CriticalMassMiami

Critical Mass as we know it started in 1992 in San Francisco and is a community bicycle ride meant to encourage and celebrate cycling. The mass is so 'critical' because together cyclists can create enough of a presence to claim a portion of the road. Now it is estimated that 325 cities have them, with some, like the one in Budapest, getting as big 80,000 riders.
(92 illustration by beth verdekal)

Critical Mass also has a rep for being "monthly political-protest rides," as once described by New Yorker Magazine. In NY, where the turnout is huge and the roads already congested, Critical Mass sometimes creates major traffic problems. (I have seen many a-cyclist get arrested in NYC.) Miami's Critical Mass is not quite so subversive, rather a friendly meet up where like minded people can ride together. In fact, the organizer works for the city and the Mayor and Commissioners have even made guest appearances on rides! (Can you imagine Bloomberg at one?)

Last Saturday, I joined about 30 people on a gorgeous 25-mile ride for my first Miami Critical Mass. Besides being a lovely ride, it was a great way for me to meet so many active members of the community who believe in positive change.

I had the opportunity to talk so so many remarkable people, like Okwhan Yoon, who has been bicycling throughout the World and has already been to 171 countries! The back of his jersey reads his dream, "ONE KOREA, ONE WORLD." He hopes to find answers to peace through studying the world first hand. I asked him what it was all about and although he was hard to understand, his words were very sincere and meaningful. "I could classify categories of personalities in the world, and I fully understand the world, economically and politically. So I'm going to, after studying.., need a great conclusion about peace for this noisy world." He was trying to convince me to bike ride to NY with him so that we could write a book from an American & Korean perspective. I entertained the idea for a second...

-Debbie Attias

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Critical Mass Miami
• Bike Ride
• Korea
• community
• activism