Before I get into this month's ride I wanted to point out a comment a received about last month's ride (January). I wasn't able to stay for the ride but I did show up to meet with people and to grab video. The ride happened on the day the NYPD announced that the new parade rules were being placed on the books. Thus giving them 30 days to take effect.

I spoke with a few guys from Chicago that had rented bikes just to ride in Critical Mass. There were only made aware of the looniness of the NYPD at Critical Mass when the Bicycle rent shop warned them.

Here is their account of the ride (as posted as a comment on my
site)

After being warned by the bike shop employee and told of the pending legal madness, we were all apprehensive but filled with a bittersweet pride about riding in perhaps the last NYC critical mass. However, about fifteen minutes into the ride the NYPD was pulling in front of us, prompting us to slip in between their cars. Then, a mistake was made: half the group ran a red light while the other half (including us) stopped and waited. The cops passed us by. When we turned onto the street we saw lights flashing, cops spilling out of cars, and bicycles being pushed to the ground. "People are being arrested" Owen said. We dismounted, walked back to the corner, locked up, and entered the nearest bar.

Never in my 2 years of riding mass in Chicago have I seen something like this. It is such a shame that in a great city like New York cyclists have to ride in fear and critical mass is reduced to such a pathetic size and is in danger of extinction. Your mayor needs to take a page from Daley's book: encouraging critical mass and having cops for safety (as opposed to waiting for opportunities to make arrests) encourages people to cycle and reflects a city's sense of openness and respect for public demonstrations.

As we sipped our beers, we vented our anger at the NYPD and the city and our pity for New York cyclists.
Don't give up.

I still have to hand it to these guys for continuing to ride despite the warnings!! And guys don't worry we're not giving up.

Now onto this month's ride.

We all know that this was possibly the last legal Critical Mass ride in New York City. We also know that this is NOT the last ride!

Unfortunately the immediate future doesn't look like it is going to hold rides that are suitable for children and/or families; which is sad, extremely sad. Hopefully these rules will be overturned. I want to see children on the rides again!!

I found a few things incredibly amazing at this month's ride.
#1 The police were taken by complete surprise when the group walked over to their precint! I wonder if they thought that we were all going to turn ourselves in for the evil that is "bicycling".

The organizers that created the "Smolka" retirement bike and thought of presenting it on Critical Mass were pure genius!! Pure, pure genius!! I loved it!

#2) I think only two tickets were passed out and both of them are simple, stupid tickets that will, most likely, be thrown out in court (fight them!). I feel for those that got caught by the overzealous Lieutenants though.. fighting these tickets suck.

#3) A tamed TARU!?!

The biggest surprise though was much tamer TARU. Eileen at iwitnessvideo is a powerhouse!! She was able to get a lot of people together, gather footage and held TARU to their own rules. If you don't know the TARU was pummelled by a NYC judge whom told them to comply or else.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about read more here.
Taru, however, was out in force with shiny new jackets! Not only that when I went up to one of them and ask why his was filming he showed me his camera!!! It was amazing!
Why is this significant?
1) They weren't in plainclothes
2) They weren't filming innocent bystanders
3) They were cordial
4) They stuck to the rules

Now why they have to film at all is a different question. Bicyclists are obviously not terrorists and Critical Mass has never been a violent gathering. There is no reason for the TARU to even be around unless, of course, their real reason is intimidation instead of enforcement of the law.

Wait did I just say the NYPD harrasses? Never...

The ride was great!! I hope its not the last.. progress has been made, we're getting organized, they are complying.. We have just a few more hurdles. We can do it!!!

-Jacob