The police did a bad job keeping the bikes out of the streets. I was almost unable to get into the costco parking lot and was almost unable to drive on Rengstorff. Police were just sitting back and watching these people act like idiots. This San Jose Bike Party thing sounds like a stupid thing to me. And a very dangerous thing at that.

Bikes have a legal right to the streets. Why would the police try to keep us off of them?

If the streets were crowded with cars, would you have the same frustration?

As for saying we were acking like idiots...I guess it takes one to know one.

I was so angry last night! You screamed, yelled, blew horns, blew air horns all in the name of you having fun! I live one house away from where you all selfishly had your "fun!" Quite selfish since it was at other peoples expense. Some people use this time to rest or sleep since we have just got off work. Better yet I could have used one of you to help contain my mom who has altzheimers and could not understand your "party!"Maybe your ride should be highway 9 to Santa Cruz where you will not disturb otheres!

This was the coolest bicycle thing I have ever seen. All walks of life enjoying themselves in completely harmless activity. I ran across the parade of hundreds of cyclists and just had to stop, pull over, and enjoy people having a good time! I called a half-dozen people to share what an awesome experience it was as it was happening. You guys really enjoy being out, riding, and having fun. I want to come to the next event!

I saw a bunch of these guys along Shoreline Blvd. last night and I had a little trouble getting into the exit lane to Central Expressway. I didn't hear any air horns or yelling and the pack of bikes separated to give me room to merge into the exit ramp. I can see how there might have been a few disturbances, but these guys were much more courteous and less chaotic than Critical Mass in San Fran.

That many bicycles and cars on a road designed for cars is just not compatible. why where they allowed to go through and abuse their rights like this? One of these [word removed] smashed out my rear tail light on the street. Bicycles are nice in bike lanes or trails but last night all I saw was a mob of two wheeled thugs littering EVERYWHERE, blowing loud horns, yelling and screaming, intentionally jamming up traffic. [word removed] Every single one of you. I hate hate hate every single one of you.

Grow up, get a real job and a car like a real live grown up. If I could stamp the word HATE on every one of the 4000 of your faces it would not come to within 1/10000th of the amount of hatred I have for you and your "party".

Dear a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood,

I am really sorry someone damaged your tail light. That is awful. That is not what Bike Party ride is about-that was some rogue person who you have every right to hate.

If I witnessed that event, I would have made sure that we got that person's ID so he would be arrested. I am surprised other riders did not take action against this person.

Many of our riders are adults with real jobs and sometimes cars. But we are much happier on a bicycle. Maybe you would be less hateful if you got out of the car and joined the fun.

Please don't hate all bicycle riders. The purpose of San Jose Bike Party is to build community through bicycling. We take the streets, like we have every legal right to do so, and enjoy a long ride through the city with our friends and neighbors.

Well, this explains that noise that got all my dogs barking. The sirens and horns and stuff. I had hoped no one was injured, and I'm glad it was only this.

I lived in San Francisco for 10 yrs before moving to Mountain VIew. Every month, I tried to change my travel plans when Critical Mass was happening, since it took an extra 2-4 hours to get home through it. I did not own a car then, having sold it when I moved here from Phoenix, since mass transit in teh bay area is so wonderful. Critical Mass, hoever, precluded any pedestrian access to buses or simply crossing the street at a light.

I have never understood the sense of privilege that acting out while riding on two wheels gave those in Critical Mass. I suspect your club enjoys that same sense. I do not think these rides ingratiate you in the public eye. Taking to the streets should not entail the special attention and use of police forces to monitor your route. They have better things to do than ride herd over and protect bicyclists from cars. No ride I've ever been on has had police attention.

Just because you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD do it.

why on earth do the bike party people think that having thousands of drunk bikers is plow through neighborhoods at midnight is somehow going to improve relations between the public and the bicylcling public? I'm a biker myself, commute 20 miles every day and even I think this is a bad idea.

Now that I've thought about it more I'm wondering if filing a class action lawsuit against the organizers of SJBP is appropriate.

now that i thought about it more no it wouldn't be. i just don't want them back.

Some people in this town have issues. It's really pathetic.

Out of the 2 million or so people who live in the South Bay, a few of you got bothered for a short period of time, maybe even up to 90 minutes, once for an entire two years of bike party. You won't hear from us anytime soon, we move the route every month as to not create too much of an impact on any one particular area.

The sad part is that the majority of people who comment on news pieces and other related things are the internet do so to complain, so all those hundreds of people who stood along our route - people of ALL ages, mind you - and cheered us along don't have as loud of a voice as a couple people who can't stand some noise one night out of the year (and talk about a law suit?).

If you are concerned about getting caught up in next month's ride, the entire route is posted the third thursday of each month at www.sjbikeparty.org. There's also a ton of info on what we are doing and why, as well as the law for bikes - something all drivers should already know as it is required to pass the DMV test for a driver's license.

I would also like to reassert that most of us are grown-ups with jobs. Autombile ownership isn't required for that.

You came into my neighborhood without invitation.
You did not extend us the courtesy of a notice of your event.
You woke my family up at 11 pm and created a disturbance for over an hour.
You yelled, screamed, and played loud music.
The police felt it necessary to act to keep you safe.

