diego Bike Party! …what mass rides should be! See y’all at next month’s San Diego Bike Party’s ride!

This is a large group of wannabe gang bangers who run over and harass anyone who happens to be walking or driving on the streets of San Diego on the last Friday of the month. They’ve caused many accidents and committed many assults, as you can see by Googling the group. I’ve witnessed them run people off the road and run until elderly people on the Mission Beach boardwalk.
They also ignore most traffic laws, and do not feel they need to stop at stop signs and red lights.
But YOU CAN HELP. Carry a stick or pole with you, and if you see a ‘critical mass’ rider who is unable to stop at a light or stop sign, please be of assistance and place your stick or pole into the front wheel spokes of the bike. If they fall down, this is a sign of intoxication and you should photograph them (preferably on the ground) and call 911 to report them. This will improve safety all around!
Oh, and Etta (the person who just posted below asking for help playing the victim): How ironic that you are such a crybaby when you are the one who gets hurt, but yet isn’t all fun when you ride with your gang and inflict injury on others, eh? It’s just shocking that nobody is going to help you out, huh?

Downtown 9÷27÷2013 — I will now be sure to carry my drum sticks on the last Friday of the month. It will go great in these fucktards spokes when they try to run my friends/​family over while being a law abiding pedestrians.
Good day sir, I said good day!

Nothing more than a bunch of people behaving like hooligans. I’ve had them try to run me down more than once as a pedestrian. I wish they would go away

I get what the group is trying to do, and I also get that when a group of randoms get together some bad stuff can come out… but I wish people in the group would take a stronger approach to make sure participants follow a set of rules for safety and courtesy to the people they encounter.
I’ve been caught up in here a few times as a car and it’s never a good experience. When I lived in point loma my ex and I would actually avoid their route or just not go out the night of Critical Mass. People have called this group out on reckless driving — and it’s true. The stunts people pull during this are dangerous for drivers and the bikers.
Things I’ve experienced with this group:
— Them trying to grab onto my car so they can get a free ride as I drive
— Getting my car kicked (more than once by about three extra eager participants)
— Having them flip off a minor and myself in a car just because we are in a car
— Watching them break road rules that puts themselves and other drivers in danger
— Profanity — just because.
It doesn’t matter if you respect the bikers or not, doesn’t matter if you’re moving or stuck at a red light — there’s a good chance these people will fuck with you and your car. What they do is unsafe and makes drivers care even less about bikers.

This group created chaos at the airport – riding through the drop-​off/​pick-​up areas, creating a traffic nightmare. Then they rode in the middle of Harbor Blvd.
If your point is to create chaos and make even more people dislike bicyclists, you have succeeded.
GO AWAY.

These riders are out to promote awareness, but their reckless riding and blatant disregard for the laws of the road only serves to go against everything they are riding for. Last night we were stuck for 2 light cycles while these idiots rode across the street despite it being a red for them. They were littering and throwing beer cans and shouting at motorists as they passed through the intersection. Super classy people right there.
Critical Mass is a prime example of good intentions gone bad. It’s time for those punks to grow up and behave — they’re only making life more difficult for other cyclists.

I’ve seen this group riding past and I’ve seen this group assembling at the fountain in Balboa Park.
Most cyclists didn’t have a light on their bike, they wore dark clothing and were hard to see even under the lights at Balboa Park, and many were wearing head phones or ear buds. Some even nearly ran me over as a jogger in the park.
I agree, as a commuter who rides 3 x’s a week, we need better regulations for cyclists’ safety. Having said that, if you ride your bicycle at night without a light, while wearing your headphones, against the flow of traffic then you’re not allowed to have any safety given to you. You’re reckless, you’re selfish, you’re ignorant and you’re just plain stupid.
There are rules of the road and the CA DMV has them for you. Please follow them so I can support this group’s cause. Until then, I want the police to arrest these clowns.

The whole idea of this group is to «Cause Chaos.» And they say so themselves. It’s not about enjoying life or having fun like what John H said, but really to bully as many drivers and pedestrians as possible. Heck they’ll even bully other bicyclists for riding solo in the opposite way or waiting to go across.
I would’ve supported this group if they were following bike and traffic laws, and respecting fellow San Diegans, but the kids that are in it are really ruining it. Even more disappointed in the people that are well in their 30’s and 40’s.

