I am hoping for nice weather this evening, as I am planning to attend my first Critical Mass ride in Manhattan / NYC this evening. Sponsored (as much as these sort of things can be sponsored) by Time’s Up, it is an opportunity to reclaim the streets for bikes, people, and the joy of community (with a little social and environmental activism in there as well, it seems). We pay taxes, and as there are a lot more people in Manhattan who are not driving in cars, it seems we can enjoy the streets, too.
I know, bikes are always on the streets, freely riding to and fro. The difference? It is dangerous to ride on the streets along. Like so many things in New York, we celebrate the right to be alone and independent, though we often like to do that together. Ironic, but this is what we so love about NYC!
Like many informal groups, Critical Mass is a bit difficult to track down online. Wonder how many people attend these things?
Regardless, I am looking forward to attending my first event, as informal as it may be, from my new environmental group (which I joined, btw, and have a nifty new hat to show for it!), Time’s Up. What a cool logo they have.
I only wish I would know somebody, or have somebody to attend tonight’s Critical Mass ride with . . .
Perhaps I should rather hope it stops raining and clears up – I am still too new to bike riding to want (or be able) to do it in the rain!