Wow. Bike party riders really stepped up to the plate tonight, to throw together an amazing ride with some fantastic press coverage. Estimates range from 3,500 people at the start to 2,200 riders after the second re-group (both are estimates), but even with such astounding growth, we saw much fewer of the “growing pains” problems of past rides.
Many, many riders stepped up to volunteer as BIRDs keeping our ride peaceful and organized or as planners, testing the route and ensuring its success. If you would like to volunteer, please sign up here. Many more riders read the website and courteously observed our How We Ride rules, reminding each other to stop for red lights and doing an awesome job staying to the right when we could (even the Channel 5 reporter pointed out it would have been hard to keep to the right in downtown, not bad).
We all have ideas, and together we can continue to make Bike Party better. (A lot of us mentioned a desire to bring back more goofy Bike Party spirit – we should come up with some chants or songs for the ride…) The best part of Bike Party is that we keep changing and evolving to meet the needs of San Jose’s growing bike community. So send in your thoughts, your stories, and your feedback, and check back here often to find out about our next planning meeting where we can begin to put it all into action. Happy Bike Party!
eatwesty
August 22, 2009
next bike party i will try and sell water again and carry more tools and tires. i didnt make to much of a profit off of water. I also like the fact that jerry’s locked there doors from the flood of people. that was great!!! i do however think we should find a spot to start at that has less entrances because people dont really like to listen to the birds. and thank you phsyco donut! those things were friggin awesome! overall i think it was a good ride except for the start. us birds had a really hard time trying to control traffic of people and i also think we need more bull horns. oh yeah and john q. i would really really appreciate it if i could get my radio that you borrowed from me. my grandfather is p.o.d!
SmokinDrinkin&Skiddin
August 22, 2009
Yeah, it sucks that cops pull people over, and ticket them. You can’t really complain. What do you expect? If i roll up to a red light, with a bunch of people stopped, and a cop on the corner, I’ll stop. But if there’s only a handful, no cop, and no cars about to cross the intersection, I’m not stopping. If a cop try’s to pull me over in my car, I’ll pull over. If a cop try’s to pull me over on my bike, I’m not stopping. fuck that. I know how to ride my bike, if I decide to get drunk, and eat shit, I deserve it.
John Dixon
August 23, 2009
Mike G:
Although my fixed gear bike doesn’t have a break handle, I still have breaks.
21201. (a) No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
I can do this. Most fixed riders can. My dominant leg applying pressure to my pedals at the correct moment (with the correct force) to make me skid.
Is this considered a “break?”
admin
August 23, 2009
John Dixon,
That interpretation is really up to the police officer citing you….
mreligio
August 23, 2009
To Mike G.
I was one of those people pulled over. The admin was kind enough to even repost my posting on this topic XD (thanks!). Also, I wrote a quick story about my situation here on the forums at
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/forum/general-discussion/moving-violation-contest-l-turn-onto-almaden#p44
As far as bicycle equipment, my road bike had reflectors on both wheels, tail + head light, front/rear breaks, backpack + shoes had kinda dulled reflectors, and I’m over 18.
Ernest witnessed what happened to me and my friend, and he thankfully observed the situation. I’m hoping there are more witnesses out there that can more fully paint a complete picture that we can use as evidence to contest this violation.
Thanks anyone who can help! I don’t know how I can repay anyone who helps, friendship/bird volunteer next summer
?
Garrett Birkel
August 23, 2009
VERY large pictures of the starting point here:
http://garote.bdmonkeys.net/Bike_Party-August_2009/
MASHING SJ
August 23, 2009
John dixon. They really want a real break. Not just leg power. Most bike shops that sell fixed gear bikes will tell u the same. Many of my friends have been given tickets for riding with no breaks. Most times its just a fixit ticket.
You can also put yer foot on yer front or rear tire and skid, but that don’t count as a break.
So Mreligio.. that is a huge bummer. I wish I was neer this suituation so I could help out. If your going to fight it try to figure out if all the lights in that intersection had cameras.
I wish u the best of luck.
KS
August 23, 2009
SJPD has a history of making examples of people and over-policing in the dt SJ club district. Judging by how pissed off and unfriendly many police were walking around you sensed that they wanted to shut down SJBP.
