The Real report from Freeway Critical Mass

Author: 99th Monkey

Yes, the only truth that the media reported tonight is that we are "anarchists and anti-capitalists". The ride started in Hillsboro with more reporters and police than bicyclists. At about 6:15 with 6 regulars from the Portland C.M joined by 6 never-rode-mass-before Washington Co. riders, we sallied forth, first heading west to ride around GM's regional support center. some of their employees outside cheered us while we made noise riding around the building. We then headed a little further west to get on the Hwy, followed by 3 Hillsboro bike cops. We took a lane for about a 1/4 mile that did not have a bike lane south of the freeway and then headed east towards Beaverton. During the course of the ride we were handed off twice when we crossed city/county boundaries, the police CORKING FOR US as we crossed on and off ramps!

Freeway Mass

Finally , just west of the last offramp west of the 217 we stopped and discussed getting off on Cedar Hills Blvd or continuing E towards Portland. We, as a group, decided to not brave the 26/217 interchange that would have been almost as dangerous as the 405/26 interchange and bombed down to McMenamins for an after-ride party instead. I originally only envisioned possibly 20 riders showing up but believed the people who told me that they were getting responses from people they were talking to that we might get up to 200. Remember, all of the Critical Masses started with just a small original ride. Another way to view this ride is that we had a 100% increase in "new" riders. Will next month's ride in Wa. County be 2 dozen? Who knows, we'll find out at 6 PM the last Friday of August at Hillsboro Stadium.