The promise of rain couldn’t keep Bike Party from happening last night. Approximately 1,200 riders were counted right after the Winchester Movie Domes. What could have been a down pour in spots, turned out to be a fantastic ride! Honestly, the weather couldn’t have turned out nicer. Many thanks for all the volunteers who posted up on corners and worked many hours behind the scenes to pull off this ride. And yes fellow riders, we love that you made it out this month!
Highlights included the high energy levels that everyone brought as we rolled past neighborhoods and all over this town. Music trailers and more systems on individual bikes kept the vibe going. The Mary Street foot bridge remains an amazing image in my mind. Seeing a taco truck at the rest stops was truly a bike party first. And when the occasional spill happened, people stopped to help their fellow riders get back on the bicycle, simply amazing. We truly hope that Bike Party is able to foster a sense of positive behavior as we hit the streets, meet new people, make friends, and continue to explore the community we are all part of.
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!
Ryan S
February 20, 2010
I’m so bummed. This is the first BP I’ve missed since I joined. I’m glad that it went well, though. 1,200 strong. Can’t wait for the summer (and next month, too!).
Garrett Birkel
February 20, 2010
Another awesome ride!
A special bonus for me was meeting another guy with a light-up mohawk. Now we’re going to compete and see who will have the brightest one next time.
Lots of ride pictures at:
http://garote.livejournal.com/177433.html
moo
February 20, 2010
Garrett – Thanks as always for posting your SJBP pictures! I’m always impressed by how clear they come out even with low light and slow shutter speeds.
Last night turned out to be a great night for riding! Glad to see that plenty of people weren’t scared off by the weather forecast.
parker (ATNMS)
February 20, 2010
More Pictures.
iheartBP
February 20, 2010
Lots of coolness last night… weather, tacos, great costumes, music! Even the moon looked like a smiley face!
Though was anyone else concerned about the gladiator-esk “joisting” after the Mary Street Bridge… it’s the kind of thing that could end BP.
Townie Bill
February 20, 2010
What a great night for the SJBP!
We were so happy out there, spirits soared!
1200 nerds on bikes can’t be wrong.
It felt good then, it feels good now.
So THAT was a nerd’s revenge!
Smiling.
Tyler
February 20, 2010
Damn, I’m sad that I missed the bike party ride. Heard some dude was dissing the bike party last night, though he got beat up. XD A good rule: Don’t mess with the bike party. Hopefully I can attend next bike ride though!
Katrina W
February 20, 2010
This bike party was truly amazing. The bridge just before the 3rd stop was the coolest thing ever. The tacos were very tasty, the weather was great, the theme was awesome, everything was just peachy. I can’t wait for next months ride!
b5125125
February 20, 2010
THANK YOU BP PEEPS
It was a good night for a good ride. I saw a little more drama than usual with the biker on biker carnage and the dumb asses fighting and the chick hateing on my fine taste in music lol. On to the good side of the partay we had another rookie with us who enjoyed it and will be back.
Thank you once again for all the hard work the Birds do to make this happen.
Sandra
February 20, 2010
Goodtimes last night! Awesome photos Garret!!
LaVics
February 21, 2010
I loved last night’s ride. And I’m really impressed with the amount of riders that showed up. Even better than being shocked with the huge crowd was being surprised with the “flaming dude” at the start– kudos to your skill brother. The cherry on the cake was having a taco truck follow us.
The route was extremely well planned and the stops were awesome. So, thank you to all that made it happen.
I might be the only one, not sure, but I can never get enough of that bridge! Is anyone with me?
Also, the bike jousting, in my opinion, was SICK. To those of you that got down: kudos and thanks for sacrificing your bikes and bodies for our enjoyment. Hahaha. Some people might not like the idea of it, but I thought it livened up the ride and spirits of lots of riders; the boost of excitement was great.
My only gripe was seeing ten riders at the ending of the ride. Did I not get a memo? And then I hear that the afterparty was at GB’s. I skipped it and went home.
Anyways….I have a few pics up and a video on my new blog: http://liveridesj.tumblr.com/
enjoy
Rapid Robert
February 21, 2010
Great ride last night! Long sections of road meant easy cruisin’. Plenty of music bikes and nerd attitude made a real festive atmosphere, especially when going through Santana Row.
