Nottingham Critical Mass (April 2023)

Our sister Critical Mass. A bike celebration/demonstration/ride. an opportunity to claim the roads for riders once a month. We meet at Market Square on the last friday of EVERY month at 6.30pm. Ride leaves at 7pm.

ADVICE FOR NEW MASSERS

* KEEP bunched up, things get dangerous when a car tries to overtake stragglers and ends up in the middle of the mass. If at the front keep looking over ur shoulder to check ur not getting too far ahead. Cycle at a reasonable pace. Cycling too slowly annoys drivers, who think we’re driving deliberately slow to annoy them.

* ‘CORK’ junctions and entrances on to round abouts. The riders at the front should stop and clearly block off the entrance into the mass and rejoin the back. This gives drivers a clear indication of whats going on and prevents a driver seeing a gap and dangerously cutting into the group.

* RED LIGHTS, stop for them…. unless the front of the mass is already through in which case keep going to stop splitting, think of the mass as a single vehicle. This is where having corked the incoming traffic can be especially useful.

* PEDESTRIANS, Stop and give them priority when they want to cross. Especially at junctions and crossings.

* ANGRY DRIVERS, sometimes people are so used to hogging the road they can’t get their head around waiting for some one.If u feel confident reason with them , photograph them and their number plate if their doing something stupid, don’t let them sneak in or up the side of the mass only to meet a car coming the other way and cause a right palaver. most importantly don’t put yourself in danger!

* BE VISIBLE, if its dark bring some high vis, bike lights, get some fairy lights and a battery.

* BELLS, HORNS, WHISTLES, MUSIC, COSTUMES, COLOURS, UNUSUAL BIKES. Bring anything that can brighten the mood and make it a bit special.

* LOOK OUT for each other, is someone struggling up the hill? is someone racing off on their own. does that brave soul on a skate board need a tow?

* SHOUT OUT to other massers your intentions ie which direction at next junction, SLOW DOWN, SPEED UP, STOP AND REGROUP. Unlike other groups of road users we can communicate directly with each other. So we should use this advantage to the fullest.

* ENJOY YOURSELF, its a great feeling being able to use the road and not the gutter!

message us with any other suggestions!