When we started riding slooowly on Woz Way some were outside their cars, pulling riders aside asking about lights. In two cases I saw, grabbing their bikes by the handlebars!
The bummer is that is that “mregilio” did the legal thing and stopped when asked to do so, instead of keeping riding and getting lost in the sea of bikers.
So even if you’re innocent, you’re screwed dude. Winning against a cop in court is like playing lotto to make the rent. Not good odds dude. Especially if the judge has something up his you know what against critical mass or SJBP. He/ she may think we’re all the same.
Wuss912
August 23, 2009
I think we should be working with the police. during the planning stages and they should not have to infiltrate us with under covers.
From what i saw of the ride they were trying to protect us from ourselves. there were a lot of unskilled riders and i saw a couple of accidents that occurred because someone was riding beyond their abilities.
mike g
August 23, 2009
MASHING SJ pretty much covered what i was going to say!
mreligio thats pretty crappy. just read your story.fight it. get as many people as you can that saw the whole thing and fight it.
i know quite a few people who have fought tickets like this. and they have almost always won due to the officer who cited the ticket never showing up to court. now i cant say that this will happen. Mashing sj made a bunch of great points.
in my experience with cops and brakes. ive been told you need a coaster or a hand leaver brake.
oh yea one you wont find alot of print on. and this pretty much goes out to the Fixed gear guys & gals. track standing at a light is not considered a stop at all. you need to come to a complete stop and put at least one foot on the ground. dont do that and it could be a ticket. running a red ticket and those are damn expensive!
Wuss912
August 23, 2009
@60 you can’t run a red light even if you don’t stop as long as you wait for the light to change.
Rapid Robert
August 23, 2009
I agree with you Wuss912. All the police departments should know where we’ll be as early as possible so it’s easy for them to plan. I saw a uniformed officer on a bike at the start, but not along the route.
I appreciated the police escorts for cars passing the group along Tasman. As everyone likes to say, “This isn’t CM”, so what’s wrong with them blocking intersections at the start to facilitate moving the mass through the city faster when it’s at maximum density? They’re protecting everyone’s interests, not just those in the party.
It’s ridiculous for one of them to gripe about sound level. That guy’s name should’ve been recorded so we can file a proper complaint against him. It’s a freakin’ parade. We have the right to blast music at 9:00! We should make the next ride the NOISEMAKER RIDE, just for him.
If a few out of 3,000 got tickets for incidentals, take it for the team. If it’s a legitamate infraction but “everyone else was doing it”, it’s the same as getting a speeding ticket on the freeway. Pay your dues. If it’s just wrong, take a witness with you and tell it to the judge. That’s the way the system works.
If you hear a BIRD squawkin’, they’re tellling you you’re doing not just disrespecting the hosts of the party, you’re also gonna’ piss off pedestrians, drivers and the police. It’s the presence of BIRDs that keeps the police out of the crowd. Cut ‘em some slack. Back ‘em up.
mike g
August 23, 2009
Bike party is not a parade. You need permiting for it to be a parade.
As far as noise goes I think stereos should not be herd like 50 or 75 feet away and should be no louder than 95 db’s .. could be wrong couldent find totaly acurate info
Rapid Robert
August 23, 2009
OK, it’s not Critical Mass and it’s not a Parade. But it is a critical mass of bicyclists, parading as one through the city.
Wuss912
August 23, 2009
the noise laws seem to be pretty clear…
http://www.nonoise.org/lawlib/cities/sanjose.htm
if you are warned you probably should turn it down. esp if you are riding near a residential neighborhood. (some people have kids)
this is one of the reasons the rides should avoid residential neighborhoods if at all possible.
Jahlaen
August 23, 2009
Wow!
I have to jump in to add my two cents on all the hubub about the SJPD because of the overwhelming number of comments on what went on downtown with the police.
I am not one to carry water for the SJPD, but as a lifetime law abiding citizen in a country of laws, I actually am pleased with the policing and the behavior of all the police departments who showed up to make sure our ride went well.
And I am not going to argue with SJPD. Heck, San Jose holds the title as the “safest Big City” in the U.S.A. and that is a title I want my adopted hometown to maintain and never relinquish.
I saw some excellent police work at the beginning of the ride — where some nutty and bad elements where pulled over and got ticketed.
