May 16, 201114 yr Not that I would advocate any sort of violence, but in New York there’s been a real backlash against bicyclists with the recent proliferation of bike lanes throughout the city. They’re perceived (by some :wink:) as arrogant, holier-than-thou elitists granted special privileges that infringe on the rights of others—and this attitude is prevalent among liberals! A good New York Magazine article from a few weeks ago: http://nymag.com/news/features/bike-wars-2011-3/ http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
May 16, 201114 yr :? Having a tiny lane to ride your bike while cars wiz past you is 'being granted special privileges'?
May 16, 201114 yr Theyre perceived (by some :wink:) as arrogant, holier-than-thou elitists granted special privileges that infringe on the rights of others Are you talking about the cyclists or the motorists? For motorists, I would agree. They take up the majority of the pubilc's ROW, they honk, they yell, they curse, and they pollute. They also cause massive damage to the roadways which we all, whether we drive or not, have to pay for. Dang elitists and their BMWs.
May 25, 201114 yr Cleveland Critical Mass this Friday. We depart from Public Square at 6:30pm for a +/- 1.5-hour bike ride throughout the streets of Cleveland. This month's ride is ending at the Pedal Art exhibition at Wall Eye Gallery, 5304 Detroit Avenue.
May 27, 201114 yr I plan on making my second appearance. If any UO'ers out there recognize me, please say hello!
May 31, 201114 yr 250 bicyclists rode from Public Square down Detroit to West Boulevard, West Boulevard south to Lorain, Lorain west to West 117th Street, north on West 117th Street to Lake, east on Lake and through Edgewater Park. --- May 2011 Ride Summary Date: May 27, 2011 Bikes: 260+ Weather: Cloudy, 50°-60° Miles: 13 Ride time: 2 hours Route: Here End Point: Blazing Saddle Cycle & Wall Eye Gallery Pics: here
June 2, 201114 yr ^i did this ride, you can see me in the vid at 5:13, wearing sky blue chuck taylors, and on the phone. really safe, right. i was on the phone a good amount of the time trying to get my coworker in on the ride, but she was trailing by a couple blocks almost the entire way. luckily she found the ride almost at the very end, on w73. next time i should make an urbanohio sign and hold it up so i can meet ppl.
June 6, 201114 yr Here's a teaser for this month's CCM: There will be a bicycle wedding that starts at 6pm before this month's ride (on 6/24). Departure time is still 6:30pm, and the bride and groom, wedding party, and fifty of their guests will be on bikes. And, the plan is for this month's ride to end in the Larchmere/Shaker Square area. Mark your calendars!
June 6, 201114 yr ^i did this ride, you can see me in the vid at 5:13, wearing sky blue chuck taylors, and on the phone. really safe, right. i was on the phone a good amount of the time trying to get my coworker in on the ride, but she was trailing by a couple blocks almost the entire way. luckily she found the ride almost at the very end, on w73. next time i should make an urbanohio sign and hold it up so i can meet ppl. frock, I'll look for you next time. Before this month's ride, I'll send you a PM with some info. There were at least two or three other UO folks that come out to CCM.
June 9, 201114 yr cool, i look forward to meeting other urbanohioans. i think i know only one regular poster in person, and one who disappeared.
June 21, 201113 yr CCM is this Friday --- Friday, June 24 · 6:30pm Public Square, Downtown Cleveland The first Cleveland Critical Mass ride of the summer takes place Friday, June 24. We begin meeting on Public Square at 6pm and depart promptly at 6:30pm for an hour or so bicycle ride. This month's ride will feature a bicycle wedding! Bob Peck and Amy Dwyer Hawk, two loyal CCM participants and boosters, will be getting married on their bikes on Public Square just before 6pm, so arrive early if you wish to watch the ceremony! When CCM departs, the wedding party and guests will ride with us. Come celebrate this momentous occasion that will surely be the talk of the town! Beginning this month, CCM is making some slight changes to be more inclusive and accommodating of people's schedules. For those of you who can't make it to the square by 6:30, the tentative plan is for the group to do a second pass through Public Square at approximately 7pm, so you can join us then. The June ride will conclude at the Academy Tavern, 12800 Larchmere Boulevard for food, drinks, and socializing. Shaker Square is only a few blocks away, so there's an option to take the RTA Rapid Green/Blue Line into Public Square for the start of the ride or at its conclusion. Lastly, as always, please familiarize yourself with the guiding principles on the About page of http://www.clevelandcriticalmass.com/. Happy riding! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126254034123683
June 22, 201113 yr The bicycle wedding happening before CCM gets some press on WEWS's website: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/cyclists-to-wed-on-public-square
June 23, 201113 yr Tomorrow may be the largest, most ridiculous Cleveland Critical Mass ever. Let's hope the rain holds off.
