Melbourne Critical Mass
Encyclopedia
Critical Mass Melbourne is an informal grass roots random collection of people that gather to take part in the month's critical mass event. See Critical Mass
world wide for the aims of the dis-organisation. The rides in Melbourne began in November 1995, and have occurred every month since, with between 100 and 1000 riders involved. Like most Critical Mass events in other cities, the Melbourne rides have fostered the development of a coherent urban cycling community, the focus of which is the temporary intentional community of the rides themselves.
The biggest rides of the year are always held each November to celebrate the birthday of the first ride in Melbourne. These rides are typically five to ten times larger than a normal Critical Mass in Melbourne. This is also a suitable time of year to encourage cycling as the warmer weather arrives.
Rides occur on the last Friday of every month at the front of the State Library of Victoria
: 37.810031°S 144.964116°E.
Critical Mass first crossed the Bolte Bridge in May 1999 before it was opened to traffic a few weeks later.
In June 2003 Critical Mass Melbourne rode through the Burnley Tunnel
for the second time. Police Minister Andre Haermeyer
said it was up to police to decide how to deal with the protest, "I think everyone has the right to protest and I think most of us accept some modest amount of inconvenience as a trade-off against that democratic right," and added "But this is just an outrageous impediment upon most people wanting to go home on a Friday night, the busiest night of the week. I think they're quite clearly a fringe element. I think they're irresponsible and reckless by taking the protest through the CityLink Tunnel." The Age
described the event as a parade moving "peacefully amid a party atmosphere, with blaring music and much cheering". According to their report "Some riders wore silly hats, dressed as clowns and animals and decorated their bikes with stuffed toys and teddy bears." While State Opposition Leader Robert Doyle
denounced the tunnel's closure as "political correctness gone mad", a Victoria Police
spokeswoman was pleased the action was over quickly.
Cyclists rode over the Bolte Bridge
in February 2004 as part of their Critical Mass ride. One of the complaints of Critical Mass is that the Bolte Bridge makes no provision for cycle access, whilst more broadly it further entrenches car and oil dependency. According to a police spokeswoman about 300 cyclists took part in the ride, forcing the closure of northbound lanes on the Bolte Bridge for about 25 minutes shortly after 7 pm. It was reported by the ABC that the protest minimally disrupted traffic.
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor
denounced the event, "I think it's counterproductive; I think it works against the best interests of the cycling community," he told the ABC. Acting Police Superintendent Brett Guerin told the Herald Sun
"Facilitating protests is always the best option and has proved to work in the past,"
In November 2004 Superintendent Mick Williams bypassed the previous policy of negotiation and facilitation and threatened a crackdown on cyclists using CityLink
which prevented Critical Mass from entering the CityLink system. Brian, an environment professional who attended the ride, told the Jon Faine program on ABC radio that the Burnley Tunnel was an appropriate target for such a protest, but routes are decided on the night by the riders "It (the route) is decided on the night by the people who are there. The Burnley Tunnel represents car-only infrastructure development by a private company to serve a public function." He explained further that congestion on Citylink proved the infrastructure was failing and alternative means of transportation needed to gain greater prominence. "It (the ride) has raised the profile of the issue of the under-provision of infrastructure for bicycles and the failings of citylink." he said.
Critical Mass
Critical Mass is a cycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco. The purpose of Critical Mass is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and...
world wide for the aims of the dis-organisation. The rides in Melbourne began in November 1995, and have occurred every month since, with between 100 and 1000 riders involved. Like most Critical Mass events in other cities, the Melbourne rides have fostered the development of a coherent urban cycling community, the focus of which is the temporary intentional community of the rides themselves.
The biggest rides of the year are always held each November to celebrate the birthday of the first ride in Melbourne. These rides are typically five to ten times larger than a normal Critical Mass in Melbourne. This is also a suitable time of year to encourage cycling as the warmer weather arrives.
Rides occur on the last Friday of every month at the front of the State Library of Victoria
State Library of Victoria
The State Library of Victoria is the central library of the state of Victoria, Australia, located in Melbourne. It is on the block bounded by Swanston, La Trobe, Russell, and Little Lonsdale streets, in the northern centre of the central business district...
