Bike Partiers: Thanks for making last night so special!
During the summer months, we typically hope for hot weather on BP day – in hopes that we will have a huge turnout and a fun ride. The weather was a bit cooler Friday, so we anticipated a smaller crowd. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The Science Ride proved to be an extremely fun ride and a joyous night. As always, one of the great things about Bike Party is that it’s absolutely free (Science: Microeconomics). Our summer rides are always bigger and we estimate that the turn out was 3000 + riders (Science: Statistics).
The atmosphere at the start felt magical and filled with great spirits… fueled by the bicycle trick competitions presented by Pops Fabrication, an abundance of clothing vendors, and a performance by the Japanese drum group San Jose Taiko. This truly set us up for a very special ride. The costumes, and what not, where a little on the thin side, but in any case, we had a full moon to lead us through the night (Science: Astronomy) which is always a welcome addition. This month, in addition to traveling through downtown, we rode through West San Jose and Santa Clara (Science: Geography). It’s been awhile since we’ve ridden through Santa Clara, so we were excited about this month’s route!
During the first leg of the ride, we were met with a great number of families and partying spectators that cheered us on. It’s always fun to see children on the side of the road yelling “Bike Party” and waving at us. The first regroup was cut short 
by the SJPD, but we made up for it at the second regroup 
with a great party and a Jousting performance that included fire on ice (Science: Chemistry) which was a nice touch. The food (Science: Biology) vendors were out in full force all night. So much food to choose from! Even at the very end, there was a Hot Dog truck that took care of tired but hungry riders.
Santana Row proved again to be one of the highlights of the ride, as shown by all the amused and smiling faces of spectators and people dining (Science: Sociology). The music trailers always add fun to the ride and there seemed to be an abundance of smaller systems, so one was never very far from some type of music. Small regroup areas broke out into impromptu dancing, though we would like to see more riders get in there and dance. Don’t be “scurred” – Just Do It!
The BP volunteers did a good job ensuring that riders navigated the course correctly. However, we saw quite a few lost riders at the end, which shows the importance of always bringing a map. At one point a few lost riders led up to 500 people in the wrong direction and one of our great volunteers got them “back on track”.
As is the case with our summer rides, some riders disregard the law, and ride on the wrong side of the street, run red lights, etc. If you see behavior that is questionable, we encourage you to be vocal about it and remind them to exhibit model behavior.
One of the particularly great things that happened, were the number of people cleaning up, after the masses had left the regroups (Science: Ecology). Leaving no trace behind is important to ensure that our communities see BP as a positive movement. In addition to our ravens (volunteers who clean up and remove trash) we saw quite a few non-volunteers with trash bags scouring the parking lots picking up cans, food containers, etc. Yaay! You guys rock!
BTW, if you want to get more involved in Bike Party, there are many things you can do:
- Join Bullhorn, our SJ Bike Party announcements Email List. You will get updates on upcoming Test Rides and special events.
- Visit our SJ Bike Party Facebook page and share your Bike Party stories and pics.
- Try one of our “almost weekly” test rides. Info is on our FB page or if you’re on our mailing list you will automatically get updated on when and where they are. There are usually at least 40-50 riders of all ages and skill levels and everyone is super friendly. These are a lot of fun!
- Attend one of our monthly volunteer mixer/meetings. If you’re on our mailing list, you will automatically get updated to when and where they are. Meet other great riders just like yourself and see how Bike Party happens.
- Become a BIRD (Bicycle Information Resource Director) volunteer.
- Make a music system for your bike, and add to the party with your play list!(Please remember to lower the volume near residential areas late at night)
WE look forward to Bike Party continuing to provide great rides like last night and YOU in our great communities continuing to enjoy them.
Long Live San Jose Bike Party!!!
Skie
July 15, 2011
Never heard of this until you guys passed by on Kiely. Looks like good times!
Wish I had a bike…. But alas. (Also the stamina o.o you guys go far!)
Hope everyone had fun tonight, and if you saw someone on the balcony at 1000 Kiely, that was me.
Bob
July 16, 2011
WOW — I am an avid rider, do RAGBRAI in IOWA every year. Been thinking about a Bike Party ride…
Was in Santana Row last night, what a VIBE from the Bike Party. EVERYONE (including the Police) had big smiles. I am doing the next ride. WELL DONE SJ Bike Party
Rapid Robert
July 16, 2011
I did RAGBRAI in the mid-’70s, and remember it as a week long Bike Party without the music trailers. They didn’t work as well with 8-track players and cassettes, but I still wonder why none carried radios on the rides. Welcome!
