CRITICAL MASS EARTH DAY 2008 DEMONSTRATION
On EARTH DAY 2008 Critical Mass Budapest is again organising its traditional bicycle demonstration to raise awareness and bring the public's attention to the mass demand for better conditions represented by bicyclists, who choose this environmentally friendly form of transport as an alternative to motor vehicles.
DATE: Sunday, 20 April 2008
TIME: 4:30 PM
Starting Point: Deák Ferenc tér, 5th District
End Point: Városliget (City Park) - Király Domb (King’s Hill) near Heroes' Square
Route Map: Károly körút - Astoria - Erzsébet Híd (Elisabeth Bridge) - Attila út - Alagút - Lánchíd (Chain Bridge) - Akadémia utca - Kossuth tér - Alkotmány utca - Bajcsy Zs. út - Andrássy út - Olof Palme sétány - Városliget Király-domb (near Heroes' Square).
Duration: The event will conclude with the raising of bicycles at 6:30 PM.
Feel free to come. Because
- it's fun,
- it's safe (a legal and peaceful demonstration, route closed to traffic by the police)
- it's the largest CM Ride in the world!
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RELATED EVENTS
The Earth Day 2008 ride is part of a series of Hungarian events centered around the Critical Mass starting point between Erzsebet tér, Deák tér and Astoria. For a detailed programme visit: www.zold.be/earthday2008
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 Criticalmass 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
CRITICALMASS 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.
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 created the post of Ombudsman of Bicycle Affairs, and has appropriated a substantial budget for establishing bicycle routes nationwide.
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 2007 Critical Mass / Earth Day demonstration, which attracted an estimated 50,000 cyclists, including László Sólyom, president of the Republic of Hungary, who – much like a year before – rode along with the participants, rendering unprecedented esteem to an unprecedented turnout in Hungarian as well as international terms. Other prominent individuals included János Kóka, Minister of Economy and Transport, and Gábor Demszky, Mayor of Budapest.
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
Press Appearances, Photos, Videos
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
Wikipedia mentions Critical Mass Budapest
Photos 2007:
http://noveltimes.com/2007/10/21/critical-mass-budapest-style/
http://www.panoramio.com/user/70991/tags/Critical%20mass%202007%20Budape...
Videos 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dDOp4iKSI8
April 30th, 2007 - In Budapest, the President rides in Critical Mass
http://spacing.ca/wire/2007/04/30/in-budapest-the-president-rides-in-cri...
April 23, 2007 - Budapest sees record long bicycle procession
http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/budap...
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_whee...
September 29, 2005 - Critical time for City Hall - By Eszter Balázs
http://www.budapestsun.com/cikk.php?id=12169
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_200...
Master’s Thesis
Challenges to Making Cycling a Key Element of Budapest’s Transport System
By GREG SPENCER, 2005
http://www.greenmedia.hu/gspencer/
