For immediate release:
CRITICAL MASS BICYCLE DEMONSTRATION RIDE ON CAR FREE DAY 2008
Budapest, Hungary
This time it will be a little different:
The CAR FREE DAY 2008 Critical Mass Ride in Budapest will now allow participants to travel from the starting point to the end point on a route of their own choosing, without any streets being closed by the police. The message remains unchanged, however: bicyclists – who choose this environmentally friendly form of transport as an alternative to motor vehicles – represent large masses in Budapest, therefore bicycle travel deserves better conditions.
DATE: Monday, September 22, 2008
TIME: 6:30 PM - 8.00 PM
ROUTE: Your choice …
STARTING POINT: Hősök tere (Hero’s Square) – with a bike lift at 6.30 PM
END POINT: Moszkva tér – with a bike lift at 8.00 PM
IMPORTANT: Since no streets will be closed off for the event, people not used to bicycling in the capital city traffic should exercise extra caution: it is recommended that they follow the larger groups of bicyclists on a safe route. The organisers also request that participants abide by all traffic laws, including the use of appropriate lights during the evening hours and the avoidance of riding on sidewalks.
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Why Not on the Weekend?
Car Free Day is on September 22, and the organisers would like to respect this tradition, hoping that car drivers will too (by finding alternatives to car travel). It also appears appropriate not to move this event to the weekend only to cater to the needs of car traffic, which is the lead cause of congestion and pollution in the first place, as bicycling offers a real alternative to this very problem. This way the ride will resemble the original Critical Mass movement even more, as the participants will really be part of traffic and will be able to show just how many cyclists are willing and able to use the streets of Budapest as a means of transportation—without any roads being closed off by the police.
Goals
Much like in other parts of the world, the goals of Critical Mass Budapest are to raise awareness on the benefits of bicycling and other alternative means of transportation, and to assert cyclists' right to the road.
Alternative Transportation
Critical Mass Budapest is a mass demonstration aimed at bringing the public’s attention to the crisis caused by motor vehicles, e.g. traffic jams and environmental pollution. It promotes the bicycle as a healthy, fast, cheap and environmentally friendly alternative mode of transport. The organisers of this event would like to encourage the local population to use their bicycles for transportation whenever possible, and not just for recreation or sports.
Lobbying and Advocacy
Critical Mass Budapest is also meant to influence decision makers and city planners toward creating more bicycle paths, designing better and safer bicycle lanes, and providing facilities for bicycle storage and transport. These are meant to result in reduced smog and traffic, thereby improving the quality of life in the city.
Independent, Non-affiliated
Critical Mass is completely independent of any political parties, organisations or movements. It is not a registered organisation, but rather an “organised coincidence” (as it is often called in other places).
Peaceful
While offering an opportunity for cyclists to make a statement, socialise, and celebrate cycling, Critical Mass is non-confrontational toward motorists and attempts to minimise the level of inconvenience the rides cause for all those who are not involved: pedestrians, public transportation, and individual drivers.
The Origin of Critical Mass and the Story Behind the Name
Critical Mass originated in 1992 in San Francisco and quickly spread to many other cities. Its name comes from Ted White's 1992 documentary film Return of the Scorcher. The film covers a typical scene in China, where cyclists need to congregate in large and dense groups – a critical mass – to be able to cross certain high-volume streets where there are no traffic lights. For more info please visit: http://critical-mass.info/origin.html
Critical Mass Budapest
Background
The first Critical Mass ride in Budapest was organised on Car Free Day, September 22, 2004, though it was preceded by at least 50 similar bicycle events initiated either by organisations, groups of bicycle couriers, or other pockets of non-affiliated individuals. The September 2004 ride, however, was significant in that it combined almost every previous organiser into one mass of cycle enthusiasts and concerned citizens. That event drew a surprising 4000 participants. By Earth Day 2005, the number of Critical Mass participants reached 10,000, and doubled again for the September 2005 event, reaching 20,000. On Earth Day 2006 an international record of 32,000 participants was reached, to be topped only by next year’s similar event, with a turnout of 50,000, reaching as many 80,000 by April 2008.
Accomplishments
The 2005 Critical Mass rides constituted a real breakthrough for they directed continued media attention toward the events and related issues, and several other Hungarian cities and municipalities began organising their own rides.
Negotiations began with the Budapest City Council, resulting in an increase in the length of bicycle lanes and paths constructed (going from an average of 1-2 km/year to 30 km/year). The planning process now incorporates consultation with experts involved in Critical Mass. Similarly, the Hungarian Ministry of Economy and Transport has appropriated a substantial budget for establishing bicycle routes nationwide and created the post of Ombudsman of Bicycle Affairs. (Unfortunately, this post has recently been discontinued, which is yet another reason why Critical Mass is protesting and plans on continuing to press hard on behalf of cyclists.)
