Chicago Critical Mass: The Southside Ride

Peace All,

Red Bike & Green + The Pioneers Bicycle Club present...

The Southside Ride for Chicago Critical Mass

This Critical Mass route proposal is a 14-mile tour of some of Chicago's African-American cultural & historical landmarks. Highlights along the route will include the site of the Chess Records studios, the Bronzeville Victory Monument, Ida B. Wells' home, the Harold Washington Cultural Center, the DuSable Museum, the Obamas' house and much more. The ride will end at the new 31st Street marina and beach.

Check out the map at:
http://chicagocriticalmass.org/
Scroll down on the home page and click on the flyer for the full size image.

A special thanks to the lovely Eboni Senai, a true gem in our city. Her work as the Founder of Red Bike & Green - Chicago is energizing bicycling culture in the African American community of Chicago. Also want to share a huge thanks with John Greenfield, Willow Naeco, and Steven Lane for their early, active, and consistent support of this effort.

We will meet up at 5:30pm on Friday, August 31st at the Picasso statue at Daley Plaza. Please join us for a beautiful ride through parts of the Southside of Chicago!

...how about a post-ride afterparty?
Peoples DJs Collective 3YR Anniversary BBQ
2236 S. Marshall Blvd., Chicago
(block west of California & Cermak)
http://www.facebook.com/events/273511979429664/

Rock on,

Oboi
The Pioneers Bicycle Club
@theycallmeOboi

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Permalink Reply by ilter on August 28, 2012 at 3:31pm

Well said!   "sense of entitlement" , if only we had less of that.


Anne Alt said:

Much of the south side has a lot less traffic congestion and relatively few drivers with a grand sense of entitlement - in other words, the opposite of River North and Lincoln Park, in good ways.

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 28, 2012 at 3:44pm

we are on the same team Thunder Snow. i am goin 2000+ riders also!

Thunder Snow said:

Hmmm, Friday's projected to be a beautiful partly sunny 94 degree August day.  I'm betting 2,000+ riders.
 
John Greenfield said:

...so with 1,000 or so companions....

Permalink Reply by ilter on August 28, 2012 at 3:55pm

I am no Critical Mass expert, nor an old timer, but..  It is more of a celebration than a protest, isn`t it?  I suspect that the South Side will greet the CM even more warmly than other neighbourhoods..

As for the "over 20 minutes" wait..  Would you please estimate for me, how many people had to wait in their cars for the mass to pass?  How many people were enjoying watching and/or interacting with the mass?  And how many people were in the mass, cycling, using their fair share of the road?  If you have the numbers, you would probably notice that a small group of people "sacrificed" some of their time for a bigger group of people.  Now is that too much to ask for?

Barry Aldridge said:

I feel sorry for the people on the South Side if Critical Mass is going through their neighborhood. I thank goodness they've only come through my area once.  At my side-street intersection, drivers were trapped for over 20 minutes - I think the cyclists made alot of enemies that day. Can someone explain to me the point of what seems to be an arrogant, childish whim masquerading as a protest?

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 28, 2012 at 4:16pm

well said Anne.

Anne Alt said:

Much of the south side has a lot less traffic congestion and relatively few drivers with a grand sense of entitlement - in other words, the opposite of River North and Lincoln Park, in good ways.

notoriousDUG said:

The point is to upset you.

You really are that important.

Barry Aldridge said:

I feel sorry for the people on the South Side if Critical Mass is going through their neighborhood. I thank goodness they've only come through my area once.  At my side-street intersection, drivers were trapped for over 20 minutes - I think the cyclists made alot of enemies that day. Can someone explain to me the point of what seems to be an arrogant, childish whim masquerading as a protest?

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 28, 2012 at 4:23pm

awesome, look forward to riding with you kiltedcelt!

kiltedcelt said:

Count me in. It'll be nice to actually get to ride your south side route. I'm a Hyde Parker myself so riding home from 31st beach will be somewhat familiar, since I ride by it 10 times per week ;)

Olatunji Oboi Reed said:

it was beautiful John and looking forward to thousands of our closest friends joining us on Friday!

John Greenfield said:

Yep. We had a very pleasant test ride just the three of us yesterday, so with 1,000 or so companions you'll be very safe indeed.

Adam Herstein said:

Are these neighborhoods safe to bike though?

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 28, 2012 at 4:37pm

hey h' - thanks for the question. no formal presentation planned. eboni (founder, red bike & green - chicago) and i (founder, the pioneers) worked together to create a list of landmarks and points of interest for the ride. john greenfield created the map. and willow inserted the map and list of landmarks in the derailleur magazine. here are a couple articles john wrote about our respective orgs. trust this helps. let me know if you have more questions. and look forward to meeting you on friday!

