[Mpls] Re: Critical Mass

[JAMES MCGUIRE]

>Just as I was finishing reading this post from Robert Yorga, I hear hootin'
>and hollerin' outside my house.  I go to the window, and see what appears 
>to
>be more than one hundred bicycle riders coming down the hill on Franklin 
>Ave
>from Hennepin towards Lyndale.  They are followed by two police cars, one
>with the overhead lights flashing.  It all looked safe and fun, though 
>there
>were several riders riding on the wrong side of the road, causing the
>oncoming traffic to pull over and stop.
>
>I went onto my front porch, and watched the mass of them clear the
>intersection by Rudolph's with no problems.  The Franklin hill ascent 
>towards
>Nicollet is steep, and the group slowed.  Everyone seemed to make it, with
>the police continuing to follow.
>Riders were still spilling over into the oncoming traffic.
>
>It was a sight to see.
>
>Keith Prussing
>Wedge-10

I took part in today's ride.  I talked to someone who stopped and attempted 
to count the participants and came up with 244.  Someone else claimed there 
were over 300, but clearly there were at least 244 - more isn't 
inconceivable.

Yes, there was some spillover into oncoming traffic.  Yes, we did slow 
traffic down on the routes that we took (even in without crossing over).  
People are free to debate the merits of that if they wish.

It was nice to see that many people out for the ride - including (that I 
saw) one state representative, one Minneapolis city council person and at 
least one candidate for state-wide office (from a major party ticket).  I'll 
leave it for them to admit they were "breaking the law" (there were more 
than 10 of us - even without blocking traffic it's illegal) if they wish.

It was exhilirating.

I invite anyone to join us next month (that'd be May 31st at 5 PM in Loring 
Park).

Jim McGuire
Como

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