Due to the high volume of comments, we are having our planning meeting early while thoughts and issues are fresh in our minds.

All riders are invited to help plan the ride, we just ask that you have attended at least two rides (so you have educated input), and come with an attitude of “I will…”

The meeting will take place on Monday, June 29 at 7:30 PM.

It is located at Orchard Valley Coffee in Campbell (bring a few bucks, buy their stuff). The address is 349 E Campbell St in the heart of downtown Campbell.

If you are looking for us (don’t know our faces), we will probably be the largest group at the coffee shop.

It’s that time again!  Time to remark on the ups and downs of another amazing ride.

First, the stats:  17.25mi, 1,535 riders (counted around 10:30pm at the Mabury overpass of I-680, since it narrowed and slowed us there).  It’s almost uninteresting to remark that 1500 riders is an all-time record for us, since we’ve been growing at 50% a month for several months now, meaning we’re twice as big as we were two months ago and FIVE times larger than we were in January.  Wild.  We have more riders each month than the ride that started so many rides in so many cities, San Francisco’s Critical Mass.  Go San Jose!

But with all of this impressive growth come some staggering problems.  Enormous numbers of people earn red-light violation tickets  each month (average cost = $300ish), plenty of people wipe out unnecessarily as a result of reckless riding, and littered trash is rampant at all of our stops and even along our route.  This is not sustainable.

What can we do to clean up the ride, both literally and figuratively?  We all want to see the ride continue - many of us think it’s the best thing to happen in this city in years.  It’s not going to happen on its own.  Plenty of people stepped up tonight to become BIRDs - Bike Information Resource Directors, the volunteers who keep our ride together.  These people are true heroes, and we need more of you to join this cause.  But that is not and will not be enough.  What can we do?

Hit your comments - for the purposes of this discussion, please avoid any “people should” or “you all should” comments - stick to the “I will” sort of comment and tell us what YOU will do to help our ride, not what someone else should do.  Also, of course feel free to mention tales and experiences from the ride, and photo links.

Ride on!

At long last, we have our final route mapped for Friday’s ride.

Route for June Ride

Check the map here:

June 2009 Bike Party route on Map My Ride

Thanks to Justin, Scott, Jeff, and everyone else who helped - yes, we’re last-minute again, but this was a really hard one to plan (tough neighborhoods with few parking lots) and everyone put in their volunteering overtime on this one.  Nice work!  As always, we will need more folks to help plan next month’s ride, the earlier the better.  We try to get a test ride in - join the route conversation on the forums.

Highlights/Stats for this ride:

• 17.5 mi total from Dick’s Center to end at SJSU fountain
• Scenic rides through the Shasta/Hanchett Rosegarden neighborhood, small hill/night view above East Side SJ, ride through Alum Rock neighborhood, and a visit to the underused but awesome Mexican Heritage Plaza.
• Farthest Northeast Bike Party has ever ridden (farthest East was actually Southeast to Silver Creek/Brigadoon, over a year ago) - deepest into East Side we’ve ever gone
• Alum Rock hill = average climb of 2% grade, maximum 4% grade for last 1/4mi only.  Downhill is average 3% grade down for 1 mile - whee!

Remember to stop at ALL red lights. Experienced riders, we need you! Show up early to earn your BIRD shirts and help keep our ride well-organized and smooth-flowing!

- your friendly route planning volunteers

Do you love Bike Party?

Do you want to help out but are not sure how?

Are you a seasoned Bike Party rider?

We need your help!!

San Jose Bike Party has gotten HUGE. In less than two years, we have grown from an average ridership of forty cyclists to over a thousand!!

With so many riders, we are getting a lot more attention from politicians, police, community residents, and of course drivers.

We need help to keep Bike Party safe, keep it fun, and keep it from getting shut down.

San Jose Bike Party is asking all riders who have ridden on at least four or more rides and understand the “how we ride” policy to become a Bike Party BIRD. (Bicycle Information Resource Director).

What does a Bike Party BIRD do?

Be the face of Bike Party and guide new riders on what’s going on.

Help other riders follow rules of the road.

Some Birds can lead the way, be in front of the pack and tell people where to go.

Remind people to pick up their trash, stop at red lights, and roll past conflict.

This is a very fun job! You get to be a mentor for riders while enjoying bike party.

If you are interested, please come to the ride 45 minutes early or email sjbikeparty@gmail.com. We have awesomely designed shirts for all participants.

The more riders who are BIRDS means the larger likely hood San Jose Bike Party will be around for a long time!

San Jose Bike Party is growing!!

Join the new and upcoming Tri-Valley Bike Party for their first ride!

Friday, July 31st starting and ending at Pine Street Bar on 875 Rincon Avenue in Livermore, CA. More details TBA

For more information you can visit their myspace.

Join us for the planning meeting at Orchard Valley Coffee in Campbell (349 E Campbell Ave)

We discuss route planning, themes, how to make the ride better/safer, and other fun events.

We request that all attendees have rode at least 2 rides before attending a meeting. (We want you to have educated and constructive input for future rides)

Bike party is organized by a handful of unpaid, working during our free time, bicycle loving volunteers. The more people who help with ride planning, the better the ride will become.

Please come!!

The agenda is in the comment section.

NEXT RIDE!