Ottawa Critical Mass 2016: Make the Streets Safe Edition

Cyclists in Ottawa have had enough. The number of recent cyclist fatalities on Ottawa's streets tell us that we are not safe on the road, not even in designated bike lanes. Cyclists have taken to City Hall to call for safer streets.

One way we can advocate for safer streets is by reviving Critical Mass, a group bike ride through the streets of Ottawa where we are kept safe by our numbers and we demonstrate to motorists that cycling isn't blocking traffic, it is traffic.

Let's try and get as many people out to Critical Mass on the last Friday of every month. We meet on Friday, September 30 at the fountain in Confederation Park at 5:30pm and ride out at 6pm.

If you don't know what Critical Mass is, or have never participated in one please read this explanation.

If you have been to Critical Mass before, then we need your help. The more people we have who can explain the techniques we use to stay safe, and help lead some chants, the more fun everyone will have.

Please share this event with friends, organizations and your local city councillors and let's get Critical Mass moving again.

Critical Mass Ottawa: Summer 2011 Edition

Q. How do you know it's summertime in Ottawa?

A. Bank Street is under construction again.

That's right, summer's here, and Critical Mass is in full effect! Bring your bike and your friends (and their bikes, and their friends..!) to Confederation Park (Elgin+Laurier) at 5:30PM this Friday, July 29th for an awesome group ride through the streets of Ottawa (the ones that aren't ripped up, anyway). Ride leaves at 6!

Ottawa Critical Mass 2011

The snow is melting, the temperature is climbing, spring is coming... It's time to dig your bikes out of the garage, and get riding!

This Friday is the first big Critical Mass ride of the year, and you're invited!

Bring your bike and your friends down to Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier) at 5:30pm for a fun and friendly ride around the city.

Critical Mass in the news...

Ottawa Critical Mass was recently covered by Centretown News:

Monthly bike rally labelled 'anarchist event'

One thing I'd like to clear up: Critical Mass does not have a creator, organizer, leader, or even an official representative. When Critical Mass occurs, it's because a bunch of people decide to do the same thing at the same time in the same place.

Like Halloween, Critical Mass just happens.

Halloween is an interesting example. Every year, people form large groups, wander through the streets and slow down traffic. As critical mass critic Charles Akben-Marchand might say, "There are no concrete rules... nor is there a singular goal".

No one applies for a permit to go trick-or-treating. Does Halloween qualify as an anarchist event?

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Speaking of Halloween, this Friday the 29th is Halloween Critical Mass! Bring your scary friends, spooky bikes, and crazy costumes to Confederation Park at Elgin+Laurier. Ride leaves at 6pm!

September Critical Mass

September Critical Mass is tomorrow, Friday, the 24th. I've been asked to post the following message:

Dear Friends, family, activists, cyclists, world changers and people lovers.

It is with much regret that I write to you to inform you of a tragic event.
On september the 16th the Otesha Highlands and Islands tour (www.otesha.ca) was on tour in New brunswick. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Otesha, they are a not for profit, youth run, organization based in Ottawa, who organize cycling/performing tours all over Canada, spreading messages of empowerment, action, daily choices and love for the earth.
Three of the tour members were struck by a truck on one of the highways and one of the three was killed. Andrew wolf, a young man who, undoubtably, like the other members on his tour was inspired to share this great message with youth and adults alike, far and wide.

Any of us who have been on a bike before know that this could have happend to any of us on our two-wheeled travels. And anyone who has been on a bike tour such as this will know how incredibly difficult it must be for Andrews team mates still on tour.

Please join myself and other fellow cyclists/world changers/people lovers/activists/family and friends for a commemorative Critical mass bike ride in solidarity for Andrew, The Otesha project, and cyclists in general, on friday september 24 at 6:30 starting at city hall.
Critical mass is a family friendly event that encourages the use of bicyles in the city, they are a free flowing bike ride to celebrate, meet people, smile, ring bells and do what we love! RIDE OUR BIKES!!
The rides do not have a planned route and there are no assigned leaders, feel free to decorate your bike, dress up and invite all of your friends...in fact please do!
Otesha alumni, please bring your Otesha shirt!, Not Otesha alumni, feel free to turn your shirt inside out for the ride.

Cars dominate the road 30 days of the month, Critical mass is a day when we can imagine the world differently.

Please, please forward this to anyone who maybe interested.
I hope to see you all there,

in solidarity,

seb

July Critical Mass

July 30th is the next Critical Mass! So, what are you doing this Friday? Nothing much? Well, come on down to Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier), and join in the fun! The ride leaves at 6pm.

April Critical Mass

2010 is 1/3rd gone, have you been to Critical Mass yet? If not, here's your chance: Critical Mass is Tomorrow, Friday the 30th! Same bat-time, same bat-channel (Does anyone under 20 get this reference?).

Critical Mass is Back!

Spring is here, and Critical Mass is back in Ottawa! Let's make 2010 the year of the bike!

Bring your bike and your friends to Confederation Park (Elgin+Laurier) at 5:30pm, on the last Friday of every month. The ride leaves at 6pm. Next ride is March 26th!

November Critical Mass

Don't forget, this Friday is Critical Mass!

