Critical Mass rides Logan streets to call attention to bikers and their rights

BATCH OF BIKES: Critical Mass gathers at Sunrise Cyclery. / Photo by Christopher Young

By Christy Jensen

December 5, 2007 | LOGAN -- Students of USU and community members joined Friday in raising bike awareness in an event known as Critical Mass.

Although Critical Mass mostly happens in big cities such as New York and Salt Lake City, members of the USU cycling team Cole Gibbons and Jonathan Kidd thought Logan could benefit from such an event because of the lack of bike lanes around the valley.

Gibbons said "[Critical mass] is something that can be done anywhere to raise bike awareness. We wanted to do it here because Cache County is not a bike-friendly environment."

Comprised mostly of students, the group of bike riders met at Sunrise Cyclery in Logan with their bikes, ranging from road bikes to tandems, despite temperatures being in the mid-30s.

The group met at 4 p.m. and rode four miles around Logan streets, taking up an entire lane of traffic in a peaceful protest to encourage cars to share the road with bikes.

Some riders voiced their concern about the Logan police showing up, but found the police to be rather friendly as the pack of riders rode past a police car and waved.

Gibbons said, "I think there could be a negative feedback, but I was surprised the cops didn't come and rain on our party."

Critical Mass started with 16 riders and recruited more along the way, ending with 25 at the True Aggie Cafe on Main Street. There the group of riders was entertained by the vocal styling of Chris Young and Eriq Jenkins.

Gibbons found this Critical Mass to be pretty successful, but said it could be more so with better community involvement.

Critical Mass will continue on the last Friday of every month, meeting at Sunrise Cyclery.

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