For further entertainment, we were treated to fire jugglers at the start and manly bouts of bicycle jousting at the stop after that great new Mary Street bridge. The taco truck was a welcome sight, as were all the tricked out and custom bikes.
Only downer of the evening was the huge number of red light runners and salmon. I mean WTF? I saw one runner almost get T-boned hard. It’s gonna’ happen sooner or later, just like someone winning the lottery. “Not ME” y’all are sayin’, but SOMEBODY in the group that blows through red lights is gonna’ win life long pain and suffering from playing that game. And a helmet does nothing for internal injuries.
But I digress. The weather was perfect for riding. Good example of why I place little value in the computer models they use for wide spread predictions. We need links to a few wether pages on the web site to help people make informed and last minute decisions. Satellite images and animations, maybe for next winter’s rides.
Dan
February 21, 2010
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28589791@N03/sets/72157623476613376/show/with/4374884802/
Garrett Birkel
February 21, 2010
Update: Dan and I have joined forces, since we have similar hardware. 17 new pictures added into the set, including an incredible one of the jousting:
http://garote.bdmonkeys.net/Bike_Party-February_2010/large-67.html
ShellBelle
February 21, 2010
MARIJUANA — There should be a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for those smoking pot. It was everywhere. I became nauseated.
Cigarette smoke is bad enough, but pot users need to STAY HOME and not ruin it for others.
testrides
February 21, 2010
What glorious biking weather for 1200-1500 riders Friday night.
The abbreviated highlights for this unique ride were left off of the ride announcement. ;-(
The longer back story of why we setup the route that way too much info for the route announcement (we should link the full narrative next time as we have a narrative for every ride, but especially this one!):
1. Start at Civic Center so we could go by the cool nerds at Cirque de Soleil (we did) and see IF we could start out of 2-3 exits (we didn’t)
2. We went near Bellarmine HS, where a 2009 Intel Science Talent Search finalist hailed from. We’d later go near Harker (other side of freeway) where 1 Intel STS finalist from 2010 and other years (including 3 in 2007!) go SJ!
3. Regroup #1 at Century 21 cuz so many cool Nerd movies have played there (we should have had the group fill up Winchester Mystery House 1st, oh well) Props to the firefighters driving thru with their cool attitude!
4. Regroup #2 at Lynbrook HS, home of 2 of 40 of the finalists in the (national!) 2010 Intel Science Talent Search. We also went near Harker HS (a 3rd finalist)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14281170
5. Going by Mitty HS, home of great nerds and jocks, some quite famous! (frontage road suggested by ‘test rider!’ – thank you!)
6. Went by Cupertino City Hall and their library – home to supporters of nerds and where else do nerds start but in libraries, etc! woot WOOT!
7. Mary Ave bridge – a nerd success story
(only bummer is the upper towers were not lit! it looks 2-3x more impressive when it is)
8. Regroup #3 – Homestead HS, another good nerd school, so we could bask in the revelry that would occur after going over such a cool bridge
9. Went by HP, the once great nerd “grandfather” of a company in Silicon Valley
10. Regroup #4 – Santa Clara’s newish City Library… just like the Mary Ave bridge, nerds and cool designers can work together to form a gorgeous and functional library inside and out. Even the parking lot is cool and the metal structures we rode out on. (that wasn’t the original intent but it made it cooler)
11. Santa Clara University, a somewhat unsung hero of nerd intellectualism…. as is SJSU where we could have used for the finish.
12. Diridon CalTrain station – a once super important hub will be soon again when California’s bullet train runs under it!
13. Adobe on Park St. – nerd nirvana in cool digs
14. Tech Museum – ode to nerds
15. Corona of Palms/Circle of Palms – cool area, near the “after party” at Gordon Biersch.
16. SJSU, this was omitted cuz of the “after party” but this was the spiritual home to so many nerds that power the valley’s companies… as well as nerds that come from around the US and the world to make this valley what it is. wootWOOT
moo
February 21, 2010
Two days after Bike Party and only now do I remember that I completely missed the left on Hollenbeck and the ride through Grand Coulee and Kirkland. Oops! Did anyone make this turn?
sue gains
February 21, 2010
The guy on the roof at Lynbrook who took pictures. Will you post those please (everyone was holding their bikes in the air).
Thanks!
