By Alix Large Santa Monica
I am writing this letter in regards to the last Santa Monica Critical Mass ride that took place, on July 6. The police made a concentrated effort to essentially chase SMCM out of the city limits — citing a number of cyclists.
The Santa Monica Critical Mass ride has been a positive force in the city for a number of years. It fosters a sense of community for cyclists, as well as promoting safe riding. Santa Monica is known for its progressive ideas and SMCM is a prime example of that. The ideas the ride intends to promote are ones the city would want to align itself with: Healthy active lifestyle, less vehicular traffic, less pollution, safe riding practices and positive community awareness. The manner in which the police have dealt with the ride sheds a negative light on the city as a whole.
I have become aware that the ride may be seen as an unruly group of kids taking over the streets, but this is not the case. SMCM joins to celebrate cycling and the safety the number of riders allows us. The ride is filled with a diverse group of people — young and old — who come to Santa Monica because it is viewed as a bicycle-friendly city. Our intention is not to irritate motorists. On a daily basis, aggressive motorists harass cyclists, creating an unsafe riding environment. This ride stimulates awareness of these issues, not only within the bicycle community, but with the numerous people who come into contact with the ride. Residents and visitors alike are supportive of the ride as it passes, and it is only a small minority who have an issue with it. In general, it is this minority who are practicing unsafe driving habits, even without the presence of the ride.
My hope in writing this letter is to advocate some sort of resolution to avoid the events of the most recent ride. Santa Monica Critical Mass is part of the community and would like to work with the city to resolve any issues so that the ride may continue.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 31, 2007. Read the original PDF.