I’ve never ridden in Critical Mass, but live in the area where it often takes place.
My main grip is that the participants don’t obey ANY bicycle laws!
Most importantly they don’t stop at red lights or stop signs (I almost plowed through a group because I had the green light) and don’t have the proper equip like headlights and reflectors.
Critical Mass seems like a great idea, but with little/​no regulation on the participants it has become a raucous bar hopping disaster.
Too bad really…

I almost hit one of these jacka**es tonight on University and Park because they had no lights on their bike and dark clothing, and came literally out of nowhere into my blind spot. It was my right of way and I was trying to get over into the next lane. If you are going to ride your bikes after dark, WEAR SAFETY GEAR, please. I would hate to see an innocent motorist go to jail for vehicular manslaughter over something as simple as putting some reflective tape on your back and a light on your bike.
Also, I didn’t appreciate being heckled as I tried to park by people on their bikes riding by me. You can prove a point without being an asshole. When I asked someone politely what was going on, I was told that I should know who they are and what they were doing and got a very lovely eyeroll from a few people. Yup, that’s the way to win people over to your cause; by being a jerk about it. I tried to cross the street (at 7^th and University to get back to my car) and was nearly run down in the crosswalk.
I sat at 7^th and University for 20 minutes just waiting to turn, so long that I actually turned off my engine with the rest of the very annoyed motorists on the road. I was attempting to pick up a friend for the movies, to which we pre-​bought tickets, and we missed the first 20 minutes of our show because of you guys.
You wonder why motorists don’t respect cyclists? It’s because of jackasses like you guys who don’t show mutual respect. There is absolutely no reason to hold up traffic and be completely disrespectful to motorists AND pedestrians to prove a point.

I walk places. I ride my bike places. I drive my car places.
I don’t do any of them to piss people off.
I’ve been stuck behind you in a car, idling, for 20 minutes at a stop light you all saw fit to run. you more then doubled my trip home… your protest put more CO2 into the atmosphere than would have been had you not been there. Imagine all the cars you cause to sit and honk their horns while you think you’re making a point.
you aren’t helping the environment… you have no where to go, bike to work, be an example. bike to the gym, be an example. bike to breakfast, be an example, bike to the beach, you get the idea. Ride aimlessly though the streets blocking traffic, disobeying laws, screaming, with no destination, and you’re an example of the worst kind of cyclist.
You piss people off. I ride a bike, every day, and i despise you. Motorists think i’m like you. they think i don’t care about the laws of the road because of one night stuck behind your little joy ride.
I wonder how your riders would behave if faced with a wall of people walking the other way.
You didn’t block me tonight. haven’t in a while. i heard you all screaming as you rode through my neighborhood.
Whatever it is you’re protesting, what ever message it is you’re trying to get across, you are doing it wrong.

Although I do agree with many of the WHINERS points on this review, I believe, this is an event that everyone needs to experience before you judge. Yes the original idea was and still is to promote more people to use their CARS LESS and use what they naturally already have, which IS A PAIR OF LEGS get on a bike and pedal not only for THEIR own good but for the good of the environment by using less of their vehicles, It’s a WIN WIN in my eyes.
You really don’t know how much you can really get to know your city until you get on a bike and GET THE GRAND TOUR, IT MIGHT OPEN YOUR EYES TO A NEW WORLD. And driving your car somewhere I guarantee can’t give you the same experience.
Yes I know that most of the people that get pissed off are the ones late for something, coming back from a horrible day at work or just have lost any patience or are just plain angry people, yes if you disagree your in DENIAL. Take it as an opportunity to BREATHE, STRETCH, TEXT or PLAY A GAMe on your IPHONE apparently everyones got one, well I don’t but I do think their cool.
Oh and yes we understand that all those bike locks, lights and little shiny trinkets we buy for our bike do get delivered by TRUCKS, BIG FUCKING TRUCKS but the point here I repeat is to get people to use their cars LESS nobody is saying dump your car and become an all the time biker, I happen to love MY CAR, HAVE DRIVEN A MONSTER TRUCK, CARS, LOWRIDERS, VINTAGE CARS, CAR CONVENTIONS with their new and concept cars etc.
I totally can see point some people have made in regards to some DUMBASSES getting drunk and getting out of hand on the rides or riding through stores scaring some customers unfortunately their will always be some bad apples and you know the rest.
As to bikers popping wheelies and doing tricks on their bikes well I just see that as a benefit of being on a bike and I’m sorry you can’t do it in your car, you can always get some amazing hydraulics and make your car BOUNCE LIKE A LOWRIDER, haha! :) I would love to see that.
Just think how fun would that be to bounce your car in response to the bikers wheelies and tricks while waiting for the bikers to pass.
And why does someone always have to come up with the big O word «Organization» NOT ALL THINGS HAVE TO HAVE ORGANIZATION JUST DEAL WITH IT AND FLOW, that sometimes says a lot about how you deal with life, if a little disorganization is gonna get you all bent out of shape. IVE CERTAINLY LEARNED THAT LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS AS ORGANIZED AS i WOULD LIKE IT TO BE BUT I FLOW WITH IT, SMILE AND MAKE IT WORK :) IT’S NOT LIKE YOUR GOING TO DO YOUR TAXES WHILE YOU BIKE: p
Anyway this IS NOT ABOUT A WAR OF BIKES VS CARS at all, this in my eyes, an OPPORTUNITY TO GET OFF YOUR COUCH, TURN YOUR TV OFF mark your calendar and get in the next ride and EXPERIENCE LIFE regardless of the bad reviews or just to know that you probably should stay home and avoid the TRAFFIC FOR ONE NIGHT. You may make some new friends and if your too intimidated to get out there on your own, join a local urban bike group first so you’ll know some people when you go.
You can start by riding around Balboa Park to prepare.
You will experience THE BEAUTY OF YOUR CITY in a whole new light, you won’t be asked to become a Hipster or drink Pabst beer. And for some who said their are no girls on these bike rides I’m not sure what your talking about their are soooo many women riding, including me ;)
Well hope to catch yo out there, I’ll be on my vintage red Schwinn come say Hola!