June 24, 201113 yr Tomorrow may be the largest, most ridiculous Cleveland Critical Mass ever. Let's hope the rain holds off. I hope you get some good video!! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 24, 201113 yr Question: If I ride the rapid to TC, can I walk my bike through the Avenue to get up to Public Square? If not, how does that work?
June 24, 201113 yr Question: If I ride the rapid to TC, can I walk my bike through the Avenue to get up to Public Square? If not, how does that work? Yes, I have seen people walking their bikes all around TC.
June 24, 201113 yr Question: If I ride the rapid to TC, can I walk my bike through the Avenue to get up to Public Square? If not, how does that work? Yes, you can just walk the bike through, but you should expect security to harrass you anyway. They seem to like doing that.
June 24, 201113 yr If they do, I can probably just jump on my bike and get away. The waistlines on most of those security guards are probably too big to catch me.
June 25, 201113 yr Question: If I ride the rapid to TC, can I walk my bike through the Avenue to get up to Public Square? If not, how does that work? technically, you are supposed to use the elevator from the rapid level and exit onto prospect.
June 25, 201113 yr The weather turned out nice. I could only stick around for about half the ride before breaking off due to other commitments, but it was fun. There was some guy that ate it pretty bad right at the beginning and I think there was a little confusion on which route to take at certain points.
June 25, 201113 yr Here are a couple links to the wedding: http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/195248/45/Couple-holds-bike-themed-wedding-among-300-cyclists http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/cycling-couple-weds-at-public-square-bike-event
June 27, 201113 yr Ride stats, route, and video are here: http://shawnmariani.com/ccm/2011/06/june-2011-ride-summary/ The wedding was pretty cool, the rain held off for us, and it was excellent ending the ride in a neighborhood different from Tremont, Ohio City, or Detroit Shoreway.
June 28, 201113 yr http://www.coolcleveland.com/blog/2011/06/youd-look-better-on-a-bike-meet-cles-many-bike-advocates/ You’d Look Better on a Bike: Meet Cle’s (many) bike advocates You’d Look Better on a Bike Meet Cle’s (many) bike advocates There are people who care how you get around. These people encourage you to thread into their tight-knit community. They invite you to enjoy the in-between of Point A to Point B. They hope to assist you in enhancing your lifestyle with vehicles designed for your needs. Their dream? You on a bike. In the form of stores like Joy Machines Bike Shop, event planners like Crank-Set Rides (organizers of the Nerd Ride on Sat 7/2) and grassroots organizations like Cleveland Critical Mass, prominent cyclists are using their love of bicycles to better the city, two wheels at a time. Joy Machines Bike Shop opened this June at 1836 West 25th Street in Ohio City. Owner/Mechanic Renato Pereira-Castillo and Owner/Manager Alex Nosse operate their bike shop from a transportation-oriented point of view, as opposed to a recreational or sport-oriented perspective. “We encourage the use of the bike as a transportation tool,” Nosse says. Nosse and Pereira-Castillo are unique in that biking is their primary form of transportation. “Neither of us even has a driver’s license,” Nosse says. “It’s a commitment to living a certain way. In an urban neighborhood it’s more feasible. Not everyone can go completely car-free.” While Nosse expects that most people will not quit driving, he believes that everyone can incorporate more biking into their schedule. “Our informal mission is to maximize the role a bike can have in a person’s life—from one day a week of bike commuting to committing to not taking the car on any trip under two miles all summer long. There’s a whole spectrum for a lifestyle. Our goal is for more people to move towards biking.” The shop’s success has risen thanks to their West 25th location, a nexus for neighbors, Northeast Ohioans and tourists. Nosse and Pereira-Castillo also benefit from a ready-made client base of friends and contacts. “We knew a lot of cyclists from riding and participating in Critical Mass and advocacy groups,” Nosse says. “You get connected to people quickly. Everyone knows about the environmental and health benefits of biking, but after you start riding, one thing you realize is how much community can be organized around it.” The cycling community—fueled by