Jeremy
July 16, 2011
Come to calabazas cyclery on miller and bollinger… We will help you get on a bike and set for next months ride.
Mike G
July 15, 2011
Really fun ride tonight. (I left after Santana Row, had a long day).
Seemed like a really good crowd, loved the route this month!
Santana Row was awesome, so many people lining the streets dancing around to my tunes (Jump around), it was a crowd pleaser.
Thank you for a fun evening BikeParty!
Wendy
July 15, 2011
(I don’t know if this is your group, but a number of people were wearing shirts with your group’s name.)
I drove behind a large group of bikes from Sunnyvale to Santa Clara this evening. I think the group bike ride is cool, but I think safety should be a bigger concern. Bikers swerved in front of my car multiple times. Many people, who were wearing dark clothes with no reflective gear or lights, didn’t ride with the pack. They were almost impossible to see. Also, there were many people blasting music and screaming. At 11:30 at night that seems a bit rude.
Please encourage your fellow bikers to pay attention to what they are doing and to be courteous. I would hate to hear that someone got hurt on a ride like this or that the city stopped you from this type of event.
Toodles
July 16, 2011
Hey Riders,
You guys rocked! You sure woke up my sleepy neighborhood with all the bells and whistles. The riders passed us on Reed Ave in Sunnyvale. My kids ran outside, jumped in the bed of our truck and cheered the riders on.. Not much happens on our street, so the loud music and cheering was welcoming, even if it was 11:40p. See you next time!! Bike Party!!! Whoooohoooo!!!!!!
scott
July 16, 2011
I totally agree with Mike, the vibe/scene thru Santana Row was great. So nice to see even more music trailers out on the ride tonight! Thanks to all that build these music trailers and pull ‘em 25-27 miles every month!
Bikepartybruh
July 16, 2011
dont know if you guys saw during the ride but a fellow rider . He was sorta old . Crashed with a kid . They both fell . Old man stayed On the floor after landing and sliding across the cOncrete face first . The kid didn’t do anything but ride away . That’s was the fucked up part . Me and my friends tried helping the guy up but he couldn’t . Honestly this bike Party was cool but that incident ruined my night . I hope that man turns out well!!
TimC
July 18, 2011
Bikepartybruh – hopefully you’re checking back here. That gentlemen is looking for witnesses to his accident. He posted on San Jose Bike Party page on Yelp. His name is Simon Lodewijks. Hope you, or anyone else who saw the accident, will be able to help. He doesn’t remember anything after waking up in the hospital.
Tyler
July 16, 2011
Great ride tonight. From what I have seen, not too many red light runners! Pretty awesome. I was disappointed that the po-po got a bit butthurt about Mogos being at City college, but overall it was a good vibe tonight.
Anson
July 16, 2011
I wasn’t too far behind the head of the group after the regroup at SCU. Things were a little crazy. Lots of people were riding in the left lane when cars were trying to pass. Lots of people were running red lights on Hedding St, some without slowing down and checking cross traffic.
It was a fun ride, but hopefully people learn to obey the laws that are there for their own safety and not take a Critical Mass mentality.
gar3th
July 16, 2011
Especially bad with some of the car drivers I was seeing around SCU, a car and motorcycle drag racing down Lafayette, some probably drunk drivers…
frantik
July 16, 2011
Lots of people stopping at red lights: good.
Lots of people riding without lights: bad.
the sheer number of people riding really fucks traffic.. im surprised SJPD doesn’t get more butt hurt honestly
mrrabbit
July 16, 2011
Enjoyed the ride last night…I’m the guy on the Tommasini.
1. ET in a basket = hilarious!!!
2. Santana Row = very kool route.
Do have two suggestions:
1. At any regroup location – get the crowd moving again in a 1/2 hour or less – people moving on to the next objective sooner rather than later keeps things a little more under control mayhem-wise. In other words – the party in Santa Clara could have been much shorter.
2. Gotta crack down on people who plug the left lane unnecessarily – and crowd the front of cars instead of behind at red lights.
3. Sure running red lights is an issue – much of it is momentum bleeding through – it happens – but there are a few who deliberately do it. That’s need to be addressed.
