Critical Mass Bike Ride Anchorage Today

Image from BikeAnchorage

 People gathered at Loussac Library at 11 am.

My very rough count near the flag poles was 150 - 200 bikers.  They said the previous ride - in 1971 - had 300 riders.  But in 1971 there were a lot fewer competing events in Anchorage.  But also a lot fewer people overall.  People kept coming.

The point, according to the organizers, was to increase awareness of the need for better accommodation of bikes and other non-car vehicles and pedestrians in Anchorage.  I rode near the front of the pack.  Here we were waiting for the light to turn left from 36th onto Denali.  

It was a little sketchy at some intersections.  Volunteers blocked traffic at some points, but it all looked pretty loose.  Fortunately, drivers seemed patient and many waved and honked (short taps, not long angry ones).  

Here's looking back on Northern Lights, waiting for the light at Arctic, I think.  The lights did break up the long train of bikes a bit.

Almost back at our starting point. 

It could hardly have been a nicer day - sunny and in the low 60s - but there was a strong south wind. As we got back to Loussac people peeled out of the crowd of bikes.