This was about half the group tha attended the BBP this past Friday: Dreams vs. Nightmares! PN2K led a convoy from MIT that left the MIT Student Center Steps (84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139) this Friday at 6:45 PM. Why a convoy? This allows for students who are local and do not feel comfortable biking down Mass Ave by themselves to ride in a group. We were lucky this time to have had several Boston Bike Party volunteer marshals to light the way for us and keep us safe: a shout out to Anne Marie Biernacki, Ken Smith, and Chris Allison. You guys were just being social, but thanks for keeping us safe!
So what is all this? Every 2nd Friday of the month, Boston Bike Party organizes this huge ride (for 300+ cyclists – sometimes even 700) where everyone dresses up to the theme of the event and goes on an organized ride around Cambridge/Boston. Not only is this a great way to meet other members of the greater biking community, but it’s a way to build solidarity and experience how it feels to be one with other cyclists, taking over the (right) lane, ringing your bells, shouting “Bike Par-ty!” and seeing others enjoy life in a recreational way while enjoying the eclectically compiled and booming music from the bike trailers. Basically, everyone who has experienced this with us has said it’s pretty awesome. In fact, Facebook even thought it was cool and made a Commercial Video for BBP.
Just because I will probably never be able to top this costume ever again, here is evidence of where my imagination and creativity peaked — I can’t even claim full credit for this as I managed to secure balloons from a previous event that was being taken down, but I did make that house (in 10 minutes) and managed to keep things tied together (30 minutes) and not actually float Up* and away while cycling through the Mass Ave/Harvard Bridge* – that’s something, right? (*note: not recommended unless you have a death wish)
After we reached our destination at Kenmore Square, our group (Dingfang, Yaoming, Jay Morgan, and a newly met member whom we named Puggles) gathered and feasted at Amsterdam Falafel.
Feel like you’ve missed out? Come to our GBM to learn more this upcoming Friday, 11/20 @ 6 PM in 1-132 (MIT), get your bike maintained/fixed (if it needs minor repairs) the first week of December, and then try out the December BBP!
Keep Calm & Pedal On
Official Dreams vs. Nightmares Boston Bike Party fb event page
MIT Convoy fb event page
Photo Credits to Amy L.