 "Photo: Lara Haase/The Daily Texan")
Eerie music blared from a bulky boom box rigged to a bike as hundreds of cycling enthusiasts gathered under the flawless autumn sky Friday for Critical Mass.
Upwards of 200 cyclists, many clad in full Halloween regalia, converged on the West Mall for the monthly cross-town bike trek designed to raise bicycle awareness and promote alternative transportation.
Unorganized and informal, the event, held on the last Friday of every month in cities across the globe, has no official leader and no set route. The only constants are the 5 p.m. meeting time, gathering on the stretch of sidewalk between the UT Tower and Guadalupe Street, and a passion for biking.
“We don’t really know where we’re going, someone just starts leading and everyone follows,” said undeclared freshman Hannah Corder. “Its just slow, social riding, so it’s fun. It ends in a party every time, but there’s a lot of stuff going on with Halloween, so it could end up at a number of places.”
There is no clear-cut purpose of the journey; everyone has their own reason for joining hundreds of other cyclists in a casual ride through the streets of Austin. Some partake in the ride simply to socialize and celebrate biking. Others view it as a statement against “car culture” and unfair treatment of cyclists.
“Really, it’s a protest,” said Austin resident Marky Rodden. “It’s to show Austin that there’s other ways to get around. It’s green, it’s healthy, its fun and bikes don’t take up as much parking space as a bunch of cars do. We’re getting noticed. The groups are getting bigger and bigger.”
Despite the typically peaceful intentions, the gathering caught bad press in September of 2001 after an irritated motorist ran over a Critical Mass biker. While most of the participants feel that relations have improved since then, some motorists on Guadalupe Street seemed annoyed by the stall in traffic as the horde set out on its journey.
“Sometimes it can get a little edgy with drivers,” said Calvin Coulbury, the 9-year-old, self-proclaimed “youngest rider” in Critical Mass. “But it really was only like that the last time I rode. It usually goes pretty smoothly.”
Many cyclists argue the respect needs to go both ways. It’s not uncommon for bikers to run stop signs and take up multiple lanes, occasionally yelling at and provoking motorists with whom they share the road.
“With Critical Mass, there’s usually a few bad apples that are kind of hostile,” said chemistry sophomore Derrick Pitts. “I would say most people around here are really respectful. Though there are some conflicts with motorists — moreso when we run through red lights and stuff like that.”
Although motivation to ride in Critical Mass differs from rider to rider, the common theme Friday was lighthearted fun. In the spirit of Halloween, a zombie puffed on a cigarette while mingling with a fairy before departing. Costumes ranged from gory to gender-bending, dainty to dark. A man dressed as if he came straight from George Washington’s army gave an enthusiastic rallying speech met with cries of approval from the steps of the Union before mounting his 5-foot-tall bicycle and leading the way south.
“I don’t think people should take it too seriously,” Pitts said, smiling in his cowboy costume before climbing aboard his bike, appropriately disguised as a horse. “For me, it’s just about having fun. Very rarely do you get to ride your bike with 150 other people on the road, and nothing can really replace that feeling.”
Be the first to comment on this article!