METROdigital Critical Mass May 1998

May of 1998 marked the first test of the Xerocracy (everybody leads-nobody leads). The decision that we faced was two different maps. One to the south side that James made and one that took us back to downtown to Celebrate on State street. While James and Christopher's south side map looked like a lot of fun and would have been a new experience for most of the massers. A vote was held and the map that was created by Josh won out. I must admit that it did have a small portion of LSD (Lake Shore Drive) on it! This major artery has been begging for the Critical Mass It is well traveled and a highly visible part of Chicago.

Massing under the Picasso

We put it to a vote!

We tried to get a response from the mass to decide which way we would ride. Nobody in the crowd seemed to understand that Travis wanted them to applaud for the map/ride that they most wanted to ride. It quickly degenerated into festive screaming.

Riders on the Road

Note the fountain going off. Just a few minutes before I snapped a picture of James on his Police auction score and there were two city workers in the middle of this fountain. Usually the fountain completely soaks the entire Daley Plaza when the winds were high. They turned it on just after we headed out.

And Onto Lake Shore Drive

I can speak for everyone when I say it was a rush riding on LSD!

Past the Field Museum

At this point our ride was being escorted by Chicago's finest. We were being followed by a single officer in a single car with his lights and siren going full tilt. All the while announcing on his PA "You are under arrest if you do not pull to the right" We of course just continued along our merry way. By this point though we were off both maps and had truly achieved a Critical Mass.

As we got to the end of The Drive (we got off at Roosevelt Road) there were a number of really pissed off drivers. Gridlock sucks. I will be the first to tell you that!

They loved us in Chinatown

Being the most Pedipetatic (bicycle oriented society, I made this word up after Peripatetic which means a walking society) The Chinese see bikes as everyday modes of transportation. As we went through Chinatown people emptied out of the stores to see what all the fuss was.

The Ragtag group I call Friend.


Steve	Travis	Jim	James

			Travis is always a good subject!
Iris	Gareth	Travis

My bike.

Screw the autobound!