As a BIRD, I was pleased that one rude dude, who told me to F-off, got pulled over and ticketed for running a red light. That made my job real easy after the assembled mass around me witnessed the inceident. It was “sooo” sweet!
While I empathize with some of you, who claim to have been wronged, hey; I love the message the SJPD sent to folks downtown. Frankly, I think they set the tone for the rest of the ride because that $336-red-light-running-ticket is a steep and a strong deterrent.
Folks, the police were our friends on this last ride and I think — it is just wise to follow the traffic laws to the letter when you have such a strong police presence, like we had last Friday night.
However, some of our SJBP attendees failed the “critical thinking” test and will be hit real hard in the pocket-book.
Heck, folks were warned after last month’s ride when a post from a SJ police officer stated clearly — for all to read — that a crack-down on law breakers was coming on the next ride. There is a saying in Spanish which goes: “En guerra avisada no muere soldado” –roughly translates as: “a duly warned soldier does not die in war” or forwarned is forarmed…
We can either sit on bench somewhere, with our brethren, who felt that they were wronged by the SJPD, or we can learn from these incidents –move-on and be stronger in spite of it. In essence ‘yawl’ will pay the price so SJBP can be stronger and safer in the future.
Good luck to ‘yous’ in your up-coming court battles. Perhaps we can create a future “phantom account” somewhere to help ONLY with objective, proven and legitimate complaints. How it would be administered is anybody’s guess. For this post it’s just an idea. An attempt at empathy, eh…
My point to those people with beefs against SJPD is: We feel your pain!
But despite collective group of isolated incidents, SJBP has no reason to go hating or maligning any police department.
In fact, I would use this forum to heap thanks & praises to each and every police department that showed up to assist SJBP without hampering too much the spirit of the movement.
Peace my bicycling brethren!
Found Roger Lynn's camera
August 23, 2009
Hi Roger,
My friend Paige found your camera. Send me an email @ jules111007@hotmail.com and describe the pics on it and best way to reach you to return it. No reward necessary, just want it to go back to the right owner.
Julie
Ref#10 Comment:
Roger Lynn
August 22nd, 2009 9:52 am
HELP please!
I lost my camera somewhere after the second water stop. It is an blue and silver Olympus stylus 770 SW.
Reward!
greg everling
August 24, 2009
Thank You for a G R E A T time! what an experience. I came out from Chico for this event and dont want to miss another one. See you next ride. Bike Party!
Ryan B's Issues with SJPD
August 24, 2009
As we began the ride down Woz way, a friend and I had the following interaction with an officer with SJPD:
“Thanks for being here officer”
“I’m not here for you.”
“Well… thanks for keeping us safe anyway.”
“I’m not here for your safety; I don’t care about you; keep moving!”
If this is the attitude of any officer of any police department, then we, the citizenry that pays taxes that fund these departments, should be outraged; at least I am outraged.
If law enforcemnent exists to protect and serve, then they are obligated to follow through. I respect and appreciate law enforcement and as a law abiding, tax paying citizen, I expect that same respect and appreciation from law enforcement.
During the ride, I made a point to thank every officer present that I encountered. I received nothing but hostility and disrespect from SJPD and I am ashamed. I am ashamed that I am an active and prodiuctive member of a community with such a disrespectful and hostile police force.
When we were in Milpitas and Santa Clara, the police responded with ‘you’re welcome’ to my ‘thank you’s’ which indicates to me a mutual respect; one that I EXPECT from my police department. I think that mutual respect something that we, the citizens of San Jose, should all expect from OUR police department. I emphasize the word ‘OUR’ because they work for us. They exists to protect and serve us. If we are breaking the law, then yes, we are subject to their authority.
I want to make clear though that I observed the law on Friday night. I obeyed the rules of the road and the law to the letter and was still told, as indicated above, that the police department was not there for me nor did they care.
I recognize that unlawfulness and unruliness were prevasive throughout the 3,000 person crowd on Friday, but that doesn’t mean that we were all breaking the law; that doesn’t mean that we should all be treated as potential criminals just because we showed up to ride bikes.