physical activity and word-of-mouth support—offers a real-world alternative to the popular, though strictly two-dimensional, choice of social networking. Yet Joy Machines Bike Shop still maintains a strong web presence, with a Facebook page, a Twitter account (@JoyMachines) and an official website. During the slow season of November to March, Nosse plans to expand their social networking platforms. Joy Machines is open seven days a week. As a bonus for the after-work crowd—and friends who come by to visit—Mondays through Saturdays the shop stays open until 9PM. Nosse and Pereira-Castillo personally assist every patron. “We’re 50-50 partners,” Nosse says. “Right now we have no other employees. For customers, I think it’s a nice thing that the two owners are the ones they’re dealing with. I like to think we’re approachable, and very interested in providing a good experience.” With their knowledge of and love for bicycles, Nosse and Pereira-Castillo draw upon a wide range of parts, accessories and services to complete patrons’ biking needs. “A young woman came in last week who had just gotten a bike in the mail from eBay,” Nosse says. “She stopped in on it on her way home from work. I could tell she was flustered. She told me, ‘When I ride this bike, I feel scared.’ It was a racing bike. It was too big, and just not appropriate for what she needed. So we put in a new stem and handlebars, and wider tires with more traction, and we were able to convert it from a drop-bar racing bike to a quite serviceable commuter bike.” Nosse concludes, “We want biking to be more comfortable and more doable for more people.” Lindsey Bower and Dan Krivenki share this philosophy. Crank-Set Rides, their non-profit organization, channels the energy of cyclist friends and volunteers towards introducing more Clevelanders to the benefits of biking. Bower and Krivenki plan themed events that raise cycling awareness, support local establishments and offer an extended evening of entertainment. Bower and Krivenki state: “Crank-Set Rides is always aiming to put new faces on bikes. Cleveland is years behind many cities as far as bike commuters go, but we are working our hardest to change this. Our themed rides open a gateway for interested cyclists to cut loose, let go of any intimidation that cycling may have and just have fun. We’ve witnessed many new bike purchases over the past year, and we believe that our rides are helping this movement in Cleveland.” The next Crank-Set Rides event is The Nerd Ride on Sat 7/2. Participants are challenged to arrive in their most exaggeratedly nerdy attire (e.g. glasses, bow ties, suspenders, etc.). The biggest dorks win prizes. Why the nerd theme? “Everyone is a bit nerdy over something, whether that is computing, owning a vast novel collection or simply knowing the stats of every Indians player,” Bower and Krivenki state. “Let’s let go of the differences over what we are nerdy about and all be nerdy about the same thing for a day: Bikes.” Registration begins at 4:30PM at the Root Cafe in Lakewood. Participants can bring their own bike or rent one through BikeCLE. (Visit http://BikeCLE.com for more details.) At 6PM, cyclists start to snake their way to five events along the route. “We would love for everyone to join us on the full ride, but we don’t mind riders jumping on or off at any of our stops,” Bower and Krivenki state. Cyclists can test their math skills and/or drink beer along the way. After the Root Cafe, the Nerd Ride hits Lakewood Library, Happy Dog, Joy Machines Bike Shop, Room Service and Reddstone. Summary: Nerds on bikes tour the West Side with beer. Besides a good time, another goal of The Nerd Ride is to raise donations of five dollars from each cyclist. The proceeds pay for bike racks created by Rust-Belt Welding; the racks will be distributed across Cleveland to increase biking’s practicality and accessibility. The king of Cleveland bike events is Cleveland Critical Mass. Held the last Friday of every month, Critical Mass sees hundreds of cyclists converging upon Public Square to spin their way to a preselected endpoint, usually a local bar or pub. Bikes flood the streets, temporarily halting traffic, giving riders the rule of the road. Last summer, the largest event turnout was 325 cyclists. Shawn Mariani, a promoter for Cleveland Critical Mass, states, “The main aspect of improving CCM is to increase turnout with new riders each month. We have heard some great feedback from all types of riders; some say it’s a reason to love Cleveland, others say it has excited