This Friday, May 25th, Vancouver is privy again to another Critical Mass Ride, a tradition originating on Friday, September 25, 1992, nearly 15 years ago! Critical Mass, generally, is an event typically held the last day of every month, pretty much around the world, specifically (and in order of popularity) in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. This makes it a global movement (albeit largely over-represented in the western world) celebrating self-propelled transportation, the celebration of self-propelled wheels (bikes, wheelchairs, skateboards, and roller- skates & blades, etc). In short, it is a grassroots reclamation of public space, allowing cyclists and other “self-propelled” people to move safely and comfortably through city streets, car-free. Non-polluting forms of transportation are promoted, encouraged, and emphasized.
It is decontructive in nature in that the events often follow a decentralized fashion, without singular leadership, or a center-point of organization. In effect, Critical Mass rides are self-organized, non-commercial, non-sponsored, and non-competitive, hence inclusive, and they operate with diffused and informal decision-making, independent of “leaders”.
This month good “pirates” — this month’s theme — having picked this month’s theme as such, will gather around 5:00PM @ the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG), on the Georgia St. side, and shall leave around 6:00PM to, once again, ride the streets of Vancouver. (read on, for MORE)
It is encouraged that riders arrive “festooned” in pirate gear for all to see! Bring flute or drum or any noisy instrument/canister/sound-effect you can. Not just ye bicycles but all those who sail under their own wind are welcome aboard.
OBVIOUSLY people are coming from all around town, so how is everyone gathering? Particularly, how to meet-up this month, if you’re from Kits or East Van (or further east thereof):
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
For more information:
http://www.velolove.bc.ca
http://vancouvercm.blogspot.com
velolove@velolove.bc.ca
Worldwide details may be found at:
http://criticalmassrides.info or http://www.critical-mass.org
Upload/View Vancouver Critical Mass Photos at Flickr.com:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/vancriticalmass/
PHOTO CREDIT: “Monkey Donut”, flickr.com
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