Occupy Critical Mass SLC - by Ryan McCalmon

When I bought my first bike as an adult approximately ten years ago, I had no preconceived notion where it would lead me. I'd spent almost 9 years driving at the neglect of my long forgotten BMX bike that used to carry me everywhere around Riverton, UT growing up. I wasn't happy, that much I knew. Deciding that my life lacked sufficient activity and realizing that my body composition wasn't what it once was, I bought a bike. Little did I know it would become a way of life.

Over the years, as apathy and depression got the better of me and I lost a number of jobs on my way to rock bottom, I began to ride that bike more and more. At first, it was absolutely necessary as I could no longer afford to insure, register, fuel, maintain, and pay for parking and no-insurance tickets for my little car. I'll be the first to admit that I became a fuck-up. [click 'more' to keep reading]



As the years passed and I rode my bike more and more, became a little rougher for the wear, and perhaps added a little edge to that apathy, I rode myself out of my own private economic hole. For the most part. The edge has dulled a bit. And as my mental health improved significantly, I've felt like I've gained a new lease on life these last few years belonging and interacting in the local cycling community. As the world has gone to shit, I've felt like we've carved out a little Mecca of sorts here. It's far from perfect, but it's growth has astonished me. It has injected hope where I thought none could exist. I know that sounds cliche, but it's true. You've inspired me.

I'm a fairly introverted person who often finds himself needing to be much more extroverted than I'm comfortable in order to answer the call of conscience. I love SaltCycle for everything that it is and I love that we seem to have cultivated a very inclusive group that can also be very permissive and regulate itself. With that said, I personally try to keep my other passionate beliefs separate. SaltCycle is all about local cycling. As much as we can cover and discuss. And I like it that way. I don't want more divisive and controversal issues diluting and fragmenting the one thing we are all very much in agreement about...

Cycling rocks!

With that in mind, I have now created a new Facebook group that is much more political in nature. It is meant as a bridge between Occupy SLC and the local cycling community. In time, I hope that through this group we can organize ways in which people on bikes can help the greater Occupy movement while at the same time using their collective voice to help amplify issues that are near and dear to our heart. Safe streets, more and better funding for inclusive infrastructure, CLEAN AIR, a sustainable future for ourselves and our children, etc. Also, further helping to get more butts on bikes. Like the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective did for me, all those years ago. We can further help direct volunteers and future bike commuters to them.

I've found that Occupy is a vehicle for engagement. Anti-apathy if you will. We've experienced such a long and drawn out failure of leadership that I think most of us hardly even notice our general apathy anymore. There are aspects of Occupy Wall Street and points of view I could take the time to point out that I don't generally agree with. They are minor in comparison to the HUGE general agreement I have with them, though. Please excuse my language if I offend, but that's not my intention here. Shit is fucked up. At some point, we all have to ask ourselves what percentage of our fellow human beings have to be suffering before we stand up and personally do something? I think many of us reached that point long ago on an individual basis but felt, standing alone, we were powerless. As a great man said recently, we are strong. If we stand together, we become part of a powerful, many-fingered fist. Not to strike out in anger or violence. But to show that together, we can make a difference. Perhaps even change things for the better. But first, we must organize. We must fight back the apathy. Make our voices heard. And eventually, in the long term, we will win. But we must also have patience and resolve because real change takes time.

The group I've created, Occupy Critical Mass SLC, is about reclaiming our regular monthly ride. Critical Mass is what got me out of my shell and more involved in the local cycling community, once upon a time. Over the years, it degenerated into many, at times violent, confrontations with motorists. And while it seemed that some crazy insane motorist behavior started it, escalation was an inevitability. In it's place, we can use our resources to help Occupy when they need us, while also creating a new regular ride to help bring awareness to our core issues without antagonizing traffic. Help reach out to those who have been suckered into car slavery; never to move any great distance without the power of an inefficent motor.

Thank you for reading my thoughts. If you wish to join, welcome! If not, I understand. My part in this movement has been a slow evolution. I think everyone has the right to come to this movement on their own terms.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/131552993621218/

Ryan Wade McCalmon

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