them enough to get back on a bike for the first time in years, and more. We pride ourselves on being a simple and fun event. We strive to not overcomplicate the group.” By way of advertising, CCM promoters distribute flyers around Cleveland. They also manage their official website http://ClevelandCriticalMass.com and Facebook page, where they upload pictures and video to increase interest in the rides. Mariani believes in CCM’s universal appeal. “Everyone should participate as CCM is a fantastic way to discover Cleveland in a way they normally wouldn’t experience,” Mariani states. “Riding through unique parts of Cleveland and waving at people behind gated patios or inside their cars is a great feeling. People clap and cheer us on and are happy to see a few hundred bikes ride by on a Friday night. It’s a great event to meet some great people, make friends and have fun!” Beyond CCM, Mariani enjoys the daily benefits of cycling. “I love riding my bike around Cleveland for a number of reasons. You can be anywhere in the city in a relatively short time, park for free and save on gas. It’s a liberating feeling and it makes me feel even more connected to Cleveland. Aside from all that, bikes are just cool.” On the road and on the web, East Side and West Side, for business and pleasure, biking enthusiasts push forward in their hope to turn more people into cyclists. That’s their common goal, outside of any individual ideology. They are going to ride bicycles whether you do or not—but it would be better for everyone if you did. For more details on The Nerd Ride, go to http://BikesInTheHeights.org. To tap into Crank-Set Rides, contact Bower and Krivenki at [email protected]. Check http://ClevelandCriticalMass.com for CCM event information. CCM recommends Great Lakes Touring Co. for all bike rentals. Isaac Mell grew up in South Euclid, OH and attended American Jewish University in Los Angeles. He welcomes conversations with potential employers, collaborators and friends.
June 28, 201113 yr My (non-winter) philosophy is simple - why drive when you can ride? Any truth to the facebook posting (which I heard about but did not see) about some guy getting jacked for his bike while leaving the bar last Friday?
June 28, 201113 yr ^ There is absolutely no truth to the posting about the gentleman claiming he was robbed at gunpoint. Here's why (from FB): "The post from "William Kilgore" about the stolen bike has been removed since it appears to be a hoax. The following reasons led us to this conclusion; the timeline that was determined put the "theft" at around 9:15pm in front of the Academy Tavern, in daylight and with many people outside of the bar. No one has come forward to confirm the event nor is there anyone who seems to know of this "William". William claimed he called the police and stated he waited one hour for them to arrive, but the police never showed (bullshit). William was also somehow able to find a ride back to Euclid, create a Facebook profile for the first time and post the details of the alleged incident all by 11pm, Friday night. The Academy Tavern has been contacted and stated there was no incident to their knowledge Friday evening. The Cleveland Police Department has been notified of William's post on Facebook. No one has been able to identify William, nor does a bike similar to the one he posted appear in any of the video footage or pictures from Friday. William has zero Facebook connections and has a blank profile picture. He has not been seen on Facebook since he posted the bogus claim. Here's a link to his profile: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002573821479 For good measure, here are two PDFs, one of the original post from William and one of the conversation that took place that led everyone to believe his story was 100% bullshit. William's original post: http://db.tt/Sfne7Em The CCM Group response: http://db.tt/JE8vg55 If anyone has any information on this person please contact one of the admins, or better yet, the police department." - AND - "I've been in contact with Lt. Zedella from the Cleveland Police Department Fourth District. He has looked very vigorously into the incident this morning for us, and has found that no calls were made to the police in regards to a robbery from this area and from this individual on Friday night. He also says that the detective bureau has received no report from the alleged incident. This is further confirmation that this incident was officially a farce. Sincere thanks to the CPD for their quick response and attention."
