A 2006 new yorker magazine article described critical mass activity in new york city as monthly politicalprotest rides, and characterized critical mass as a part of a social movement. Gerdts, an engaging account of the rise of culture and the arts in americas great frontier city by the bay with guest appearances by oscar wilde, mark twain and a host of others. When the influx of teenage runaways drawn by haightashbury counterculture reached a critical mass of homelessness and poverty, one of the nations first free health care clinics opened on. Critical mass got started in september 1992 in san francisco as a way to bring these various populations together in a festive reclaiming of public space. Founded in calgary in 1996, we have steadily expanded into a group of over 950 people working in 12. An oral history of the san francisco aids epidemic, and, coauthored with city tech professor mark noonan, brooklyn tides. In san francisco, as of today, we still have less than 1,000 cases and just a dozen or so deaths, out of a population of about 800,000. San francisco the sea of bicyclists surges up this citys financial district. The band has played shows with the skatalites, the untouchables, and others. Reclaiming san francisco, history, politics, culture.
Critical mass began on september 25, 1992 in san francisco and has since spread to a large portion of the rest of the world. Starting in 1992, san francisco critical mass was the first critical mass bike event, spawning hundreds of critical mass rides around the world. Shepards other books include white nights and ascending shadows. Stocked with breathtaking vistas, sultry fog, and a boomandbust history, it has. Historically san francisco has hosted many activist demonstrations over its streets, from the freeway revolts of the 1960s to the first critical mass bicycle rides decades later. Were picking it back up again, because there is so much more to highlight 17 more towns and cities. He has written two books after the deluge, nowtopia edited six books, reclaiming san francisco, the political edge, bad attitude, critical mass. Cyclescapes of the unequal city university of minnesota. A san francisco atlas written in 2010 and subsequently imitatedripped off by who knows how many cunning exercises in data visualisation, this fabulous atlas of san franciscan culture is both lighthearted and intensely seriousminded.
For newsom image, a lot riding on critical mass sfgate. Here are some classics of san francisco history books worth a trip to green apple to find a copy. Stehlins critique of prominent bike advocacy groups like critical mass an early champion of cyclists rights, but one largely committed to white middleclass notions of sharing. In other cities isolated landmark theaters remain, but the networks of neighborhood theaters have been abandoned lost treasures of more neighborhoodfocussed eras. Chris carlsson is writer, editor, producer and multimedia designer. Critical mass paperback june 1, 1985 by mario murillo author 4. Critical mass is a form of direct action in which people meet at a set location and time and travel as a group through their neighbourhoods on bikes. Artistic life in early san francisco by birgitta hjalmarson, william h.
The following is an excerpted version of an introductory essay from chris carlsson, one of the founders of critical mass, who coedited the new book shift happens. While the reasons for the mass vary, the general idea is that the bicyclists take over the roads from the automobiles for a few hours, creating corks in traffic and forcing those in running vehicles to allow the pollutionfree commuters to control the roads. With approximately a dozen theaters still operating, san francisco is one of only a couple of american cities that retains a critical mass of neighborhood movie theaters. He has edited four collections of political and historical essays. His first book, the pulitzer prize finalist maximum city. Critical mass at 20, and coauthored the expanded second edition of vanished waters.
He is also one of the creators of the nonprofitproject shaping san francisco. Critical mass is many things to many people, and while many concepts expressed may evoke memories of past political protests, critical mass is foremost a celebration, not a protest. Undue influence, the judge, the list, critical mass. Chris carlsson, executive director of the multimedia history project shaping san francisco, is a writer, publisher, editor and community organizer. What are the best books about san francisco urban history.
Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Critical mass essays, flyers, images from san francisco, 19921998 and a few from the 21st century, by chris carlsson, jim swanson, hugh dandrade and friends. The san francisco chronicle covered the critical mass bike ride as. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Cycles of history, our social, historical, and critical tours through san francisco by bicycle. Contentsshow books incomplete list nowtopia by chris carlsson 2008 isbn.
He was a founder of the groundbreaking magazine processed world, and helped launch the monthly bikeins known as critical mass that have spread to five continents and over 300 cities. His most recent book is after the deluge, a utopian novel of posteconomic san francisco. A novel of 1990s san francisco looks back on era of aids. The critical mass bicycle movement looked a little different in 1994, when. Processed world reader and reclaiming san francisco. According to the critical mass book, a similar project known as courteous mass is described as an alternative to critical mass. Critical mass san francisco california october 2009 youtube. Cyclescapes, in its documentary of the knotty history of bike advocacy, and its rigorous examination of the intersecting phenomena of racialized gentrification and urban planning, tracks precisely this shift. Its only 7by7 miles, making it americas tiny urban treasure. History san francisco neighborhood theater foundation. Nowtopian public space, san francisco past and present.
