Critical Mass Friday seemed to benefit from fear of a black planet, as the NYPD was absent from the entire ride. The NYPD made only the most cursory of appearances, lining up a dozen scooters in Union Square. But after the ride trickled out of the park to regroup and start from 14th st and the West Side Highway, the NYPD was never seen again. Verdicts in a trial of police officers related to the shooting of Sean Bell were handed down in early morning, which had the Mayor's office and NYPD on guard, which seemed to leave bicyclist free for once to do their dirty work: ride.

Chris (Team Spider) shot a full video of the ride, originally posted to his blog here:



After a regroup on the west side the ride headed south on the bike path for a few blocks before crossing he highway back east and then north. The decision to head south first was serendipitous because some sort of percussion punk band was playing in a parking lot along the highway which the ride bumped into when it looped back north. The music jolted the ride into a festive atmosphere, and the lack of any police coverage sent the mass in a blaze into the heart of the city.

The ride lasted about 2 hours and was nicknamed Critical Marathon in the middle. From the westside highway the ride first went north along 10th avenue into the 20s, where somewhere in there we turned east riding a few avenues until we reached 8th Ave. We followed 8th Ave up until about 35th or 36th street where the ride again headed east until 6th ave at which point it turned North again. The pack was substantial, maybe 150 people - many new young faces, a parent with two children in tow, far more people than has been seen for some time in good weather rides. And the weather was spectacular ... finally! Rains have plagued recent past warm temperature rides.

The ride did the full loop of 6th Ave to Central Park, twice around Columbus Circle, and down Broadway into Times Square for a bike lift! Tourists love Critical Mass and if the Mayor was actually a smart guy he might get with the program and actually use the ride to promote how much fun it is to visit NYC. Exiting Times Square this was the ride that would not end. South down Broadway to 34th street then to 2nd Ave (I think - I was losing track). It certainly felt like 2nd Ave, as Friday Night party traffic was hot on our tail. The pack remained intact the entire time all the way to Houston where the ride finally cut back West to the Time's Up club house, now on Morton St at The Hub, which was hosting a party Friday Evening as well.

The evening finished with trampoline jumping and the smooth grooves of the Rude Mechanical Orchestra.

Oh yeah, and I got a ticket for riding on the sidewalk in front of the Hub as I went to park my bike. The evening would not have been complete without a some petty dig by the NYPD.