On May 12 2005, <jafrabee@...> wrote:

>since there is so much interest in restarting critical mass in brighton i
>am thinking of definately putting in the effot to make it happen. 17th
>june. it will be not only a defiant event in the grand tradition - a
>celebration of cycling and a rejection of car-culture - but specifically
>related to the bad press cyclists have been getting in the argus (well
>responded to by letters, but i feel a critical mass is appropriate - WE
>ARE TRAFFIC! we deserve to be respected...)

Hi James

I think it's great that you are going with this. What time on the 17th June? My
dilema is that I work on Friday.

>It will also be a sort of send of to those of us who are cycling all the
>way to the g8 in similar style (about 10 are travelling from brighton, at
>least 50 from london) as we are leaving the following day. It would also
>be appreciated if people would join us for this leg (brighton to london)
>of our journey. the brighton to london run is the following day so if
>you didnt fancy joining us all the way to scotland you could come back
>with them!
>
>My current dilemma is whether or not to link critical mass to the
>shoreham airport... perhaps this could happen at a later date... what do
>people on the list think - would they be up for a critical mass meeting
>in shoreham and cycling to brighton or vice versa? its a reasonable
>distance but i feel it would lend structure and purpose to the event...
>others might be more up for a more obvious brighton focus... thoughts
>please...

Personally I think a more obvious Brighton focus is better. I write this because
the vast majority of cyclists in Brighton are commuters and simply ride a couple
of miles each day to work on rusty mountain bikes with maybe one or two gears
still working on the derailleurs. I feel that these people would balk at
Shoreham to Brighton even though it is a very short distance really.

I feel it would be good to start at a well known landmark, go on a ride around
Brighton as a group and then finish at the well known landmark.

Starting somewhere on the Old Steine for example might be rather good as it will
be the summer and it will feel like an attractive place to go.

>I am happy to do posters and contact various groups in brighton that may
>be interested, but as most people know, critical mass is not the sort of
>thing that is 'organised', it just happens, so if everyone who is
>interested can also play their part in encouraging others to join etc,
>that would be great!
>
>see you on the 17th, if not before, in cyclist solidarity!

Once I know when/where it is to start etc. then I'll put a posting on the
Bicycle User's Group at the University of Brighton where I work and I'll get a
message put out to the cycling group of BLAGSS (Brighton Lesbian and Gay Sports
Society).

I feel that if everyone communicates with a group they are involved in then that
can be quite successful.

Patrick