York Critical Mass

January Critical Mass Ride Shock - Rain!

plainer — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:23:16 +0000

The January ride saw the first time in fourteen months that's it's been raining too heavily to get a CM off the ground!

Those of us that braved the storms saw the sense of retiring to a pub for a warming pint.

The moral: there's always a reason to turn up, first Friday of the month by the Minster, 5:30 for 6.

NEW BIKE SLIPS ATTACHED!

York Critical Mass

September ride

compost john — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:36:17 +0000

I took part in the York ride on 7th September and was involved in an argy bargy. A car driver got rather upset at being behind a group of cyclists and overtook, mounting the pavement on the opposite side of the road to get past, and sped to the traffic lights at Clifton Green, where the car stopped partly in the green cycle box, and we cyclists surrounded it, including me with my trailer infront of it. One of us had a conversation with the driver and he said he'd run over anyone who got in his way, and threw something at this person. Someone else berated him for being in the cycle box and this wound him up further. The lights changed and the cyclists in front started to go forward, he revved up and charged at us, hitting my trailer and tipping it over, spilling it's contents of some recyclable copper pipe I'd found in a skip, and bending some struts on it a bit more than they were. I got the reg, and wrote it down. I wasn't hurt, and I should think that his vehicle would have had some scratches. A witness came out of a nearby house and gave me his name and contact number. I rang the police today, saying I wanted to report him but not make a claim, as I don't want him knowing who I am, he was far too violent!

The moral is to give aggressive wankers a bit more of a wide berth, don't push them too far. Our lives and machines are too precious to be sacrificed for making a point! I've learned something anyway.

It was, apart from that, an excellent ride, and we had a good meeting afterwards in the Ackhorne. Cheers for the perry, Rich. Good to meet Dave, Sarah and a couple of other newbies, plus 'old hands', you know who you are!

John Cossham (not in 1970!!!)

York Critical Mass

July Critical Mass Ride Small but Successful

Graham — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:45:49 +0000

Well, it wasn't a big ride, with just 19 people taking part, but we had fun, made cycling visible and encountered some complete idiots who need their 2 ton weapons removing from beneath them. The driver of a bright red Audi on Nunnery Lane expended much petrol revving, overtaking (twice) and generally being an idiot without any gain for himself, other than a nice picture showing that he, like a notable group of York's drivers, has no concern whatsoever for cycle lanes or cyclists. No one was hurt, but as one person put it later "we gave as good as we got", verbally of course.

Next months ride will probably also be small, but that's no excuse not to show up. On Friday August 3rd we'll be returning to the streets of York to promote cycling, sustainability and fun, same time and same place.

York Critical Mass

May's Critical Mass a success

Graham — Sat, 05 May 2007 10:20:38 +0000

Assembling, chatting and attaching flagsSomewhere between 35 and 40 riders took part in this months ride including a number of new faces. Flags displaying statements such as "One Less Car" and "I [bike] YRK" were attached to people's bikes as they assembled at the Minster. The large amounts of fliering in the previous week seemed to have had a wonderful effect, though the weather could have been better. We met some interesting responses along the way. When we reached the suggested end point of St Sampsons Square, the ride ended up continuing to circle the square for some time before finally stopping. It definitely looks like, having slipped to just 20 a month, the ride is heading back to higher numbers, and could make 100 by the end of the year.

Passing the StationAt 6:05 the ride left, heading for Holgate Road and Poppleton Road. After crossing Clifton Bridge, the ride headed down Water End into Clifton, and after a messy turn, proceeded along Kingsway North to the roundabout, where the customary 2.5 rotations was achieved. The ride then followed Crighton Avenue to Burton Stone Lane, where the away team coach for the evening's City match was found coming in the opposite direction. The ride turned towards town, in along Bootham, through Gillygate, through Lord Mayors walk and out along Monkgate, where the roundabout provided yet more fun. Back in, through Bootham Bar, and round the Minster, then over to the Assembly Rooms and Davey Gate. At this point, the ride approached the agreed finishing point in St Sampsons Square. Due to the cycle racks and phones, the ride went round the first side, where upon, instead of turning into the square, it continued onwards around and around. So immature, but so much fun!

York Critical Mass