Yes, it’s a protest. Just like with protests involving pedestrians, the streets get filled and people “ignore the rules”.

Then why did you bring up the Pride parade? You said: "I’ve seen cars in large groups going through red lights and driving the wrong way during similar events. In fact, just this past weekend, I saw numerous cars going through red lights at a local Pride Parade." That is a permitted event. Driving the wrong way can be permitted by a, ya know, permit. Bringing this up then saying "of course their breaking the rules" only proves my point. Bikes are doing this, cars do not unless it is done legally with a permit. And you saying "ya I know" means you knew that but presented it anyway. That's extremely dishonest.

If you set up automated speed cameras, red light cameras, DUI checkpoints, and school zone blitzes, suddenly you realize that it’s more than just a few drivers behaving badly. And that’s during normal traffic, not during a protest.

And I'm sure you'd find the same with biking. Many bikers break laws about where to cross or how to handle intersections and are just ignored all the time.

It gets a large number of cyclists together, making riding safer than as individuals. It also gets people who were too afraid to cycle around traffic a safe space to ride.

Do these people not know about side streets or bike paths or anything else? There are places to bike outside of traffic. If anything this is making it worse because you're not just driving around traffic, you're driving into it and trying to control it. This is a weak reason to but people in danger.

The visual of a large group brings attention to the needs of cyclists. “Nobody rides a bike” NIMBYs take note when these events happen.

So the only way to show people that bikers exist is by massively disrupting traffic and causing safety issues? Yah, it brings attention to them, but not the good kind.

It puts pressures on municipal governments to take notice of the demand for safer cycling infrastructure. Some would argue that Critical Mass events are what sped up the development of cycling infrastructure around the world.

Or it shows the government that bikers don't listen to traffic laws and do whatever they want. This doesn't make the government do anything except maybe arrest some bikers for breaking the law.

See, this has been going on for 35 years and the only thing you can point at is maybe it might have possible sped up some cycling infrastructure. Maybe. Yah, that's not a lot of progress for 35 years of this nonsense. There are much more effective ways.

As with other protests, this is normal. And those traffic rules… are only there because cars make public spaces unsafe. People don’t need traffic rules.

This is just wild.... People need traffic rules. Have you ever been in a large crowded city? Do you know all the foot TRAFFIC rules? There is literally a section of code on just this. And yes, cars exist, but what do you propose to avoid needing these rules, have no cars at all? That's absurd. Look at rural areas and tell me how that works.

On the flip side, would you prefer that every single cyclist in that group STOP at every single red light and stop sign? I’m a massive fan of that type of malicious compliance, so I’d be OK with that, too.

No, I would prefer they don't disrupt an entire city for some performance that has gone on for 35 years with nothing to show for it. It's just an excuse to protest and "stick it to the drivers."

When I see protests, even when I don’t know the motivations or goals, I still respect and value the right to protest.

Ok, now imagine you are late to pick up a family member from the hospital, or you're going to miss an interview, or a million other things. With a little empathy, you can quickly realize how this would cause issues for people, all for what? I can respect the goals, but I don't respect the way they have chosen to reach those goals.

And if someone “hates cyclists” because of a protest like Critical Mass, they probably hate black people, gays, Palestinians, workers, the disabled, unions, First Nations, environmentalists, animal rights, and other groups of people who deserve to be heard and seen through public protests.

Jesus, you just went nuclear there huh? If someone hates cyclists for doing something like this they must be a bigot and racist? Tell me more about how you're willing to empathize with the other side to reach a conclusion, FFS. You've decided that drivers are the enemy and so now they suddenly don't matter at all. You can just assume they're racist, sexist, anti-worker, hate animals, etc all from not liking bikers from this protest. Wow.

Maybe stop being so emotional and think for a moment. You can be pro-animal rights and think that what an animal rights group does is wrong. Are you really incapable of understanding that basic concept? Or can I just do anything under the banner of "cyclists' rights" and call you a racist if you disagree with my actions?

Come on, what is this nonsense?