Initiated in september 1992, critical mass had generally been a relaxed affair until the mid1990s, when it started to get popular, larger, and more disruptive to automobile traffic. That was one ugly critical mass scene friday night. My book nowtopia, my long involvement with critical mass, and my extensive. Critical mass and carfree market street streetsblog san.
Chris carlsson is an urban historian who has written and edited critical mass. Critical mass rides have been perceived as protest activities. Chris carlsson and hugh dandrade recently launched, a new blog documenting the history of san francisco s critical mass bike ride that happens on the last friday of each month. This is the unofficial page of the san francisco critical mass ride. Critical mass at 20, we published excerpts of critical mass history and its effects from several cities.
They won the award for best ska group at the 1998 sf weekly music awards wammies. A critical mass is the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. San francisco s overachiever culture is balanced by how laid back and friendly the city is. The idea is for people to group together to make it safe for each other to ride bicycles through their streets, based on the old mantra. In small doses, this strain will have you feeling creative and calm. Chris carlsson is a writer, san francisco historian, professor, bicyclist, tour guide, blogger, photographer, book and magazine designer. The extinction crisis devastating san francisco bay the. Critical mass english wikipedia article critical mass.
Bicyclings defiant celebration released 2002 and can be considered as one of the founders of the critical mass idea. Locals in san francisco like to play hard, too whether its surfing the 25metre waves at mavericks beach, inline skating in golden gate park or participating in the monthly mass bicycle event known as critical mass. A list of books about the history of san francisco, its people and its landmarks. New san francisco critical mass blog laughing squid. San francisco mayor gavin newsom has a lot riding on the next critical mass bike freeforall, with the basic question being whether he can control the citys streets come friday night. You can buy the other, similar one i made for the 20th anniversary, or other sf critical mass posters on.
My book nowtopia, my long involvement with critical mass, and my extensive work on local history has given me many opportunities to speak publicly in san francisco and all over the world. Bombay lost and found, was a maximalist masterpiece, an account at times sprawling, at times intimate of the history, politics, culture and economy of the biggest city in india. Our fabulous bicycle tours are led by critical mass cofounder chris carlsson, with help from lisaruth elliott. Critical mass is a ska band, formed in 1992, from the san francisco bay area. Critical mass is dying of selfinflicted wounds san francisco. The history of san francisco s mission bay mission creek conservancy. In san francisco, critical mass bicycle rides challenged not only automobility but also capitalism and compelled many to rethink the role of automobility in cities.
Bicyclings defiant celebration, ten years that shook the. The critical mass of a fissionable material depends upon its nuclear properties specifically, the nuclear fission crosssection, its density, its shape, its enrichment, its purity, its temperature and its surroundings. Critical mass is a digital experience design agency with a relentless focus on the customer. Critical mass on market street in the financial district of downtown san francisco on the last friday of october 2009. He has lectured before many groups, including the california historical society, the san francisco museum and historical society, and the san francisco history association. Originally posted as a lost decade for san franciscos critical mass. The earth shook, the sky burned by william bronson, originally published in 1956 and continually reissued is still the best history of the 1906 eart. Critical mass at 20, we published excerpts of critical mass history and. Bicyclings defiant celebration, ten years that shook the city. Best books set in san francisco score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Seen through the telescope of history, mcteague is a tough book to. With wit and cogency, this book reveals the new dynamics that will reshape urban politics nationwide.
The san francisco bays rich ecosystem is collapsingand the regions liberal leaders bear part of the blame. Critical mass is a form of direct action in which people meet at a set location and time and travel. San franciscans have been very cooperative and adaptable, and have largely engaged in a selfmanaged process of physical distancing and reorganizing everyday life. We show a dozen photos from that session and cover some of the early history of the ride. A group of bike riders, heading the wrong way down a street in the marina, targeted a. Many are archived online at youtube or in various radio and audio archives. Today the citys planning and advocacy establishment is changing zoning laws to limit the number of parking spaces, encouraging new carfree housing near transit. On the last friday of each month, the cyclists of critical mass embark on an unrehearsed.
Ma in urban and public affairs university of san francisco. Poster celebrating the tenth anniversary of critical mass, san francisco 2002 all proceeds from this poster were donated to s haping sf from 2002 through 2005, paying its rent in the venerable grant building until their eviction this poster is out of print. A concise history and guide and historic walks in san francisco. He has written two books after the deluge, nowtopia edited six books, reclaiming san francisco, the. Join our list or like us on facebook to be notified about upcoming tours. Critical mass at 20, a compilation of essays on the movement from authors around the world. See what a critical mass ride looked like in 1994, at the movements. He has written two books, edited five, including critical mass.
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