It's clear that using bicycles as a means of transport has consequences, and many important and interesting questions arise when we try to accomplish this seemingly simple task. Why is there so little open space in our cities where people can relax and socialize, feeling free from the relentless marketing of everyday life? Why are people forced to organize their lives around a car? What would a future alternative look like?
Critical mass isn't meant to answer these questions (or is it?). What is clear is that it has a certain connection to raising awareness about the environment around us.
– Xerocracy:
It's a word used to describe the prevailing sentiment of Critical Mass. The word combines the ideas of zero bureaucracy and total freedom to photocopy . No one is in charge, and everyone is free to photocopy their ideas and distribute them.
There is no common front for which people go to Critical Mass, such as an attempt to get more bike lanes (although that goal exists) or to protest this or that aspect of the social order (although such feelings are frequently expressed).
On the contrary, each person is free to invent their own reasons for participating and is also free to share those ideas with others. Some people are there to promote human-powered transportation as a viable alternative, others seek respect from drivers of motorized vehicles and urban planners, and still others participate simply because they enjoy cycling and having a sense of community with all the other cyclists on Critical Mass rides.
In San Francisco, the distribution of photocopies was the most important part of organizing Critical Mass. Centralized politics, with official leaders, slogans, and so on, were avoided in favor of a more decentralized system. No one takes charge. Ideas are disseminated, routes are shared, and consensus is sought through the ubiquitous photocopiers in every workplace or neighborhood—a "Photocopier-cracy" where everyone is free to make copies of their ideas and distribute them. Flyers and stickers circulate wildly before, during, and after the ride, making the presence of leaders unnecessary and ensuring that strategies and tactics are understood by as many people as possible.
Photocopycracy is used to make arguments, not to launch moralistic attacks against motor vehicle drivers or other unproductive trends. By presenting cycling as a positive and fun alternative to the melancholic, destructive effects of car culture, Critical Mass establishes a visionary approach to urban transportation .
– Background:
Contrary to what one might think, this type of attitude doesn't lead to chaos, but rather to a festive and celebratory atmosphere, provided that the ideals are understood and respect is shown. Precautions are taken to avoid the common mistakes of other movements or protests. The underlying intentions of the MC will never be negative or destructive. It should be seen as an opportunity, as another option to consider in daily life, or however one chooses to interpret the MC, which, after all, is a point of free social expression, and that is what gives it strength.