If you are a member of law enforcement and still feel that I am second class citizen or unworthy of protection, then I want you to cut me a check for reiumbursement for your salary paid by my tax dollars.
the Ryan
August 24, 2009
Reflections on Beach Blanket:
While this wasn’t necassarily my favorite route, I am extremely impressed with how well everything happened Friday night. The sense of parade was lost a little from choosing an industrial route, but Friday’s ride was so critical that what was done had to be done in order to protect our ride from community crack-down. We were under so much scrutiny on Friday: the cops, the press, the expectations from everyone in the community, including the riders. And we accomplished what we set out to do, and I think the coverage on CBS testifies to that.
This was also my first ride as a BIRD, so I was a little on guard as I rode, watching for negative attitudes that could threaten others and the ride as a whole. Compared to No Pants and Light Rider, I saw almost nothing. I know there were a few who got blasted beyond belief, but I personally saw no one over-intoxicated. I heard no foul words shouted other one girl who yelled at a milpitas cop and someone who tried (unsucessfully) to get everyone to run a light on tasman. As a BIRD all I really had to do was tell people to get out of the far left land when a car was coming, and everyone did.
I think we proved to ourselves and others that we can keep this going, even with such a massive size. I think next month (and I plan on going to the next meeting) we should make the route a little funner but still focus on self-policing and keeping up the positive attitudes. I also liked the idea that someone else posted on having the theme be “noise-maker.” That would definetly up the ‘parade’-feel of the ride.
Does anyone know why the couch bike got pulled over?
testrides
August 24, 2009
Some great press on ch 5, on Banane blog — http://www.banane.com/2009/08/23/san-jose-bike-party/
Thanks for the support of BIRDs. Special shout out to the KRUZ3R MOB “BEACH CRUISERS”
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=92253154251&ref=ts
We still need a LOT more volunteers! We need to “self police” ourselves better! We need people with a wide variety of skill sets. So join us!
Please don’t just comment on this blog, please take some time to fill out this form:
http://www.sjbikeparty.org/who-we-are
Join the BIRDs fan page also and/or join us on a pre-ride. Become a BIRD or simply a better rider! We’ll announce this month’s pre-rides by this Thursday morning. (maybe late Wed night)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SJBP-BIRDs/124988094282
Thank you!
Diane
August 24, 2009
Thank you SJ Bike Party! This was my 3rd Bike Party and my first as a B.I.R.D. It was just as much fun and thank goodness I didn’t see any accidents like I saw on the June and July rides. I saw many fewer drunk weedies who are the ones weaving into people and causing accidents. I was happy to see almost everyone stopping at red lights. This ride seemed alot safer. My first ride I was scared (I saw a half dozen people go down–bad accidents) so I went through the red lights along with everyone else. Now that I know I won’t be left behind and there are BIRDS and at least one awesome Bike Party Mom (in her SUV looking out for folks who need rides) I’m following all of the rules. I think as folks do more rides they will get with the program. I didn’t see any rode rage bikers like I saw in July. In fact on Old Oakland Road a guy driving trapped car complained saying he’d been waiting for the bikes to clear out and this cool bike lady had us clear a bike path so he could drive out. I really love SJ Bike Party and I hope we can continue. I notice SJPD don’t do one thing to promote safety and goodwill. Contrast them with Santa Clara and Milpitas Police who were out there with police cars at major intersections helping bike partiers get thru major intersections safely and saying things like” ride safe” whereas SJPD said mean things like they are only out there to bust. Maybe others saw SJPD in a better light out there.
LAWMAN
August 24, 2009
LIKES:
1. Great Turnout from all bikers!
2. Great route…20 miles was perfect
3. Downtown start was great, because it was close to where it ends and it brings more downtown visibility
4. Santa Clara Police! Stopping cross traffic helps move the ride along. I’ve got newfound respect for you guys!
5. The music couch! of course.
6. Those that brought the music…especially the Rastaman with the boom box…what an inspiration. Jah Jah.
7. All the positive people on the ride…i did not see one negative rider.
8. Cheers to those that brought their kids.
9. Thanks to all the admins…great planning.
DISLIKES:
1. San Jose Police…i don’t think they made the city any safer by using the “wait and ticket” approach. Should learn something from Santa Clara PD…the sooner you get the bicyclist out of downtown by controlling traffic, the earlier you can get a jump on fighting REAL crime…this ain’t no Maybarry. Great cities have PD’s that allow good clean fun to run it’s course. Come on, pulling over the music couch!? WTF
2. People need to pick up your trash!!!
3. The fuel, motorized bicycles where driving a little dangerously fast…i would hate to see what a collision would look like.
