Every month a group of Sydney cyclists meet to converge on peak hour traffic, doing their bit for their bodies, minds and the environment. Danielle Nicastri caught up with the group Critical Mass and filed this report.

In gear, brakes released, metallic paint shining in the city streetlights, the fleet of metal spokes and flashing lights takes off down the road under the evening sky.

On the last Friday of every month, a group of around 30 people gather at the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park for a chance to ride their bicycles in an impressive convoy around the city.

This is the Sydney branch of the international cycling movement, Critical Mass.

The name is taken from the 1992 cycling documentary ‘Return of the Scorcher,’ when bicycle designer George Bliss coined the term to describe the way cyclists negotiate busy intersections in China: it is only when a Critical Mass of cyclists arrive at an intersection that it is safe to cross in a group large enough to stop the constant flow of traffic.

Critical Mass has adopted a similar strength-in-numbers theory and celebrates cycling by asserting the cyclists’ right to the road once every month.

While there are many reasons for riding with Critical Mass, participants are all held together by their love of cycling but many realise that sometimes their passion can be dangerous.

“For one night of the month you can feel safe on a bike because cycling is quite dangerous,” says Luke, a solar power and engineering student at the University of New South Wales.

A hot topic on Letters to the Editor pages, Luke says cyclists deal with motorists in two extremes: by either confronting them aggressively or not riding at all. Critical Mass’ website approaches safety in a practical manner, exposing the inadequacies of standard cycling rules and regulations.

“This is a far cry from normal bike safety guides, which usually tell you little more than to wear your helmet and to follow the law. Wearing a helmet will do absolutely nothing to prevent you from getting hit by a car!” the website says.

Instead there is a focus on prevention, with riders encouraged to purchase the proper safety gear. While cars must have functioning indicators, horns, side mirrors and lights in order to be allowed to drive on the road, these are only optional accessories when it comes to bicycles, according to the law.

Part peaceful protest and part social event, Critical Mass is keen to highlight their difference from other militant pro-bike groups.

“CM is a celebration of cycling, not a war against motorists. CM is about asserting our right to the road, not denying others their right to the road. Those who want to play juvenile games are encouraged to stay at home instead,” the Critical Mass website says.

Despite taking a non-aggressive stance on the roads, Critical Mass rider Miles, originally from the cycling capital of the world – Amsterdam – says it is difficult in Sydney to be accepted as part of the legitimate traffic.

“If you’re riding on the path, you feel you should be riding on the road. When you’re on the road, you feel you should be riding on the path. That’s why there should be clear road rules,” he says.

While Moz, nominated by some cyclists as a spokesman for the group, describes Critical Mass as environmentalists, the organisation rejects any overt political affiliation.

Instead, political advocacy is left to Bikes NSW who actively support and recommend different political parties and candidates.

John Wang, a communications student at the University of Sydney says bikes are more cost effective not only compared to cars, but buses too, adding cycling conditions are much better on the Gold Coast where there are more bike lanes.

“I think it is something that should be promoted, more like in European countries” Wang says.

Similarly, cyclist and fashion design student Jessica Eagger-Millar at the University of Technology, Sydney, says “There are a lot more bikes in Melbourne than Sydney, which doesn’t have as good a bike culture.”

At tonight’s meeting of Critical Mass the demographic is mixed: there is an equal number of students to full-time workers, a few still in business suits, only two in lyrca and one in a t-shirt emblazoned with ‘Howard Hater.’

Motorists who yell out the common criticism, “You’re holding up the traffic!” can expect to be met with a common slogan of theirs: “Bicycles don’t hold up traffic, we are traffic!”