Critical Mass: Bicycling's Defiant Celebration

by Chris Carlsson (Editor)

Monthly in cities around the world, bicyclists take over the streets in an "organized coincidence" called Critical Mass. Riding along several hundred strong, hooting and hollering, whistling, laughing and singing; it is a coup on wheels, a clever tactical strike against our oil-dependent culture. Containing writings from participants worldwide, this colorful book bundles together 10 years of legendary debates, photographs, artwork, and life-transforming experiences evolving from the celebratory, visionary revolt on bicycles called Critical Mass.   Chris Carlsson is a founder and editor of the notorious underground magazine, Processed World , and the director of the historical multimedia project, Shaping San Francisco. He was recently awarded the Golden Wheel Award by the San Francisco Bike Coalition for founding Critical Mass in 1992.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Chris Carlsson, executive director of the multimedia history project "Shaping San Francisco" (foundsf.org), is a writer, publisher, editor and community organizer. He was a founder of the ground-breaking magazine Processed World, and helped launch the monthly bike-ins known as Critical Mass that have spread to five continents and over 300 cities. Carlsson has edited and authored numerous books, including Reclaiming San Francisco: History, Politics, Culture.

Reviews

[Spicy T AKA Mr. Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good articles, some not. A lot of redundancy. If you've ridden in mass, you'll get it. If not, I urge you to ride in Critical Mass and then read this book. Or read them together. By the end it felt like a marathon. I thought some of the more historical essays towards the end were interesting.

[Jorge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an inspirational look at the critical mass movement and bike riding in general-non-competitive riding. I've been on one critical mass ride in DC during a September 2005 anti-war protest and it was awesome! The essays here explain what it's like to take over the streets with your bike to those who have never done it and may want to. The essays do get repetitive, but that is the nature of the movement where every voice gets a chance to be heard.

[Franco Vite · Rating 3 out of 5]

In questo bel saggio si racconta la storia di un'idea geniale per quanto semplice: in una civiltà del caos, dello smog, del traffico, della follia a quattro ruote, quale può essere la migliore provocazione, quella più ficcante, per denunciare questo delirante sistema?
Semplice: andare in bicicletta. Critical Mass!!
In tanti, durante le ore di punta.
Non si commettono reati, ma si fa impazzire un folle, idiota, tragico sistema impazzito.
In piedi ad applaudire :)

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

the irony of being an unrepentant gear head reading a book about bicycling as a viable alternative to the automobile...