This took place in 2003 but it's still interesting and relevant.
City cyclists take back the roads
BY SARAH MARBERG
Contributing Reporter
While ghosts and goblins spooked out-of-the-way haunts and their
miniature counterparts rang doorbells on a quest for sweet treats,
another set of costumed characters took to their bikes Friday
evening for a Halloween ride to reclaim New Haven's streets.
Approximately 50 cyclists met on the New Haven Green Friday evening
to participate in a grassroots movement known as Critical Mass. The
movement began in San Francisco 11 years ago and is in its third
year in New Haven. Bikers gather the last Friday of every month in
more than 200 cities around the globe to repossess the streets for
bike transport. The cyclists travel together -- often blocking
traffic -- to make their presence known to the cars on the
road.
Each month a different person leads the ride in New Haven, which
always ends at a place to eat or drink. For the past several
months, that destination has been the house of one of the
participants. Since the October ride fell on Halloween, bikers were
invited to sport costumes as well.
"It's sort of a social event -- a celebration," said Elaine
Lewinnek GRD '05, one of the regular participants. "We also make
ourselves visible to cars and send the message that New Haven would
be better if it were more biker friendly."
Critical Mass is a unique movement in that it has no leaders or
internal structure. One frequent collaborator described Critical
Mass as an "organized coincidence." Lewinnek said this lack of
organization makes publicity a challenge, but the size of the group
pedaling through the city has grown significantly over the past
three years, with over 100 cyclists participating in the September
2003 ride. Most of the participants are members of the New Haven
community, but Lewinnek said graduate students as well as staff and
faculty often participate in the monthly rides.
In many other cities, Critical Mass has become much like a
political demonstration, with bikers completely blocking traffic
and engaging in acts of civil disobedience. In New Haven, Critical
Mass has evolved into what the cyclists described as a less
disruptive community event.
"We're the kinder, less critical mass," said Matthew Feiner, the
owner of The Devil's Gear Bike Shop and a frequent participant. "We
go out and ride as traffic because we are traffic."
Another regular rider, Eric Staats, said the reaction the cyclists
receive from the other people on the roads is mixed. He said some
people cheer and honk in support of the cyclists while others act
annoyed when Critical Mass blocks their path. He also said the city
of New Haven has made improvements for bikers since Critical Mass
began.
"I've seen more bikes, bike lanes -- [New
Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr.] on a bike," Staats said. "I think
it's just progress. People are moving away from cars and back to
bikes. It's just a matter of time before people realize bikes are
better."
Lewinnek said biking is good for the city, the community and the
environment. Other regular participants echoed her sentiments and
said Critical Mass was important for improving the relationship
between the city of New Haven and its resident bikers as well as
fostering a sense of community.
"The bike is overlooked as serious transportation. Biker rights are
always being encroached upon," Feiner said. "We're a barbeque
waiting to happen and at the same time we're pushing home an
important sociopolitical message."