In other news...

Pedestrians and cyclists should be made king of the urban jungle, according to an international study showing the big benefits of "mass active travel."

It suggests money should be diverted way from roads to make walking and cycling "the most direct, convenient, and pleasant options for most urban trips." Pedestrians and bikers should also get "priority" over cars and trucks at intersections.

Here's the full story.

Halloween Critical Mass 2009!

Hard to believe another year has passed, but it's true! This Friday, October 30th is Halloween Critical Mass!


Wear a warm costume, and bring your friends!

Location: Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier)
Time: 5:30pm (ride leaves at 6 pm)

September Critical Mass

September Critical Mass is next Friday, the 25th! Bring your friends and your bike to Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier) at 5:30pm. Ride leaves at 6!


PS: Did you know Critical Mass is a world-wide event? Here's a picture from Budapest, Hungary! Imagine if we could get that kind of turn out here in Ottawa.

90% of cyclist deaths are caused by careless motorists.

An analysis of police reports on 2,752 bike-car accidents in Toronto found that clumsy or inattentive driving by motorists was the cause of 90 percent of these crashes. Among the leading causes: running a stop sign or traffic light, turning into a cyclist’s path, or opening a door on a biker. This shouldn’t come as too big a surprise: motorists cause roughly 75 percent of motorcycle crashes too. -- NYTimes

Here's the study the NY Times is talking about.

Drivers like to complain that cyclists are dangerous, but the numbers show where the real threat lies. Increase your visibility, get the attention of motorists and you're less likely to be run over. It's that simple.

Synchronized Cycling!

I was thinking we should do this at the next critical mass.

PS: Next ride is Friday, August 28th!

Let's ride bikes!

Critical Mass is this Friday, July 31st!

Same location as usual, Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier). Ride leaves at 6pm.

Spring Critical Mass 2009!

The first Critical Mass of Spring is this Friday, the 27th of March! Bring your bike and your friends to Confederation Park (Elgin+Laurier) at 5:30 PM!

February Critical Mass

February Critical Mass is tomorrow! It's warming up out there (high of 3c tomorrow!), now's a great time to dust off your bike and get ready for spring!

January Critical Mass: This Friday!

No buses? No problem! Let's make 2009 the year of the bike!

This Friday the 30th is January Critical Mass. Join us for a fun ride, everyone is welcome! We meet at Confederation Park (Elgin+Laurier) at 5:30pm, and the ride leaves at 6. The weather should be relatively warm for January, with an expected high of -4c. :)

November Critical Mass

Today is November Critical Mass! Rumor has it there will be free hot chocolate. Bring your mitts!

PS: If you love riding, don't let winter stop you. Get some snow tires! I got these from the MEC in Ottawa. They're a little expensive, but give you amazing traction on ice!

Halloween Critical Mass

This Friday the 31st is Halloween. But not just any Halloween... It's Critical Mass Halloween! Bring your bike, your crazy costume, and your friends to Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier) at 5:30pm!

September Critical Mass

It's tomorrow! First Critical Mass of the fall. Looks like it will be warm, but cloudy, according to the weather service. See you there!

Today is Critical Mass

Looks wet out there, but don't let that stop you :)

Same time and place as usual.

Ever wonder how easy it is to steal a bike?

Solution? Keep your bike where you can see it.

PS: Critical Mass is this Friday!

Critical Mass: This Friday!

Critical Mass is this Friday, June 27th. Meeting place is the same as always, Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier). The park is being used by Jazzfest, but fear not, there's plenty of space out front to meet up.

Here are some pics from last month.

Poland gets mega-highway for bikes

A 2000 kilometer stretch of a biking highway is to be built, running through the eastern regions of Poland.

Marcin Myszkowski, one of the leaders of the 'Masa Krytyczna' action - a Polish equivalent of the Critical Mass Riders initiated in San Francisco back in 1992 - says this is news cyclists in Poland have long been waiting for: 'We do not have good bicycle routes in Poland. I hope this will be the first very good bike route for tourists. The result is the most important. Not just to build it, but to build it very well.'

via Polish Radio

We need more projects like this in Canada. Of course, there's the Trans Canada Trail, but I can tell you from experience, a large percentage of it is not bike friendly.

Critical Mass 1887

May Critical Mass

This Friday is May Critical Mass! Here's some pictures from last May's Critical Mass.


Ride leaves at 6pm from Confederation Park (Elgin + Laurier).

Last Friday of Every Month!

Just a reminder, today is Critical Mass!

Bring your bike and your friends to Confederation Park (Elgin & Laurier) at 5:30pm!

It's Earth Day!

Nice video by some people from Montreal. They even ride bikes ;)

Critical Mass: Spring 2008

The first Critical Mass of spring is Friday the 28th of March! Bring your bike and your friends to Confederation Park (Elgin & Laurier) at 5:30pm!

Winter is over, let's ride!

Critical Mass: It's This Friday!

Did you know? Critical Mass is year round! This Friday will be our first Mass of the winter, so put on your coat and mitts, and bring your bike for an awesome time! Ride leaves at 6pm, from Confederation Park.

Want some tips on winter biking? Check out Icebike!