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Critical Mass Spring Promenade The Southside Neighborhood Ride April 1999 --by Dr. Dan
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With Spring in the air, and the sun shining overhead, over 100 bicyclists assembled under the Picasso for the first Critical Mass Spring Promenade. Elegant ladies and well groomed gentleman arrived on their human powered two wheeled chariots for a gentile cruise through Chicago's near South Side neighborhoods. They came to celebrate spring and to spread the word about the superiority of cycling and its utmost civility in our often uncivil world. Unfortunately, all was not well in the world. Earlier that week, the news broke that bicycle messenger Thomas McBride had been brutally murdered in a most uncivil road rage incident. Though deeply saddened by the news, the gallant ladies and chivalrous gentleman knew that the best way to honor Thomas was to celebrate life and bicycling by proceeding with our ride. The time for mourning would be in two days when a memorial, ride, and vigil was planned for our slain friend. After some initial announcements and a vote on the route map, the cavalcade began to circle the Picasso, and then we were off to spread grace and culture to the streets of Chicago. What better way to have a cultured ride than to head to the neighborhood that represents the land that formed the basis for much of Western Culture--Greece. The group sailed through Greektown to much cheering and then arrived at that fine institution of higher learning--The University of Illinois at Chicago. As we sallied across Harrison, a looming bastion of the autogeddon caught the eyes of the lead riders. Such things must be conquered and shown their place in society, so off we went, charging forward into the parking garage, striving upward and upward until at last we had conquered the beast and made it our own. We kept the ensuing celebrations brief as we had more people to meet, and more cultures to experience on our late afternoon jaunt through the wondrous international garden that is South Chicago. Leaving the garage a humbled edifice, the victorious and still good looking mass weaved its way south through Little Italy, and then entered the Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen. As we passed through, savoring the spicy scents that peppered the air, Police and neighbors alike marveled at the genteel crew. From there, we passed through some of the deep industrial zones on Canalport, Cermak, and Loomis that helped build this great city. Regrettably, gentle reader, at this point my tire sustained multiple punctures, and I was separated from the group as they headed into Bridgeport, the home of the Irish community. At this stage, the mass broke from the map as the hour was getting late, leaving Bronzeville and Chinatown for future voyages. The mass headed up Michigan towards downtown, and then followed the lakefront path to the Planetarium, where celebrations of the full moon were already in progress . Here, I reconnected with the mass and joined in the wonderful fellowship that only such a ride can bring. A quick jaunt to Chinatown was then in order to nourish our bodies after such a delightful nourishment of our souls. |
