Solidarity from AB ❤️

Bike lane removals from Islington to Royal York are anticipated to start the evening of Oct. 13. Community members are encouraged to meet at the Bloor Green P Lot for Tom Riley Park at 5pm onwards (come whenever you can) 1/2

Lookin good!!

We do not know if we will see a repeat of September's ride, especially as the weather cools and numbers get smaller. We know, next ride, just like any other ride that our participants know best how to look out for one another. We Keep Us Safe.

The police budget is up for review in November, perhaps they need to make a show of enforcement in the lead up. We cannot control the actions of police, but Critical Mass has kept each other safe without their presence for three years.

- Unlike our participants who are encouraged to be friendly and polite with drivers, the police were hostile and rude. Escalating conflict rather than deescalating.

- They were rude to folks who corked before the limited number of police could get in place at an intersection - They ran pedestrians off the sidewalk and recklessly collided with other cyclists in the ride

- They did not cork at every intersection, leaving the mass vulnerable to drivers entering the ride. Participants still had to do emergency corking. - They left their spots early instead of waiting until the end of the mass. This left riders near the end vulnerable

On the september ride, they figured out the ride could not proceed without corking, so they told volunteer corkers to disperse from intersections and put themselves in our place. This very quickly caused problems and safety concerns.

When explaining why we should not cork they have repeatedly told participants that if a driver was to step on their gas pedal while a group of cyclists were in front of them, it would be our fault. This is not a concern for cycling safety but a justification for violence against us.

Point 3 is important - We Keep Us Safe. We have a tactic that enables this, corking. It keeps us together as a unit and minimizes traffic disruption. This summer the Calgary Police have tried to prevent us from using this tactic. They say it is for safety but their words and actions say otherwise.

🧵 For 3 years Critical Mass has held monthly rides with 3 goals in mind: 1. Celebrate cycling + other active transport 2. Protest the lack of physical + social infra that allows for safe travel 3. Create a safe environment to cycle by empowering participants to look out for one another.

Oh right, couple more videos…

It's such a nice time of year to be on a bike 😍