June 28, 201113 yr Good to hear. So you are saying that we shouldn't believe everything we read on social media? ;) I definitely had my doubts, but sadly the damage is probably already done (for Larchmere) considering that I don't even have a FB account and heard about it. Sort of like those alleged gun shots that popped of at the Coventry Street Fair on Sunday which have been confirmed nowhere outside of social media.
July 26, 201113 yr Cleveland Critical Mass July Ride Friday, July 29 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm Public Square, Downtown Cleveland Come one, come all to Cleveland Critical Mass! This month's edition of Cleveland's largest bike ride takes place Friday, July 29th. We will depart Public Square at a new time, 7 PM. We will begin meeting in the quadrant closest to The Terminal Tower at 6:30. Come early and mingle with Cleveland's finest bikers! Last month's ride was met with overcast but still exceeded 250 riders. Come join CCM this month as we are sure to break the 2010 record of 325 bikes! The casual bike ride will go until 8:30 or 9 and will end at Joy Machines Bike Shop on W 25th St. The guys there will have a keg tapped and welcome you to have a drink and check out Cleveland's freshest bike shop! Music will be provided by DJ Himiko Go-Go. Bikers are also encouraged to visit the surrounding pubs as we hope for a W 25th St. bike-takeover! Lastly, as always, please familiarize yourself with the guiding principles on the About page of http://www.clevelandcriticalmass.com/. Happy riding! https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193690027351487
August 1, 201113 yr About 350 cyclists rode Friday's Cleveland Critical Mass through Ohio City, Clark-Metro, Tremont, Brooklyn Centre, Old Brooklyn, and Stockyards. Photos from Facebook, courtesy of Frank Lanza Photography.
August 27, 201113 yr Hey. I just saw critical mass go past me while I was driving. I don't really mind waiting a few minutes for them to pass by, but I saw some things that concerned me. First, there were some riders who just...should not have been riding. One guy face-planted in front of the car waiting in front of me, for no reason I could determine, another girl veered off the road and just gave up. There were a few kids riding very small bikes...and while I agree it SHOULD be safe for them, I'm not sure it is. Also, I saw a girl talking on her cellphone while riding. If that's not safe in a car, there's no way it's safe on a bike. That one really annoyed me. Some riders were careful to wave politely and were going at a good pace, and wearing helmets. Many had no helmets. Second, the CM group was very spread out. This was at W. 28th/Detroit, and whenever I expected that the group had passed, one or two more riders would come along. Is this because of cars breaking up the group, or are riders really that different in terms of speed? I was getting a little annoyed by the end, since none of the bikes stop for red lights, and at that intersection in particular, with the horrible freeway interchange, it was getting pretty backed up by the end. As far as I could see, nobody was 'corking' the intersection, but I couldn't really see around the tank in front of me. Anyway, just curious - I'd love for you all to have more bike lanes.
August 29, 201113 yr I was riding Critical Mass this weekend, and I think some of the issues that you saw came from the sheer numbers we had (official count: 435) and the fact that folks had been riding for a good two hours or so by the time it hit the westside, meaning that the group was pretty spread out by then. We made a couple of stops for the tail to catch up to the head, but hadn't made a stop since University Circle. Anyway, you do make some good points, and I know that there has been discussion among the riders in the CCM Facebook group about how to make the ride safer, especially with the numbers we are dealing with, and how to specifically address crowd control and safe corking.
