December 23/08 1:25 am - Winter Solstice Critical Mass Ride and Roll December 26th in Vancouver

Posted by Editoress on 12/23/08
 

Winter Solstice Critical Mass Ride and Roll

Friday, December 26th

Join fellow bicyclists, skaters, and bladers for this leisurely and spirited celebratory ride and roll through the streets of Vancouver for the last Critical Mass of 2008! Meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery on the Georgia Street side between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. -- and roll and ride at 6:00 p.m. The ride is on rain, shine, or snow! Decorated bicycles, trailers, signs, flags, noisemakers, gettoblasters, sound systems, drums, and wildly modified bicycles are all highly encouraged!

Pre-rides to Critical Mass:

UBC riders meet at the UBC Bike Hub, on the north east end of the Student Union Building, at 4:30 p.m. for a group ride to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Phone 604-822-BIKE for details.

East Van riders meet 4:00 p.m., leaving 4:30 p.m., from Grandview Park, 1200-block Commercial Drive, for a group ride to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

What's Critical Mass and how do I participate?

Celebrated around the world, Critical Mass is a grassroots reclamation of public space -- on the last Friday of the month -- which allows cyclists and other self-propelled people to move safely and comfortably through city streets in a car-free space. Non-polluting forms of transportation are promoted.

The ride stays together for safety and fun. If you are at the front of the ride, stop if you are approaching a red light. But continue as a group if the lights change red while passing though an intersection.

You will see participants peel off at the front to block motorized traffic from entering the mass. That's called "corking". Corkers keep the ride safe and allow the mass to pass though intersections where the lights have turned red. Thank them for corking!

If you're at the front, please don't speed ahead or take narrow roadways or paths. It stretches the ride out and makes life harder for corkers, riders, and those waiting for the mass to pass. Be aware of the ride's slower participants, and keep a slower pace. If the mass has thinned out or has broken into more than one group, which happens following hills or where the street has widened, the front should wait at green lights for the group to "mass up".

Don't stay on any given street for very long, so that public transit can pass. And always let emergency vehicles through.

The ride is a celebration (not a party or a protest). Take absolute responsibility for your actions and show motorists a better way to travel. A way which is more equitable, efficient, fun and socially responsible than the car. There's no need to be unfriendly or argue with motorists -- our sheer numbers tell the story. Look after each other, speak up, and ride with confidence.

Who decides where we go?

You do! Some rides have a destination that may be suggested at the start of the ride, but the route is always decided by the riders in the front. If you have an idea where the ride should go, move to the front and participate with others in a group decision. Remember to make it fun and interesting, and that Critical Mass has no leaders.

For more information:
www.velolove.bc.ca
vancouvercm.blogspot.com
vancouver at velolove.bc.ca

Worldwide details may be found at:
criticalmassrides.info or www.critical-mass.org