Your website says "We aim to leave no trace behind except a good will towards cyclists in the areas we travel."

You did not achieve your goal.

I'm a cyclist who enjoys getting out on a road bike during the day when you can actually see things and enjoy the scenery. This group sjbikeparty which organized the bikeride and chant in our neighborhood last night at 1030pm has nothing to do with building democratic community or supporting cycling ideals as it claims. These guys are just partying pricks who use these words much like the right-wing conservative groups use words like patriotism and the american flag, to support invading iraq. These a-holes invaded our neighborhood last night and disturbed our peace which is illegal.

As a regular bike party rider I liked having the party come to mountain view expect for a few incidents (which will be delt with internally)over all I think it was a success. Major props go to the MVPD and PAPD for all of their help.
Here is a link on some rider reflections both good and bad.Web Link

everybody just needs to listen to yourselves your acting like a bunch of kids fighting... some people hate the bike riders and some people love them.... whats wrong with having a little celebration once and a while?? loosen up!!!....I applaude the riders, except for the bad rider that apparently had broken someones taillight, he should have been delt with, and who knows maybe someone will turn him in after the ride,have some faith in people!!... again, I understand everybodies view on this, but to sum it up, let go and have a little fun sometime, lighten up and enjoy life.. it's short.....you could die tomorrow!!!!, who knows today may be your last day on earth, did you enjoy yourself like it was your last day on earth..the bike riders did!!!!how about you???haters and complainers

I'm acting like a child!? I'm not the selfish loud vandalizing littering drunken horde that came into town BY THE THOUSANDS -- all in the name of good fun. You wanna go have fun?

Go find the appropriate venue. Haters and complainers?! GODDAMIT I have work today and tomorrow. Your "right" to party ends where I can start hearing you. These phrases: "noise on one night of the year" "millions of SV residents and we only inconvienced you" "lighten up" "party" You people sound like someone who doesn't have to worry about real adult world of grown up responsibilities.

Just because you jerks want to have fun doesn't mean you have to harass the rest of us. What Did Mountain view do to you?! Why do we deserve it? The admission of noise and inconvience on one night out of the year or out of the entire population is a tacit admission of guilt. Again, WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS!?

This isn't about bicycles. It was about the thousands of people, some drunk, some rowdy, all of them loud and disruptive rolling through the neighborhood at very, very late hours.

I really did think that the idea behind your celebration was great. However, the problems that occurred last night were far beyond what should have happened and now I think otherwise . I personally was almost hit by a swarm of cyclists not abiding by the law. I was rightfully in the crosswalk with 10 seconds left when "they" came through yelling at me and other pedestrians (kids included) to get out of their way. They were rude, obscene, and dangerous. Also, there was a point where they cut off a car rightfully making a turn and had the car trapped in the middle of the intersection. Of course I feel that cyclists have a right to be on the streets, but they need to be responsible... last night they were not.

I think that if this event takes place again, ,the organizers should be more clear on what is acceptable and what is unacceptable behavior.

I will say this... MANY tickets should have been issued to a countless number of cyclists breaking the law, and I would expect the police there ready to issue those tickets in the future.

Sorry I missed it. Sounds like fun. Was out of town. Though it does sound like it should have gone on earlier in the day.

When it's downtown at 8pm it's fun. When it's still rolling past your house at midnight, it's not fun anymore. At what hour does it turn into disturbing the peace?

Web Link

It looks like the organizers of this event think that everyone in MV loves them. That they're doing us a favor. Tell them what you think.

has anyone experienced driving on Alma at peak traffic hour and a bike in front of you!!! :(

Seems this was a parade street party, apparently legally done with permits. I do not like the lagre noise from fireworks either (as it terrifies our pets). But I guess I just have to be grownup and deal with others celebrations. As a bike commutter in traffic with 40 years of experience, I find it difficult to imagine mixing large numbers a partying people riding bikes in the middle of busy streets a prudent thing to do for safety of bikers. Biking in traffic at night requires care, equipment, and some training.
I wonder if this was an insured event? Seems the city has a liability concern to allow this unless it had proper insurance. The person with the broken light should file for a claim against the organizers.

"WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS!?"

Its a city and public street. Its people riding their bicycles. Some very well behaved, some not, but people riding together. There is no intention to harass. Its not YOU or WE or an attack on anyone, especially not the city of Mountain View.

Its loud. Yes. It also left "your" city by 11:30 PM on a Friday night-not 2 am. Real adults with real responsibilities don't work on Saturdays (if we want to go into stereotypes), so 11:30 PM shouldn't be a problem.

And bothered MILLIONS?? Really??

Maybe you need to get over yourself and stop seeing yourself as a victim of an event. The only problem you encountered was being woken up. I am grouchy when I wake up, but I don't claim that the loud people are trying to torture me.

It disgusted me at how they did not follow the laws and caused a lot of trouble for other people out there.

I saw many who were blocking traffic on purpose by blocking the way of traffic that had a green light! Not everyone in the bike party did that, but it was a few hundred people that did cause traffic to stand still for many lights.