- The Pioneers:

http://gridchicago.com/2011/oboi-reed-from-the-pioneers-bicycle-clu...

- RBG - Chi: http://gridchicago.com/2012/bike-and-proud-red-bike-and-green-promo...

 


h' said:

So, how do we hear more about these bike clubs? What is their role in the "presentation" of Friday's ride?

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 28, 2012 at 4:48pm

speaking as a native southsider, i am sure CCM will be warmly received on Friday.

Barry Aldridge said:

I feel sorry for the people on the South Side if Critical Mass is going through their neighborhood. I thank goodness they've only come through my area once.  At my side-street intersection, drivers were trapped for over 20 minutes - I think the cyclists made alot of enemies that day. Can someone explain to me the point of what seems to be an arrogant, childish whim masquerading as a protest?

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 28, 2012 at 4:56pm

up to 8 now h'

h' said:

Good news-- up to 5 confirmed now.  There's still 3 days until the ride.

Olatunji Oboi Reed said:

that is hilarious!!! i wager that it will be over a thousand people riding. what say you h'?

h' said:

Bad news-- right now it seems only 3 people are attending:

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chicago-critical-mass-the-souths...

Hopefully the south side proposal will pick up this steam once this thread has a few hundred replies.

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 29, 2012 at 12:22am

peace h' - thanks! RBG has a community ride on the second saturday of every month. here is contact info for RBG:

Eboni Senai

Founder, Red Bike & Green - Chicago

Email: chicago at redbikeandgreen dot org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rbgchi

Twitter: @rbgchi

and The Pioneers normally ride every Saturday morning. however, i returned home last week from living and studying in brazil for 6 months. we will likely kick off our Saturday morning rides again on Sept 8th. and we normally meet at The Promontory Point at 55th & South Shore Drive. we ride the lakefront trail for about 2 hours. folks can reach me at:

Oboi Reed

Founder, The Pioneers Bicycle Club

email: theycallmeOboi at gmail dot com 

fone: seven seven three - nine one six - six two six four 

twitter: @theycallmeOboi

h' said:

Good stuff.

Are these clubs still having weekly/monthly rides?

How would one go about directing a potential member to them?



Olatunji Oboi Reed said:

- The Pioneers:

http://gridchicago.com/2011/oboi-reed-from-the-pioneers-bicycle-clu...

- RBG - Chi: http://gridchicago.com/2012/bike-and-proud-red-bike-and-green-promo...

 


h' said:

So, how do we hear more about these bike clubs? What is their role in the "presentation" of Friday's ride?

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 29, 2012 at 12:27am

Peace All - We are up to 9 folks who RSVP'd. We are missing the other 1,991 of our closest friends. Please RSVP at: http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chicago-critical-mass-the-souths...

Thanks and see yall Friday for a beautiful ride! - Oboi

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 29, 2012 at 12:38am

h' - figured as much. had you already read the articles? and yeah, connect with me on Friday and help me pull off that reception line. wanna meet all 2000+ riders. Daley or 31st? you decide! hahahaha...

h' said:

Thanks for the links-- think I've seen that site before.

Are you thinking of something like a reception line so you can meet everyone?

Will we do that at Daley or at 31st street?

Olatunji Oboi Reed said:

hey h' - thanks for the question. no formal presentation planned. eboni (founder, red bike & green - chicago) and i (founder, the pioneers) worked together to create a list of landmarks and points of interest for the ride. john greenfield created the map. and willow inserted the map and list of landmarks in the derailleur magazine. here are a couple articles john wrote about our respective orgs. trust this helps. let me know if you have more questions. and look forward to meeting you on friday!

- The Pioneers:

http://gridchicago.com/2011/oboi-reed-from-the-pioneers-bicycle-clu...

- RBG - Chi: http://gridchicago.com/2012/bike-and-proud-red-bike-and-green-promo...

 


h' said:

So, how do we hear more about these bike clubs? What is their role in the "presentation" of Friday's ride?

Permalink Reply by Olatunji Oboi Reed on August 29, 2012 at 11:35pm

Peace Yall -If you have not seen the map or points of interest yet, check out the attachments!

... and, how about a post-ride afterparty?
Peoples DJs Collective 3YR Anniversary BBQ
2236 S. Marshall Blvd., Chicago
(block west of California & Cermak)
http://www.facebook.com/events/273511979429664/

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