Sounds like fun...
Kidical Mass, the national movement to organize safe, fun bike riding for families on city streets, will come to Washington DC for the first time this April. On Saturday, April 23, families will gather near Eastern Market Station in Washington DC for a bike decorating party before riding through the streets of DC’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood and ending with brunch at the Argonaut Tavern, a favorite restaurant among local families.
Participants can join the festivities starting at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 8th & D Streets SE, opposite Eastern Market Station on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Light refreshments provided by local businesses will be served, and children will have an opportunity to decorate their bikes, bike seats or trailers using craft materials donated by SCRAP-dc. Young children using tricycles or push bikes who are unable to join the main ride are welcome to participate in this part of the event. At approximately 11:00 am, riders will depart on a short (2-3 mile) ride through Capitol Hill using quiet streets and bike lanes before ending at the Argonaut for brunch.
The Kidical Mass movement was born in April of 2008 in Eugene, Oregon. Shane Rhodes, the Safe Routes to School coordinator of a local school district, wanted to get more kids and families excited about riding. In an early-morning brainstorm, Rhodes christened his event “Kidical Mass.” Three years later, regular Kidical Mass rides are being held in cities across the United States and around the world. A 15-year veteran of the bike advocacy world, Rhodes says “The bike movement has grown up, and now it has kids!”
Megan Odett, a DC resident who regularly bikes her toddler to daycare in Hyattsville, MD, was inspired by Rhodes’ example. Encouraged by the increasing number of families cycling with children in DC, Odett has worked with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), BicycleSPACE, and the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals (CHAMPS) to bring Kidical Mass to DC. Odett points to the success of the Capital Bikeshare system and the popularity of the 15th Street cycle track as evidence that Washington DC is becoming a bike-friendly city. She says, “I love riding around DC with my kid. I hope this ride will show families that biking with children is easy, fun and safe.”
More details about the inaugural ride on April 23 are available through the Kidical Mass DC Facebook group, the website at KidicalMassDC.blogspot.com, and @KidicalMassDC on Twitter. Subsequent monthly rides will be announced online. Participants can sign up for the event by emailing [email protected].
Watching those kids bang their fists on the hoods of cars is going to be adorable. What's that? Oh, never mind.
The rides are safe, fun, legal ways for families to get together and enjoy rides through the city together- usually ending in ice cream or other fun treats.
Banging hoods of cars is never on the list of games we play.
As I said, the movement has grown up. Let's all get out and ride together and have some fun!
Posted by: Shane | March 31, 2011 at 02:12 PM