: 37.810031°S 144.964116°E.
Critical Mass and CityLink 1999–2004
Following its opening in 1999, Critical Mass rode onto CityLink eight times. A policy of facilitated tolerance was adopted by Victoria Police based on history of no previous problems with the Critical Mass rides. This section summarises media reports that occurred after CityLink highlighted the rides in the media, ultimately causing the police to change their policy in 2004.Critical Mass first crossed the Bolte Bridge in May 1999 before it was opened to traffic a few weeks later.
In June 2003 Critical Mass Melbourne rode through the Burnley Tunnel
Burnley Tunnel
The Burnley Tunnel is a tollway tunnel in Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia, which carries traffic eastbound from the West Gate Freeway to the Monash Freeway. It is part of the CityLink Tollway operated by Transurban. Running under the Yarra River and the inner suburbs of Richmond and Burnley, the...
for the second time. Police Minister Andre Haermeyer
Andre Haermeyer
Andre Haermeyer is an Australian politician. He was the Australian Labor Party member for Kororoit in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 2002, prior to that representing the Yan Yean electorate in Melbourne's north from 1992.Before being elected to Parliament, Haermeyer worked for the...
said it was up to police to decide how to deal with the protest, "I think everyone has the right to protest and I think most of us accept some modest amount of inconvenience as a trade-off against that democratic right," and added "But this is just an outrageous impediment upon most people wanting to go home on a Friday night, the busiest night of the week. I think they're quite clearly a fringe element. I think they're irresponsible and reckless by taking the protest through the CityLink Tunnel." The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
described the event as a parade moving "peacefully amid a party atmosphere, with blaring music and much cheering". According to their report "Some riders wore silly hats, dressed as clowns and animals and decorated their bikes with stuffed toys and teddy bears." While State Opposition Leader Robert Doyle
Robert Doyle
Robert Keith Bennett Doyle is an Australian politician and the 103rd Lord Mayor of Melbourne, elected on 30 November 2008...
denounced the tunnel's closure as "political correctness gone mad", a Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
spokeswoman was pleased the action was over quickly.
Bolte Bridge
The Bolte Bridge is a large twin Cantilever bridge in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It spans the Yarra River and Victoria Harbour in the Docklands precinct to the west of the Melbourne CBD...
in February 2004 as part of their Critical Mass ride. One of the complaints of Critical Mass is that the Bolte Bridge makes no provision for cycle access, whilst more broadly it further entrenches car and oil dependency. According to a police spokeswoman about 300 cyclists took part in the ride, forcing the closure of northbound lanes on the Bolte Bridge for about 25 minutes shortly after 7 pm. It was reported by the ABC that the protest minimally disrupted traffic.
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor
Peter Batchelor
Peter Batchelor was an Australian politician before retiring at the Victorian State Election on 27 November 2010. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 1990, representing the electorate of Thomastown. He served most recently as Minister for Energy and...
denounced the event, "I think it's counterproductive; I think it works against the best interests of the cycling community," he told the ABC. Acting Police Superintendent Brett Guerin told the Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
"Facilitating protests is always the best option and has proved to work in the past,"
In November 2004 Superintendent Mick Williams bypassed the previous policy of negotiation and facilitation and threatened a crackdown on cyclists using CityLink
CityLink
CityLink is a system of tolled urban Highways in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company Transurban was awarded the contract to augment two existing freeways and construct two new Toll roads—labelled the Western and Southern Links—directly linking a number of existing freeways to...
which prevented Critical Mass from entering the CityLink system. Brian, an environment professional who attended the ride, told the Jon Faine program on ABC radio that the Burnley Tunnel was an appropriate target for such a protest, but routes are decided on the night by the riders "It (the route) is decided on the night by the people who are there. The Burnley Tunnel represents car-only infrastructure development by a private company to serve a public function." He explained further that congestion on Citylink proved the infrastructure was failing and alternative means of transportation needed to gain greater prominence. "It (the ride) has raised the profile of the issue of the under-provision of infrastructure for bicycles and the failings of citylink." he said.