4. The website had a glitch, the directions where missing.
5. Need more birds…(thanks to those who volunteered)
Summary: I will be there for the next one…3,000 bicyclist in a city of million is not a lot and should be more. Our city needs this event to keep it fun, healthy, safe and exciting. Starting it in the downtown area is where we can generate the positive political change for more bicycle access and improvements.
Ernest
August 24, 2009
The ironic thing about the police ticketing us is that every ticket is another reason for them to shut down BP.
When the time comes for BP to have to face off with a handful of “concerned citizens” and city council, the police department is gonna come forth and say “Yup, look at all these tickets we have to write on each ride. BP breaks too many laws!”
So yeah… I think the city trying to shut down BP is inevitable, especially since it’s growing exponentially, and with tickets on top of that. It’s just a matter of time until some people start making a big enough fuss about it.
What matters at this point is the steps that the BP organizers are taking to prevent this – like trying to minimize violence and setting up the “rules.” I just don’t think that will be enough though. People will either keep getting in fights and running red lights. Or even worse… all it takes is one really bad event to occur at bike party, before the local media switches against us and the city will feel obligated to shut it down.
I don’t know… Any Thoughts? Any Feelings?
scott
August 24, 2009
Ernest @75, it’s not the organizers that need to do a lot more. It’s the riders. It’s ALL of US. As a BIRD my job would be a LOT easier with 100-200 more BIRDs.
There must be at least 1000 riders that meet the requirements (2 or more rides and live the “How We Ride” mantra). So, look for the announcements for pre-rides and sign up! It’s not hard and it’s a lot of fun. Plus you get to know even more great people!
It’s up to ALL of US to save SJBP or let it out of our grasp! It’s your call folks, step up or don’t complain when it’s gone…. cuz by then it’ll be too late.
sam
August 24, 2009
SJPD = the new LAPD. Bleh.
Jahlaen
August 25, 2009
Well, I am pleased to see the comments evolving to more substantive issues like the strategic challenges and opportunities confronting the Bike Party organization as we go forward.
Friends, I don’t think SJPD is an enemy nor a threat to SJBP; in fact, I see them as a natural ally in keeping Bike Party going strong. But that relationship depends primarily on how the folks in Bike Party manage and control their own business from within.
I would like to add support to Scott’s idea that we need many more BIRDs. in fact we need a commensurate increase in the number of BIRDs every month to match the increasing number of riders. We will lose control if we allow the growth in riders to outstrip a commensurate percentage increase in the number of BIRDs.
The truth is, BIRDs and their sympathizers are the backbone of SJBP and we can’t have enough of them.
The organization can draw up the greatest ride plan but, once the ride starts — with let’s say 3500 to 5000 bicyclist — we should be confident that we have sufficeint numbers of well trained BIRDs to control and steer the “amorphuous pastiche” of cyclist along the establish route safely and efficiently while preserving the ideals of SJBP.
Being a BIRD is fun, however; I will not try to sell it as a great job or assignment for everybody. I enjoy the assignment very much and will never give it up. The benefits I receive are in the pre-ride training and just hanging out with folks who share a passion for Bike Party and seeing the process come together every month.
But personally, I have learned and attained a higher level of humility, patience, teamwork, sacrifice and most of all I’ve learned not take things personally.
If you want to keep SJBP going strong for years to come; have a passion for cycling and/or desire to improve and to reach a higher level of personal development in the affore mentioned areas, then, I think you should become a BIRD.
You would receive instant acceptance into a special group of individuals whose raison d’etre is to make positive things happen. Most people talk about doing stuff but, BIRDs simply get things done without a lot of fanfare and bravado.
In my humble opinion BIRDs are the essence of “cool”.
We take a lot of crap from the usuall 1% of DBs who show up every month to disrupt Bike Party.
We do trash detail and a lot of menial task because our goal is to leave every regroup area cleaner than when we arrive. We baby sit a lot of “wet diappers” and we work to diffuse and avoid conflicts. So if you have a disire to serve and grow — “just come on down’ and volunteer for BIRD duty.