Rapid Robert
February 21, 2010
Vive la weed! If you’re gonna’ ride a bike buzzed, there’s nothin’ better than the digity-dank! Peaceful puffers, no effects on balance like alcohol, no damage to the lungs like nicotine, nothing thrown away so no litter, lightweight and easy to carry, no debilitating effects.
It’s San Jose Bike PARTY. I don’t recommend unstable riding because of alcohol in the blood OR THC in the fat for anyone. BUT, if you’re gonna’ do it, you’re safest for play smoking a jay.
scott
February 21, 2010
@ShellBelle – i’m allergic to cigarette smoke so i move away from it. hopefully that would work for you too.
There was a GREAT energy and vibe last night. And for those thousands that missed it, bummer. Cuz it was amongst the best vibe of any Bike Party ever.
I personally don’t have a problem with a moderate amount of marijuana. I have a lot more problems with the belligerent drunks that don’t listen to BIRDs and the buffed drunk guy that was beating the hell out of the poor drunk(?) guy in the middle of Homestead west of Bowers that was only stopped when another biker put a bike in front of the bufffed a-hole.
No clue how much underage drinking, but drinking overall is 1000x the trouble of marijuana.
I hope that we talk about other more important things like riding LEGALLY, having more riders step up and VOLUNTEER and how do we SELF-POLICE each other yet keep bike party EDGY and FUN.
Rapid Robert
February 21, 2010
Amen brother!
Bill
February 21, 2010
@moo I may have been the only person in the whole crowd who took that route. In true nerd fashion I followed the directions instead of following the crowd. Couldn’t get anyone to follow.
Damn, did I miss all the cool stuff? Juggling fire? Jousting? I saw guys calling for jousters, but didn’t see anyone step up.
The parts I did see were cool enough. Great ride. Gorgeous sites.
Too many people running red lights, though, pissing off drivers stuck waiting for the intersection to clear. Should have been less vengeful and more nerdful.
Spliffer
February 21, 2010
Hey ShelleBelle, please lay-off my “Main Squeeze” Mary Jane.
She doesn’t bother anyone; besides she always liven-up the “joint”.
Can you please vent on some other babe?
Mary J. loves to spread her lovin’ all over the known Universe.
It seems to me like you are just jealous!
So get over it!
‘Cause Mary Jane is here to stay…
scott
February 21, 2010
@spliffer, it’s cool that you’re not the jealous type… since you know that mj ain’t just you’re girl….btw, with Ryan’s leadership we’ll have a warm up ride April 3rd (Bike the Limits ride)… you gonna help develop and lead a “pedal for pot” ride from SJ to Sac to visit the governator? lmao
Rapid Robert
February 21, 2010
I saw lots of kids on the ride friday night. A few on tandems and a bunch wailin’ on the pedals alone. I think that’s great! Because of that, we need to be discreet with the party favors for the big kids, whatever the brand. Poison’s poison, regardless of how those of us have chosen to bend our lives 10-40 years ago.
LaVics
February 22, 2010
I can think of three ways to take this next theme…
the green ride:
1. eco-friendly green
2. our latest topic of discussion– the mary jane “green”
3. st. patty’s green
Ian Emmons
February 22, 2010
That was a great ride! I had a blast…
the thing folks need to remember is not to be an A$$.
which really covers all of the problems we have with the ride.
Dan
February 22, 2010
I believe this is the “awsome” joust pic G called out above:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4375242758_68e3efe557_b.jpg
I put this plus a few more in the group Flickr pool
Viva La Bike Party!!!!!!!!!!
JustinT (ATNMS)
February 22, 2010
Lots to say!
-Theme-
@LaVics… great ideas for the what the March theme could be. Go to ***Everything San Jose Bike Party Theme*** on FB and add those ideas to the list! The linear thinkers will be grateful!
-Jousts-
The joust pics are great! Thanks Dan And Garrett. At the Autonomous FB You can catch a few of the JOUST VIDEOS on there as well. (link below)
Thanks to the jouster who stepped up at the beginning when no one else would. you helped tremendously!!! (this kid and Nick Blaauw I believe it was)..?) if u kno who tht kid was let me kno please.
reiterating @LaVics #11 on the jousts.