Some people were drunk on alcohol and as well as having the power of a "mob". Yelling at people to get out of the way because they had a huge group of people does not give people the right to think they're above the law or have rights above any other person out there!

Hi. I participated in Bike Party last night. I'm not a rude or obnoxious rider. I follow the rules set out by SJBP. I don't run red lights or drink or yell. I did however, have a nice healthy ride with good friends in beautiful weather without using a drop of gas.

I am as unhappy as some of the residents above at the lawlessness and rudeness. At the same time, I think the majority of people on the ride are really honestly respectful and trying to have a good time and be respectful of the communities we ride through. Like any fun community type event, there will always be a few bad apples and I feel the SJBP has done their best to discourage that behavior. There's just little they can do, other than to have the police interfere, which they do.

I do know that they try to set the ride up so that it a) won't interfere with normal commute hours thus sparing everyone a headache, more importantly b) the route takes us OUT of residential areas.

I don't appreciate being lumped in with hoodlums because I rode my bicycle through the streets quietly with my friends. As for the writer who told bicyclists to "grow up and get a real job," that's really uncalled for. Tell it to the multi-millionaire Formula One drivers who ride their bicycles for conditioning training; tell it to the rest of us who actually CARE about saving gas and the environment. Your childish name calling will fall on deaf ears.

I think these poor "adults" who are full of hatred for a group of individual bicyclists having fun riding together just need to grow up and learn to tolerate a little inconvenience. Aaawwww, the big noise woke you up. BIG DEAL. You're living in a CITY. Call the police.

It wasn't like the riots (by car driving "adults" with "jobs") that happen when your team wins the BIG GAME. It was a demonstration of thousands of students and mostly tax paying CITIZENS riding their bicycles together having FUN. Yes, a small percentage got out of control. YOU ever throw a party for 2500? Ever BEEN to a party with 2500?

So a taillight got broken. BIG DEAL. That's the risk you take when parking your car on the public street. Bicyclists have EVERY RIGHT to be there. At any time. Be happy we don't ride MOTORcycles. Be happy we change the route every month, out of courtesy. Be happy we do our best to minimize our impact on traffic.

We have every right to assemble. If we did so while driving our cars, playing music as many car drivers do, what kind of impact do you think THAT would have? Or, again, motorcycles?

Bob, it was more than waking up people.

It was the vandalism, the loud music, the LITTERING, the DISRESPECT for traffic laws (even a small number doesn't matter; YOU'RE the ones who brought them along), the DISRESPECT for people who live here just for YOUR entertainment, and the DISRESPECT for this city that I love. I DID NOT WANT to have a party for 2500 thrown in my city. I would NEVER throw a party that large because it would be IRRESPONSIBLE.

Don't THREATEN us (this is my home you did this in) with hypothetical arguments about motorcycles or route changes, like I'm supposed to be grateful. You can't keep doing this to every city in the county without getting every government against you.

Mike Says,

"I DID NOT WANT to have a party for 2500 thrown in my city. I would NEVER throw a party that large because it would be IRRESPONSIBLE."

Apparently you don't know about the Shoreline Amphitheater which throws large parties(Concerts) all the time. They have up to 22,000 people there. Is that irresponsible too?

They don't hold street parties of 22,000.

Neither did the Bike Party

I was a rider in bike party. I don't agree with the "fuck the world, I'm going to have my fun", attitude, or the premise that the people of these communities feel this is the mindset all 2,500 of us have.

If anything, I saw this event, and the people in these communities, bring a sense or ACTUAL community and probably even brought some of your neighbors out for the night, for a nice bike ride with people from all over the bay area. No need for you people to sit in your ivory tower and look down upon the rest of us south bay neighbors. BTW, Both my wife and I have fulltime good paying jobs, pay taxes, own a house, and pay property taxes. We are what you might call "grow-ups" with "real jobs". I fully support the taxes I pay in our community paying to support an event like this, rather than line the pockets of politicians. This even isn't political, that's just a personal opinion.

This IS NOT CRITICAL MASS, we do not aim to disrupt, and block traffic, or assert our "we're better than cars" attitude (which some of you obviously think this is synonymous with CM, and that this is the goal of BP, which it's not).

Someone claiming that this is a parade, or that it should be insured, is a tad ridiculous. I believe our FEDERAL laws, written in our CONSTITUTION, give us the right to assemble. This is not a political group, but if it's a "cars vs. bikes" thing (for YOU non-bike supporters), than so be it. I ride a bike, and drive a car. I do think some bicyclists ride very dangerously, but I understand why they sometimes to do this. The point is if this even had to get permits, and pay insurance, and all riders had to pay fees it wouldn't happen (yay you win, but you also lose out here). So only the "Rich" can have their fun little snobby ass permitted and insured "parties", whatever guys.

At points where I was "breaking the law", there were cops directing us to do so. So debunk that argument. You may not have seen it, but there were police trying to get us through your congested areas of the city quicker, and safer (for everyone at that).

I wasn't drinking, but I know some people were. Some people need to know when enough is enough. I do have to say that I saw very FEW that reached this point or past it. Most kept their drinking under wraps, and kept their bicycles under control.

