Friday, September 26, 2014
6:30pm (ride starts at 7:15pm)
Government Center
150 NW First Street
Downtown Miami
The ride will be going through East Little Havana, Overtown, Allapattah, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Upper East Side, North Bay Village, North Beach, Miami Beach, Venetian Islands, and Downtown. Total distance is approximately 20 miles. It's strongly suggested that you print a copy of the map or save it on your phone in case you are tardy or get lost.
All eyes appear to be on Miami Critical Mass and it’s time for participants to prove the opposition wrong. Everyone riding is solely responsible for their actions and should lead by example. If you see someone riding or behaving irresponsibly, then let them know it’s not acceptable. If you’re partaking in the ride, then it’s your duty to positively influence others. Ride safely and be courteous to everyone in the community, if you can’t do this then quite simply you are not welcomed. There’s no room for hostile, drunk, moronic individuals. There are a lot of great people on these rides, enjoying their city by bicycle for 1-2 hours on the last Friday of every month, and it’s rather unfortunate that a few bad apples can ruin this special occurrence for everyone else. To frustrated motorists, borrow a bicycle and try joining the ride sometime with some friends. You never know, you just may experience one of the most fun, free, and healthy social gatherings South Florida has to offer.
Bicycle Rules & Safety Tips
- Stay in the right lane, and do not ride across middle line on the road into opposite travel lane
- Yield to emergency vehicles.
- No Headphones! While riding a bicycle it is illegal to wear a headset, headphone or other listening device, other than a hearing aid or instrument for the improvement of defective human hearing.
- Safety Lights: Front & rear lights are required by law in the State of Florida.
- Kids under 16 years of age must wear helmets.
- Do not ride on the sidewalk.
- Passing: A passing cyclist is responsible for the safety of the cyclist that is being passed. When passing ring a bell and/or say "on your left".
- Yield to pedestrians and buses.
- No drinking of alcohol or illegal activity during ride.
- Do not filter forward past stopped cars at a red light.
- Skateboarders, inline skaters and recumbent bikes are welcomed, exercise caution.
- Do not litter or vandalize any property.
- Stopping: If you must stop to check your bike, phone, gear etc please move over to the sidewalk when it's clear. Do not stop abruptly in the middle of the street with the mass behind you. You will more than likely cause a cyclist to hit you and/or swerve and hit someone else.
- Always perform an "ABC Quick" Bike Check to ensure that your bike is in safe working order.
I'd like to know what idiot thought it was a good idea to put this event on Friday nights!?
ReplyDeleteBetter yet why do you insist on coming to the beach when traffic is already congested enough with construction delays and the regular traffic issues we face. There are a lot of individuals who work long days and just want to go home. Find somewhere else to ride, the resident do not want you here.
ReplyDeleteOn September 26th, 2014, I had the misfortune of being ambushed in one of the most disrespectful, arrogant, irresponsible acts of antidemocratic abuse of the citizens of Miami. Yes, I am talking about the Miami Bike Scene. During one and half hours, I and thousands of other drivers were forced to stop our cars and turn them off in the middle of the street as thousands of bikers unilaterally decided to deny every other resident of Miami their right to free transit. They took the city hostage and, while being protected by the police, rode down Biscayne Blvd. and several other streets and avenues as if they were the sole owners of the streets. This is gang behavior, period. By doing this, they put everyone’s lives at risk in the areas surrounding the arbitrarily chosen bike path. People’s ability to respond to any type of emergency, medical or otherwise, was completely blocked as the streets were arrogantly shut down by a bunch of capricious, uncivilized bikers who do not give a crap about anything else but their desire to ride a bike down the street with no regard for anyone else. What kind of city government officials allow a bunch of bikers to shut down a whole city for almost two hours on a Friday night as thousands of hardworking people are trying to get home to their families? I stood in disbelief as hordes of bikers rode down the street for almost two hours with absolutely no retrain while car drivers were ignored and disregarded by the authorities. These bikers stand for nothing. If they did, they would respect the right of every individual to go home instead of forcing them to become an unwilling member of an audience witnessing an unjustifiable blockage of the city. Yes, you have the right to ride your bike, but you DO NOT have the right to force me to watch you and your arrogant bike pals for one and a half hours while my family is waiting for me at home to have dinner. One thing became clear to me tonight. You, bikers, have no regard for me. I wonder what else I should expect from you in the future.
ReplyDeleteWas last Friday night the biggest in a few months or have I not realized the actual size because I’m usually riding up front? Either way - that route was great. Bought my girlfriend a bicycle for her birthday -> gave it to her Friday afternoon and made her pedal along with me Friday night. The entire afternoon was “I don’t know." "I can’t." "That’s so far. Are you nuts?” “Can we leave early if I don’t feel well?” which then turned into absolute amazement at seeing this city by bike and then at mile 16.5 while trying to maintain steady breathing:
ReplyDeleteHer: "Babe - how far in are we?”
Me: “16.5 miles :)”
Her: “ :D :D :D :D OMG OMG OMG I’M GOING TO DO IT”
Needless to say, we made a cyclist that night. Her first “real” ride since she was a child and a permanent memory in our relationship. Thank you!