Comment

Comment by Todd Allen on March 14, 2010 at 8:57am

Hi Jennifer, please invite anyone and everyone who is interested. And the more volunteerism the better. At the end of this I'll list from memory (folks pardon/correct my inaccuracies) our volunteer commitments so far. Please add to the list what volunteer contributions you'd like to make.

A half dozen of us met yesterday morning at the New Wave Coffee shop to plan for the ride next Saturday morning.

We all agreed that we need flexibility depending on who shows up and the ages and abilities of the kids and perhaps the weather too. So instead of a concrete plan we will have a group discussion/vote to choose our exact route.

Our rough plan was to do a parade lap (or maybe two) around Palmer square for the really young kids who may want to bail or hop in a trailer after that. This can either separately from the main ride or as just the beginning of it.

The main ride will go south to Humboldt Park. I like the idea of going south on the inner residential lane Sacramento/Humboldt Blvd. and returning on the inner drive of Kedzie Blvd. We also have the option of using the residential streets of Whipple and Albany. On Friday I will ride each to get a feel for current pavement conditions and the amount of broken glass and will be ready to advise.

We should have little trouble with motor vehicle traffic for most of this ride. The crossings at North avenue deserve attention and we will be soliciting adults and perhaps teens to assist in corking/guiding as needed to ensure a safe crossing for all of the kids.

After entering Humboldt park we will play it by ear. We can do a very short ride in the park perhaps with a stop at the playground. Or perhaps we do a longer loop through the park. If we have a big group and different interests I imagine we could split and do both and then rejoin for the return ride.

I will be the pied piper, playing kids music (thanks to Jeff Jenkins of Midnight Circus) and bicycle music. And will bring 2 card tables a bike floor pump and some basic bike tools. My trailer can also be a sag wagon.

Sarah Kaplan will handle a sign up sheet.
Jason Greenberg will be a ride leader.
Jamie Kraus, Barbra Mann and Andrew Bedno will be doing balloons, face paint and bike decorations.
Karen Furlong (and maybe Jane Healey) will be instructing the kids in bike safety and givng/getting assistance if repairs are needed.
We need volunteers for ride sweep intersection crossing assistance.
One of the card tables I bring I expect to get used for water, coffee and snacks. And hopefully many will bring a little something to share.

Also, we want to have photos or video of the ride. I can bring a camera & tripod but it would be great if others do to. The more pics & video we get the better.

So in closing, the more specific commitments we can get from anyone and everyone for things like streamers, water, coffee, snacks, frisbees, etc. the easier it will be for the rest of us to know what to bring/do to fill in.

Thanks!

Comment by Liz W. Durham on March 14, 2010 at 8:05am

You all (Andrew?) really think we should do a separate Rogers Park Kidical Mass group? If so, I can set one up...just wanting to make sure it makes sense to separate out from this group...

Comment by buddaa38 on March 14, 2010 at 5:43am

I do believe that the adults can ride on the outside, While the kids ride inside them. This will serve as a bumper ! They are unpredictable , So you really need to take extra caution . As far as route I would said sides streets are good & some intersections to show them how to cross, But these shouldn't be busy intersections.

This is just my thoughts from safe cycling ...

Comment by jennifer james on March 14, 2010 at 4:44am

Hi-
We'd like to invite a bunch of friends to the kmass and volunteer to help. Is the ride going to move like a mass with a route through Logan Square or is it sticking to Palmer Square? We ride Critical Mass alot with my oldest son on his bike- he's nine- and the younger guys on our bikes. I think folks who have not been out riding this way may be surprised about how those rides work ie cars blocked by riders and traffic moving in the lane next to the bike traffic. Can anyone help me out by describing how the ride is going to move? I'd love to help out too.

Comment by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on March 11, 2010 at 6:10am

Good luck!

Comment by Andrew Bedno on March 11, 2010 at 5:52am

Barb, you're painting now? Yeah! I can bring a kit if y'all want, but expect to serve in other capacities, mainly just being around and adult on day of. In case anyone didn't know, I'm a parent (he's grown up), and protectively adore kids.
LISTEN: I've been chatting with Rogers Park pals more, and I think we need a separate Kidical Mass / Rogers Park group, 'cause it'd be different place and dates than this. I'll do that later unless someone has input otherwise, or someone who actually lives there makes said group (Liz?)

Comment by Todd Allen on March 11, 2010 at 5:22am

Barbra, the face paint would be great. Jami will be doing balloons (and I'll have a small helium tank too). I'd really love to see someone take charge of streamers or other bike and helmet decorations.

We'll be discussing and hopefully lining up volunteers for some of this at the Bicycle Boulevards Now meeting this Saturday morning at the New Wave Coffee shop at Logan & Milwaukee. The meeting officially starts at 10:00 although I and perhaps some others will be there early at 9:30 since I expect to leave early to make the St. Pat's parade.

Comment by Todd Allen on March 11, 2010 at 5:15am

Jason, thanks for the offer, it should help. My guess is there will be playtime both very early before the ride begins and also for a short while afterwards.

My desire is for the ride to be open to all and that we do what we need to accommodate the youngest riders that come out. Hopefully parents of the very young will be using trailers, child seats on their bikes or trail-a-bikes. I hope parents will use their good judgement and not expect their 3 year old on a tricycle to be ready to ride on city streets.

My guess is that we won't get many teens since they can often participate in regular adult group rides.

If we do get teens I hope they can help with the younger riders or perhaps assist an adult with corking if/when it becomes needed. And teens might consider skates or kick scooters. Or bring a musical instrument, etc.

Comment by Jason Greenberg on March 11, 2010 at 2:38am

I can bring sidewalk chalk, jump-ropes, small balls in case there is need of a playtime in the middle or the end of the ride.

A general question about the target age range: Am I right in assuming that the age range is 6ish-14-ish. I'm assuming the tour will need to go slow & steady; may be too slow for teenagers?

Comment by Barbra Mann on March 5, 2010 at 3:07pm

If I can come, I will bring face paint...would be cool if someone else did too.

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