People leaving trash, I agree that was a bad aspect of this, but I myself through away my own trash, and even picked up some others. Just like out in the real world, some people feel they are entitled to throw trash out the window of their car. You can't really do much about it, other than pick it up, and make sure to let people know to pick up their trash, which BP does push pretty hard.

SJBP is not any one person, or group of people from what I understand. I am not a organizer, but I do support it. Good luck with your sue happy lawsuit.

I noticed I have some minor typos, if the grammar nazi decided to point out that, I just want to illustrate how some of the non-supporters, are struggling with grammar themselves here. I am not going to negate their arguments or opinions based on this.

Some comments are outrageous.

I had a migraine that night, they came by my neighborhood around 1030pm. I first thought it was a group of 5-6 people being loud outside my window. I got up and soon realized that it was a bunch of bikers riding on middlefield road. I continuous stream for a good 30 minutes.

I am an avid biker, and despite my migraine I got my bike and joined them.
I personally did not hear any horns, yes loud music, but on middlefield on friday night it is not an usual occurrence.

I was not happy to be waken up, but I would welcome SJBP any time.
As for the comments about traffic, I would like everyone to think about when there is a concert in Shoreline, cars are in the middle of the intersection blocking road. All that at 6 pm , not 8 pm or 10 pm. Chances are not a lot of people commute at those hours.
They are 100 of drunk drivers coming out the bars every friday night. how about you go chase them too?

A drunk driver is much more disturbing and dangerous than a drunk biker. And while no one should drink and drive/bike. Biker are not dangerous.

As for the noise disturbance, the db limit during the night is virtually the same as during the day. And seriously who is in bed at 10 pm on friday night. I would understand if it was any other day of the week.

Bikers have the same right as cars. The number of times I almost got run over riding my bike around. I think this event can bring awareness to drivers that we are out there every day, respect us on the street. We did too.

I really enjoyed friday night critical mass, I am proud to say next time we will be one more strong.

1. Did the Bike Party riders stay within the bike lanes?

2. Were the streets closed off from traffic(like during festivals)?

Friday night at 8:00 pm was a bad day and time chosen to schedule this event. You bike riders seem to be "trying" to make the point "you have rights too".

In the future may I suggest to possibly chose a Sunday morning at 5:00 AM, and possibly take your ride to a scenic area instead.

Respect and consideration to all involved otherwise it won't work.

Dear Parent,

1. Bikers are allowed to use full lane, it is called lane sharing, motorcycle do it, we can it. Check DMV website for my details.
2. Yes and no, there was police escort, making sure that we would not break the law and disrupt traffic too much. They did close middlefield and moffet intersection so that we could do a left turn on moffett.

3. Yes we do have right, just like you do on foot or in the car. We have similar rights and obligation. respecting traffic lights, being safe.

Mountain View has a population of more than 70,000 people and only 0.142857% of them complain about ONE night of disturbance. Please, get over it. It was TWO days ago!

To SJ Biker that has no respect

That's my point. People like YOU who is disrespectful and rude and think you can do whatever you want without consideration for others is exactly why people ARE complaining about the idiocy of this event. 1000+ bikers DO NOT belong ganging up together and inconveniencing residents while claiming they are JUST "having fun" is very immature.

P.S. AND I DON'T CARE HOW MANY DAYS AGO IT WAS.

MV citizens,

You can read it here and at Web Link the SJBP people don't care about your or any property damage or threats to public safety by bringing intoxicated people to these events. This is not about bicycles. It's about unruly hordes hiding behind bicycling advocacy to make some cutesy counterculture statement because ... I don't know why. There are more unhappy people than are appearing in these forums. it is not .14% of the city. A lot of us are angry.

I don't know why the disrespect from SJBP has to continue like this. Must you be this way to "make a statement"? No, we don't have a few thousand cars jamming up the roads.

We only have this problem when SJBP shows up.

TO C

May I suggest you take your 1000+ bike gang out to the country and "lane share" OUT THERE instead. I'm sure they won't complain.

Police should have better things to do than use tax payers money to escort a DISRESPETFUL bike gang.

INCIDENTALLY I CHECKED THE DMV WEBSITE AND there is NOTHING saying 1000 bicyclists can share the road , BUT, what it does state is that bicyclists must ride in a STRAIGHT line as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical.

Did the bicyclists obey that law?

The problem is that there are two type of bicyclists in the group.

1. Those who want to have fun and wont impede on the rights of others.

2. Those who will abuse this event for their own gains...(getting drunk, causing destruction of property, bullying people who are not on bikes, etc...)

With that said even though a lot of people are the 1st type. The people of the 2nd type will ruin it for the rest...Its the sad truth with anything. The police were not everywhere that evening and truthfully i don't think they have the man power to deal with it. That is why the san jose bike party group must take responsibility with it.

They claim a lot of people were behaving, but there were also many who were not. People who took place in the san jose bike party did nothing to correct/stop the bad behavior of those causing trouble.

It is wrong to group the good and bad bikers together like this, but if the san jose bike party needs to get their act together. Holding this type of event is in their rights, but people not taking part in their event have rights too!

My suggestion for the group is to tell their fellow bikers out there who are causing this trouble to stop or just not show up any more because if this continues to happen I can see nothing but trouble for the san jose bike party and the communities that they travel through.

