This is a list of commonly cited list of “Do’s and Don’ts” for critical masses, dating back to at least 1998. They are not even guidelines, they are suggestions for guidelines. Please comment, criticise, and make suggestions.
Critical Mass Do’s & Don’ts!
Please Do:
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Please Do: Talk to strangers, bystanders, bus riders, motorists.
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Please Do: Welcome people to join us next time.
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Please Do: Help cars stuck in mass to exit
safely out of the mass -
Please Do: Stop regularly if you’re in front (no matter how slowly you think you’re going, gaps are opening up behind you).
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Please Do: Stop at red lights when in front to allow the rest of the ride to “mass up” behind.
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Please Do: Fill gaps; Critical Mass depends on bicycle density to displace cars.
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Please Do: Remember that pleasure and friendliness are more subversive than anger and blaming.
Please Don’t
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Please Don’t: Race ahead to block cross traffic before the Mass has arrived.
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Please Don’t: Ride into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road.
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Please Don’t: Pick fights with motorists, even (especially) if they’re itching for one.
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Please Don’t: Fail to turn and twist through the city to make the ride more interesting.
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Please Don’t: Forget to smile and wave and talk to strangers.
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Please Don’t: Hesitate to tell other Massers what you think of their behavior, whether good or bad. Talk to each other.
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Please Don’t: Forget we are all responsible to make Critical Mass what we want it to be.
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Please Don’t: Mass up in turn lanes when you aren’t going to turn in that direction.
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Please Don’t: Use lanes that aren’t necessary. If there are multiple lanes, let faster moving traffic pass and don’t block them in.
