This Thurs will be the ‘Last’ Cruiser Ride
The Daily Camera published a scathing Letter to the Editor this weekend comparing the Cruiser Ride to the Mall Crawl, and urging the city council to step in and take control of an ‘out of control situation’. http://tinyurl.com/kc6fm. The editorial also urged the ‘guiding lights’ of the ride to take note and increase self-regulation. Unfortunately, the man’s viewpoints are spot-on, and it is time for the people for creating this monster to make some painful desisions.
Due to the recent explosion of miscreant behavior, this Thursday will be the last Official Cruiser Ride. Of the summer? Ever? We will see. What is known, is that we need to shoot a tranquilizer in the beast before the Ride’s reputation is permanently tarnished. It is time for self-sacrifice, in order to preserve any kind of future. If you have any questions about this seemingly rash decision, feel free to email me personally at Steve@ this website’s address.
Record Crowds Continue To Snarl Cruiser Ride
Words & Photos: Steve Z
The official ride count totaled 780 people, 100 more than last week. Boulder Parks and Rec are upset because the ride is taking over the bike paths and groups over 500 need a permit to congregate in City Parks. There are hundreds of drunken college and high school kids on mountain bikes causing crashes, getting’ roudy, and breakin’ the law. The excessive size of the group is limiting route options: we can no longer take the paths, we have to stay away from busy streets, but we have to stay on large streets. The police have been tolerant thus far, but it appears the tension is building, and if the numbers continue to escalate at the current rate, a crackdown is only a matter of time. Is the cruiser ride going to go the way of the now-defunct Mall Crawl?
Once upon a time, the cruiser ride was about riding cruiser bikes. It was a chance for a small group to cruise around Boulder under the radar and blow off steam near the end of the work week. The main draw was aimlessly riding bikes throughout town, with no set route and no set leader. The celebratory atmosphere was similar, some adult beverages were consumed. The majority of riders decorated their bikes and wore colorful costumes. Fast forward to today. Sheer numbers have completely changed the tone of the ride, and now it has become a traffic jamming parade and a huge dance party. The liberating freedom of cruising on your bike with lots of options to explore has become tainted with government politics. It is now necessary to have rule enforcers, the Ride Rangers, to try and keep the group safe and in line. But there are not enough volunteers, and who can blame them? Who wants to sacrifice their own personal fun for the thankless job of babysitting drunken kids? Not me that’s for sure.
So something is going to have to change. The Cruiser Ride can not be allowed to continue on its current path, spiraling out of control towards its own demise. Stay tuned.
Cool Flash Link
Only takes a minute to get the idea. Move your mouse around and click to change colors. http://www.jacksonpollock.org/
Check out the skate ramp photos
These guys have a halfpipe in their back yard in downtown Boston, it’s pretty damn cool. I tried to get them to ride at sunset when the high contrast shade filtered light would not be so harsh, but, hey, they are skaters so I got what I got.
Pic of the Day
Photo: Steve Z
DJ Larry mixed up the funk, ska, jazz, and rock during my recent trip to Boston.