Nobody is rejected — everybody is accepted and we need YOU now!
the Ryan
August 25, 2009
Quick thoughts on being a BIRD:
I was stationed at the right hand turn from Coleman Ave onto Brokaw for about 20 minutes with another BIRD. It’s really dark there, the ride had thinned out with large gaps due to lights by the airport, and the turn wasn’t very clear. We were directing bikes to the turn and in that 20 minutes I got so many ‘thank yous’ and ‘bike parties!’ shouted at me, it was great. I felt like the effort was appreciated.
A lot of people, mostly new riders, saw my BIRD patch and asked me questions about the ride and I feel like I was able to help.
It really wasn’t that much effort and the more BIRDS we have out there the longer we will keep this thing going.
ragingworker
August 25, 2009
One of the best things to happen to this community has been SJBP. I grew up in San Jose and wish this had been around back then. Building a sense of community is exactly what this town needs.
The reason I became a BIRD is because I support cycling, volunteering, and helping to keep BP alive and positive. Feedback from new riders and neighbors that our rides have passed have been encouraging.
Take responsibility by helping out in some way and become a BIRD. Bike Party’s success is a direct reflection of our collective efforts.
the Ryan
August 25, 2009
There’s been talk among these comments and in other places that Bike Party is on its way to being shut down. This negative, defeatist attitude is the first step toward loosing our ride. Rather than sulk and moan, we all should be doing something about it. Come to a meeting, go on a pre-ride, donate money, become a BIRD. If we stay positive, realistic, and most importantly active, we don’t have to see this thing get shut down.
Also, whether you like it or not, police are a fact of life, especially in San Jose. If you have a problem with the police, whining about it here won’t solve anything. Join a citizen’s committee or a watchdog group if you think the police are being unjust, go to a city council meeting if you have something to say (does anyone remember how many turned up at a council meeting one night to voice their opinions on public intoxication arrests downtown? they stayed late into the night to let everyone who filled out a speaker card comment, and those voices weren’t in vain, either). Just don’t think that ranting here is going to solve anything, or that yelling at the cops is going to. Take action and do something about it instead.
Bike Party isn’t a political movement. No matter what indivdual riders are here for, it’s about building community and having fun. So get some lights, ride straight, and bike party!
KS
August 25, 2009
Googled “san jose bike party August” and found this note from the SJBP organizers on a Yelp thread. It’s from August 2008 – not 2009!
One thing that is wonderful about San Jose Bike Party, is that everyone is welcome: all bicycle types, all types of riders.
Our main goal, its to have fun, meet friends, and enjoy time on our bicycles. However, not everyone is welcome.
If you choose to write graffiti during the ride, you are not welcome.
If you choose to harass cars, pedestrians, and cops for NO reason, you are not welcome.
If you choose to destroy property, knock down cones or signs, you are not welcome.
If you choose to throw your beer cans or other trash on the ground, you are not welcome.
If you think this ride is an opportunity to be a jackass and get away with it, you are not welcome.
If you are too drunk to ride, you are not welcome. Know your limit.
Today, I kindly ask that those of you who cannot abide by these simple rules, to stop riding with us.
During the ride, I will not ask you so kindly.
When people break the law recklessly, they are not only putting themselves in danger, they are putting the entire ride in danger.
Secondly, I ask all of you fellow positive riders to please help out. If you see someone who is breaking the law, harassing someone, littering, writing graffiti, etc please kindly ask them to stop. We are getting very large. The 5-10 of us who are actively planning the rides cannot talk to everyone. We need everyone’s help.
Wuss912
August 25, 2009
have we asked the police to help patrol the parking lots we rest stop in? seems like they could catch a lot of the undesireables breaking the law.
Rapid Robert
August 25, 2009
The parking lots used for regroups is the LAST place we want the police to be. You want the police standing in the middle of your livingroom durring a party at your house? The only issues the police have with us are when we’re on the move:
1) left side show-offs.
2) red light runners,
3) traffic blockers, and
4) drunk riders.
Those doing all the above are repeatedly asked to not ride with SJBP, but we can only do so much to stop them. If they’re still in the crowd, we should help the police pick ‘em out.
KS
August 25, 2009
Isn’t the real problem not the police but waaaay too many riders to start with? and too many riders w/o headlights? and too many that don’t share the road w/ bikes? too few to volunteers to “self police?” So they think we’re out of control.