Props to the ladies who are pretty impressive keeping up on slow and heavy cruiser bikes. Couldn’t help noticing…
=8-)
Billy the Kid
July 16, 2011
I agree with all three of your two suggestions! Especially #2. It was disheartening to see so many douchebags riding on the left (even when there were two freakin’ other lanes to the right!) and swarming around cars no matter how many BIRDs told them not to.
mrrabbit
July 16, 2011
Nice to meet you…thanks for piping in…
Forgot to mention to everyone that after the first left turn out of SJCC – when the road transitioned from 2 lanes to 3 – one gentlemen went down pretty hard.
It sounded a lot worst than it really was – he ended up with a jammed chain and some scrapes on the elbow and knee.
Held his bike so he could free his chain, gave him paper towels and water and wished him “good luck”. That was about all I could do.
Hope he made it home alright.
As to the BIRDS, tried to be one a little myself last night…sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. Oh well…
=8-)
JellyCube
July 17, 2011
Getting more people to call out to the offending riders with you — be it getting to the right lane, not to cut off cars, not to run red lights and to obey “How We Ride” helps a lot! You don’t have to be a BIRD! If you got friends with you, encourage them to help you out. The louder your voices are together, it may discourage bad behavior.
At the last regroup I witnessed a delinquent participating in the ride started cussing out the volunteers directing cyclists in. Made me furious!
The volunteers try really hard to keep things in order and for kids like that to come in and act that way is disrespectful.
A message to the people who disregard “How We Ride”: Get out of SJ Bike Party and MAKE YOUR OWN RIDE.
Spliffer
July 16, 2011
WOW!!
What a great and energetic Bike Party!
But it took a while to develop because that first regroup was a bit restrained.
That situation at SJ City College was an example of the “policing by the *word of the law*…” while all other police on duty last night represented: “policing by the **spirit of the law**…
After we left that first regroup, Bike Party rocked all the way through.
This was one of my most awesome Bike Party experiences.
Bike Party forever!
Rapid Robert
July 16, 2011
Great ride last night!!! The size of the group wasn’t evident at the start where everyone was spread out amongst the various things to see and do there. San Jose Taiko was excellent as usual, and I really enjoy their performances for us. A real San Jose gem!
The first regroup was unfortunately rousted by the cops early on, making me really happy I got a hot dog at the start. Helped Ramon fix a young woman’s flat (good show Ramon!) and left the lot nearly last. Santana Row spread the group out a bunch as well, because the light on Stevens Creek was sooooo short. That’s where an officer’s presence was needed, not at the first regroup. Anyway, we certainly gave the Row a show!
The only accident I witnessed was just before the final regroup, where a gentleman was on the ground surrounded by officers waiting for an ambulance. Apparently he crossed wheels with someone else and went down like a sack of potatoes onto his lidless head. Though out for 30 seconds, he was sitting and talking and I really hope he’s OK this morning and recovers soon. My thoughts were with him throughout the night.
I’d like to use his accident to shine a light on wiggley riding, and how incredibly dangerous it is to everyone around it. When starting, please please concentrate on going in a straight line. It’s not important to you, but it’s terribly inconsiderate and dangerous to the riders coming up from behind. And it’s easy to do. Same thing when going up a hill. Please please focus on riding in a straight line. It’s the most efficient use of power, gets you up the hill sooner, and everyone stays safe.
Not much participation with the science theme, as expected, except for those in white lab coats and cleanroom smocks. White bras on some heads were a nice homage to “Weird Science”, and I heard a few examples of chemistry in action (firecrackers) during the night. My own little project provided a bit of holographic magic to consider, though the subject matter may have been a bit too political. Holography is an interesting (if quirky) blend of science, technology and art, but is very difficult to display properly and therefore never achieved “fad” status. “Weird science”? There it is!
rapid robert
July 19, 2011
Apparently the gentleman who took the fall was wearing a helmet, and he credits it with preventing serious head injury. I’m happy he had one on. To be honest, I’d like to shove it up the A55 of the one who fled the scene.
Pushing 60
July 16, 2011
Our first bike party. WOW! LOVED the ride down Santana Row! Great to see SO MANY riding and such a variety of people and bikes. Often found myself grinning.
A bit scared by a few of the riders speeding by without warning, weaving in and out, biking against the flow, stopping suddenly. Bumped, but didn’t go down a couple times. Saw some wipe outs. Feel bad about the cyclist who was taken away in an ambulance.