Looks like a lot of fun! Check out the video of the kids. It's not all drunk rude people.

Web Link

Seems I'm not the only one that thinks these knuckleheads stepped over the line with their lack of consideration for people living along their route. This wasn't a peaceful ride. It was a bunch of people intent on waking up the entire neighborhood. The promoters of this are not easy to find. I don't blame them because I wanted to have a few words with them. They took up all lanes causing major back-ups. They shouted offensive things to people as they rode through. No respect for those they interfered with yet they want the rest of us to respect their right to ride. Take this crap to San Francisco where it belongs.

I'm sorry that Mark does not get the point. O.K., so "a kid in the trailer" makes everything O. K? Really? Really.

I understand to some it was supposed to be a fun event but with 1000 bicyclists participating, there needs to be strict rules and guidelines set to have it run successful, along with a maximum limit of bicyclists allowed to participate. Safety first!!!!

I am sure things can be resolved and controlled professionally. Good luck!

FYI to Parent:
21202. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

Considering that it was 11pm at night and no cars were around, we can ride on the road. Moreover, the bike lane is on the road and Cars are parked on the weekend. So unless you want bicycle to smash car better let them share the road with other vehicules.

No, not all bicyclist follow the law, and it is very unfortunate for all of us.

I am not an organizer, just an avid biker. I can speak for myself but not the other 2499 other bikers.

Enjoy your weekend everyone

Hi Vince, If the bicyclists took up all lanes, then they clearly broke the law. They must ride in a STRAIGHT LINE as stated in the DMV Driver handout. I wonder WHY they ABUSED the law and then think they can?

Why so much hate?

You should smile more... it's infectious.

:)))

OMG!

C . . . . . . . . . . . ARE YOU SERIOUS???

REGARDING: 21202.(a) . . .ANY "PERSON" (Person = "ONE" . .. . . NOT 1000)The law is written for any person. Groups still apply, no exceptions.

People are not complaining because of one bicyclist . . . but 1000.


You are not getting it. I'm sorry for you.

we were all on one lane, the right lane. going straight forward.

so whether there is one cyclist or 1000 we can share the road. all of us as a group or as individual. I am not understanding your reasoning with the lane sharing. If I can share the lane, 1000 other people can too.

moving as a group is hard, bikers are always passing others. therefore we dont have to be on the bike lane. They are parked car on the bike lane, in order to avoid them we have to be on the right lane. Dont you agree?

anyways you guys should join us next time, see that we are harmless.

The disturbance and noise I wont argue about, because I cannot control the other people.

ONE STRAIGHT LINE NEAR THE RIGHT CURB, NOT THE WHOLE LANE AND NOT AT THE SAME TIME. I am sorry you do not comprehend that.

YOU ARE CAUSING THE CONDITIONS TO BE UNSAFE FOR INNOCENT DRIVERS.

Wow, SJBP certainly shook up a small minority of people in the Mt View neighborhood.
I am sure many of your merchants were happy with Bike Party's Friday night Economic Stimulus Package dispensed along the route through you city.
3500 hundred bicyclist with cash in tow, spread that money around to hundreds of merchants beginning with our first re-group next to Castro St. and along our route through your town.

Folks, please be reasonable. We can all co-exist and enjoy life and the persuit of happiness together. As a Bike Party enthusiast, I would like to say that our cyclist members are 99.999% solid citizens representing the beautiful cross-section of the diverse South Bay Area with guests riders from communities all over Northern California and beyond.

A majority of us own cars -- I drive a F-150 -- and many are professionals of every possible stripe you can imagine.
Frankly, SJBP received a fantabulous welcome from hundreds of your residents who came out to cheer, high-five, provide support and thank SJBP for running our route through your city. Your police officers were professional, cooperative, commanded respect and were just plain great chaps.

Therefore, the comments in this forum is quite disheartening. However, I will keep the initial vibe from the beautiful and welcoming spirit of the Mt View residents from Friday night.
This is a vivid lesson that you can't please all of the people all of the time.
It all just shows that our American Democracy is a great system and I am so proud of all a' yawl' for expressing your opinions freely and with great gusto: for keeping it real -- as is said in pop vernacular.

On a final flippant note, parting shot, -- if you will -- if all of you Ebenezer Scrooges happen to cool down, SJBP will welcome you all, with open arms, to join us in October to commemorate our second anniversary of existence. Riding in SJBP is an indescribable, exillarating and life enhancing experience. And you might just understand our meteoric growth in popularity. There is absolutely nothing that compares to the thrill of Bike Party. All first time riders agree that it is the best event to ever happen to the South Bay.
And remember, as one of our Bike Party members commented yesterday, even Ebenezer Scrooge came around upon recognizing the error of his ways.
Take care folks. SJBP does not hold grudges because we have, in our midsts, several initial naysayers -- just like you -- who are now ardent Bike Party advocates. We love our enemies and detractors too because many eventually become fiends and supporters.
I can't wait to see several of you next month.
Peace is up!

@parent

Please check our website and read our rules. They are all clearly stated. We post our route ahead of time on the website. However, in order to view the map/directions, participants MUST agree to our rules.

