KC Critical Mass - Biking About Town

Enjoying the Ride

Story by Pete Dulin. Photography by Phil Peterson.

Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

kc critical mass phil peterson

Maybe it's the high gas prices. Maybe it's the decision to get off your tush once a month or more. Maybe it's the appeal of riding for pure pleasure and sharing the adventure with a like-minded group eager to explore Kansas City. For the bike riders in KC Critical Mass, the reasons and motivations for biking may vary, but the outcome seems to be the same. Riding a bike in Kansas City is fun, healthy, and social.

KC Critical Mass is a leisurely bike ride held on the last Friday of every month. The idea is to have fun, and raise awareness of the ever-growing popuation of fuel efficient cyclists in the Kansas City area. All types of riders and bikes are welcome. Interested riders can meet the group on the last Friday of every month at 6 PM in the Westport Sunfresh Market parking lot near Southwest Trafficway.

Critical Mass originated in San Francisco in 1992 when 48 people organized a ride through the city. The popularity grew as more than 500 riders participated annually until it became a full-fledged movement that spread to other cities where people organized local riding events. While the ride was founded with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to bicyclists, the leaderless structure of Critical Mass makes it impossible to assign it any one specific goal. In fact, the purpose of Critical Mass has no formal agenda beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city streets. Internationally, Critical Mass rides differ from city to city; there's a variety in size, respect of traffic laws (or lack thereof), interaction with motorists, and intervention by police.

The name "Critical Mass" is taken from Ted White's 1992 documentary film about bicycling, Return of the Scorcher. In the film, George Bliss describes a typical scene in China, where cyclists are unable to cross intersections because there is automobile cross-traffic and no traffic lights. Gradually, more cyclists amass waiting to cross the road. When there is a sufficient number of them––a critical mass, as Bliss called it––they move together with the force of their numbers to make cross traffic yield while they cross the road.

While biking on the streets of Kansas City has its pleasures, the activity requires some caution around our car-crazy town to avoid unwanted pain. For example, cyclist Erick Sharda, band leader of The Popsicles (read more about the band), was involved in a hit-and-run crash in midtown in August and was hospitalized with serious injuries. He has undergone extensive rehabilitation and does not have health insurance. An event is scheduled at recordBar on November 8 to raise funds for his expenses. Other riders, such as John Triggs, are less fortunate in accidents and die.

Public opinion varies on the issue of bikers and automobile drivers sharing the road, whether funds for infrastructure should be spent to increase safety and, if so, what form that spending should take. Ultimately, safety is paramount for all citizens on and off the road. For KC Critical Mass, riding together reinforces social camaraderie and a sense of security since groups of bicyclists are more visible than lone riders.

PresentMagazine.com contacted several bike riders about their experiences with KC Critical Mass.

See the end of this article for more online resources about biking

View the KC Critical Mass photo slide show with more images.

Dickie
KC Critical Mass biker since October 2007.

Get Critical - Riding with KC Critical Mass
I saw them riding about a year ago and then began to notice the group more frequently and finally figured out when and where they were meeting.

I Like to Ride
I have a Felt triathlon bike, but use it only when I train or race, it’s red, skinny, and fast. For leisurely rides around midtown, I am riding a Trek mountain bike.

The Ride
Since I only have one ride under my belt thus far, a memorable time would be from the last Critical Mass ride this past Friday. I really enjoyed the extra efforts put forth by those who “dressed” for the occasion. It’s a really creative, diverse gathering of folks and a great way to share exchange with new people and old friends from all different walks.

Biking in KC
There is a nice variety of rides - flat, hilly, roads, trails, etc.

Safe Biking Wish List
We need more roads with wider shoulders or marked bike lanes, though it is nice to see many city buses are outfitted with bike carriers on the front.