September 27, 201113 yr Cleveland Critical Mass is this Friday. Here are the details. --- https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=259419670764713 The Cleveland Critical Mass September Ride takes place Friday, September 30. We begin meeting at 6:30pm on Public Square, then depart at 7pm sharp for an hour or so bike ride. This month's ride concludes in the Waterloo Arts District in Collinwood (per popular opinion in the CCM FB group), where the neighborhood is rolling out a gigantic party for CCM. The Cafe at Arts Collinwood will have food and drinks, plus live music in the gallery space and possibly some other entertainment in the back. The Beachland is tentatively planning to give CCM the ballroom, the back bar, and a DJ for the evening, and will have a full food menu available. The Slovenian Country House is having food and beer specials. Some of the shops in the district may stay open a little later, too. More details coming soon. A group of CCM regulars from the neighborhood will be riding in from Collinwood, and anyone wanting to drive to Waterloo and park there is welcome to join. Just show up to the Cafe at Arts Collinwood by 6pm. And if you're riding back to the west side after hanging out on Collinwood, it's always an option to mass up with others and take Lakeshore Boulevard home as a group. As always, please take a minute to look over CCM's guiding principles in the about tab of clevelandcriticalmass.com. Ride on!
September 27, 201113 yr I know the ride is supposed to be improvised, but if I were out front I think I would definitely head to UC from downtown, then take the park to Lakeshore and go through Bratenahl on the way to Collinwood. That would make for the most scenic ride. Instead of the park, 105th would be another option. For a longer ride, you could head up into the Heights and take the Euclid Creek reservation into Collinwood.
September 27, 201113 yr I'd love to do that ride up to Euclid Creek; however, with the array of folks that come out for CCM encouraging the group up a hill like the ones heading up out of UC would be problematic.
September 27, 201113 yr Cedar Glenn Pkwy is not that tough to ride up. They had to ride up a hill a few months back when it ended in the Larchmere neighborhood. You could go CPG to Euclid Hts Blvd to Taylor, cut through Severance or take a ride through the orthodox jewish neighborhood to the east of Taylor and then own Mayfield Road down to Green Rd.... and head to the park from there. Just a thought.
September 28, 201113 yr Check out the Beachland's calendar posting for Friday. Even if you don't ride a bike, come up and hang out. --- http://www.beachlandballroom.com/calendar.asp Fri, Sep 30 | 8 PM (8 PM door) Free DJ Night for Critical Mass Bike Ride DJs Rafeeq & Madame (Inviting bikes to come right into the Ballroom, since there aren't enough bike racks on the street) FREE SHOW!!! Ballroom | All Ages Free DJ Night for Critical Mass Bike Ride. Those crazy bicycle folks are headed to Waterloo so we’re putting something together on the street to make them welcome. All the stores are offering discounts and Arts Collinwood is having a taco bar and specials. Beachland is inviting the bikes to come right into the ballroom since we don’t have enough bike racks on the street for 400 bicycles…so it’s a dance with your bike party…you can come witness or just get on your bike and ride to Waterloo with hundreds of other wheel rollers.
October 20, 201113 yr Details about this month's Cleveland Critical Mass ride --- https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137107226389223 The annual Cleveland Critical Mass Halloween Ride takes place Friday, October 28. We begin meeting in the southwest quadrant of Public Square at 6:30pm, then ride bicycles around Downtown and other Cleveland neighborhoods. The ride happens this and every month regardless of weather. The October ride has taken on the tradition of becoming a costumed stroll around town, and this year will be no different. So dress up however you'd like (or not). Noodlecat will be hosting a Halloween and end-of-the-season party for CCM following the ride. Noodlecat will have $1 beers, $2 cocktails, and other specials. Joy Machines Bike Shop will be there to perform free bike maintenance, and Great Lakes Gold Sprints will be set up for some friendly sprint competitions. Scum City Racing is also beginning and ending their All Hallows Alleycat there. Noodlecat is located on Euclid Avenue between East 4th Street and Public Square Downtown. Finally, CCM's mission statement and guiding principles, photos and video of past rides, press, and ways you can contribute to perpetuate the local mass are on clevelandcriticalmass.com. Ride on.
October 20, 201113 yr 80 of us rode to Collinwood from Public Square in wind, rain, and winds. Here's video someone shot Sept 2011 Cleveland Critical Mass
October 28, 201113 yr Lopsidedfrock and I will be there! Ha! Now I know your identity! Don't worry, though. I won't tell anyone.
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