This month’s ride theme is in celebration of that magical process by which plants literally grow out of thin air. You’re encouraged to decorate yourselves and/or your bikes with garden themes, and the ride will visit some community gardens along the way.
Much as bicycles represent a small and sensible rebuke to our unsustainable transit system, let us also take inspiration from the humble vegetable garden and keep in mind visions of sustainable agriculture represented by slogans like Small is Beautiful and Soil Not Oil.
Tonight’s route: meetup at 7pm at 703 Pacific Ave.
From there, we’ll head south on Pacific to Beach St.
Follow Beach St to the end (careful crossing the RR tracks!),
Take the levee path
Left on Riverside, loop around the block to see the Beach Flats Community Garden.
Return to the levee path until Laruel Ext
Right on Pacific, go through downtown
Head west on Walnut Ave,
Left on California
Right on Laurel
Left on Mission for a few blocks (please stay in the right lane)
Right on Trescony
Dance break at Trescony Park
Head out the park onto Bay St
Left on King
Left on Mirimar
Through Safeway parking lot, south on Almar
Take neighborhood streets to Swift,
Right on Delaware
Left on Swanton
Left on West Cliff back into town.
What?!?
Santa Cruz Bike Party is a mobile party for riders of all ages, experience levels, and types to meet, ride, and play together in the streets. Rides are 7-10 miles long with music and dance breaks along the way. Rides move at a relatively slow pace and no one is left behind. Each ride has a theme and riders are encouraged to wear costumes or decorate their bikes to fit the theme.
Where?
SC Bike Party starts and ends outside the Bike Church at 703 Pacific Ave downtown. The route is not the same every time, but each month organizers will post the route online ahead of time in case anyone misses the start and wants to catch up.
When?
Once per month, all year long. We meet at 7pm every second Friday of the month. Rides usually leave about 7:15 and last about 2 hours.
How?
The atmosphere of the SC Bike Party is fun, friendly, welcoming, and safe. Our goal is to celebrate cycling and build community, not to cause conflict with car drivers. Please help us maintain a positive and safe atmosphere by keeping in mind the following guidelines:
– Stay to the Right / Stop at Lights – This is not Critical Mass. Please stay to the right on 2-lane roads, or in the right lane on larger roads.
– Ride Straight – Please help avoid crashes by riding predictably, without any sudden turns or stops.
– Don’t Hate – Please roll past any conflict that might present itself during the ride.
– Pack your Trash – Bike partiers aspire to leave party stops in better condition than we found them.
– Don’t Get Smashed – Riding while inebriated poses a danger to yourself and others. Don’t ruin the fun for everyone else by overdoing it.
Bring!
Lights – Rides are at night, so let’s make sure to be visible.
Locks – No bikes have been stolen from the SC Bike Party, but during breaks better to be safe than sorry.
Layers – As we all know Santa Cruz evenings can get damp and chilly.
Water, snacks – Our stops are not always near stores, so best to bring what you need.
Tube, patch kit, pump, tools – The ride is unsupported; please come prepared.