Sixty Fiver

The haters have their own epic thread and figured that those who have positive experiences with CM rides should post them here and tell us what makes CM rides great where you live.

urbanknight

With any luck, I'll have something to post here in a week

IbikezLA

Los Angeles CM is almost a party ride. It has music trailers and crazy people.

Santa Monica CM is kind of iffy. The cops used to assign a whole group of motorcycle cops to follow it and force them into the bike lane(hello door zone) and ride into the group (way to be safe) so they can ticket someone for basically not riding in the door zone. It would turn into a cat and mouse game, cops chasing ride - ride dodging cops. SMCM went away for a while but it is coming back. nd with a budget crisis I don't this SM will hire cops anymore to follow it. It was tuning into NYCM

Venice CM is a more relaxed CM since Venice is a pretty accepting place for bikes. Although it is a little fast paced for CM

Sixty Fiver

A little information on that picture I posted...

That little fellow's name was Owen Richel and this was the last bicycle ride he ever took as his life was claimed all too early by cancer.

This upcoming Critical Mass ride will once again be dedicated to his memory and I will be riding in it with my daughters.

Luddite

Sixty, the Vancouver Critical Mass Ride?

Sixty Fiver

Edmonton.

But we could all ride for Owen.

Luddite

Ah...that's true. how to show that we are riding for him?

Sixty Fiver

Luddite - You would have to let people there know why you are riding in the Critical Mass this Friday.

Some might wear an arm band but we are planning on bringing water guns as this is much a celebration as it is a memorial.

There will be many many children on this ride and my daughters are looking forward to it.

Luddite

Well I ride in it cause, well, I like to cycle, it's enjoyable and I like to raise awareness that bikes belong on the road, TOO.

If yer interested, I have like a bajillion shots from the first CM I participated in on my Flickr (along with a buncha other stuff)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nerdycanadian/

hairnet

that's all it's about

John E

In San Diego we also have a "Critical Manners" ride, which emphasizes safe, lawful, defensively assertive cycling.

degnaw

This I get.

This I don't. Does a parade raise awareness that pedestrians belong in the road?

I live about 40 miles from philadelphia, so I don't think I'll be joining that CM anytime soon.

TiberiusBTkirk

thanks for the story 65'er,
I'm writing 4Owen on my bike and ride for him this week.
it will be my first CM ride.
life's too short.

Sixty Fiver

I am moved by this very much... thank you.

Sixty Fiver

Last year's memorial ride was the largest this city has ever seen and because of the sheer numbers of people we did take up a little more space than usual and annoyed a few drivers.

Other than one issue with a reckless motorist the ride was beautiful, and brought a great number of people together in a demonstration of solidarity, camaraderie, and a shared love of cycling.

The lady with the trailer is my little sister and she had her twin daughter's in tow but I think they might be able to ride on their own this year.

They are now 6 years old and think cycling is the most wonderful thing ever.

Sixty Fiver

This is always very hard to watch...

jtgotsjets

It does when that is the expressed purpose of the parade.... like Critical Mass.

frymaster

our cm starts and ends very near our local bike co-op. bring people in to the co-op and gets people from the co-op out riding. a great symbiotic relationship and a solid community builder.

65er... did you go on the e-town 'tweed ride' last month?

TiberiusBTkirk

65'er your first pic of Owen said it all.
soldiering on, fighting to see ahead, keeping his eyes on the prize.

drafters65

its a joy ride...CM doesn't express anything other than its something fun to do and there is nothing wrong with that as long as you don't promote hatred

urbanknight

Argue the purpose of critical mass here and let them keep this memorial thread positive.

Sixty Fiver

I could not make the tweed ride despite owning an inordinate amount of tweed and a tweed worthy bike.


"its a joy ride...CM doesn't express anything other than its something fun to do and there is nothing wrong with that as long as you don't promote hatred"

This ride has a purpose and the fun people have is just a by-product of that.

There is no room for hatred here.

If one wants to go on a joy ride you just have to hook up with us for a midnight ride during the summer as the purpose of that is nothing but fun.

Every CM ride here is covered by the local media and I think they are always looking for something scandalous and much more newsworthy than a bunch of like minded souls out for a peaceful ride in a demonstration of solidarity.

We have had our issues but they have been few and far between and in general, our rides are well received by the motoring public and we get a lot of encouragement from them and pedestrians alike.

For the most part, I find Edmonton drivers to be fairly respectful and considerate of cyclists and much of this is because we have so many of them... on a per capita basis we have more commuters than larger cities like San Francisco and more than 25,000 Edmontonians ride every day.

I am really looking forward to Friday.

drafters65

youre right...

Luddite

The second video....dammit, 6 year olds are not supposed to die. I #$%#$% hate cancer.

bhamlax

Detroit CMs are neither critical nor massive, not that there is anyone here to get self righteous at anyways...