Worried about those without needed lights.
Wish the regroups were substantially shorter. Would like to see the ride finish earlier, out of consideration for the neighbors.
Cameron
July 17, 2011
>Worried about those without needed lights.
The first rule of vehicular safety is MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU.
I made up about a dozen cheapie headlights for the April ride. (9-LED flashlights with wire saddles that fit under the handlebars with rubber bands. I used one this month. They work.) Couldn’t give them away. Those without lights DON’T WANT lights. It seems there’s some kind of idiotic “cool” about dressing all in black and riding with no lights or helmet. I wear bright colors anytime or white at night. Some idiot dissed me for it at one of the regroups.
We have to figure out a way to make it UNCOOL TO BE A FOOL. Appeals to reason and knowledge and experience clearly don’t work.
scott
July 17, 2011
@Cameron –
thanks for being proactive and trying, you hit the issue head on with precision… our long tem bike party t-shirt vendor was on a loud speaker offering FREE lights and was largely met with deaf ears.
being creative will get more people to ride with lights but the only thing that will really get them going is a combo of “carrot” and “sticks” and the riders are ok with being cool/invisible and sjpd doesn’t have the resources to ticket 100 to 1500 riders.
TimC
July 18, 2011
@Scott –
Actually, those lights were being sold as a fund-raiser for the Party. The idea was to sell them for $5 each, keeping it very affordable for the riders and making a very small profit for the Party. If you heard them being offered for free, then there was a minor disconnect along the way.
I haven’t gotten a final accounting, but about 30 were gone at the end of the Starbucks regroup. Nearly a sell-out.
The idea is to also sell the button-style batteries for those lights, as well as AA and AAA batteries, so that anyone who has a light will have the means to power it. And again, to also earn a little something for the Party.
Making decently made lights affordable, having proper signage (which we didn’t have this time), and simply getting the word out is all key. Sounds like Cameron had the right idea, he just needed a “retail outlet” (a van w/table & PA) to sell them.
I’m hoping that another SJBP member will be willing to put up the seed money for another round of lights, to help equip riders who otherwise can’t afford higher-cost lighting, and to earn some funds for the Party.
Ultimately, getting lights on more bikes, and getting equipment for the volunteers, all of which will make the Party safer for everyone, is my primary goal.
Is anyone else willing to help? Please contact me if you do. Thanks.
moo
July 19, 2011
I really don’t understand the mentality of those who ride without lights at night. And this isn’t unique to SJBP either. I was driving home tonight around 9:30pm. Saw three bicycles while I was out, and none had lights. One was on a dark residential street and was nearly invisible
.
yogis89
July 16, 2011
There was a female cyclist @ bike party last night, July 15 who wrecked on her ladies fixie bike. Want to know if she is okay. She could not see without her glasses, and she also had her sister help with getting her to safety. Thanks to the guy dressed as a scientist, with his quick medical attention, she was in great hands. Good luck people. Bike party rocks!
scott
July 17, 2011
@yogis89 –
As I showed up one of our ‘super BIRDs’ was indeed helping out. I joined them and we helped give directions to friends to pick them up and waited with them and loaded the bikes in a car.
lessons learned is watch out – and even sometimes that’s not enough! some biker swerved and she tried to avoid him and crashed/got injured as a result.
when you go to bike party i’d recommend that you print multiple copies of a map, take some with you to share, but also leave a map with someone else… you may need a ride and it’ll speed things up.
having decent lights front and rear helps too, as does riding STRAIGHT… so many riders were NOT doing this… this was a HUGE problem Friday night.
as was ‘bike splitting’ where riders go inbetween other bikes w/o any warning. bad move
testrides
July 16, 2011
Shout out to all of the entertainment at cannery park – from the different shops and trick compeition to SJ Taiko, etc. there was a lot of entertainment options!
Thanks for all that donated to the Japanese quake relief fund….
For all those that helped behind the scenes & out on the ride – thank you
For those that were not abiding by the “How We Ride” rules, please do so. we do not want anyone ticketed, arrested, hurt or worse on our rides. Riding straight and safely is the best. Never ride on the opposite side of the road… and we should always share the road better with cars.
If you’d like to get more involved look on facebook for upcoming test rides.