“…kudos and thanks for sacrificing your bikes and bodies for our enjoyment. Hahaha. …I thought it livened up the ride and spirits of lots of riders; the boost of excitement was great.
———Well Said!
Mary Jane –
@rapidROBert – Good point on supporting MJ as well as keeping it discreet! i agree with both of your posts! great assertion for the kids.
it’s ok with me but i do agree not to push other Ppls bubbles. it’s about building community through bicycles. Please if u are to do it dont do it in the crowd. SJBP is still family friendly (right?)
Rules –
We must enforce the simple rules again. Since I was driving from RG to RG i finally got to experience the other side of the road on SJBP day. Both fun and frustrating. it’s very dangerous if bicyclist are not aware of other Roadists (as i call it). I was trying to “share the road” but i had to drive in the turn lane because the Cyclist wouldnt let me in.
As an Avid Cyclist myself, i ask, please give respect to the Cars as we want respect from them. That means Red Lights also!
The Post Before this Said something about putting Limits on SJBP if we cant act accordingly. enforcing a parade license? Totally lame!
Route—
@testrides #16
MARY BRIDGE AWEEESOME! bravo bravo bravo. even from a cars POV!
Nice bullet Point Caps on the reasons for the route… I like that Please continue. it builds awareness of San Jose. its like a San Jose night tour.
-Extra-
oh and Fire Lady… Please come out again.
___________________________________
Autonomous’ FB—
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000600634043&ref=mf
Everything San Jose Bike Party Theme’s FB — http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=274517403716
Rockin Ed
February 22, 2010
Hello All, another great Bike Party in the books! Nice job to all of those who helped.
Please follow the laws! Some bad apples will give SJBP a bad name as well as putting your selves at risk! I was losing my voice from trying to “police” our riders. Stop for the lights, Stay in the right lane, keep the turn lane clear etc… I was actually stopping side ways at the stop lights to block the voilators. (Some riders just went around)
We all need to be aware of the directions too, a lot of riders were missing the Century Theatre RG and hedding to Moorepark. I was again shouting the directions. I did save a lot of people from going the wrong way.
The crowd seemed pretty calm and in good spirits. At least most of them…
I love the SJBP rides, lets all try to step up and fly right! I am now looking forward to the next test ride. They are a blast too.
Keep rocking Bike Party!
Rider Joe
February 22, 2010
This is our fourth ride.
Some highlights, but LOTS of negatives.
Plusses:
1) Mary St Bridge was spectacular
2) Sheriff pulled up to block cars and allow bikers out safely of stop #3 was great.
3) Shorter meet ups!
4) HP, Apple, Cirque patrons, etc
Negs:
1) too many red light runners
2) too many drunks
3) if you wipe it, and are able to move, move to the right. We saw waaaayyy too many people clogging up the lanes instead of moving out of the way.
4) graffiti artists (Ok, lame ass taggers) at stop #3… not cool, and illegal.
5) Fights
6) Bikers challenging cars, or riding against the flow of traffic (salmon). Share the road goes both ways dickheads.
7) headlights are needed.
8) dang “skeeter/stunters” weaving in and out of bike groups killing momentum, or causing crashes
9) Pissing in public… c’mon folks on the library!? on HP Property? We pass enough Starbucks/Carl’s Jr/McD/BK to make stops.
10) Liquor stops… riding drunk is still illegal, and same for MJ… it is impairing your judgement and still illegal to spark and drive.
11) Underage drunks
We had fun, but it’s getting less fun every time as there is too much party which then becomes dangerous. If it continues, the community will not support us.
SJBP is about building community, and showing that bikes on the road can co-exist with cars, and be good neighbors in a safe, fun way. (anti critical mass).
There is an SJ council member who bikes with SJBP, and endorses it. I’m not sure that may last if the negs aren’t minimized.
I wonder if SJBP can get some members of the SJPD to ride along to help keep the peace as it were. There is defintiely illegal activity going on (graffiti, public drunkeness, and public urination) that needs to be minimized to maintain SJBP’s fun. Let’s hope the negs don’t ruin it for everyone.
Tanya
February 22, 2010
My first sjbp ride and it was run, a little long but over all fun. There were a few things that were a turn off about the ride though.
