Hell on Two Wheels: Another Critical Mess

So just to be clear: there iS NO BALLOT MEASURE at all, this is just Gavin talking out of his backside, and the trial balloon is being kicked around.

There may be another reason to change CM - make it more outsidery once again and more edgy. The fact I can literally predict exactly WHEN AND WHERE this thing happens makes it not something that's challenging anyone, it's just another predictable thing that happens, like fog in the Sunset and fried hot dogs in the Mission on Saturday night. Unlike other actions, it gets free police protection, and is insulated from any repercussions, because it's so "big" no one could shut it down without like, the National Guard or some crazy shit like that.

That's fine, if the goal is simply to become another establishment thing that becomes its own thing. But if the point was to challenge the idea that public spaces are meant only for cars, and operate outside of the boundaries that society sets, CM ceased being a challenge ages ago, no different than a guy wearing his hair long is not freaking out The Man like it did in 1967 - even Republicans have long hair nowadays.

I agree with you, Greg, and I would definitely like to see the tactics re-evaluated -- lord knows, it's not like anarchists (or socialists, or progressives) aren't riven by splinter groups. Why not use that tendency to the advantage of "the cause?" If anything, I'm surprised its regularity hasn't at least bred familiarity with area motorists. I mean, maybe tourists get caught in cabs during the "Commuter Clot," but all a San Franciscan wants is their money, not their political support.

And, yes, Gascon did not actually propose a ballot measure, only that a ballot measure would likely succeed if put up for a vote, and I'd say that I probably agree with him on that point. But as I hope I made clear in my piece, Gascon understands "that any ballot measure that succeeded in name would fail in fact" (as I remarked to Eve in IM) because again, lord knows Critical Mass isn't bothered by any such impositions of authority, and in fact thrives on them.

Cobble stone streets hold a certain appeal, and would impose the desired effect.

Ha, like San Francisco would invest in renovating infrastructure! That said, the streets are plenty heinous enough as it is, even if cyclists have been lobbying for smooth, paved roadways since practically before the automobile was invented. Rolling over a sunken meter grate making a left onto 16th at Mississippi on Saturday threatened to break my wrists, if not throw my wheel out of true.

Besides, have you seen some of the squishy suspension rigs they're putting on bikes these days? I used to cross the cobblestones in Seattle and New York all the time, and look how I turned out -- writing a column celebrating urban cycling.

San Francisco already rivals Kinshasa for phuckedup cow paths that pass for streets.

Gascan should just close up Mass. WTF? Or is Gascan just an empty badge?