0-ticket Ride

Went on the Code Pink post-election Critical Mass ride last night. KBOO was reporting 1000 people in the streets and 100 police in riot gear on the way downtown; tensions were high. When I arrived, there were already a dozen or so motorcycle cops waiting across the street for us, and a helicopter was circling the area, dividing its time between the main gathering in the South Park Blocks and our location.

We debated for a few minutes, then split the group into twos and threes and left going in all directions. A few minutes later we met up under the Hawthorne Bridge (sans police) and took the bridge to East, where we rode for an hour with no difficulties and lots of public support.

A few police cruisers finally stumbled across us around 8:30 or so, and issued a few ominous -- if not terribly specific -- warnings over the loudspeaker. The Mass deliberated for a moment, then turned eastward, riding on the sidewalks of one-way streets and otherwise generally making it difficult for the police to follow us. We paused briefly at a park, then crossed the Steel Bridge back into downtown and met up at Cap't Ankeny's for microbrews, pizza, and networking for future action and rides.

Total ticket / arrest count: 0
Total riders: probably close to 100

Total fun.