Maia Kerr
July 16, 2011
teh bike party went past my house…. all of it..we were out on the sidewalk cheering everyone on
Jimmy
July 16, 2011
Couldn’t make it, but the ride sounded like a blast! Being in law enforcement myself, I’m a bit bummed to hear that the police acted via the word of the law at SJCC—not that it was a bad thing, but sometimes, you gotta use common sense! I do agree with the above posters that some people need to start implementing lights on their bikes and riding straight for their safety. We don’t want to spark a cyclist/motorist hatred as SJBP tries to ties the two communities together.
I’ll be out for next month’s ride!
Jim Sowers
July 16, 2011
My first SJBP — blown away by the size, and length, of the ride. Great folks and vibe.
I was on a unicycle and got nice props from folks and got to make friends with the mainstay unicyclist at SJBP, SuperMike!
Hope to do it again.
Jim (aka SpinCycle)
dalton
July 16, 2011
this months bike party was amazing!!!
San Jose
July 17, 2011
Riders kicked my car and threatened me, I’m a scared woman alone in my car. Trying to drive home from work but surrounded by bikes that won’t let me move. It’s time to start videotaping offenders and put them in jail.
frantik
July 17, 2011
Yeah, that is one thing I think Bike Party really needs to focus on: *Sharing* the road.
The first time I encountered BP I was in a car. Being surrounded by swerving riders on bikes with no lights is very scary (you don’t want to hit someone).. and that was without people kicking or threatening me.
I rode for a couple miles this Friday.. at first I tried to encourage people to leave a lane for cars… but it was pretty pointless. there were just too many bikes.
It’s cool seeing tons of people on bikes, but clogging up the roads isn’t cool and can cause people to have bad feelings toward BP.
Spliffer
July 17, 2011
The bicyclists who “hijack” the event are not part of the Bike Party Community.
These are small pockets of idiots who show up to pursue their own agenda that is anathema to the ideals of the SJ Bike Party Community.
They represent — at most — less that one percent of the decent “responsible citizens” from all walks of life, who show up, month after month, to “ride and abide by the rules of SJ Bike Party.”
The SJ Bike Party volunteers do not put in their hard “labor of love” to throw a party for “jerks”!
Bike party was created to get along with cars by sharing the road and, a “core principle” of that ideal is to promote safe bicycling.
Safety is paramount to the Bike Party Community.
If you really study this site, you will see that Bike Party fills a void, by serving as an educational resource centre, where all bicyclists can learn how to ride safely in traffic.
The criticism and complaints are all valid and, it’s cool that folks can come here and voice their complaints, however; the popularity of SJ Bike Party serves a positive force within the community. It is a “safe” and welcoming place where bicyclists of every stripe, skill level and age, can learn how to ride their bicycles safely on the street and share the road with cars.
To quote one of our more thoughtful Bike Party members: ” this event does far, FAR more good for the community than any harm it has wrought.”
Peace and Bike Party forever!
frantik
July 17, 2011
Dude, at the start of the ride, 10th street was filled with bikes across all three lanes.. it wasn’t a “small pocket of idiots”, everybody was riding like that. I tried to encourage people to leave one lane open but it was just not possible with the amount of bikes on the road. I ended up getting ahead of the main pack and it thinned out, but where the bulk of the riders were, the entire street was blocked no matter how many lanes were used.
Even if you say it’s people “hijacking” the party, they still reflect on the entire group. When you throw a party, you’re responsible for all of your guests, even the uninvited ones.
I do see on this website a lot of good suggestions, it’s just that on the actual ride, enforcement is left up to a small number of volunteers who have no authority. As bike party continues to grow, the impact on the community will be more and more.
For a party with 3000 people in San Jose, Bike Party is relatively problem free.. but the impact of 3000 people on city streets alone can still be significant.
scott
July 17, 2011
I’m so sorry that your car has been surrounded.
I’ve seen first hand that we have two issues with riders not sharing the road:
1) those that don’t know any better, that hopefully we can reach
2) those that are purposely being jerks – and worse – that we’ll have trouble reaching
——
this is where we need more BIRDs to help and more riders to back em up.
the “herd mentality” is a problem… on most of 10th street riders had to be kept being told to leave the left lane open… often we’d pass and afterwards riders would go back to the left lane.
we can take/own ONE lane of traffic. nowhere in the CA DMV handbook does it say we can take more than that!