I was so excited for my first CM ride. What a disappointment.
Being in a large group of cyclists was awesome!
What wasn’t awesome was:
1. the lack of organization.
2. the lack of camaraderie amongst riders.
3. the lack of respect amongst riders.
4. the amount of civil disobedience.
5. the speed, which ultimately causes the ride to thin out. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS PEOPLE!
6. the length of the ride… I don’t have a problem with riding my bike for over three hours, but I feel like it is done simply to piss people off. The message that is trying to be conveyed is not to piss people off but to make people aware the cyclists have the same rights as those in cars do. This also means we have to follow the same laws.
7. being constantly cutoff by idiots doing tricks on their bike and not paying attention to their positioning. Tricks on bikes does not equal what CM is about. Cars aren’t allowed to do tricks on the road, so I’m not looking to support people trying to tricks on their bike in the road… time and place people!
This group needs leadership or organization. They also need to learn what it takes to educate people because their method is only pissing people off… even those who ride!

For those who are riding a bike in the event, you are going to love it. For those in cars that have to wait before all the cyclists pass you by, you are going to hate it.
I had my first experience with this last friday. I never really wanted to ride it because I thought that it was just going to be a bunch of «hipsters» drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon doing «hip» stuff. I didn’t get that feeling at all. I’m sure there were those people that were ruining the feeling for all those around them. Screaming at everybody, giving vulgar signs to motor vehiclists; they were not really experiencing what they should have or what I was experiencing.
Something about riding a bike through a city gives a different feel of it. I saw things that I normally would pass right by in a car. If you take advantage of it, you really can find a lot of places that you would never see. Hole in the wall spots that only true locals really know about. Also, you can see the real beauty in the city.
I really do love this event. I can see why people would hate doing it, but it does have it’s advantages. Sure, they could have a better system of holding critical mass, but I think that defeats the purpose. Not having a path or not having a order helps it’s situation. Sure it brings chaos to downtown and other parts of San Diego, but that is what appeals to most people. Something that is different from their everyday lives. Driving through the city everyday and taking the path on a bike is completely different.
I would just like to say that I am not from San Diego. I actually live far away, I was just in town visiting friends and happened to participate in this event. I love large cities. I think they bring a kind of aesthetic that you can’t find in my suburban small city. So if you’re going to ride your bike every last friday of every month, you will enjoy the ride through every part of San Diego. If you’re a motorist in the city just leaving a restaurant and trying to go somewhere else, you’re going to hate it. Mainly because you have to wait an extra 10 minutes at a stop light while you see a bunch of rowdy, rambunctious, degenerate, hipsters. Just accept it, try it, and since you know when it happens you can avoid it and just stay home.

Love the idea, HATE HATE HATE the execution.
Using a perfectly legitimate cause as an excuse to cause drunken anarchy like a bunch of teenagers… Why can’t someone just organize a big fun bike ride… that abides by the laws of the road? And doesn’t involve harassing bystanders?
If you support the ideology but not the mess, can someone please look into starting Critical Manners (
) in San Diego?
Yeah, I get that you’re trying to prove a point. Yeah, I get that motorists don’t respect cyclists enough.
But do you really think being obnoxious, drunkenly cursing and yelling at people in cars, and banging on strangers’ vehicles is gonna make anyone respect you more?
And even if you’re NOT one of those riders, you’re just going to «have fun and meet people», why be associated with these critical massholes?
I worship and thank every one of you who takes the trouble to ride a bike instead of driving, and am sorry that the city/​drivers aren’t more bicyclist-​friendly, but this is a silly, stupid event.
If you’re doing it for the cause, I’m sure you can find a more respectable, more productive outlet. If you’re doing it to meet people, why not just Unilocal a few good bars/​social events? If you’re doing it for revenge, you’re just giving motorists more reason to disrespect you.
I don’t get it. We’re not 13 anymore; this just isn’t how big kids do things. Quit being difficult and grow up, okay?

