A couple of months ago, I took you on a ride with Critical Mass, a very loosely organized global movement that turns hundreds of cyclists out on the streets in cities around the world on the last Friday of every month.  Critical Mass rides serve to raise awareness of bicycles as a sensible form of environmentally friendly transportation -- and to remind drivers to be mindful of the cyclists they must share the road with.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an article about Critical Mass after the May ride, and it specifically mentioned that most police officers in the city didn't see much need to disrupt the ride by forcing the cyclists to stop for red lights.  (In order to maintain contiguity of the group for safety's sake, the riders "cork" intersections to prevent cross-traffic from breaking into the group until all of the 300 to 400 riders clear the intersection.) 

Someone in City Hall must have been upset with the publicity given to law enforcement officers not enforcing the law and given stern orders to the contrary, because when Critical Mass rolled out on June 27, the police were waiting in force. At least eight motorcycle police and two to four cruisers intercepted the ride within the first mile and shadowed them for the remaining eight or so miles.  They periodically broke up the group with their motorcycles in order to enforce red lights, and on other occasions they simply lined up next to the group to make their presence known.  On at least a couple of occasions tickets were issued to bikers who boldly ran the red light anyway.  (See full account here)

I took some cellphone video of the episode and posted it online, including to iReport.com, where it got 123,000 views and almost 200 comments.  Most of the comments were at least unforgiving if not outright hostile toward Critical Mass, and even some self-proclaimed cyclists strongly disagreed with the monthly corking of intersections inherent in the large group ride.

Lucky for the complainers, a "Courteous Mass" was already in the works.  On July 11, a smaller but still significant group of about 110 riders gathered at the same hour and place as Critical Mass and rode a similar route -- only this time, all traffic laws and rules of the road were observed, including stopping at all red lights even if this meant breaking up the group.  Would good behavior placate the anti-bike commenters?  It's unlikely, but it's another way to argue the premise that bikes are traffic, too, and a darn good way to get around.