Critical Mass outdoes itself

I knew this month’s Critical Mass ride would be a standout: the weather was great, and many of the college students who regularly take part haven’t left town for summer yet. But I wasn’t prepared for just how wonderful the ride would be. We started as usual at the Liberty Pole a little after 6 pm (actually, some riders start at 5:30 at the UR River Campus), then rode for about two hours. The serendipitous, spontaneous route took us along the Genesee, over to Corn Hill, through downtown again, down Park Avenue (twice) and Monroe and East avenues, straight south on Goodman Street (a roadway practically begging for a velo-takeover), by the Strong Museum and Manhattan Square, and finally Gibbs Street. I don’t think I’m getting the sequence right – but you get the picture. We hit a lot of high spots, and none of them struck back.

If it’s not too much of a contradiction to say so, CM has become a solid local institution again. But we need to get more bikers out for it. (Make a note: we ride the last Friday of every month.) In a town where such boondoggles as Renaissance Square can pass for transportation projects/progress, grassroots action is especially important. Hey, maybe an upcoming CM ride can take an inside tour of the infamous Mortimer Street garage, which so many “downtown interests” are committed to preserving, even as they salivate at the prospect of tearing down attractive old buildings nearby. I remember an Urban Assault ride a few years ago that went up and down the ramps of the Farash building’s parking garage (I mean the suburban-looking office building that houses the IRS, et al., right across East Avenue from the Little Theatre). Probably trespassing - I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Don’t lock my body or bike up in jail! - but a nice complement to taking back the streets. And lots of fun and exercise. Anyway, isn’t the Mortimer Street garage, that prime component of the Uglysphere, a public space?

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