I once accidentally (and I stress the word accidentally, because I sure as hell didn't plan on doing it; the police were slow closing off a junction, and my line of sight was blocked) rode a large motorbike into the middle of a Critical Mass bike herd occupying the wrong side of the road. It was a frightning experience, because I knew that if I mowed any of them down I'd be blamed for it. I sure as hell wouldn't want that to happen with naked cyclists, my psyche might be scarred for life.
I can see how that would be scary. I only did one Critical Mass, and we strictly obeyed the rules of the road on that one. As I understand it, blocking the other side of the road is against the spirit of it anyway.
I'm very pro cycling, but I am also strongly opposed to cyclists breaking the rules - if we want to be treated fairly, we shouldn't be ignoring red lights and cycilng on pavements. It's not necessary, anyway - I don't do it and I can still beat the traffic on most city centre journeys. I get particularly annoyed with people who come past me stopped at a red light to shoot it, who I then have to overtake (which can be difficult in heavy traffic) because they aren't actually going very fast, who then come past me again at the next red light, etc.
Current pet hate of mine, red-shooting eejits on bicycles. We other two-wheel users would get nicked in nothing flat pulling a stunt like that...
(I should add that as an ex-cyclist, I never shot a red while on my bicycle - nor used the pedestrian crossing on a side street at a junction to jump one, which I count as the same thing.)
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I'm very pro cycling, but I am also strongly opposed to cyclists breaking the rules - if we want to be treated fairly, we shouldn't be ignoring red lights and cycilng on pavements. It's not necessary, anyway - I don't do it and I can still beat the traffic on most city centre journeys. I get particularly annoyed with people who come past me stopped at a red light to shoot it, who I then have to overtake (which can be difficult in heavy traffic) because they aren't actually going very fast, who then come past me again at the next red light, etc.
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(I should add that as an ex-cyclist, I never shot a red while on my bicycle - nor used the pedestrian crossing on a side street at a junction to jump one, which I count as the same thing.)