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By Kate Conson Cyclists are joining together and taking to the streets to demonstrate a variety of concerns. It's called Critical Mass and it happens in over 60 cities around the world. On the last Friday of each month, hundreds of cyclists together by roller bladers and skateboarders, travel through Sydney's CBD at evening peak hour. Some believe Critical Mass to be against corporations monopolising the transport industry. Others say they are concerned about the government's lack of air pollution control. It is disturbing that cars fuelled with unleaded petrol are viewed as less hazardous to human health than their leaded counterparts. In fact, the additives used in unleaded petrol such as benzene, toluene and xylene make it a hazardous substitute. According to Professor Cesare Maltoni who has conducted tests on fuel additives, benzene is one of the most dangerous industrial carcinogens known. We need to fight for a change of technology, and Critical Mass has opened up a new opportunity to mobilise people. Why are we so heavily dependent on the fossil fuel industry in order to get around? Why do governments continue to allow industry to pump out ozone-depleting gases at phenomenal rates? What changes in attitude, technology and science would we choose? Whatever one's reason for participating in Critical Mass — be it political, environmental or simply for fun, riders are winding up for Sydney's sixth and increasingly popular ride. Melbourne and the NSW central coast are gearing up to follow suit. To join Critical Mass Sydneysiders should meet at Archibald fountain on the last Friday of the month at 5.30pm or catch up with the ride outside the Town Hall at 6pm. From Melbourne, Ray Fulcher reports that 1000 cyclists took to the streets in that city's first Critical Mass bike ride on November 24. Peak hour traffic was treated to the sight of a compact body of cyclists "celebrating the bicycle culture". With the City Link tollway and Melbourne's traffic problems currently in the news, Critical Mass is a timely reminder that there are alternative methods of transport that the government is ignoring. An extensive network of bike paths and an upgrading of public transport is sorely needed. The mood of the cyclists was festive for the whole ride from Museum, looping through some of the city's busier roads and ending in Exhibition Gardens. Bicycle bells were sounded and "mexican waves" initiated as the Mass waited for traffic lights to change. Pedestrians were bemused by the city's first "pollution free traffic jam" and even most car drivers were friendly. Critical Mass will take place on the last Friday of every month, starting at the Museum in Swanston Street at 5pm.