Hi All,

First let me express my respect and admiration for all you Massers out there who battle auto hegemony. I'm a grad student at UC Davis, and my thesis topic is how race and class issues tie into movements for more pedestrian-friendly communities. I'm a walker but also a biker (I love Davis!!!!), and I'm writing a paper looking at several anti-car/public space-reclaiming movements or entities (Critical Mass, Healthy Saturdays, REBAR PARK(ing) Day, and City Carshare). I want to examine the implications of Critical Mass SF and these other efforts for democratizing the public sphere and challenging our unconscious, "programmed" spatial practices.

What I'd love to hear from you about are your thoughts on whether CM SF represents a broad demographic of the city (or is it dominated by one group or subpopulation?). Are there people of all colors and backgrounds and income levels involved? How do you think the rest of city culture perceives the movement? Do you think CM is becoming a little more accepted in SF, by the City, the police, other institutions? What's your personal reason or goal for participating? Do you think CM has challenged people's ideas about the public sphere, and how?

Anyone who's willing to lend me their thoughts will receive a BIG blessing over the computer wires.

Thanks!

Ellen