Oakland Critical Mass Tail Repairs Bikeway, Storms Big Boxes, Visits Collapsed Freeway (ph

After a rousing three hours demonstrating with Critical Mass Oakland, a group continued through West Oakland to the collapsed portion of the MacArthur Maze where they entered the worksite, interviewed workers, and observed the deconstruction/reconstruction. Play sentries played soccer in the street as they awaited the return of their scouting comrades. Mission accomplished.

Onward, they encountered a severe bike hazard, the "Grates of Death," on a bikeway into Emeryville. Such grates will catch a cyclist's tire and cause a terrible crash. Noticing that incompetent CalTrans workers or agents of the oil companies had incorrectly placed the grate, the group struggled to lift it and managed to rotate it and replace it, for the safety of small children, tall bikes and fluffy kitties everywhere.

Finally, to further assert the message of carmageddon in the face of deadly grates and mazes, and consumer culture in general, the Big Boxes of Emeryville were stormed by TallBike. Guards quickly mobilized but were unable to suppress the minibiker hordes. One sentry of the consumer conniption even broke out laughing as he attempted to exculpate the inculpator. No harm was done and awareness was raised just as the planet is set to be razed by their crimes in 2012, as tallbike Commando X17's sign attests.

More nerve gas at 11. Complete schedule of East Bay Rides follows:

1st Friday: Oakland
5:30, 14th and Broadway (Frank Ogawa Plaza)

2nd Friday: Berkeley
5:30, Downtown BART

3rd Friday: Walnut Creek
5:30, Walnut Creek BART

Last S a t u r d a y: EMERYVILLE!
Ever bike through IKEA? It's fun. J 5 PM, MacArthur BART


THESE RIDES ARE HOPPIN'.