2) the purposely bad/illegal behavior is a bit harder to stop and is either “seemingly benign” where the rider doesn’t think it hurts anyone.
these were the 50+ riders that illegally shortcut bascom before moorpark… or the not letting cars thru when it’s super easy to do so
but this is BS, anything that is done illegally or without any respect to drivers and pedestrians reflects badly on bike party and encourages others to do follow your lead.
the worst is the “malignant” behaviors like the constant riding on the wrong side of the street, surrounding cars, and yes the taunting or pounding on windows.
as far as spliffer’s comments… i love his intent but we need to be real here. the 1% bad apples is far higher in summer, more like 5% and there’s 2-3x that number that all to easily can follow their lead …. IF we don’t have enough rider support to stop bad behavior.
bottom line: SHARE THE ROAD & HAVE A GOOD VIBE
Rapid Robert
July 18, 2011
How about 3000 pedestrians, or motorcyclists? they’d take the whole street too, at the start. It’s just a big group. 3000 sports fans getting out of a game they won? Can anyone say riot? Beatings?
Young male bike riders are going to wear all black and ride against traffic with no lights because that’s what young men do. That’s why they’re sent, and volunteer for combat. They believe it attracts young women, and they’re right. But this is an overwhelmingly peaceful and safe event. And the vast, vast, vast majority make it home safe, despite the tiny, tiny risk they take by riding on our overlit and wonderfully paved city streets without helmets or lights.
The reason so many ride without lights is because, most likely, nothing will happen to them. Drivers can’t see them, but they can see the cars. It’s stupid, but that’s life. What’s not mentioned is the hundreds, if not thousands, of young men who start riding because of all the bike parties in the area. Or those who buy new or better lights after riding with us and learning about what’s available and works best. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”
Steve
July 17, 2011
The cop at SJCC could have better served writing actual citations for lack of lights instead of harassing people playing music.
As for the punks on fixies yelling “FCUK the Police!” to the officers tending to the old guy that wrecked, grow up.
Jimmy
July 17, 2011
That’s why I secretly hate fixie riders!
JellyCube
July 20, 2011
Personally I would actually tell them to GTFO of Bike Party
I’m also tempted to take pictures of the offenders kinda like how Slice of NY has a wall of shame at their pizza parlor.
mrrabbit
July 17, 2011
Thanks for posting…
I’ll say the following and I hope people pass this around:
FELLOW RIDERS! PLEASE DO NOT SWARM CARS AT STOP LIGHTS WHETHER WAITING TO GO STRAIGHT OR TO MAKE A TURN. STAY BEHIND AND TO THE SIDE THAT THE “BIRDS” INDICATE.
FOR A PERSON WITH A HEART CONDITION – GETTING SWARMED BY 200 CYCLISTS REPRESENTING 200 “POTENTIAL ACCIDENTAL TARGETS” IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A FATAL HEART ATTACK – MUCH LESS AN ACTUAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
THANK YOU!
- mrrabbit
Hope that helps…
=8-)
Yogis89
July 18, 2011
We need to some how , enforce the use of protective head gear of some sort and carry lights on bikes and be more respectful towards others using the roads. Pay attention to the traffic signals and your keep an eye out for cars. People are just not paying attention, while cycling.
Rapid Robert
July 18, 2011
“Enforcing the use of head gear” is a TERRIBLE idea. Enforce it how? And why? The reason all these “bike parties” are growing in popularity is because they are tapping the vast resource of lidless utility riders that are automatically turned away by all organized bike club rides and other group riding events that all require styrofoam hats to participate.
YOU want to wear a hat to ride, fine. I support anything that gets people riding. You want to “force” ME to wear a hat to ride a bicycle and the finger comes out of its holster real fast! If anyone is looking for one very good reason young men wear all black, ride on the left side and don’t respect even peer authority, here it is: the idiotic law that requires those under 18 to wear bicycle helmets, when they’re old enough to join the army at 17. It’s ridiculous. They know it, rebel against it and disconnect from whatever else is laid on them by the schoolmarms.
moo
July 18, 2011
Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the authority to enforce anything, much like I can’t really do much about drivers I see talking on cell phones while driving. We can’t kick people off a public road, even if they are breaking the law.
That being said, if there is something we can do to get everyone to use lights, follow the traffic laws, and be courteous to other road users, we should do it.
Note that helmets are required by law for riders under 18. They are not a legal requirement for those 18 and over. I would personally agree that helmets are a good idea, but the law allows people to ride without them.