There are several things that route planners/organizers do to limit the level of disturbance during our rides. For instance... Choosing routes with the FEWEST liquor stores possible. We don't want our riders intoxicated any more than you do.

In response to your suggestion on "Limiting the number of participants"
The route is only posted 24hours prior to the event. Our ride starting location, and route, change monthly. We have been taking steps to hinder the number of riders showing up.

Web Link
Our ride has grown exponentially over the last few months. Way beyond what any of the organizers had ever imagined, or planned for. We are still working to find new ways to curb the number of people showing up.

"Police should have better things to do than use tax payers money to escort a DISRESPETFUL bike gang."

The police support enabled us to move through our route quickly, and safely. Consider how long we would have been in your neck of the woods without them? If you'd like to see a great example of a "Bike Gang" check out SF Critical Mass. Their only goal is to take over the streets, disturb the public, and cause property damage. These two rides are very different.

Who are you to decide where my tax dollars go? If we have that large of a police presence, obviously someone thinks it's worth the money.

@Jay
"People who took place in the san jose bike party did nothing to correct/stop the bad behavior of those causing trouble."

You are very wrong. In the past this event has gone on without any type of behavioral monitoring. We recognized that the wrong type of riders began showing up over the last 3 months, and have been working with law enforcement on a resolution. There is even a core group of 100 volunteers during the ride that watch for these types of people. On our website we tell people who are not willing to follow our strict rules, not to show up.


@Vince K.
"This wasn't a peaceful ride. It was a bunch of people intent on waking up the entire neighborhood"

I'm very sorry you were waken. However, we don't plan bike rides to wake people up. That is not our intent. If you're still interested in "Giving us a piece of your mind" we are not hard to find. We have open planning meetings every month. You are more than welcome to PEACEFULLY attend. The date and location can be found on our website.

I wish I had more time to respond to every comment on this thread.

If you would like more information on our ride check www.SjBikeParty.Org

Again, the organizers hold open planning meetings monthly. you can find the dates and location on our website.

hey parent,

the only thing that's disturbing you any more is your own sense of hatred. is that healthy?

get over it. or better yet, go find a lower-income neighborhood who's poor residents are subjected to commute hour noise and pollution every single day of their lives, coming from 10,000+ cars.

No one on this thread has stopped to ask why the police were out, why bike partiers were running lights, etc.

Mountain View police were the only department that night to shut down intersections (they closed 2) to get the ride out faster. Bikes then "running" lights were in reaction to that, not the other way around. In other cities that night, the police did not do this, so the bikes stopped and waited for the green, as they are legally required.

If anyone has issue with this, please notify Mountain View police to not help with public safety in the future. However, I think most moutain view residents and bike partiers can agree that this was a good move on their behalf and that those complaining on this site simply have done so without getting the full picture of what "happened" to their city on Friday.

If a few people get in there cars on a Friday and leave a bar drunk, should we express outrage at everyone on the road and demand an end to driving on the road when 1,000 or so other cars are present?

I think it's time for every to understand that not everything in this world is in their control.

7:44pm northbound light rail Mountain View from Downtown San Jose. I barely manage to get on the train. The bikes are choking the train in every position imaginable, jabbing everyone, even swinging from hand straps. Chaos, youths screaming, music blaring, foul language, one crying baby, two bewildered and scared children, people yelling at the top of their lungs, "Bike Party!". No security officers, no Valley Transit Authority presence, only youths looking for an excuse to party and act like complete idiots AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. Shame on "Bike Party", and shame on VTA for allowing this to happen on public transit. There is no excuse for what I saw, period.

The language: "People like YOU who is disrespectful and rude"

I don't need to say anymore but we welcome you to join us, even if you (the town of Mtn View), don't welcome us.

Phoenix,

I think what you describe is no worse than a ride on the caltrain on game day. And that happens a lot more. Does that make it ok?

No.

I am a proud Mt View citizen and would welcome Bike Party anytime!!!

@Parent

No you are the one not understanding the law. Nothing in it says a group must be single file. Let me bold the key sections.. 21202 says the following:

. (a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride as close as PRACTICABLE to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway

EXCEPT UNDER ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

Many of the bicyclists travel at various speeds, just like cars, it is necessary to pass. There are also many cars parked on the right hand side and it's necessary to go around.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

Many parts of the bicycle routes require left hand turns...

and finally we get to:

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, BICYCLES, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656.


all those listed in (3) are PLURAL which means more than one. In this case since there are many bicycles it is not practicable to be near the right hand curb lane because of 2 and 1...

The law is very clearly stated and no where does it say a group has to be single file. If you don't like the law you can lobby to change it.

No actually I do understand the law. It doesn't take a moran to figure it out. It is pretty easy. You are the one that has the problem.

I NEVER said the group has to be single file. GET A GRIP. What in the H_ _ _ do you think STRAIGHT LINE MEANS? ACCEPT THE LAW.

You can bold as much as you like if that gives you satisfaction, who cares.

AND . . . . NO WHERE does it say you can use your bicycles to form a BIKE GANG, GATHER 1000 BICYCLISTS AND TAKE OVER AN ENTIRE LANE.

