You might have just read James' post about Critical Mass Halloween, an event that happens all over the country, and maybe the world.  I attended the Miami one, which was the biggest group ride I've been on in the entire year that I've been here!  The streets of Miami have never seen anything so huge, and it was definitely the highlight of my Halloween.

There was a great article the next day in the Miami Herald about our "Strength in Numbers." It explained Critical Mass for those people in their cars who were wondering "what the hell is going on" which is great in helping to raise awareness!!  The article also talks about how the Miami Police Chief is an avid cyclists, so he is not about to go after the riders. YAY!

There were over 200 people!


Many social issues were addressed through costumes; gay rights, animal rights..


Insurance,


personally, I like to go for the more *classic* costumes


More classics, Wednesday & Lydia


Take back the streets!! Si se puede!


Insert wicked witch on a bike music here:


Biking makes everyone so HAPPY!


I stand corrected, 199 cyclists, and 1 rollerblader!


This is Rydel, from Miami Bike Scene, that organizes the monthly rides!

Check out Rydel's awesome VIDEO of this event

and more pictures can be found here.

Happy November!

Halloween is mostly about getting spooked, eating candy, dressing up ridiculous, and cutting loose.  But last night, cyclists and cycling advocates in cities around the country got together for a spooky yet serious Halloween tradition-- the annual Halloween Critical Mass ride!

Critical Mass is a popular group bike ride that happens around the world, in which cyclists band together and create a 'critical mass' of people-powered traffic that is large enough to lay claim on big city streets that are usually strictly car territory.  Last night, riders around the world put on costumes in a an action that proved activism and a good time don't have to be mutually exclusive.


I wasn't able to make the ride in New York because of a lingering bike-related injury, but thanks to the miracle of the internet, and the documentation of countless costumed crusaders, we can take a look at the action as it went down in a number of different cities last night.  Image from NYC by Irene Roxanne on Flickr.

You'd think that the fun-factor created by a costumed crew of cyclists would draw a groundswell of support from pedestrians, partiers, and motorists alike-- but according to Bike Blog NYC, an angry charter bus driver ran over somebody's bike during the ride! 

So much for bringing outsiders in with good spirits and sweet costumes.

If nothing else, the story of last night's ride should highlight the importance of diplomacy and an alert attitude whether you're at a demonstration or trick or treating in your neighborhood.  Some people just aren't amused at the sight of others having a good time (or changing the world!).  It's best to simply avoid confrontation and stay safe. 

So when you're out tonight celebrating Halloween, stay smart!  Don't go out alone, make sure that you can see and hear well out of your costume, and don't be afraid to steer clear of fishy candy or heated situations.  Happy haunting!

I see Mr. Clucky almost every day. His owner, Mark Buckley, usually rides the friendly rooster on his handlebars and together they stroll around Miami Beach. The tourists love it, and kids always want to get their picture taken with him.  They always oblige.  Mr. Clucky can also be spotted on Critical Mass rides, and once I saw him on a fundraising march for the Farm Sanctuary.  The rooster is also a mascot for EarthSave, PETA, and was even named Best Activist in Miami Beach, 2008 by Metromix Magazine.  The rooster was even once named Grand Marshall of Coconut Grove's nutty "King Mango Strut" parade. 

 

But now, because of one ONE complainer, the City of Miami Beach has issued an eviction notice to Mr. Clucky.  Technically, no farm animals are allowed within city limits.  To Mark, Mr. Clucky is a pet and a friend, and is NOT being raised for profit or food.  There's a man here that walks around the city with scary, gigantic snakes, and he CHARGES for photos.  Another man who also charges for photos walks around with some sickly-looking, unkept parrots, so why bother Mr. Clucky?

 

Last week, I joined the Critical Mass riders, most of them dressed like roosters, for a ride in support of Mr. Clucky.  The ride ended at City Hall where a candle light vigil was taking place. 

