Cycling Space City: Disjointed February Critical Mass

February 2014 Houston Critical Mass

So last Friday's Critical Mass featured a very heavy Houston Police Department presence with numerous officers at intersections, following the route, and even a police helicopter overhead for the entire route. It was a disjointed presence, as if HPD didn't know if they were there to help ease congestion or harass the Critical Mass Riders. At some intersections HPD was stopping car traffic and letting bicyclists pass through red lights. At other intersections they were yelling for cyclists to stop at reds and or waiting to ticket red light runners. Early in the ride we were followed by an overweight officer on his motorcycle who was pretty hostile. He was waiting at an intersection and started blaring his siren when the light turned red, there were no cars coming so I thought his siren was telling us to continue through the red. When I started to cross against the light he shot out his motorcycle to block the path and yelled the light was red. I stopped and ignored his yelling but was thinking, 'what the hell, a half mile back HPD was telling us to run reds'. Later when we were on N. MacGregor Way we were followed by a HPD car who would blare out on her loudspeaker for cyclists to stay in the right lane whenever anyone came close to the lane marker. To me it felt more like harassment than safety assurance. After the mid-route break at Telephone RD and Wayside Dr HPD stood by and didn't do any traffic control to help ease congestion.

For me Critical Mass is a way to have a fun, safe, low-key ride around town at night. I get a kick out of seeing families on the side of the road and little kids waving or smiling at the Christmas tree lights on my bike. If we make a statement that reminds motorists there are bicyclists in Houston and to share the roads then great. I lived in San Francisco throughout the nineties and remember some really hostile Critical Mass rides. That's not for me, but part of me wonders if the Critical Mass "Organizers" need to stop sharing the route with HPD or maybe do the ride at 5:30 PM and see how HPD likes that. That said I'll be out in March enjoying the ride as best I can. Check out some pictures below.