Look at how SJPD freaks out in the First street area. So of course with 10x more people than a single bar or nightclub, they’re gonna freak out. But SJ Taiko wasn’t shut down, so someone in SJPD must like us.
If we can prove we can self police I think they’ll leave us alone. Which means we can’t take up the left lane, must have a headlight, etc. Sounds impossible, but so did stopping for red lights a few months ago.
KS
August 25, 2009
Obviously in the previous post I meant to say too many “that don’t share the road w/ cars.” haha
mike g
August 25, 2009
i think the only real prolbems are negative attitudes, to other riders, birds, and the police.
if people were more positive we would have plenty of less problems.
let me also state that i don’t think there are that many prolbems with the ride at all! especially this last ride! i think it was one of the best rides so far.
To the BIRDS don’t let negative riders get you down. i did see a few Birds on the ride who had given up due to D-Bags or people not listening. dont give up! be vocal be persistent!
the Ryan
August 25, 2009
RE: mike g’s post
you’re right, there wasn’t a lot wrong with this ride at all. we’ve lost sight by focusing on small things but what we should do is look at the overwhelming success of “beach blanket.” the ride accomplished what we set out to do and it was a lot of fun.
also, as a BIRD that night, I didn’t have a single person disrespect me or say anything negative about me or toward me. In fact, like I’ve said, tons of people thanked me. It was great and I strongly encourage everyone who’s passionate about this thing to give it a shot. It’s not as much work as it sounds and the more people we have as BIRDs, the more we can all share the duties.
SmokinDrinkin&Skiddin
August 25, 2009
A bird rolled up to the circle, asked to hit the blunt. He ripped it like a champ.
Ernest
August 25, 2009
Yeah, I can’t imagine having cops patrol the rest-stop parking lots. That’s like saying we’re incompetent of handling ourselves – which I refuse to believe in the first place.
lol, it would take a lot of police to patrol those huge parking lots too. And I’m sure people won’t take kindly to that idea.
I think increasing the number of BIRDS, as a lot of people suggested earlier on this thread, is a pretty good idea. I just don’t think it’s the end-all-be-all to our problems. A good first step, nonetheless.
How many BIRDS are there currently? And how many riders were there on Friday? 3,000?
Wuss912
August 26, 2009
Well what can a bird really do to enforce someone into doing something?
it almost seems like they have less power than a mall cop…. basically none at all…
Rapid Robert
August 26, 2009
BIRD power and authority comes from crowd support. If nobody backs them up, you’re right. They’d have no power beyond the power of any individual citizen. With support from the crowd, they have massive power.
KS
August 26, 2009
@Wuss912, Paul Blart? LMAO If there were 2-3x as many BIRDs and the crowd’s with the BIRDs then LOTS of subtle peer pressure. And less that the BIRD has to do.
the Ryan
August 26, 2009
What made things easy when I was on BIRD duty was others, BIRDS and non-BIRDS, jumped in to help me out.
It worked something like this: a car would come in the left lane, I would start yelling for the bikes in that lane to move over, everyone else around me would start yelling too, everyone would continue yelling until the bikes moved, the car would pass, and we’d continue partying.
There wasn’t a lot of “bad stuff” happening, so I had a really easy time.
Yeah, BIRDs have no “real” authority, but that’s not the point. The point is for everyone on the ride to keep everyone else in check so we can prove to ourselves and the community that we can run this ourselves. One of the points of the BIRDs is to encourage everyone to rasie their voice and act collectively to keep this event as awesome as possible.
A handful of BIRDs may not have power, but 1,000 responsible riders definetly do.
Jahlaen
August 26, 2009
Friends, I will like to add some support for my BIRD brethren her by agreeing with Wuss912 that:
“it almost seems like they — BIRDs — have less power than a mall cop…. basically none at all…”
Well, if you look at the big picture of 3000+ bicyclists being unleashed on the streets of the 10th largest city in the U.S. on a Friday night once a month, you would know that it can create a dangerous situation for other motororists as well as the throng of cyclist.
It is BIRDs my friend, who help establish some semblance of sanity to that situation, otherwise; we will have total chaos all along the route and the pontential for mayhem at some point
becomes highly probable.
The primary objective for BIRDs and SJBP is to hold the event every month and have everybody who attend SJBP get home safely to their family and love ones.
Yeah, then they can log onto the website and post a review that will in someway contribute make Bike Party better.