Cameron
July 18, 2011
The regroup at Lawrence and El Camino seemed to go on forever. Was that to make up for the problem at San Jose City College?
Yogicycles
July 18, 2011
SJCC and Police
I hung around SJCC away from the group to have some snacks and put on warm clothes.
I ended up meeting the Lead Facilities man on duty, and he said he was the one who called the cops. He was not mad, just really surprised that the group showed up, and didn’t know how many more people were going to be coming (“There is so many of you guys!!”) I explained the “more good, than harm to the community” and he totally agreed and actually wants to join us on his next Friday off!
That said, I was wondering what type of coordination the organizers do with local law enforcement or buildings/parking lots regarding the rest stops. (this may be a conversation to not be had on this forum) My friends and I have worked lots of local government and state entities to make events happen- maybe not “sanctioned” but at least not closed down. I was wondering if the leaders have someone in this roll (or is it a bad idea?)
Great ride… more reflections later
Ian
July 18, 2011
This is a great discussion to have at the volunteer meeting.
Rise
July 25, 2011
I have contact with the SJPD personnel in charge of coordinating the response to Bike Party, I’ll be at the volunteer meeting this month.
Spliffer
July 18, 2011
RR, while many share your “common sense” views on some of our persistent and recurring problems within the Bike Party Community, I don’t think it would be “politically expedient” to follow that trend of thought to it’s logical conclusion.
Actually, recent published research in Developmental Psychology and Physiology tend to support some of your views but, we have to continue “wrestling the beast” — if you will — even though it is a struggle against: manifest, predictable tendencies in the developmental and maturation stages of the male brain.
Maybe we should invite a few Psychologists, within the Bike Party community, to attend a monthly volunteer meeting to offer some pointers and, advice on methods that we could disseminate through BIRD training.
For what it’s worth, it’s just a suggestion.
I think if we compare our year over year results, we seem to be getting better. A year ago we had many pressing and challenging problems, that had the whole SJ Bike Party community “stressed out”. So I think, the BP community should press forward as it continues to improve, one baby step at a time.
We seemed to have eliminated our trash and litter problem and, that is a BIG victory for the Bike Party super trooper Ravens!
Jimmy
July 18, 2011
Does anyone have pictures or video of the trick comp at shorty fatz??
Bikepartybruh
July 18, 2011
@timC
Im pretty sure I saw it all go down . How can i help the man out
TimC
July 19, 2011
@Bikepartybruh – thanks for the reply (not sure why I didn’t see it earlier).
Here’s the gentleman’s email: simonlodewijks@yahoo.com
He’ll be really pleased to hear from you.
Thanks for caring.
Ian
July 19, 2011
it got caught in the spam filter….
TimC
July 19, 2011
There was a serious collision on Monroe St, late during the 7/15 Ride, between an older gentleman on an electric bike and another cyclist who fled the scene.
The gentleman, 72 year old Simon Lodewijks, was knocked unconscious and rushed to the hospital. He’s thankfully recovering from his injuries.
If you witnessed the accident, please contact him with any information you can provide: simonlodewijks@yahoo.com Thank you.
mrrabbit
July 19, 2011
I recognize the gentleman. Chatted with him for a quick minute at the start around 7:00pm after the Alum Rock feeder arrived. Saw him once or twice during the ride as well.
Thought occurred to me…people were taking videos and pictures during the entire ride with one hand using palm sized cameras. Not a minute went without someone doing it.
So out there in the Internet “morass” are several people who have pictures of the gentleman and surrounding riders – throughout the various stages of the ride.
Would be nice if folks could check,and if so, send ‘em them in.
=8-)
Andy
July 20, 2011
Just want to say thanks to Scott who was helping and making sure bikers make a safe left turn on Moorpark from Bascom.
Also for lending me an 8mm alan wrench. I was able to fix my loosen crank bolt… nobody seemed to have this size alan wrench… next ride I will make sure to bring one with me. Almost had to walk home from Santana Row… thanks again!
Tian
July 21, 2011
Another great ride! I still love doing this, two or three years later. Again last Friday I took lots of pictures. You can see them by visiting this page:
http://tian.greens.org/SanJose/BikeParty/ScienceRide/index.html
I took my State quarter collection to the ride, partly to use a little science and connect “States”, “change” and playing games. Unfortunately, I lost my Hawaii quarter during the evening somehow. If anybody sees one of those in your change I’ll gladly buy it for double the cash value.