Critical Mass is what made me learn to love SD, after far too many years of feeling trapped in the conservative suburban sprawl.
There will be angry people that act out at any event, but the vast majority of people I met on the monthly rides just loved to get out, exercise, and see the city in a whole new way. You can go your own pace and enjoy the time with your friends instead of feeling the mad rush of car culture and waiting endlessly in freeway gridlock.
Angry drivers be damned, Critical Mass is on my top ten things I miss since I moved back up to LA. At least I can always savor those nights, cruising through around the city and enjoying life in the purest, carbon-​free, and exhilarating way.

CRITICAL MASS + HALLOWEEN COSTUMES = FUN TIMES!!!
My only regret was not dressing up like the half the cyclists did… great costumes!
Yes, we crazy cyclists are breaking every traffic law in the book… but how many of you drivers drive over 65MPH on the freeway? How many of you actually come to a complete stop at a STOP sign? How many of you still talk on your cellphone while driving? I know I’m am guilty of all of the above, and I bet at least 90% of you do the same!
And…its fricken fun! MMwwwaahahahahahaha!
Don’t knock it till your try it! ;-)

I HATE YOU. You make me want to buy a Hummer and show you who’s boss.
My first experience with this cluster of losers known as «Critical Mass» came last night, and I anticipated it. At 8:30PM my boyfriend and I parked at the Horton Plaza parking garage and stepped out to walk to dinner. There were horns honking, there were a lot of obnoxious WHOOOOs, there were a lot of fuck this and fuck thats; I knew it was Critical Mass.
I do understand that apparently in other major cities CM is respectable and true to its purpose (i.e., non-​violent riding of bicycles in large packs to protest overuse of vehicles, or whatever). I can’t tell you how much I respect the cyclists who have written damning Unilocal reviews of the San Diego CM, the cyclists who (A) have participated or currently participate in CMs in other major cities and realize how awry the SD CM has gone or (B) have stopped participating in the SD CM because of how far from its «purpose» it has drifted.
The SD CM, during the 5 minutes that I witnessed the tail end of it, certainly lived up to its infamous reputation of being nothing but a sad little trend, a social event for likely otherwise social rejects to feel «kewl» and «hawt» and part of a group. These kids/​people/​things are a bunch of morons – many of them drunk – riding around on bicycles because they think it’s «kewl» to protest. WHOOOOOOOO for anarchy!
You have no respect for the city and how it’s perceived by visitors.
You have no respect for people, for their safety and needs.
You have no respect for me, for my time, for my schedule.
The entertainment aspect of CM comes mainly via the people who for whatever reason pause to hold/​shake their bikes above their heads. Freaking hilarious! Tools, you need to get yourself an out of body experience pronto so that you can see the way you look from our point of view.
One day some annoyed person on an adrenaline rush is gonna go nuts, and not many people are going to care about the crumpled pink beach cruisers under the wheels.

There is a special circle of hell reserved for Critical Mass assholes.
I hate Critical Mass so much. For the exact reasons in all the other reviews that the other reviewers stated so well.
I’m sure there are cool people in the group who just want to have fun, but there are a lot of self-​righteous pieces of shit who think they are better than everyone else.
I stood and watched while the river of bikes stopped traffic on a busy intersection downtown, light after light and light. I thought to myself, if I was in one of those cars I seriously would have gone apeshit.
Then I saw a guy get out of his car and go talk to the guy that was just sitting in the intersection on his bike, making sure cars didn’t go. As soon as the motorist got close, you could see the bikers get all excited like, OOH! A CONFRONTATION! Like they couldn’t wait to have some motorist yell at them and hopefully hit them so they could end up in CityBeat or something. You could tell they just WANTED it so bad. Anyway, the motorist calmly and politely said something like «I am trying to pick up my son from practice (or something), we’ve been waiting 10 minutes, can’t you just let some cars go?» and of course they were all like no, and they didn’t care. I was so pissed for the guy. I wished I was a big strong dude so I could go frigging punch them all in the face.
I don’t understand how CM is supposed to promote safety, cycling instead of driving, environmentalism, etc etc. It just pisses people off and prevents them from going about their business — driving wherever they need to go. You don’t mess with people’s free will and their schedule on a Friday night. San Diego is NOT a very bikeable city compared to a lot of places in the US, so all these people who claim they do this to create awareness are fucktards.