BIRDs might have “less power than a mall cop”… and that is fine with me because we are not about power. We are all about influence, responsibility, safety and making sure SJBP remains a consistently fun by re-inforcing a sense of community.
We leave the power stuff to law enforcement. That is why being a BIRD is not for everyone. It takes individuals with a special appreciation for the big picture and understanding of how to get things done through motivation and cooperation.
It is not about using or wielding POWER!
I do believe BIRDs are the essence of “COOL”…
Peace, my bicycling brethren!
dasfreshyo
August 26, 2009
Dear Mr./Ms.Newbie Riders,
Welcome to SJ Bike Party. Please read “How we ride” article. We are happy you are here. Please do not participate is DB behavior.
#1 Please learn to ride your bike in traffic.
-Learn to ride around cars, pedestrians AND ESPECIALLY OTHER CYCLISTS.
#2 Please learn how to control your bike. Please know that when you are riding slowly, slowing down or STOPPING, move to the right side of the path. JUST LIKE IN A CAR!
#3 Please make sure your bike works. Even if its a loaner. Please make sure your brakes work, chain is lubed, wheels are true and every bolt is secure. I’ve seen bikes come apart right under riders. Its quite scary.
#4 Please listen to BIRDS. They are there to help you and keep you safe.
#5 Please Fixed Gear NOOBS. Learn to stop properly & safely! I see too many Noobs fail at controlling their bikes. You need to train before you ride!
#6 Please be courteous & respectful of others. If you bump someone say excuse me or sorry. Don’t be a &itch or a jerk about it. I’m sure you didn’t mean to bump someone else and if you did, then you can settle that off to the side one on one.
#7 Please leave your Air Horns at home that blast people’s ear drums out. We are loud as a huge group already. Air Horns are for signaling a rescue or other emergency. They CAN DAMAGE EAR DRUMS at close range!
#8 Please when passing, CALL OUT, or ring your bell OR BOTH! “On your left”, On your right” HELPS EVERYONE! Don’t do it AS YOU ARE PASSING. Do it before!!
#9 Please ride safely/responsibly. Use GOOD SENSE. I’ve learned that SENSE isn’t common.
After many years riding in urban areas and doing large group rides, I’ve learned that riding a bike is an extension of yourself. You need to be aware of ALL 8 SIDES of you and your bike. Riding SJBP isn’t just a stroll through the park.
It’s actually quite intense. Riding with over 20 people surrounding you at varying speeds can be intimidating, especially if the only biking you do is down the sidewalk to the local park.
Be aware, be careful, be safe, PARTY HARD!
Roger Lynn
August 26, 2009
Julie,
Thanks for responding about my camera.
I sent a couple of emails but I haven’t heard back from you.
Could be a glitch in the cloud
Maybe you would prefer to send a message to me?
rogerlynn@gmail.com
I’m anxious to get my camera back.
John Dixon
August 27, 2009
@Dasfreshyo #96
Very well put!
Michael
August 27, 2009
This was my second bike party, and I have to say I was utterly disappointed by the chosen route. I thought that a major goal of the bike party was to raise awareness of bicycle riders on the streets. Routing the party through industrial/warehouse areas where few, if any, cars or people will see the party was just poor PR. The party should be more disruptive to cars on dense city roads; that is how we raise awareness. Lets be more visible next time, and keep a majority of the route on streets where we will be seen.
KS
August 27, 2009
I don’t know about 8 sides, but I’m aware. So when are the pre-rides?
A-hole
August 28, 2009
First of all, AWESOME RIDE!!! Definitely a huge improvement, things seemed to go pretty smoothly.
Most of what I see that can be improved (like people boo-ing the SJPD) has already been covered, and I agree with what most of you have to say.
I’ve got one major complaint that I didn’t see mentioned here. The only people that I heard yelling for people to run red lights (and saying stuff like “c’mon, don’t be a pu**y”) were all wearing shirts that said Midnight Marauders or something very similar. Did anybody else see these guys? When I look for them on Google, I only find a group in Chicago. This club should be encouraged to find something else to do on the third Friday of every month. Their attitudes were not in line with Bike Party and they are not welcome.
http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_rides
Since this site is a Wiki, I edited it to remove Bike Party. I encourage you all to keep an eye on it and do the same.