MAYBE IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THE BICYCLE LAWS DUE TO DISRESPECT AND SAFETY.

@Parent

Moran? Now you just insulted an entire family surname, unless you mean moron.

21202 which is the law pertaining to bicycles, doesn't attempt to define or use any wording with regards to a straight line or single file for that matter, just the same direction of traffic. Are you saying bicyclists shouldn't zig zag all over the road? I would agree with you.

I don't know what your definition of bike gang is nor is it applicable to the referenced law. Taking over an entire lane... re-read subsection 1 and 3 of 21202 again...

I don't see many bicyclists with leather and chaps tho, just fyi.

what do you call everyone driving cars somewhere together? how about to and from a football game? thousands of cars in the roadway, maybe some speeding, some running red lights, but most not. the route is pre-planned, everyone knows where the stadium is. all the people who live along the path, they have to listen to it. engines, loud music sometimes, pollution. and then, out of the 30,000 (that's about right for a game, isn't it?), some get drunk, drive home endangering others.

now, what do we shut down? the roadway, the footbal game (or other reason/event for driving), all the thousands who participated in using the roads, or do we as a community (police and other individuals alike) go after those few who do break the rules.

seriously, and this is aimed at parent and anyone who agree with her/him, if bikes can use the road legally, then why seek punishment on the whole for the specific behavior of specific individuals.

@parent: i got hit by an automobile running a red light. does that mean your right to use the road in a car should be restricted?

just to clarify- the car that hit me was running the light, not me.

My wife & I brought our children out to California Ave and watched in amazement as the riders came by... Sure they were LOUD, but we didn't think that it was the least bit objectionable. As a matter of fact, if it was a bit earlier in the evening we'd have loaded the kids into the trailer and joined the ride!
As far as we're concerned the SJ Bike Party is welcome back in MV any day (though earlier and with more notice would be better)!

So we have a handfull of blue-haired old ladies complaining they were awakened by "those terrible, terrible bicycle riders making alllll that noise in the streeeeet......." Oh Boooo Hooooo!!!!!!!

"Youuu bicycle riders are allll breaking the lawwwww!!!"

Ever get stuck outside of Shoreline when a show lets out? Ever get stuck in traffic when a game lets out near a stadium? It's a city. There are other people in it. I know you know about them because you see them on TV.

There's always going to be a handfull of grumbling curmudgeons. Go back to bed now. This bike ride is GREAT FUN, striving to be polite, doing its best to make a safe and peacefull event. Vive la Bike Party!!!!

Another example of cars hoarding the street is any event at the Shoreline Amphitheater. I've seen drivers disregard road rules and drive on the median and shoulder giving their finger at will to anyone who honks at them. Surprise, surprise, these drivers are probably the same cyclists who run reds and disregard the road rules.

I don't see a forum complaining about those drivers. We tolerate it and don't give it a second thought the next day.

SJBiker: They don't do it in a residential area. That's why it is so far away. perhaps SJBP should consider the same thing.

What do you think Stan? How old are you? Did you really get hit or is that made up?

You make no logic. I am not here to argue

@Parent,

If you were not here to argue you would not have spend countless hours defending your opinion and tell us how to read the law. The way law is written is subject to different interpretation. If no cars is around, i prefer to take the full right lane than being stuck on the bike lane trying to avoid parked cars. If there is a car I will move over. Same goes for me and the thousand other people. Yes if we have to make a left turn, we will merge into the left line (sound quite logical to me), so yes we would block the left lane at a speed lower than a moving car, but how else are we suppose to turn left. Cross walk?

I would like to know now, how long you got stuck in your car behind bikers? (if you were even outside). And could the horn everyone heard couple be Police sirens?

I dont see why anyone would make up that they got hit by a car.
How many times bicyclist almost got hit or got hit, by a car making a right turn or while they drove or block the bike lane when the white line on the floor was still solid?

So excuse us for wanting to take a whole lane when there is 2500 of us trying to ride to our destination.

Mt View is suppose to be a biker friendly community, for some citizens it is a concept that they dont grasp. Have anyone never seen sign on the road with a car and a bike that says share the road? or the bike sensor on the floor at light. If you have not noticed parent, those are in the middle of the lane, not on the bike lane.

Well let me show you
Web Link

Bike Party was awesome! I particularly enjoyed wandering around the train station parking lot with all those bicyclists having a great time. After that, riding up Hope St. I saw lots of smiling faces. The negative comments on this list must be from the people that didn't want to come outside. From what I saw the police did a great job of making everything work out.

"C"

Reading your comments disgusts me. With your attitude I can see why you were hit by a car.

People like you are why laws are written.

Incidentally I was no where near the bike gang thank god.

I am a distant observer that has learned YOU do not want to accept the law. And apparently we need to rewrite the bicycle laws due to attitudes like yours.

I am through with you so if you respond, TOUGH.

@parent, I know you will respond.

In order to counter-argue a point you need to first read it. I never said I got hit by a car.

There is different interpretations of every law, the constitution being the first one. It can be interpretated in many different ways hence the many different opinion about 'the right to bear arms' or 'freedom of speech'. That is why we have a judicial system, so law can be understood and apply within a given situation. Tell me if you dont agree there?

