Cycle Savvy

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warsaw critical mass - a photoset on FlickrSome of mighty Finn's pics from recent Warsaw Critical Mass. Not bad for a two year old!

Dobry wieczor.

Witamy w Warszawka.

Blimey, it ain't half cold mum.

Warsaw Critical Mass is the biggest in Eastern Europe, apparently. Going strong since 1998. They get at least 100 each month in the winter (and that’s a REAL winter) and up to 2000 in the summer.

I'm over here sort of working for a week. So I went to say hello, take some photos and all that.

There was about 100-150 on the mass. Which is a pretty good turnout, considering it was minus 15 degrees, icy, patches of frozen snow here and there. And I tell you what, the streets of Warsaw (capital city, population 1.8million) are dodgy. Pedestrians need to build up a critical mass to cross the street, even with the "green man" lit. Cars just go through the lights, until enough of a crowd builds up and edges onto the road, forcing the cars to stop. So you can imagine the problems that cyclists have to deal with.

Anyway, if your interested, I've stuck some photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theemightyfinn/sets/72157594552413123

But also you may be interested in checking out their website. These are really organised critical massers. They got maps of previous routes (seem to be about 25km), loads of stuff and enough in English to give an idea of what they are about.
http://www.masa.waw.pl/en/index.html

Do zobaczenia,

Michael C
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cyclingedinburgh.info
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Here is a new Critical Mass handbill or poster image I made recently. The background image was snapped by someone else and can be found in the link. The art series galleries at http://www.fixedgeargallery.com have lots of nice retro art ripe for "detournement". Anyone who likes it can click on the image below for a printable version, or e-mail me for a photoshopped blank background to which you can add your own words. It could use some work on the contrast. The top half looks washed out in print.



Get the irony? ;)

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The CTC magazine this month carried a feature about an excellent new website from the CTC. You report a dangerous pothole to "Fill That Hole" with a Google Maps applet (photograph optional) and they bother your council about fixing it. It goes onto a list, and in the event that it hurts another cyclist, your report helps them get compensation. This could save me the cost of a rim or two..

Please share this info with all your cycling friends! Smooth roads are arguably more important than bike paths for cyclists. You never know when you or someone else is going to come a cropper from council neglect!

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Critical Mass WikiHello Critical Mass folk!

Have you seen the new Critical Mass wiki information site? It's at:

http://criticalmass.wikia.com/

Like Wikipedia it's user-editable, so anyone can edit and add pages. What
this means is that information can be added, for free, to publicise any
local ride! For example:

http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Sydney
http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Brighton
http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/Chicago

There's a fairly comprehensive list of rides that has come from the old
Wikipedia page on the subject:

http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_rides

Please help grow this site by adding any information where you see a red
link or out-of-date information. It'll help to advertise your local ride.

You have to register with Wikia to make edits, but this is free and easy:

http://criticalmass.wikia.com/index.php?title=Special:Userlogin&type=signup

Please copy and paste this message to anyone you know who's involved in
local Critical Mass rides. Spread the word!

Vive la velorution!

:-) Isaac, UK
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Ever felt like cycling in the city - but been too scared? Want to go green, get fit and make friends? Critical Mass is a happy coincidence of cyclists who meet up every month to make our streets safer, saner and more fun. Come along and find out about Critical Mass Glasgow - we'll show films, have a chat and maybe decorate our bikes for the next run. Plus information on road safety and other cycling groups. Everyone welcome, BYO bike if you want!

Glasgow Women's Library, 81 Parnie Street, Glasgow
Thursday 15th February from 6.30pm

*If people are inspired by this workshop there will be the chance to meet up and join the next Critical Mass on Friday 23rd February.* http://www.critical-mass.org/

N.B. Glasgow Women's Library is a women only venue.
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Faslane - Edinburgh - London April 2007 On 21st April 2007, Mordechai Vanunu will have been held captive in Israel for 21 years. For telling the world that Israel was secretly developing nuclear weapons, Vanunu spent 18 years in prison – 12 of these in solitary confinement. Vanunu was released from prison in April 2004, but is still not free. His freedom of speech, movement and association are all severely restricted in clear contravention of his human rights. He is denied a passport, and not even allowed to leave East Jerusalem without permission. He is forbidden to communicate with foreigners or discuss Israel’s nuclear weapons, and suffers continuing harassment by the Israeli authorities. 21 years’ detention is 21 years too long. Website

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