In a March 2006 ride organised in light of upcoming Hungarian Parliamentary elections, Critical Mass participants stopped by each of the four parliamentary party headquarters, lifted their bikes above their heads, and delivered a petition containing recommendations for improving bicycle transportation in Hungary. The event was called “Tour de Voks” (“Tour de Votes”), and each party responded to the petition with its own bicycle program. Critical Mass held the winners to their promises on 2 December 2006, when – despite cold weather – some 2000 bicycle demonstrators protested the government’s budget and development plans, which fell short of earlier promises made for bicycle-friendly transportation projects. Government officials later corrected their plans; the Hungarian Parliament established a “Bicycle” committee and unanimously approved separate line items for bicycle-related projects. For the first time in Hungarian history, Critical Mass was mentioned in Parliament.
The largest ride so far was the April 22, 2008 Critical Mass / Earth Day demonstration, which attracted an estimated 80,000 cyclists, and was officially launched by the Dutch ambassador to Hungary, Ronald A. Mollinger, symbolising the popularity of cycling in the Netherlands now spreading to Hungary. László Sólyom, president of the Republic of Hungary also participated on two occasions (in 2006 and 2007), and rode along with the participants, rendering – at that time – unprecedented esteem to an unprecedented turnout in Hungarian as well as international terms. Other prominent individuals among participants included government ministers, the Mayor of Budapest, and many celebrities.
The Budapest City Council gave Critical Mass a Pro Budapest award for their efforts in promoting cycling as an alternative mode of urban transport and improving the transportation culture in the capital city.
Possibly the greatest accomplishment is the fact that the number of people using their bicycles on a daily basis in Budapest has doubled for the third year in a row, a growth rate unmatched anywhere else in the world.
We believe that we are slowly building a cleaner, more liveable, and bicycle-friendly Budapest.
Critical Mass in other Hungarian Cities
Baja, Berettyóújfalu, Debrecen, Eger, Érd, Gyöngyös, Győr, Kaposvár, Miskolc, Orosháza, Pécs, Sopron, Százhalombatta, Szeged, Székesfehérvár
http://criticalmass.hu/varosok
Related Material
News Articles, References, Photos, Videos:
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMsWObpEzSM
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/critical-mass-budapest-200804/3118385149
http://bikehugger.com/2008/04/critical_mass_budapest_video.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dDOp4iKSI8
Photos:
http://www.budapestdailyphoto.com/index.php/2008/04/21/critical-mass-2008-budapest/
http://hungarystartshere.blogspot.com/2008/04/critical-mass-2008-budapest.html
http://budapest-guide.blogspot.com/2008/04/photoreport-on-critical-mass-2008.html
http://noveltimes.com/2007/10/21/critical-mass-budapest-style/
http://www.panoramio.com/user/70991/tags/Critical%20mass%202007%20Budapest
Blog:
Cycling Solution (Making the World a Better Place for Bicycling, Starting in Budapest), by Greg Spencer
http://cyclingsolution.blogspot.com
News Articles:
September 15, 2008 – Critical Pressure – by Gábor Bihari
http://www.zold.be/criticalpressure
April 21, 2008 – Critical Mass on Earth Day in Budapest – by Antal Dániel
http://central.blogactiv.eu/2008/04/21/critical-mass-on-earth-day-in-budapest/
April 19, 2008 – Revolutionary Bike Rides
http://bikehugger.com/2008/04/revolutionary_bike_rides.htm
April 16, 2008 – Two Wheels Good – Radio interview with popular TV host Attila Till on Budacast.hu. Download at:
http://www.budacast.hu/shows/tilla_budapest_critical_mass.mp3
September 22, 2007 – Again Criticalmass in Budapest
http://budapest-guide.blogspot.com/2007/09/critical-mass-2007-september-22.html
April 30, 2007 – In Budapest, the President rides in Critical Mass
http://spacing.ca/wire/2007/04/30/in-budapest-the-president-rides-in-critical-mass/
April 23, 2007 – Huge bicycle ride in Budapest supports Earth Day
http://www.bikingbis.com/blog/_archives/2007/4/23/2899955.html
April 23, 2007 – Budapest sees record long bicycle procession
http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/budapest_see/
April 27, 2006 – A critical mass critique – By Greg Spencer
http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=15300
April 27, 2006 – It's critical
http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=12264
April 21, 2006 – Critical Mass: Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Bad
http://www.pestiside.hu/archives/critical_mass_two_wheels_good_four_wheels_bad002222.php
September 29, 2005 – Critical time for City Hall – By Eszter Balázs
http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=12169
September 29, 2005 – Budapest Critical Mass with up to 30,000 people
http://www.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/825163.shtml
September 22, 2005 – It's critical: On your bike, please. http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=15746
April 19, 2005 – Pestiside PSA: Critial Mass Budapest 2005
http://www.pestiside.hu/archives/pestiside_psa_critial_mass_budapest_2005000730.php
Encyclopaedia references:
Wikia article mentions Critical Mass Budapest
Wikipedia article on Critical Mass Budapest
Master’s Thesis:
Challenges to Making Cycling a Key Element of Budapest’s Transport System
By GREG SPENCER, 2005
http://www.greenmedia.hu/gspencer/
Further info
Gábor Bihari
Volunteer Organiser – International Press
gabor@greenmedia.hu
+36 30 516-8731
www.criticalmass.hu/english
