A critical mass is the minimum amount of material (fissile, if you want to be technical) needed to maintain a nuclear chain reaction. Without enough fissile material, nuclear energy cannot be produced.

In the cycling world, a critical mass is an event where cyclists meet up and take to the streets. Just like nuclear power cannot be produced without enough material, a critical mass event cannot be effective without enough bikers. Unlike nuclear chain reactions, the number of cyclists needed for a critical mass event really depends on the location, distance and destination of the bike ride. Budapest has had events with over 80,000 riders.

Depending on what circles you ride in, a critical mass can be a protest, demonstration or spontaneous gathering. Even for a spontaneous ride, cyclists excercise their right to share the road with motorized vehicles.

Last Friday, around 60 cyclists rode through NIU and DeKalb streets to raise awareness about the need for bike lanes on campus and in the community. The event was advertised as a critical mass and was organized using social media.

Was the event successful as a critical mass?

The answer depends on how you view the purpose of this critical mass cycling event. Did people meet up to ride through town? Yes. Was awareness of the need for bike lanes increased? Maybe. Will NIU and DeKalb take action based on the critical mass? Probably not.

The point of a critical mass is not to break the law, make people mad or simply make a one-time statement. The point is to create an ongoing awareness of a need for something.

What would help to make NIU and DeKalb take notice of the need for bike lanes?

Cyclists should:

• Use the existing bike lane on First Street (yes, they just put one in!).

• Attend at public meetings, like the DeKalb City Council or Student Association, to ask for bike lanes.

• Write requests for bike lanes to the elected aldermen, alderwomen and SA Senators.

Even riding in the road with motorized traffic while following the rules of the road to make cyclists more visible will help demonstrate the need for bike lanes. If you DO ride with motorized traffic, make sure that drivers see you (wear bright colors, use a bike light or reflective tape).

Regardless of how you choose to communicate the need for bike lanes, you need to follow the laws. And you need to be peaceable.

There will come a tipping point when NIU and DeKalb will no longer be able to put off installing bike lanes. When that tipping point will be reached is uncertain, but unlawful actions will not get us to that point any faster.

The content of this column is the opinion of the author and does not reflect the opinions of the ESE Institute/Environmental Studies.