Photos: Critical Mass Birthday ride : Melbourne Indymedia

Photo: Critical Mass fills the huge roundabout at the intersection of Flemington Road and Royal Parade, near Melbourne Uni. Two different streams of riders entered the roundabout at about the same time.

Friday's Critical Mass was huge. It was certainly one of the largest I have ever been on. It was wall to wall cyclists which paraded through Melbourne's Streets celebrating the 8th year of critical mass. 800, 1,000, or even more. Perhaps someone else tried to make an estimate....

Quite a few small kids and a few dogs participated

Outside Trades Hall and the 8 hour day monument, a bike lift was held and Happy Birthday was sung! Cyclists filled the intersection and Lygon St in front of Trades Hall

A member of the Police Bicycle Patrol on the steps of parliament house

Entering a multi-level car park to have some fun cycling to the top and back down again.

More kids and dogs on the ride

Cars kill Puppies sign on bike

The percussion bike trailer, and another kid!

Bike Lift corner of Swan and Punt Road. Numbers were too great for the Police Bicycle squad so a number of their motorcycle colleagues tried to assist, although the mass kept up its tradition of corking cars.

While celebrating the huge success of Fridays ride in Melbourne, please spare a moment for this fledgeling Critical Mass group from Wellington, Aotearoa.

While celebrating the huge success and extreme fun that was last night's birthday ride in melbourne, please spare a moment for these fledgling Critical Mass group in Wellington, Aotearoa.

http://www.indymedia.org.nz/front.php3?article_id=13005&group=webcast

And for some interesting background info: http://www.cbc.org.nz/
'Bypass' My Arse!

I thought it was a really fun ride, and an emphatic declaration that CM is here to stay in Melbourne. Although I reckon that the 32-degree heat might have scared a few cyclists off, I heard one person counted 492 participants (he stood by the side of the road with & counted everyone ride past). But not sure if all the kids & dogs were counted, so we could perhaps say 500 as a round figure.

The Elizabeth St roundabout was very special -- seeing such a brutal intersection tamed by people-powered traffic was a real treat. For me, other highlights were the trip down Lygon St with all of the interaction from the pedestrians, a brilliant bike lift at Lygon & Victoria, the car park on Little Collins, and the run to the finish along Wellington Pde where everyone was indulging in some mutual back-slapping.

It was good to see so many first-timers on the Mass (I reckon that about half of the people I spoke to were on their first CM -- one dude was even from Alice Springs). Plenty of kids in trailers and bike seats, and they were having as much fun as the adults! Even a couple of four-legged friends in baskets and trailers. And it was such a good a ride that probably 100 people hung around the Fitzroy Gdns until dark, reminiscing about their favourite bits of the ride. Let's also not forget the awesome mini-mass to the pub along Gertrude & Brunswick Sts!

Thanks to everyone who helped promoting the ride, by chalking, flyering, postering, media outlets like RRR & Indy, emailing... etc. And thanks to everyone who made the ride such a success. Particularly those who dressed up, decorated their bikes (top marks to the two counches on wheels!), brought sound systems, made maps & guides, and of course the 500-odd riders.

And don't forget to watch Access News on Ch31 on Monday night 1/12! There was someone from AN doing a story on the CM birthday ride for broadcast in tomorrow edition.