Hungarian Studies
Volume/Issue:
Volume 23: Issue 1
Reclaiming the streets — Redefining democracy The politics of the critical mass bicycle movement in Budapest
Author: Éva Udvarhelyi 1
View More View Less
  • 1 City University of New York Graduate Center New York USA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/hstud.23.2009.1.9
Page Count:
121–145
Publication Date:
01 Jun 2009
Online Publication Date:
20 May 2011
Article Category:
Research Article
Restricted access

Purchase article

USD  $25.00

1 year subscription (Individual Only)

USD  $408.00
Purchase Online Subscription

  • Purchase article

    USD  $25.00

  • 1 year subscription (Individual Only)

    USD  $408.00

The Critical Mass bicycle movement, whose main aim is to reclaim cyclists’ right to use city streets freely, safely and proudly, is arguably the single most powerful grassroots movement that has emerged in Hungary since the 1989 change of regimes. While Critical Mass is a critique of today’s dominant motorized transportation practices as well as a celebration of alternative modes of transportation, it is not only about the environment. The Budapest Critical Mass can be read as the spatialized enactment of a direct and embodied form of democratic participation that goes beyond and at the same time transforms representative democracy. In the context of growing political apathy and widespread disillusionment with the formal public sphere in post-socialist Hungary, Critical Mass has emerged as a unique and powerful channel of citizen participation by forging a new kind of relationship between citizens, civil society and the state.

  • Anheier, H. K. — Seibel, W. (eds) (1990) The Third Sector: Comparative Studies of Nonprofit Organizations (Berlin-New York: Walter de Gruyter).

    '', in The Third Sector: Comparative Studies of Nonprofit Organizations , (1990 ) -.

  • Blickstein, S. — Hanson, S. (2001) ‘Critical Mass: Forging a Politics of Sustainable Mobility in the Information Age’, Transportation, Vol. 28, No. 4, 347–362.

    Hanson S. , 'Critical Mass: Forging a Politics of Sustainable Mobility in the Information Age ' (2001 ) 28 Transportation : 347 -362.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Blickstein, S. (2008) ‘Critical Mass: Bicycling Towards a More Sustainable City’ (Dissertation for Clark University, Manuscript).

  • Blomley, N. (2001) ‘Introduction’, in N. Blomley, D. Delaney and R. T. Ford (eds) The Legal Geographies Reader (Oxford: Blackwell). 3–5.

    Blomley N. , '', in The Legal Geographies Reader , (2001 ) -.

  • Carlsson, C. (ed.) (2002) Critical Mass: Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration (Edinburgh: AK Press).

    '', in Critical Mass: Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration , (2002 ) -.

  • Douglas, M. (1996) Natural Symbols: Explorations in Cosmology (New York: Pantheon Books).

    Douglas M. , '', in Natural Symbols: Explorations in Cosmology , (1996 ) -.

  • Ferrell, J. (2001) Tearing Down the Streets. Adventures in Urban Anarchy (New York: Palgrave).

    Ferrell J. , '', in Tearing Down the Streets. Adventures in Urban Anarchy , (2001 ) -.

  • Földes, A. (September 17, 2004) ‘Demszky vasárnap, Persányi szerdán teker’ (Electronic document accessed from http://index.hu/kultur/eletmod/amn0917/ on May 15, 2009)

  • Földes, A. (April 24, 2009) Szabálysértési ügyek indulnak az illegális CM miatt (Electronic document, accessed from http://kerekagy.blog.hu/2009/04/24/szabalysertesi_ugyek_indulnak-az_illegalis_cm_miatt on May 15, 2009)

  • Furness, Z. M. (2005) ‘Put the Fun Between Your Legs!’, The Politics of Counterculture of the bicycle (Manuscript) (Accessed from etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12052005-210916/unrestricted/Z.Furness2005.pdf on May 15, 2009)

  • Gramsci, A. (1971) Selections from the Prison Notebooks (New York: International Publishers).

    Gramsci A. , '', in Selections from the Prison Notebooks , (1971 ) -.

  • Headland, T. N., Pike, K. — Harris, M. (1990) Emics and Ethics. The Insider/Outsider Debate (Newbury Park: Sage).

    Harris M. , '', in Emics and Ethics. The Insider/Outsider Debate , (1990 ) -.

  • Holston, J. (1995) ‘Spaces of Insurgent Citizenship’, Planning Theory, Vol. 13, 35–51.

    Holston J. , 'Spaces of Insurgent Citizenship ' (1995 ) 13 Planning Theory : 35 -51.

  • Index/MTI (September 22, 2007) ‘Bicikliseké és motorosoké lett Budapest’ (Electronic document, accessed from http://index.hu/bulvar/aut4289/ on May 15, 2009)

  • Kidder, J. L. (2006) ‘Bike Messengers in a Global City: An Exploration of Structure and Agency’. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Montreal Convention Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Electronic document, accessed from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p96572_index.html on May 15, 2009)

  • Larsson, M. (2004) ‘Political Action in a Post-Socialist Society. An Anthropological Analysis of the Hungarian Telecottage Movement’, (Electronic document, accessed from http: //www.anthrobase.com/Txt/L/Larsson_M_02.htm on May 15, 2009)

  • Lefebvre, H. (1991) The Production of Space (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell).

