Isla Vista: Critical Mass Against War!

UCSB's doing it again:
Critical Mass (bike ride) Against War! Everyone's invited!
Saturday, March 17th

Meet up at Pardall Tunnel in Isla Vista
9am sharp
Bring a bike, probably some water and a snack, sunscreen and a hat.

On March 17th we will rise up and take to the streets in a MASSIVE
cross-town bicycle ride. CRITICAL MASS! A SUSTAINABLE PROTEST OF AN
UNSUSTAINABLE WAR!
No longer can we sit by and watch hundreds of thousands of people lose
their life, while billions of dollars are stolen from worthy causes such
as national health care, lowering tuition, expanding education,
rebuilding the Gulf Coast, or researching sustainable/renewable energy
sources. We will take direct action to stop the war.
For more info see http://sbantiwar.org

Can't make the bike ride? There's still a huge march and rally
downtown. Take the 24X and meet at Vera Cruz park.
(http://www.thepeoplescoalition.org/)


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Critical mass bike rides and the law:
What every bicyclist needs to know!

You have every right to ride your bike and enjoy yourself without being harassed by motorist or intimidated by the police. When riding in a critical mass, you have every right to occupy the full lane(s) of traffic moving in the direction your mass is headed. You do not necessarily have to “move over” for automobiles.

According to the California Vehicle Code:

“Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway…”

This means several things in a critical mass situation. First, since hundreds of bicyclist (outnumbering cars) constitute “traffic,” then each bicyclist is free to ride anywhere in the lane with every other bicyclist. Because bikes are the traffic, they can and should take up the whole street, or at least as much of it as necessary to produce safe conditions for all riders. The Vehicle Code continues that bicyclist can occupy different portions of the lane also in the following situations:

“(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. (2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.”

And, of particular importance for critical mass rides the code states that bicyclist need not crowd the edge of the road:

“(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge….”

If traffic conditions consist of dozens or hundreds of bicyclists then it is certainly not safe for them to crowd each other near the right-hand curb or edge of the road to allow cars room to speed by. It makes perfect sense to occupy the whole lane. Motorist, therefore have a responsibility to respect the conditions of traffic, as such, and not aggressively try to speed around or through the critical mass.

Keep this in mind and enjoy the ride,
A fellow rider