Bike Month is all about getting more people on bikes than ever before, and each year Salt Lake City has seen more and more people on bikes thanks in part to the events planned during May. Critical Mass, which takes place on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities world wide, will be Bike Month's last event in Salt Lake City. With more than 500 RSVPs for the event this Friday, May 25th at 5:30 PM at the Gallivan Center, this month's Critical Mass is on its way to becoming the city's largest and best attended Critical Mass ever.
In some cities like Budapest, Hungary, Critical Mass has been organized by a local activist and advocacy group with the purpose of communicating the desires and problems of bicyclists to the city council. Although Critical Mass rides have been seen by some (motorists and bicyclists alike) as protest and intimidation activities, many Critical Mass riders and organizers have insisted that these events should be viewed as celebrations and spontaneous gatherings, an excellent way to show how accessible and universal bicycling can be by displaying the diversity in attendees.
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| Critical Mass originated and became famous in San Francisco in the early 1990s. |
Salt Lake City Critical Mass was a well-attended monthly event some years ago, but attendance has dwindled to only a handful in the last year. Organizers hope that this month's Critical Mass will be able to rekindle regular and spectacular attendance at the ride.
This Friday, and every last Friday of every month, Critical Mass will meet at Gallivan Plaza (250 South Main St) at 5:30 PM. The ride will leave at 6:00.
From the Bike Month Critical Mass facebook event page, organizers have expressed their request for respectful and dignified behavior from attendees in order to avoid some of the hateful and disrespectful behavior that has defined the ride in the past and driven away many potential attendees and future bicyclists:
"May is Bike Month! We are going to make this month's Critical Mass ride the biggest, most respectful, and productive Mass in Salt Lake's history.
OUR GOAL IS 1,000 PEOPLE ON BIKES!! Invite anyone you know. Get a bike if you don't have one, and spread the word. This is not a competitive ride, so don't shy away from a fun time on any kind of bike.
What is Critical Mass? It is a bike ride (not a race) where any kind of bike and every kind of person can ride through the streets in a large group (in some cities, upwards of 20,000 people) enjoying the city and being noticed by everyone around. So,
- Moms, bring your kids- Boyfriends, bring your girlfriends- Grandmothers, bring your husbands
The goal is not to annoy or to "show them who's boss". We will be respectful and ride with smiling faces and courtesy, obeying traffic laws along the way. We will make an impact, and we can turn May into a launching pad for a successful summer of bicycling in Salt Lake City.
We will meet at Gallivan Plaza (250 S. Main St) at 5:30. The ride will leave at 6:00.
See you there!"
Local bicyclist, filmmaker, and custom motorcycle builder Greg Hebard made this video at a Critical Mass in 2009.
More photos from Critical Mass rides in Salt Lake City in years past.
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| (Photo: Elizabeth Clifford) |
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