World Car-Free Day was celebrated September 21st, 2000 in Traverse City with a "Critical Mass" event. About 80 bikers, skateboarders, and walkers occupied the south 2 lanes of 8th street from the Governmental Center to the Traverse City Library to raise awareness about alternative transportation. The local corporate media did a poor job of reporting this issue to the public, but Eartha Melzer did write a very good article for the Northern Express which you can read here.Critical Mass is not an organization, it's an unorganized coincidence. Accordingly, there isn't an official Critical Mass web page, but there are, however, a bunch of unofficial web pages, go here to check them out.
Bicyclists transformed 8th street during rush hour Thursday as they rode together from the governmental center to the library in Traverse CIty's first Critical Mass bike ride.With just one week's word of mouth notice, 80 people turned out to participate in the Traverse City ride which was planned to coincide with World Car Free Day.
Jim Carruthers and Darren Shroeger, both of Traverse City, rode in memory of friends Schuyler Schmall, 9, and Nathan Kitchen, 20, who were killed by cars while riding their bikes in separate instances in recent weeks. Several other cyclists recounted frightening personal encounters involving cars on local streets. Still, the mood was festive as the mostly helmeted crowd of bikers, rollerblades, walkers and even toddlers in bike trailers moved east on 8th street. A few participants even wore clown costumes and alien-style antennae.
Activists from the local theater troupe, Guerrilla Action Group, distributed leaflets suggesting ground rules for the ride - allow emergency vehicles through, stay together, enjoy the ride and watch out for road rage. Participants were reminded, " We are not blocking traffic, we are traffic!"
Critical mass is a movement which began in San Francisco in 1992 with 45 cyclists who were fed up with disregard for their rights and safety. These cyclists decided to defy the dangers in the street and celebrate the pleasure and the benefits of bicycling by riding home as a group.This simple organized coincidence of cyclists was intended, not to annoy motorists, but to create an alternative to car centered culture.
The critical mass concept has mushroomed into a global phenomenon with rides happening in nearly 100 cities and on every continent. In San Francisco Critical Mass now takes place every Friday afternoon and can involve up to 10,000 people.
Traverse City critical mass riders carried signs calling for an in town bus station, an end to plans for a Traverse City bypass and more bike lanes. Enthusiastic cyclists called out to motorists, congratulating those who were carpooling, and encouraging others to experiment with reducing dependency on cars and gasoline.
The response from onlookers was mixed. While some accepted pro-bike leaflets and others honked and made gestures of support, some drivers headed in the opposite direction appeared tired and grumpy, not at all amused by the mass of people and bikes. Several slowed motorists behind the cyclists made quick turns off 8th street and sped off into the alleys and side streets.
The speed limit on 8th street is 25 miles per hour though motorized vehicles routinely go much faster.
"Every day I wait for cars on this street though technically I have the right of way, it's really good to have them wait on me for a change", said bicycle commuter Emily Bert,"It's nice to see the neighborhood from the middle of the street, to be surrounded by bicyclists and hear people talking to each other and enjoying themselves. This is how it could be if more people rode bikes."
There has been unprecedented community involvement in transportation issues since the Traverse Area District Library moved to its current high traffic location on Woodmere just off 8th Street. Concern for the accessibility of this public space drove hundreds of citizens to participate in a 1998 city sponsored workshop which resulted in a plan to create a pedestrian-friendly one lane roundabout at 8th and Woodmere. The roundabout plan was recently shelved by the Traverse City Commission in favor of installing traffic signals at 8th and Woodmere and a paved path along Woodmere to the library.
Building on years of studies, public hearings and presentations by traffic engineers and urban planners, the critical mass ride represents a new and more active approach to creating safe, pleasant and environmentally sustainable public space in Traverse City.
Autobound police officers escorted the crowd during the final block of the ride and expressed frustration with the slowed pace of traffic and concern that the city could become gridlocked.
At the end of the ride, the festive crowd gathered on the lawn in front of the library. Guerrilla Action Group member Bob Russell passed around cups of apple cider and led the riders in a toast, "For Democracy! For Taking Back Our Streets! and Power to the People!"