 

 

 

Mr. Clucky has a website, a facebook page, a myspace, and more! Says Mark's sister about Mark's activism, "No one will listen to Mark alone, but when he has a rooster on his shoulder, people pay attention!"  His website reads, "Mr. Clucky believes in peace, protecting the earth, and being kind to animals." (www.mrclucky.com)  His story has been featured on Animal Planet, The Today Show, the Miami Herald, the New Times, the LA Weekly, and MORE!

UPDATE: The day after this vigil the judge ruled that Mr.Clucky still had to go. However Mr.Clucky's friends are still trying to get the City Commission to grant a special exception. 

Show your support!

visit mrclucky.com

or become Mr. Clucky's friend myspace.com/mrclucky

 

Keeping in line with all of the fantabulous Critical Mass coverage, HERE, HERE, and HERE this week, I wanted to post about the semi-new high performance electric bike.

Actually, I was inspired to write about the Optibike after watching an episode of The Colbert Report last week; the one where he pokes fun at The Price is Right with 'The Price Is Right Goes Green'.

So I Googled "electric bike" out of curiosity because my first thought was - how in the heck can a bike be electrically-powered?  While I'm still not quite sure how it works, I did find that this video featuring the bike's creator was somewhat helpful.

 

But how much we talkin' here?  Well, according to the website, the pricing ranges anwhere from $6,000 up to $10,000 (depending on what you want).  Because of my junk in the trunk, I was more interested in the women's bike going for about $9,000 (YOWZA!)

Honestly though, I probably should at least pay off my car note before entertaining the thought of buying an uber-expensive electric bike.  Besides, I still think the old-fashioned pedal bike suites me and the environment quite well.  

But if anyone has any thoughts about the new Optibike, then do share.  What do you think, is the Optibike or any other electrically-powered bike worth the cost?

Photo courtesy of Ben Cooper's Flickr page.

Critical Mass -- you know, THAT bike thing in your city that stops all the traffic once a month and gets all the motorists all pissed off.  Well, last friday, I followed the lead of my fellow Play City compadres, James and Trina, and also went on a Critical Mass bike ride. I rode Chicago.

                  Thousands of cycling enthusiasts meet at Daley Plaza on the last Friday of each month for Critical Mass.                         

As a Critical Mass virgin, who is not hard-core into the biking scene I was a little nervous. I totally expected the ride was going to be me (nerdy guy on a mountain bike) and then like 8,000,000 angry, anti-car hipsters cruising around all smug on their fixies with their skinny jeans rolled up, rocking crazy fashion-forward haircuts, and secretly mocking me for my lame bike and unskinny jeans.

Don't get me wrong. I like a riding a bike.  In fact, I think bikes are great.  I even volunteer for a non-profit organization called Climate Cycle that uses bike-a-thons to put solar panels on Chicago public schools.  But I'm not part of the bike culture.   I'm not anti-car. I don't ride a fixed gear bike and I don't hate motorists .  Before the ride, I kind of wondered to myself, "would I fit in with this Critical Mass crowd?"

Well, it turns out that not everyone at Critical Mass is anti-car.  While I did see about 8,000,000 hipsters (okay, maybe like 3,000) cruising around on their fixies, most of them were not smug or anti-car.  They were just normal people who like to ride.  That's what surprised me the most.  Critical Mass is not some subversive, underground ride.  Critical Mass is for ANYONE who enjoys riding a bike, even nerdy guys like myself.  I saw everyone from hipsters, hippies, and activists to accountants, teachers and elementary school kids. 

 

                Super tall double gigantor bike guy rides in the Mass

 

                     Old Hippies ride in the Mass.

 

                      Mumia rides in the Mass     

 

                    Dogs and girls with bandanas ride in the Mass

 

                    Kids ride in the Mass.

 

                 Mutton Chop guy and Golf shirt guy ride in the Mass.

 

Bottom line is the Mass is for EVERYONE. If you go out and talk to people you'll realize most of them are out there just to have a good time.  Last Friday was my first ride, but now I'm hooked. If you've never been on a Critical Mass bike ride, I suggest you try it out.