Critical Anti-Mass: Law-Abiding SFBikeParty Launches Despite Cold Snap
Categories: bikes
It's chilly outside, but it isn't cold enough to stop San Francisco Bike Party from launching a new monthly ride known as the law-abiding, hard-partying alternative to Critical Mass.
"Bring it on," said Amandeep Jawa, part of a self-described co-op of cyclists behind tonight's ride, which starts at 7:30 p.m. from AT&T Park. "We can handle the cold. Once we're on our bikes and there's music, not much is going to bother us."
This isn't the first law-abiding Critical Mass alternative ride. The website for Critical Manners reports that the group's most recent urban ride took place Sept. 10. But tonight's event will hopefully be bigger and better, since organizers have created party stops with DJs along the way.
"I have a small trailer with a couple of speakers on it, hooked up to my iPod," said Dan Goldwater, an Emeryville electronics inventor who participates in a similar monthly ride where cyclists traverse the streets of Oakland and Berkeley.
Organizers hope Friday's event will become just as popular as The Bike Party ride in San Jose, which attracts 1,000 cyclists monthly.
Goldwater, who is also helping organize tonight's ride, said he's not worried Friday's cold snap will be a turn off to bikers who are planning to take part in the inaugural ride.
"It could have been a rain snap," he said.
Both organizers emphasize that Friday's event is not just another version of Critical Mass, the monthly ride where bikers pride themselves on flouting traffic laws, just to make their point: They are anti-motorist.
They want riders to know that it is still possible to have fun in this urban mass-bike-ride without confronting motorists, Goldwater said.
"When we talk to people on Oakland and San Jose rides they say, 'Last month, when you rode by my house, it looked like so much fun. I hadn't ridden my bike for five years, and you inspired me to get back on my bike," Goldwater said. "We make an effort not to disrupt traffic, because, obviously, if you're intentionally creating traffic disruption, that is not fun for everybody."
"Bring it on," said Amandeep Jawa, part of a self-described co-op of cyclists behind tonight's ride, which starts at 7:30 p.m. from AT&T Park. "We can handle the cold. Once we're on our bikes and there's music, not much is going to bother us."
This isn't the first law-abiding Critical Mass alternative ride. The website for Critical Manners reports that the group's most recent urban ride took place Sept. 10. But tonight's event will hopefully be bigger and better, since organizers have created party stops with DJs along the way.
"I have a small trailer with a couple of speakers on it, hooked up to my iPod," said Dan Goldwater, an Emeryville electronics inventor who participates in a similar monthly ride where cyclists traverse the streets of Oakland and Berkeley.
Organizers hope Friday's event will become just as popular as The Bike Party ride in San Jose, which attracts 1,000 cyclists monthly.
Goldwater, who is also helping organize tonight's ride, said he's not worried Friday's cold snap will be a turn off to bikers who are planning to take part in the inaugural ride.
"It could have been a rain snap," he said.
Both organizers emphasize that Friday's event is not just another version of Critical Mass, the monthly ride where bikers pride themselves on flouting traffic laws, just to make their point: They are anti-motorist.
They want riders to know that it is still possible to have fun in this urban mass-bike-ride without confronting motorists, Goldwater said.
"When we talk to people on Oakland and San Jose rides they say, 'Last month, when you rode by my house, it looked like so much fun. I hadn't ridden my bike for five years, and you inspired me to get back on my bike," Goldwater said. "We make an effort not to disrupt traffic, because, obviously, if you're intentionally creating traffic disruption, that is not fun for everybody."
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