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18.07.2023
Updated 26.10.2023

27 May 2009

The Bicycles of Madrid

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My good friend Cristina was in Madrid for a weekend break last month and she heard a strange sound outside her hotel. Bell ringing. Ding ding.

She was quite surprised to look out the window and see a Madrid version of the critical mass rides. It took 20 minutes to pass by. They rode at a nice, casual tempo but there were many of them. Anybody know the number of participants?
 

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The pictures speak for themselves. But here's me wondering why these kinds of rides are so popular in large European cities that have yet to re-embrace the bicycle. There is none of that agressive, sub-cultural attitude that one usually associates with the North American versions. There is more of a festival mood.

My friend Hynek in Czech Republic [I'll get around to blogging about it, Hynek...:-)] says that in their version, they even changed the name from 'critical mass' to something more festival'y so as not to be associated with the negative vibes from 'over there'.
 

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I have been critical of 'critical mass' in the past but mostly the sub-cultural versions of the 'movement'. When you get this many people having a cosy bike ride together, it's a whole different ball game.
 

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Interesting. Are Europeans better at protesting/demonstrating because it's more of a tradtion over here and the authorities respect it more than in North America? Just wondering. Discuss. 

 

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