Pro:
neat way to explore your towns
families that were out
the people on the sidewalks cheering us
people in cars asking what we were doing and cheering us
Friendly people happy and ready to help
Cons:
excessive mj – families ya’ll
asses who don’t have brakes but go excessively fast weaving between people, one almost knocked me off my bike
*the dumbass who climbed up the pole at the 3rd regroup spot and tagged up the pole, AND all the people cheering him when he was done… Seriously?!? NOT COOL.*
Taking over all lanes of the road
Some asses yelling *bike party Biatches* at some old lady in a car – being hooligans in general
Thanks to all the Volunteers for doing their best with the event. A very successful event considering how chaotic is seemed!
Maybe someone with a megaphone quickly reminding everyone right before we leave from the start about how we ride would be helpful. Not everyone who comes to the bike party read through the website which has very useful information.
testrides
February 22, 2010
Quick informal survey – who has made or not made the following turns and what do you estimate the crowds were at the end of the Nerd ride:
1 – R on Pacifica (from De Anza)
2 – L on Hollenbeck/Stierling (from Homestead)
3 – R on Grand Coulee (from Hollenbeck)
4 – R on Montgomery St (from Santa Clara)
5 – L on Park (from Montgomery)
6 – No. of riders ended at the Corona of Palms?
7 – No. of riders ended at City Hall?
8 – No. of riders ended at Civic Center Pkg Lot (the starting point) w/o going to the official end first?
Bill
February 22, 2010
I agree with all of Rider Joe’s comments except Neg #11. Drunken riders are a problem regardless of age.
I’m noticing a certain ageist tone creeping into this thread, mainly from people suggesting pot needs to be hidden from young riders. I think ageism is counter to the inclusive spirit of Bike Party, and we need to check anything that threatens to undermine that inclusiveness.
If you think pot is fine, then you have no reason to hide it. If you think pot is harmful, then don’t use it, secretly or otherwise. Hypocracy and double-standards are the worst examples one can set.
As we build this Bike Party, we should be careful not to make any group of responsible bikers feel excluded or feel like second-class members. This is especially true of youth. One purpose of Bike Party is to promote bicycling. Young people have the most years ahead of them to practice and promote bicycling.
So far, BP has been great in welcoming young people. I hope we continue that and don’t give in to attitudes that will make youth feel excluded.
**steps off soapbox**
Jahlaen
February 22, 2010
@ Tanya
Welcome to the Bike Party experience. I will advise you to keep the “posititve vibe” and toss the bad “sophomoric” stuff.
Unfortunately, some of our fateful revelers are ‘fixated’ — suffering from “arrested development” — and will never mature beyond Jr. high.
But please don’t diss my “girl” Mary J.
What-up with all you ladies dissing “my baby-girl”. What are yawl affraid off? Please leave my “sacred-home-girl”, MJ, alone. All she does is save lives and comforts JAH People.
Mary Jane has always been “family friendly” — from Jamaica to Japan and beyond. Mary Jane has been around families since the time of troglodytes, yet — unperturb by MJ’s presence — man and civilization not only survived but thrives to this day. Go pick on real “evil” and let the medicinal Mary Jane flow…
Let me say on thee my Beautiful ‘Sisthren’ of man that: “there is nothing to fear, but fear itself”…
I rest my case and pass the “Peace Pipe” to my copacetic bicycling brethren & sisthren.
Big ups Bike Party… yeh!
JustinT
February 22, 2010
To each his own…
this isn’t about promoting MJ or hating on ur girl. lets keep this SJBP focused.
Im an advocate of her but i also respect that im not the only human being breathing this air. I ask only to use respect when using it. not everyone wants to be influenced.
and to the ney sayers of MJ… just know its a open festival of sort. Be Aware and Roll Past conflict.
We promote Share the Road… so please mimic that with Share Bike Party! Theres enuf room.
Please use this Blog to find SOLUTIONS that include everyone.
@tanya thts a good idea to have a megaphone shouting how we ride before the RG take off. ill look into it. know anyone w a Megaphone?
Community through bicycling.
testrides
February 22, 2010
yup Justin, what can each of us do?
here’s some ideas….
1 – Lead test rides, pre-rides, encourage riders to step up in an easy going manner.
