What is Critical Mass?

Critical Mass is a mass bicycle ride that takes place on the last Friday of each month in cities around the world. Everyone is invited! No one is in charge! Bring your bike! Bring skateboards, rollerblades, e-scooters, e-bikes.

Lead a ride

With at least one week's notice, and a route planned and tested, you may DM us on Instagram or Email denvercriticalmass@gmail.com if you want to lead a ride.

Disclaimer

Denver Critical Mass is meant to be a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of gender, race, ability, body types, sexual orientation, or socio-economics. We value and celebrate the diversity that is Critical Mass.

Please understand that your ride stewards are doing their best. Riders who come to Denver CM are overwhelmingly friendly, courteous, and safe. We're here for a good time, spreading happy Friday joy.

Any large ride includes different personalities and experience levels. The party atmosphere doesn't invite recklessness. If someone's riding or behavior feels uncomfortable, say something to them. If someone tells you they're having an issue with your behavior, err on the side of respecting their experience.

Thoughts

We get an overwhelmingly positive response from people we pass. Even many drivers honk with support. Many wait patiently for our bus to roll through. But how we are perceived is not guaranteed to be positive. We are demonstrating one night a month, for a couple of hours, in small chunks of the city.

Our ride may appear incongruent with some people's beliefs about how to use streets. Even among ourselves, we have different values that make sense only because cars pervade everything about daily life.

Think of this ride as a grassroots bike bus that makes itself safe by sheer numbers. We are challenging some norms.

We want streets that are safe for all people, all the time. That happens by lessening our use of personal car trips, including Uber and driverless taxis.

Most days, people bike, walk, scoot, and take transit as individuals. That should be easy, safe, reliable, and dignified. When streets are safe for people, maybe a big demonstration won't be necessary. Maybe streets designed for people will invite more social and cultural richness.

Respect others, respect yourself, and respect the mission of Denver Critical Mass: to celebrate every person's right to dignified use of our streets with everyday options besides a car, and to provide safety in vibes and numbers during our events.

This is your ride as much as it is everyone else’s, and we’re all counting on each other to keep it going.