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Cornwall goes Critical

Spoke | 05.05.2007 21:58 | Climate Chaos | Culture | Ecology | South Coast

At midday this Sat 5th May cyclists gathered in the town square in Falmouth for the towns first Critical Mass bike ride. The celebration of combustion free liberty, picnics and ever so slightly fancy dress boasted nearly 50 riders.

the dinky but tuneful sound system
the dinky but tuneful sound system

listening to the samba
listening to the samba

half the crowd are off shot, it really was substantial
half the crowd are off shot, it really was substantial

flower fairy does a lap of the roundabout
flower fairy does a lap of the roundabout

the kid on the bouncy stilts moved really fast
the kid on the bouncy stilts moved really fast

a proper bells and whistles situation
a proper bells and whistles situation

come to sunny Kernow, where vikeings ride the streets
come to sunny Kernow, where vikeings ride the streets

down the highstreet (there's only really one road in town)
down the highstreet (there's only really one road in town)

refueling with icecream
refueling with icecream

post ride glee
post ride glee

one of the kids outside the slightly bleak maritine museum
one of the kids outside the slightly bleak maritine museum

and then picnics in the courtyard
and then picnics in the courtyard


There was loads of diversity, from skater boys to hippy chicks, bikey blokes to art students, crusties, middle aged professionals, old Earthfirsters, and families with kids. Not bad for a small town virtually falling off the edge of the country.

The samba band grabbed a fair bit of attention for the initial gathering, and then everyone set off for a rather disjointed but joyous perambulation down the town. The response from the high street was a dramatic, several jaws literally dropped. Once people got over the shock almost everyone grinned. There was very little driver lairyness, and the police (who had been taken unawares, and weren’t there to mind the start) made no really interventions.

Saturday lunch is of course an unusual time for a Critical Mass, but it does kind of make sense in a small tourism based community, and a good time was generally agreed to have been had by all…There are plans to do it regular.

These photo’s aren’t particularly representative of the ride, but do show lots of people being happy on bikes.

Spoke

Comments

Display the following 2 comments

  1. Well done. — Danil, Brighton and Hove Critical Mass
  2. Thanks — particpant