Is Critical Mass a Family Ride?

 

If I gave my short answer, this wouldn't be a very interesting post, so let me explain how I've come to my conclusion about my first Critical Mass. I had concerns about riding with the group but decided to see for myself what it was all about.

First, let me say it is a lot of fun. That many people riding bikes together is automatic fun. The fun started before we reached the start. As we rode through Inman Park, we started joining other riders headed over to Woodruff Park. Even if you didn't know anything about Critical Mass, you would suspect something was up because all the cyclists were headed the same direction.



The gathering crowd was quiet. I didn't see many families at first, but there were a few. This is mostly a 20-something crowd. I was concerned about how quiet it was, and then the calls went up to head out. This is when it started to feel like an event.

The reception on the streets was something to behold. Even though we were completely clogging up the streets, everyone treated us like we were a parade. Groups of people came to the curb and stopped to watch. Hooping and Hollering went back and forth. Everyone was yelling "Happy Friday!" The party had begun.

After coming through Underground and past the Five Points MARTA station, we turned onto Marietta Street toward Centennial Park. At that point, the police were enforcing the stop light at the intersection with Centennial Park Drive. The mass stopped and then was broken up into pieces by the police, but it was able to reassemble into a mass for a trip up Peachtree Street.

So many people were out this evening. Peachtree Street is where you felt you were part of something really big. This continued all the way up to 10th Street in Midtown where we broke for Piedmont Park. Again, I was impressed by how well received we were. People in their cars were honking happy horns instead of angry horns.

We made our way across the park over to Virginia Highland where we received another warm welcome. I was looking for angry motorists and only found one lady who was justifiably bothered by some cyclists who were in her oncoming lane. She was trying to get us to move over by waving her arms inside her car. Fortunately, most people simply took up the lanes going in the correct direction.

So, is this a family ride? I would say "Yes", but it is a slightly qualified yes. Let me list out the points:

• The pace is suitable for nearly all riders. We don't move fast and we stop or slow down frequently. There are many beginning riders.
  
• I was concerned about safety. This is probably an 8 or 9 out of 10 on the safety scale. The main drawback keeping this from being a 10 is there are a good number of riders who are inexperienced in riding in a group and sometimes they operate their bikes in spaces that are smaller than they are capable of riding within. I saw a few people bump into each other, but nothing to cause an injury.
  
• On this ride, there were people getting arrested. They weren't doing what the police officers asked them to do. They broke laws and the officers responded. I have no problem with that. It is part of how we educate proper road etiquette. Other rides educate also, but do a better job at avoiding arrests.
  
• The overall impression is one of fun. There wasn't any rowdiness or recklessness beyond the occasional rider taking over the sidewalk for a brief stretch. Except for those learning the hard way to obey traffic laws, there weren't any confrontations.
  

Final Grade: "A" - I would be happy to bring any family on this ride.