About Calgary Critical Mass

What is Critical Mass?

Critical Mass is a vision of a happy, bike friendly, world replacing our polluted, congested roads.

It is a protest, both for better cycling facilities and against car culture.

It is a mobile beacon to cyclists, a fun ride through downtown and other neighbourhoods with friends.

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The Calgary Critical Mass bike ride

On the last Friday of every month (yes, even when it's snowing or raining), 5:30pm, at the Eau Claire Plaza (the space between the Eau Claire Market shopping mall and the big downtown YMCA).

There are no leaders. Whoever shows up decides where the ride will go - usually around downtown, sometimes up to 17 Ave or across the bridge into the Kensington district.

Depending on the number of riders, the ride may try to occupy all the lanes of traffic, or just stick to one. Some like to ride slow to slow down traffic - others like to take on the role of being traffic, so ride at a normal pace.

Sometimes folks will dress up in costumes, or adorn their bike with flags and decorations, to give the ride more of a parade feel.

Noise makers are also a good thing to have along. Ring your bell, toot your horn, blow your whistle, ... whatever you can contribute to the ride.

See you there!

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Useful Web Links

• Wikipedia entry on Critical Mass.
  
• Critical Mass.
  
• Critical Mass Wikia.
  
• Critical Mass Art.

In Calgary:

• calgary biking (Yahoo Group).
  
• Calgary Critical Mass.
  
• Calgary Critical Mass photos on Flickr.
  

Hey Flickr users:
Please use the tag "CriticalMassCalgary" on your photos from critical mass events in Calgary.

Thanks for your participation,
Grant Neufeld