Critical Mass: 20th Anniv.

To mark the 20th Anniversary of the first Critical Mass ride, join in the week-long celebration September 23-30, 2012 of bike rides, art exhibits, movie screenings, and bike carnivals capped off with the big birthday on Friday September 28th – the Interstellar Critical Mass ride, which will be a giant, crazy, awesome evening ending in a big party under warm skies.

Critical Mass 20th Anniversary Bike Celebration
September 24- 30, 2012
All Over San Francisco
Mostly FREE

>> Main 20th Anniversary Ride: Friday, September 28, 2012: Meet at Justin Herman Plaza at 6pm

The History of Critical Mass: On the last Friday of September, 1992, a group of San Franciscan cyclists showed up on Market Street for the first ever Critical Mass – a leaderless ride that became a monthly “organized coincidence” and spread around the world.

Monday, September 24

Critical Mass Daily Bike Ride | SF to San Mateo
– Monday, September 24 – 11:00 am | Cost: FREE | Meet at 518 Valencia, Mission Dist.
San Francisco to San Mateo and back again… join an expert trail rider who will take you on a scenic tour down the bayshore and through some hills (depending on riders’ preferences), finding the nooks and crannies south of San Francisco.

20th Anniversary Art Exhibit Opening 
– Monday, September 24 – 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE | 518 Valencia, Mission Dist.

Tuesday, September 25

2-hour “Transit History” Bike Tour
– Tuesday, September 25 – 1:30 pm | Cost: FREE | Meet at Patricia’s Green
Chris Carlsson leads a 2-hour “Transit History” tour: Discover lost freeways, ghosts of train routes, and a vivid account of how San Franciscans moved around this peninsula through time.

Wednesday, September 26

Critical Mass NOIZ Ride & Mini-Music Fest 
– Wednesday, September 26 – 12:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Meet at William McKinley Statue (The Panhandle)
We will ride around town exploring and stopping very often for some tunes and merriment. Ride will last several hours and will not be strenuous with probably no hills.

“Shift Happens” Critical Mass Book Party– Wednesday, September 26 – 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE | San Francisco Main Library
Book release Party and Discussion for SHIFT HAPPENS!: Critical Mass at 20, SF Main Library/Latino-Hispanic Room (downstairs), 100 Larkin St., FREE

Thursday, September 27

Bike Polo
– Thursday, September 27 – 7:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Jose Coronado Playground
Bike Polo at Jose Coronado Playground (21st and Shotwell)… come and play with locals and visitors alike, share a beer.

Friday, September 28

“Critical Mass” 20th Anniversary Bike Revolution Ride
– Friday, September 28 – 6:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Justin Herman Plaza
20th Anniversary Interstellar Critical Mass Ride – this is the big ride to celebrate 20 years of Critical Mass – bring your bike, expect large crowds to choke the streets of SoMa.

Saturday, September 29

International Critical Mass 20th Anniversary Symposium
-Saturday, September 29 – 5:00 pm | Cost: FREE | CIIS – California Institute of Integral Studies

Cyclecide’s Freak Bike Rodeo & Carnival
– Saturday, September 29 – 8:00 pm | Cost: $8* | Cyclecide Swearhouse
Wrap up a week of celebration for the 20 year anniversary of Critical Mass with Cyclecide’s “Pedal Monster” bike-powered carnival . Live Music from Fault Lines, Under Pass Brass, and more along with strange bike-powered contraptions and slightly dangerous carnival rides.

Sunday, September 30

“Critical Mass” Farewell Ride & Ocean Beach Bike Party
– Sunday, September 30 – 2:00 pm | Cost: FREE | Ocean Beach