Critical Mass College Station

Name: Critical Mass College Station
Start: 2025-08-29T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-08-29T20:30:00-05:00
Location: 1705 Valley View Dr, College Station, TX 77840-4976, United States

Schedule

Fri Aug 29 2025 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

1705 Valley View Dr, College Station, TX 77840-4976, United States | College Station, TX

Critical Mass is a cycling event held on the last Friday of every month around the world; its purpose is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city streets on bicycles.
Critical Mass is not an "us vs. them" ride, it is not anti-car, and it is not a protest ride. Instead this is a ride that celebrates bicycles, encourages cycling & reminds drivers that they must share the road. There are a lot of new riders who just recently started participating and we need to remind them of this. This is intended to be a fun ride, you're encouraged to smile, wave at passersby, ring your bells & have a good time.
Critical Mass is composed of all kinds of individuals, folks with dissimilar reasons for riding a bicycle, contrasting political opinions and different types of bikes, yet for one or two hours on the last Friday of the month they all come together for one common cause.. to celebrate cycling. The group typically police themselves, leaving 1-lane open to traffic when circumstances permit, but as expected this is not always ideal as it sometimes gives impatient drivers the opportunity to weave around the group at dangerously fast speeds.
Avoid any altercations with drivers or pedestrians, if an irate driver honks or yells at you simply ignore them or just smile and say "thank you" and/or wish them a "Happy Friday". Maybe ask them to join us the following month?
Do not tap, touch or spit on any motorists' vehicles. Those corking should also not get too close to cars, if your safety ever feels threatened by a reckless driver get the license plate number of the vehicle, alert the proper authorities and immediately warn other members on the ride.
Critical Mass has been very tame, there's been little to no altercations aside from the occasional tap on the horn from an impatient motorist. The majority of people lightly honking are cheering the riders on, same goes with pedestrians hollering from the sidewalks, the mere sight of an abundance of bicyclists on the streets excites them, it's a beautiful thing.
Bicycle Rules & Safety Tips
Stay in the right lane, and do not ride across middle line on the road into opposite travel lane
Yield to emergency vehicles
No Headphones! While riding a bicycle it is illegal to wear a headset, headphone or other listening device, other than a hearing aid or instrument for the improvement of defective human hearing.
Safety Lights: Front lights are required by law & rear lights are strongly recommended
Do not ride on the sidewalk
Passing: A passing cyclist is responsible for the safety of the cyclist that is being passed. When passing ring a bell and/or say "on your left".
Yield to pedestrians and buses
Do not filter forward past stopped cars at a red light.
Skateboarders, inline skaters and recumbent bikes are welcomed, exercise caution
Do not litter or vandalize any property
Stopping: If you must stop to check your bike, phone, gear etc please move over to the sidewalk when it's clear. Do not stop abruptly in the middle of the street with the mass behind you. You will more than likely cause a cyclist to hit you and/or swerve and hit someone else.
Always perform a Bike Check to ensure that your bike is in safe working order.
Participants are asked to keep a moderate 12-14 mph pace & ride safely. The group can be rather large and can sometimes begin to stretch out, it's very important for the group to remain together and close any gaps in order to make "corking" easier, thus making the experience more pleasant for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians alike.
Cyclists ride at their own risk and assume responsibility for their own safety!