The Critical Mass protest last night (5/30/03) went off without a hitch. It was a mostly peaceful time that was supported by numerous observers.

We started late (6:30 p.m.) We were waiting for some people to join us who didn't. While we were waiting to get started three police officers on bicycles stopped by. However, they inexplicably left us and went elsewhere.

We started up Charles street, taking up all the lanes in traffic. (At one point I counted 17 of us.) The car horns began to sound from behind us. We proceeded north through Mount Vernon. We hung a right on Mt. Royal Avenue, then south on Light Street. The automobiles (pumping out toxic waste from their tail pipes I should add) were really frustrated on Light Street. Their frustration increased the farther south we went.

At the infamous (for us) intersection of Light Street and Baltimore a lone, angry police officer stopped two of our riders. One got away. However, I'm not sure what happened to Penny. She may have received a ticket; we don't know.

We took a right at Lombard street, still taking up all lanes of traffic. Someone with a red flag (who I believe works for a parking garage) was enthusiastically waving it and cheering us as we proceeded north on Charles street.

We had made a circuit through the busiest part of Baltimore. We continued going north through Mt. Vernon. When we reached the intersection of Charles and Monument for the second time some patrons at Donna's cheered enthusiastically. Farther north a very angry person in a SUV (essentially a mobile CO2 factory I should add) was throwing stuff at us. He threw two cassette tapes in our direction, missing us both times.

We reached Mount Royal Avenue for a second time and this time decided to head West. Several of us left the group at this point. The rest of us decided to go to the Mount Royal Tavern for liquid refreshments and to declare victory.

So why do we do this? When we head south on Light Street the answer to that question is obvious. There are no bicycle lanes to be found. This is one of the busiest corridors in Baltimore and it is absolutely terrifying to be riding a bicycle on this road at any time during the day.

In addition, my personal belief is that sending 13,000 cars a day north up Charles Street is not working. The businesses on Charles street have never been doing particularly well in all the time I've lived in this town. In European cities where they have diverted vehicular traffic away to replace it with foot (or bicycle) traffic they have experienced remarkable rejuvenation of local businesses. Foot or pedal traffic improves a city. Heavy vehicular traffic offers very little, in my view.

We talked about possibly making flyers explaining the protest for the next ride that we could distribute along the way. There are still too many people who are confused about the concept.

Overall, I think we all had fun and felt good about the event.