Critical Mass for a new generation of cyclists

Something extraordinary happens when a group of cyclists becomes so large it dominates the road. Motorised traffic slows and people who might otherwise be too worried to ride on the road feel confident enough to join in.

While it might be an everyday experience for riders on Dutch streets, here in the UK, pedal-powered critical mass usually signifies an organised protest against car-centric town planning.

Critical Mass events take place each month in cities around the world, to call on governments and road planners to account for the safety of those who would prefer to walk and cycle – rather than prioritise motor traffic above all else.

Such rides have been happening on London streets for decades, but this Sunday thousands of cyclists will slow motorised traffic in the capital city for a different reason.

Drum & Bass on a bike

DJ Dom Whiting didn’t set out to start his own version of Critical Mass when he installed decks on his cargo trike and took to social media to share his mobile drum and bass sets – he just wanted a distraction from lockdown.

However, his rides now attract thousands of people of all ages. Cyclists share the road with rollerbladers, folk in wheelchairs and e-scooterists – all benefiting from low speeds and safety in numbers.

The birth of the Critical Mass movement

The 1992 documentary about bike culture, Return of the Scorcher, explained how motorists and cyclists in China had a novel way of negotiating junctions without traffic lights. Queues would lengthen until the backlog reached a critical mass, at which point it would move through the junction.

The term caught the imagination of cycling campaigners in San Francisco and the modern Critical Mass movement was born.

Critical Mass bike ride in San Francisco, 2009

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover  and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.