I really hope to see you at Des Moines's Critical Mass Bike Ride, starting at the State Capitol Parking Lot (east lot) on Friday, February 28 at 5:30 p.m. Des Moines is way overdue for this celebration of bikers' right to the road.

What the heck is Critical Mass, you ask? Well then read on below....

In cities around the world, concerned cyclists take to the streets to raise awareness of bicycling and its many benefits over driving cars. These massive rides, called Critical Mass, demonstrate the right of bikers to enjoy more than just the crumbled edge of the road, the need for bike lanes throughout their cities and the need for car drivers to recognize bikers as legitimate users of the roadways.

Many Critical Mass advocates maintain that in such an event, the breaking of traffic laws creates just the sensationalist edge that makes it attractive to newspapers and television. And they're right. But ironically, their disregard for traffic safety laws poses a greater threat to themselves, as cyclists, than to motorists whose respect for the law they seek. My goal, and I hope many of you share it, is to INCREASE Des Moines motorists' regard for the rules and courtesies that keep cyclists safe.

Let's bring what's good about Critical Mass here to Des Moines, and embrace our status as legitimate users of the roadways. But when we do, I hope we're mindful that disregarding laws and getting killed, or just plain pissing people off, does not help our cause.

"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul"    --Edward Abbey