    Lefebvre H. , '', in The Production of Space , (1991 ) -.

  • Lefebvre, H. (1996) Writings on Cities (Oxford: Blackwell).

    Lefebvre H. , '', in Writings on Cities , (1996 ) -.

  • Low, S. M. (1996) ‘Spatializing Culture: The Social Production and Social Construction of Public Space in Costa Rica’, American Ethnologist, Vol. 23, No. 4, 861–879.

    Low S. M. , 'Spatializing Culture: The Social Production and Social Construction of Public Space in Costa Rica ' (1996 ) 23 American Ethnologist : 861 -879.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Low, S. M. (2003) ‘Embodied Space(s): Anthropological Theories of Body, Space, and Culture’, Space and Culture, Vol. 6, No. 9, 9–18.

    Low S. M. , 'Embodied Space(s): Anthropological Theories of Body, Space, and Culture ' (2003 ) 6 Space and Culture : 9 -18.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Martin, R. (1990) Performance as Political Act: The Embodied Self (New York: Bergin&Garvey).

    Martin R. , '', in Performance as Political Act: The Embodied Self , (1990 ) -.

  • Mitchell, D. (1995) ‘The End of Public Space? People’s Park, Definitions of the Public, and Democracy’, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 85, No. 1, 108–133.

    Mitchell D. , 'The End of Public Space? People’s Park, Definitions of the Public, and Democracy ' (1995 ) 85 Annals of the Association of American Geographers : 108 -133.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Mitchell, D. (2003) The Right to the City. Social Justice and the Fight for Public Space (New York: The Guilford Press).

    Mitchell D. , '', in The Right to the City. Social Justice and the Fight for Public Space , (2003 ) -.

  • Pickvance, K. (2000) ‘The Diversity of Eastern European Social Movements’, in P. Hamel, H. Lustiger-Thale and M. Mayer (eds) Urban Movements in a Globalising World (London-New York: Routledge). 192–212.

    Pickvance K. , '', in Urban Movements in a Globalising World , (2000 ) -.

  • della Porta, D. (1996) ‘Social Movements and the State: Thoughts on the Policing of Protest’, in D. McAdam, J. D. McCarthy and M. N. Zald (eds) Comparative Perspectives on Social Movements. Political Opportunities, Mobilizing Structures, and Cultural Framing (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). 62–92.

    Porta D. , '', in Comparative Perspectives on Social Movements. Political Opportunities, Mobilizing Structures, and Cultural Framing , (1996 ) -.

  • della Porta, D. — Diani, M. (1991) Social Movements. An Introduction (Oxford: Blackwell).

    Diani M. , '', in Social Movements. An Introduction , (1991 ) -.

  • Sibley, D. (1995) Geographies of Exclusion (New York: Routledge).

    Sibley D. , '', in Geographies of Exclusion , (1995 ) -.

  • Sorkin, M. (1999) ‘Introduction. Traffic in Democracy’, in J. Copjec and M. Sorkin (eds) Giving Ground. The Politics of Propinquity (New York: Verso). 2–15.

    Sorkin M. , '', in Giving Ground. The Politics of Propinquity , (1999 ) -.

  • Strauss, A. (2008) Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).

    Strauss A. , '', in Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists , (2008 ) -.

  • Switzky, J. (2002) ‘Riding to See’ in C. Carlsson (ed.) Critical Mass. Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration (Edinburgh: AK Press). 186–192.

    Switzky J. , '', in Critical Mass. Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration , (2002 ) -.

  • Tax, S. (1964) ‘The Uses of Anthropology’, in S. Tax (ed.) Horizons of Anthropology (Chicago: Aldine). 248–258.

    Tax S. , '', in Horizons of Anthropology , (1964 ) -.

  • Tordai, Zs. (2008) ‘Kritikus tömegek kétkeréken és online. Társadalmi mozgalom- és internetes közösségszervezés a magyar Critical Mass példáján’ (Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem Szociológia és Társadalompolitika Intézet) (Thesis for Corvinus University, Manuscript).

  • White, T. (2002) ‘Reels on Wheels’, in C. Carlsson (ed.) Critical Mass. Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration (Edinburgh: AK Press). 145–132.

    White T. , '', in Critical Mass. Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration , (2002 ) -.
Cover Hungarian Studies
Hungarian Studies A Journal of the International Association for Hungarian Studies and Balassi Institute
Print ISSN:
0236-6568
Online ISSN:
1588-2772
Keywords:
Critical Mass; environmentalism; social movements; public space; political participation; embodiment; Hungary

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Aug 2020 2 0 0
Sep 2020 2 0 0
Oct 2020 5 0 0
Nov 2020 1 1 0
Dec 2020 1 0 0
Jan 2021 2 0 0
Feb 2021 0 0 0