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!
Tian
February 24, 2010
Thank you bike party for yet another great evening!
I took some pictures. You can see them at:
http://tian.greens.org/SanJose/BikeParty/NerdRide/index.html
I love taking pictures at bike party. My only complaint this time was that it’s hard to tell a nerd from somebody else. I’m a fan of costumes you can recognize as “dressing up” from eight feet away.
In response to the above, how do we make a nonsmoking section work? It sounds like the right kind of idea, except for the formality…
Spliffer
February 24, 2010
Wow, Tian!
Your photographic essay of last Friday’s Bike Party is outstanding.
I think one of the better kept secrets within the Bike Party Community are the talented artists, the photographers and outstanding music mixes that adds a certain panache to the festivities.
Tian, I really enjoy your work and nominate you as the “unofficial” SJBP Photo-Journalist for the passion you put into transmitting your Bike Party experiences so eloquently.
Thank you and I look forward to the next one…
Brian
February 24, 2010
I will second Ian’s comments above. If people are having difficulty with the evening rides you should try the test rides. I take my son on these rides and there are generally 40-50 people and it lacks the lunatic fringe that show up for “THE PARTY” on the evening rides. You actually get a better chance to talk to people because there is less policing to do.
This last evening ride was the first time I felt threatened and moved away from a group of riders. I was asking them to move over to the right to allow cars to pass when one made a comment that maybe they should just “kick my ass”. If this is what a summer crowd is like I am going to remain a winter only rider and do the test rides in the summer.
There seemed to be an unusual amount of red light runners. I was twenty something and stupid once also. Fortunately I lived through it and I hope you do to. All I ask is for you to think about the consequenes to yourself and the others you ride with. When the inevitable happens the authorities will be required to come down on BikeParty hard. Your actions will affect all of us.
Thanks to all the people who volunteer there time to make Bike Party happen. I show my gratitude by following the rules set forth on the website.
Enjoy the ride!
moo
February 24, 2010
@Tian: “My only complaint this time was that it’s hard to tell a nerd from somebody else.”
Hm. What does this say about participants on a bike ride in Silicon Valley?
On a separate topic, here’s a link to an article from the Spartan Daily:
http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2010/02/22/ArtsEntertainment/Bikers.Party.Their.Way.Through.San.Jose-3876535.shtml
Ian Emmons
February 24, 2010
i too noticed that the bottom 5% of the ride was more of a bottom 10% on this last ride. they were much rowdier and much less well behaved which really damages bike party…
Townie Bill
February 24, 2010
The health of Bike Party depends on those of us who can lead by example and speak up when necessary for the good of the whole activity. (Way to loose your voice Rockin’ Ed! Love that Basso Profundo Spliffer!)
Last Friday night there were many youthful cyclists who may not care for the “way we ride” and will ultimately detract from the SJBP public image if not properly counselled. I urge all who (as Brian mentioned) encounter less than savory individuals to not only ‘ride past conflict’ but to consider joining up with several BIRDS at a regroup to engage in an age-appropriate conversation about the offending action prompting the “scolding”.
Some of us senior riders have also encountered the kind of comments that made me ask myself why one would dive deeper into an activity that is so exposed to the risks presented by a few?
While developing my intestinal fortitude, I cannot depend on ‘cycling Darwinism’ to thin the herd. I will again speak up but lead by example.
Ours is a community complete with some less seasoned SJBPartiers, hooligans and the occasional village idiot. Those wise among us play the role of communicators if we so choose. In order to help preserve and sustain the activity for the all, we should not hesitate to muster the resources (BIRDS & words) to make the matter go away in peace.
In the wake of Nerd’s Revenge, I will focus on how to continue to ‘Build Community’ while exercizing some tolerance for those too young to understand what it is that’s ours to loose.
Thanks for the colorful, thoughtful, and informative posts and pictures.
Long live Bike Party.
tanner
February 25, 2010
Own. The. Ride.
sk8dad
February 25, 2010
Perhaps a general announcement of rules and well…common sense…over the PA at the start might help as far as reaching the followers (as opposed to the leaders) of hooliganism (low hanging fruit, if you will).
The ones who choose deliberately to be hooligans and idiots won’t be convinced without major policing which then arguably conflicts with the carefree nature of the event.
Macayla
February 25, 2010
This was my first bike party….I came from Modesto
I had a blast! I went with 5 other people who had attended before, so I felt like they were able to fill me in. I too, noticed a few red light runners, but I was more worried about the cars at 4-way stops. We are supposed to stop at stop signs? right? I felt really bad for the cars, cause I didn’t see anyone stop to give a break to the cars.
Other than that, I had an amazing time! I didn’t think I’d be able to do the 25 miles…..but, even though I lagged a little after the 4th stop, I did it! What an accomplishment! I am thankful for all of you who organize and make Bike Party possible! Thank you and see you next month!
Garrett Birkel
February 26, 2010
The difficulty, of course, is that Bike Party happens in an outdoor public space. People are generally within their rights to smoke and drink.
A PA announcement would be interesting … but it would have to be balanced towards the permissive if it’s going to actually be heard. Something like,
“Drinking on a bike is a bad idea! But if you’re going to do it, clean up your cans because bike tires are thin! Smoking on a bike is a bad idea! But if you’re going to do it, stay clear of the shorties!”
Indoor smoke kills my eyes, and I’ve never smoked in my life, but even so, I don’t mind the pot smokers at all. They beat the hell out of cigarettes, they’re not aggressive, and their drug is a SPEAR IN THE EYE for tobacco companies. I welcome the risk they take in public consumption because it’s a political statement.
Besides: Let’s be realistic. We live in San Jose. Every single day of breathing the air here is like smoking a couple of bad cigarettes.
The drunks, on the other hand … no sympathy.