(test rides are great practice and lots of fun)
2 – Lead main rides (route & regroup captains!)
too many riders simply follow whoever is in front of them, even if they go the wrong way
3 – Create GoogleDocs (Route & regroup captain sheets, TxT directions & visual maps)
4 – Volunteer during test rides/main BP rides
( i.e., help at key intersections, regroups)
5 – Help lead the SJBP execution of “push/pull” of out of the start & all regroups (we need a team or two to pull riders out & others to push from the back to get people out – this didn’t happen very well last Friday!)
6 – Train volunteers to be BIRDs, adopt & teach some fun “just do it” strategies.
7 – Lead “tread lightly” focus at regroups
(so it’s cleaner than we found it – this was NOT the case at Friday’s ride unfortunately!)
8 – Develop & execute a program to get more music systems out there…. and create an email list… and ways for them to help get us out on time at the start and regroups!
9 – Keep SJBPers up to date on Facebook, SJBP website, Twitter,etc.
10 – Web Development – WordPress & Facebook expertise
11 – Program Managers/Project Managers, incl tools (GoogleWave,etc)
What are we missing? And how can you help?
Thanks!
moo
February 22, 2010
@testrides:
1) R on Pacifica (from De Anza)
Yup
2) L on Hollenbeck/Stierling (from Homestead)
Er, oops!
3) R on Grand Coulee (from Hollenbeck)
See #2
4) R on Montgomery St (from Santa Clara)
Oops!
5) L on Park (from Montgomery)
See #4
6) No. of riders ended at the Corona of Palms?
I’d guess around 20 riders or so when I got there.
7) No. of riders ended at City Hall?
Didn’t go there.
8) No. of riders ended at Civic Center Pkg Lot (the starting point) w/o going to the official end first?
Didn’t go there either.
————-
Ironically, I think I missed some of the turns because I remembered most of
the route from the last testride I attended, and those turns were added later.
Biker Joe
February 22, 2010
@ Bill… Neg #2 lists “too many drunks”
as for the MJ… it’s illegal to spark and ride. It is DUI/DWI. “Driving Under the Influence”, or “Driving While Intoxicated” does not only apply to alcohol.
Megaphones would only work on those nearby (especially with the boomers going) Need a way to get the boomers to somehow amplify the megaphone voice.
Rapid Robert
February 22, 2010
@Bill, I get your point and pretty much agree. By discretion with whatever adult party favors are favored at SJBP, I don’t necessarily mean to hide them. I mean keep the beer in a bag. Don’t use a bong. And for heaven’s sake, don’t bring a beer bong!
Yes, it’s a family thing but it’s also a frat party. I personally like it best when it’s more of a rave, in the best old school Burning Man tradition.
scott
February 23, 2010
Anyone new to BP want to share their experiences here? I saw lots of new faces, which is what we always want
Perhaps the most in many months.
KF.TapedUp.B
February 23, 2010
im not sure who was on the roof at the school but i will get those pics up asap…
ShellBelle
February 23, 2010
This was my first ride and sadly, can’t do it again. My par-tay dayz were over when I had a kid; he’s a pre-teen now. I came home smellin’ of “mary jay” and apologies to him I had to say.
If “building community through bicycling” is the mission, then Houston, you’ve got a problem. You’ve got an identity crisis.
If it’s a frat party, then just be honest about it on your website. The fighters, red-light runners, drunks and stoners can “smoke their jay.” Folks like me will stay away.
Rapid Robert
February 23, 2010
Should the community we build be composed only of tea-drinkers? Oh wait, that’s full of caffein! Milk then. We’ll all enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate milk and ride our bikes. Perhaps someone will organize a nice game of musical chairs for us at the rest stops!
Join the REAL world. Your intolerant attitude, despite the interest in bicycling, is against community building every bit as much as the salmon and red light runners. But you’ll fit right in with the many, many bike clubs in this area, and their (in my personal opinion) sterile, intolerant, uniformed and helmeted milk toast arrogance toward the community of those who think “outside the box”.
Spliffer
February 23, 2010
The comments and discussion here are livelier and funnier than I can recall.
It certainly reflects on the upbeat spirit of last Friday’s SJBP crowd.
I wholeheartedly support the more thoughtful comments that, folks need to focus on improving Bike Party by increasing the number of active volunteers at all levels.
The need is so much greater now because the challenges on the immediate horizon appear quite daunting.
