What a fantastic ride last night! Around 1000 people passed the split where the ride took two routes, and a bit over an hour later everyone was back together again near Capitol and McLaughlin. Everyone seemed to enjoy their chosen route – even the hillsters who looped around in circles climbing above Evergreen valley! The strong energy, playful spirit, and all-around helpful, friendly vibe made the night amazing.
Volunteers really stepped up, with folks directing traffic right and left and helping to round everyone up at regroups – nice job with the soundsystems! Big props to the “Bumpin’ Beaners” and the big black soundsystem for great tunes and the help leading us out. Several volunteers even met up afterward, bringing the community together once more before bedtime. Share your reflections here in the comments – if we see any recurring themes, we’ll add to this post.
Please post & share photo/media links!
mikel
January 21, 2010
6th ride since last year, keeps on gettting better,,cannot wait till SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spliffer
January 21, 2010
@comment #49 & @David’s response #50
Gentlemen, the statement about the East Side could be misconstrued or mis-interpreted to seem insensitive to most self-respecting East Side residents, however; I think — or at least I hope — it was not meant to impugn anyone’s neighborhood nor background.
As you well know David, Bike Party has always been about building community through bicycling and not about exclusion, nor schisms and isms.
I am sure, from the looks of it, the statement relates to a label of the “historical, (hysterical), “East-side colorful past”, and has no bearing on the East-side of 2010.
Today’s East-side is the most racially and culturally diverse sector of the South Bay and because of this diversity it has the most beautiful and delightful women in the region.
Bike Party is about togetherness.
We are bicyclists from: North, East, South, West and points between and beyond the South Bay.
So I say on thee my brethren lets come together as one Bike Party Nation.
This Movement of Bike People has come too far to fall prey to “political correctness”.
In an open forum — rapid fire — forum like we have here, there will be communication breakdowns, flippant and off-putting remarks.
So please keep these thoughts in mind when you read and post comments. Feel free to post your thoughts and mix it up with “gusto” because that is the beauty of this site and what makes Bike Party so endearing to all of us.
I just love — in this instance — being the Bike Party PEACE KEEPER…
Townie Bill
January 22, 2010
Impressive. I just reviewed the comments and perspectives of last Friday’s SJBP ride and now understand that my passion for this activity is shared by some and surpassed by many. As posted earlier and echoed by several, those of you in positions of leadership and experience (you BIRDS) should be very proud of what you have wrought here. You give us so much to look forward to. And my personal thanks to Spliffer for wrapping up the ‘week after’ comments with such a compassionate and thoughtful post.
YES, we need peacekeepers. That’s a role we can all play costumes or not. Our energy needs to be bridled and managed by example. Our ‘Birds’ go a long way to distinguish SJBP from SF Critical Mass.
The BIRD distinction (IMO) is letting your proverbial ‘Freak Flag Fly’!
Thanks BIRDS. You rock.
See you guys tomorrow . . . Where do we meet?
Greg Potwin
January 23, 2010
How can I upload some pics and video? You can see my pics and videos at South Bay Bike People on Facebook if your interested. Sorry I am a week late on this. Look for more pics from tomorrows test ride.