GRAND RAPIDS -- Grand Rapids' monthly Critical Mass ride took the streets with its largest turnout of the year Friday evening. Despite the rain, approximately 35 people turned out to celebrate biking and promote pollution-free transportation. The ride takes place on the last Friday of each month in solidarity with rides in over 200 cities around the world.
In addition to the larger size of the ride, this ride was different in that it was the first one that adopted some of the tactics used in other cities to improve the rides. For the first time, the group had flyers to hand out to cars with information about Critical Mass and the reasons behind it. Many motorists and pedestrians were willing to take the flyers which offered the group an opportunity to communicate more effectively about what they were doing--something that has been a subject of confusion in the past. This was also the first ride that made use of "corking" at intersections, where a couple of riders would drop out of the ride and block cars from entering the intersection, thus allowing the mass to pass through without stopping for the traffic signal. This was effective in that it kept the group together and kept the ride together, avoiding splits that have previously happened when half of the ride stops at a light.
In continuing a concerted effort to eliminate the notion that Critical Mass Grand Rapids has de facto "leaders," the general route of the ride was decided upon before leaving Veterans Park. In addition to deciding on a general route, the route direction remained fluid throughout the ride, with decisions made on the fly during the ride in response to suggestions by participants and changing circumstances. While the decision-making process could be improved so that it did not focus as heavily on the people the front of the ride, it was nevertheless an improvement over what has been done in past years. The route also took the ride out of downtown, moving it into areas where there are more cars and people, a direct response to growing concern that riding around downtown is largely ineffective due to the low numbers of motorists in downtown Grand Rapids on Friday nights.
Critical Mass is a leaderless event and relies on the efforts of individual participants for promotion. A local activist group, Media Mouse, maintains a website for Grand Rapids' Critical Mass and sends out monthly email reminders about the ride, but does not have any type of leadership role. The website features flyers for interested participants to post around town and attach to bikes that they see parked. For the most part, the ride is promoted through flyers and word-of-mouth, as well as the monthly email update.
The next ride will be on October 31st. Critical Mass meets at Veterans Park at the corner of Fulton and Sheldon in downtown Grand Rapids at 5:15pm and rides at approximately 5:30pm.