As spring approaches and we get into warmer weather and daylight saving time, many veteran and new Bike Party enthusiasts will shed their 4 months of hibernation.
They getting on their bicycles and flocking to Bike Party in HUGE numbers.
Perhaps by the thousands!
So, I would add my booming “basso profundo” to a call for “volunteering help”.
Bike Party needs you.
This kind of help can only come from within the SJBP community ranks.
And that is us!
Remember SJBP is an all volunteer “Labor of Love”.
Volunteerism is the “life blood” of this gargantuan “bicycling community” operation!
Step and own a piece of SJBP.
Come on out to a test ride, attend the next open meeting with your ideas.
Bring forth your specialties and skills, or just pitch-in somewhere — somehow.
Your enjoyment will be magnified a hundred-fold when you volunteer as well as participate in Bike Party.
—-
((( My personal honorable mentions of note:)))
@ #30 Rockin ED –
“I was actually stopping side ways at the stop lights to block the violators. (Some riders just went around)”
*–*Thanks for your commitment to keeping folks safe. You are a SJBP Super-trooper!!
@ #35 Jahlaen –
Please drop the “sophistry” and get back on the “Right-side” of “truth”. Let the devil advocate for himself my brethren — ’cause I know you can’t even stand the smell of beer.
*******
Volunteer, volunteer!
For spring, summer & fall
Are almost here…
Bike Party forever!
Ian Emmons
February 23, 2010
i thought stoners were supposed to be mellow
perhaps we need to have a smoking and non smoking section in each of the regroups
Jahlaen
February 23, 2010
@ ShellBelle, #43
Everyone has a right to decide whether to be part of the Bike Party Community.
And this is not some plea for you to stay on, as part of SJBP, because several folks has left, over the 8 months I’ve been here, like you, voicing negative setiments about SJBP.
However, I think in your case, you are literally judging the whole community based on your experience with the “lunatic fringe” of Bike Party.
The fact is that your decision is woefully flawed because that fringe element represents only 2 to 5 percent of the bicyclists in attendance. You totally missed mingling with the larger more mainstream — “fun bunch” — crowd.
The Bike Party Community is a microcosm of the whole Bay Area population. And as such, is a representative sample of all the foibles — positives and negatives — of the larger community.
I think the Bike Party idea is to accept everybody without exclusion, but SJBP requests that during Bike Party events, the BP community abide by a set of rules to ensure safety and civility within the ranks and on the streets.
And as you can see it is a struggle, but; there is a method to the madness and, we wont quit tryin’; we can’t give up hope.
If fact we are getting better at it!
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QUESTION:
Why did you not roll away from that “lunatic fringe” that was causing you so much grief?
I am no psychologist, but apparently you decided to hang with that crowd who gave ya’ a chance to: somehow… relive your past “par-tay dayz” — eh???!
You can put your boots in the oven, but; that wont make ‘em biscuits…
John M
February 23, 2010
I am glad that we have a wide range of people who attend SJBP, which gives us a broad perspective.
Please continue to bring that perspective to SJBP but also respect what others have to say.
It is helpful to use this reflective post a means for understanding what everyone was able to experience a Friday ago. Please remain focused on contributing towards keeping SJBP inclusive and able to improve itself as well as police any behavior, such as red light running and riding against the flow of traffic, from continued abuse.
thoreauly77/ian
February 23, 2010
well, many of you know me as either ian, or the guy who rides a root-beer colored continental. i only ride the test-rides. there are several reasons why i have stayed away from the real rides thus far:
- i have my daughter on fridays. however, there is no reason i cannot get a sitter. but i would never expose her to the dangerousness of drunks or the effects of smoke of any kind.
- i have a lot of anxiety about seeing something violent happen, be it someone running red, swimming upstream, street-fighting….. i simply do not want to witness it.
i am no square; i love a good drink (or 8, seriously) and have been well-known throughout 3 states and three countries to imbibe of some fresh greenery (though not anymore). that being said, i go on the test rides in order to help create a positive and SAFE atmosphere for those who attend the ride proper, and while most of you know your limits very well and are very much in control, it is hubris to think that means you are safe from anyone with less control — on a bicycle or in a car.
please lets keep that in mind and let each perspective be appreciated in our forum, just as we would want it to be in our streets.
Rapid Robert
February 23, 2010
Well said and points noted!