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On what seemed to be a crappy Friday afternoon between 80 and 90
people showed up at Loring Park to ride in the Minneapolis Critical
Mass. This ride happend to be the one year aniversary of the 28
citiations and 3 arrests for riding our bikes on a beautiful spring
last year.
The Metamucil Jar of Justice made its first appearance in nearly 4
months. We told riders of its powerful influence and gift of about
$200 dollars to Chicago Critical Mass a few weeks ago. Upon hearing
this riders began to pitch in and throw some money into the deep
confines of the jar.
At 5pm there were about 10 people sitting at the fountain. At 5:30
when we left we had about 80. People also arrived fashionable late as
we rode down 13ST to Hennipen Avenue to take in the downtown theatre
district and the mother of all gentrification projects: Block E. We
continued to cross the Hennipen Avenue bridge paying homage to the
might Grain Belt Sign. With a right on University we continued through
campus past frat row to the Stadium Village area. This lately is the
Critical Mass parade of the U of M. But, we added a brand new twist
this month. We included a building on the route! After we crossed over
the Washington Avenue bridge, the bottom part of course. We took a
left on Cedar. Many of us hoping to pass the Wienery and say hi and
drool over the Veggie and Vegan hot dogs, but NO a wrench was thrown
in our plans. We took a left onto the one way about to collide with
the University of Minnesota's pride, The Carlson School of Management,
where the Fortune 500 CEO's of tommorow are taught and bred. With a
swift opening of the doors on the western side of the building 80 or
so riders rode there bikes through the first floor of the building,
GLORY. The security guard at the desk didn't know what to do. She
picked up the phone about to say something then hung up knowing the
hopelessness of the idea. We exited on the East sice of the building
proceeding to the North Country Co-Op. The excitement of the mass was
greater now then the April ride of last year when we had the
monsterous Pirate Flags. As we got to the Seward Neighborhood via
Minnehaha Ave some enjoyed the gifts of the Fortune Cookie Dumpster
and proceeded to Lake Street all the way to uptown. Oh Uptown again.
But, this time a twist was added. While riding down Lake St. a
disscussion of what to do began to mention outdoing the CSOM ride
through. Ahah! CM had gotten a better idea. Take Lagoon to one block
before lake and take a Left. Oh what could we be planning on doing
this for? Famous Dave's perhaps? Figlio's? Various sunglass kiosks
populated by Bloomington Jefforson letter jackets? Thats right!
Calhoun Square experienced about 80 riders of Critical Mass on their
bikes. Oh the joy! Oh the faces! Oh the shock! After our gift to the
Uptown Buissness Association of fun and excitement for their guests we
preceded to do a Minnesota Holdup on Lake and Hennipen. Then down
Hennipen we proceeded to Franklin Ave. To niccolet and then the mass
broke into two and rode away into the night. Never will we forget the
riding of indoors and the smiles that we created to the shoppers and
school goers. I could see no one that didn't enjoy the bicycles that
came and went so swiftly in CSOM and Calhoun Square. I would have to
say people thought it was part of the 'Uptown Experience.'
Final Stats: 80-90 Riders
Route:
Downtown-University-Minnehaha-Lake-Uptown-Hennipen-Franklin-Niccolet-Downtown
Best Moment besides the obvious: While riding on Lake Street a
gentleman started yelling "They do this in Chicago! They do this in
Chicago! Just like Chicago!" He was saying this while standing in the
middle of the street. It brought joy to all of our faces as he
discovered that critical mass was world wide!