I follow the law whether I am on a bike or driving my car or walking. Never got a ticket or got arrest, can you say the same. But it is not the point here.

The english language is not perfect, you cannot take into consideration all the possible exemptions.

While riding on friday night I was toward the right hand side of the curb, but due to the volume of bikers it would have been unsafe for everyone to be on the right hand side. Once again tell me if that is not true?

Oh but wait, you weren't even in a car so how would you know.

You making a fuss about something when you were in a distant, not even stuck in a car.

You have the right to intrepet the law as you did, but I do have the right to interpret it my way given the situation. tell me if that not right?

Police officer were around, are you saying that they didn't do a good job of keeping us and others safe? For you information they did ticket people when they were wrecklace, which I totally agree with.

Ask anyone, law is not absolete? if it was well no need for a judge, court house, lawyers.

Thank you MT View for the reception last Friday. I will say that I am impressed with your law enforcement agency. Keep up the good work.

As a rider and avid cyclist fan, I am saddened that SJBP did not leave a good impression with everyone. Their intention is not ill willed or destructive and the organizers are active in making the experience better each month.

For the people who loved SJBP, please consider joining a ride. sjbikeparty.org

For the people who don't like SJBP, start a ride in MT View for people of MT View to enjoy! Granted SJBP usually rides in the evening, but nothing is stopping you from organizing a day time or weekend ride that can grow your own sense of community.

Hopefully, everyone can have a chance to enjoy the perspective that comes from riding a bicycle.

I'm actually in the marker to buy a home soon in the Mt.View area and I wanted to make sure I keep a good distance from you complainers on this board because I would prefer NOT to be your neighbor. What street do you guys and gals live on again?

I think there was confusion amongst the participants. There were people on Twitter that night calling it a "Critical Mass" in Mountain View. So even though it started as a family friendly event, later on it likely attracted a different crowd who were following the style of CM.

Also reading the comments by fellow citizens makes me cringe. Can't we debate in a civilzed and respectful manner?

I was surprised and very disappointed by all the loud noise late-night Friday night from this event. I don't object to the overall premise, but I do object to its timing. Even Shoreline concerts have to observe a curfew, and Shoreline is not surrounded by residents. Making that much noise, that late at night, that close to citizens trying to rest... that's just not cool. Please consider having these events end earlier - and have the party in a non-residential area.

I got accidentally caught in the parade of bicycles around 9:30 pm on Evelyn between Mathilda and Mary. Bicyclists taunted me by riding in front of me in the middle of Evelyn and none of the bikers seemed to be giving much thought to their group or individual safety.

I am very pro bicycle, but this demonstration was handled completely wrong, safetywise. Had I accidentally hit someone, I would never get over it. The SJBP people have taken me from being a supporter to being furious at their arrogance and disregard for the way that our city governments have set up for staging a demonstration (e.g. getting a permit, having police cordoning off the street, and so forth).

I read quite a few of the comments, but WOW not all of them. So, I'll understand if mine aren't read either.

I'm really saddened by the entitled, negative attitude of many of those against the bike party--several days later! I can certainly understand your being upset that evening if you were at home, say with children trying to sleep who were awoken. I've been disturbed by events or rude neighbors on more than one occasion in my life, and it's always upsetting. But given space to reflect, I would much rather live in a world where people gather together on a Friday evening in a communal expression of joy and liberty rather than sitting in their isolated homes. And I would much rather live in a city where the right of bicycles to be on the road is celebrated and protected than in one where ignorance ("they have to stay in the bike lanes," for example) and selfishness (this isn't YOUR town, it is OUR town, and the roads are open to all...no one needs an "invitation"..and anyway they seem to have had a permit) dictate our interactions.

As a sometimes bike commuter, who was not aware of/didn't participate in the Bike Party, I have had many close calls with cars veering into the bike lane after just passing me, or drifting over into the lane, honking at me for no reason etc. Clearly there is need for more awareness and education among car drivers or this most humanly- and environmentally-healthy way of commuting (unless you are lucky enough to walk) will not be safe. Thankfully, on days when I encounter a close call like that, and I'm scared or LIVID, there's usually another encounter or two with a friendly/safe motorist that renews my appreciation for my neighbors. We live in a community, please retract your threats of lawsuits and antagonism of cyclists. Law enforcement and bicycle advocacy groups ARE working to educate cyclists about laws, and I'm very sorry for the person whose taillight was broken by one jerk in the crowd. Same goes for those stuck with litter afterwards. Those are not acceptable outcomes, but it seems like the jerk factor of this party was a very small minority (thankfully also the same with jerky/scary motorists!)

My dog is really distressed by fireworks which are set off @ Shoreline on July 4; there are many examples of when one night of inconvenience for another's celebration is completely worthwhile in a functioning community.

@ Oscar's mom,

thank you for your wonderful post. you've captured the essence of what SJBP aims at perfectly.

Truly unbelievable the animosity this event triggered. People arguing over pretty inane subjects. I feel the cyclists are (for the most part) honorable citizens and just want to have a good time. Yes, it's too bad some people were disturbed by the loud noises, but maybe they should think more about rural living. There are so many larger problems in the world today, just be thankful you are alive to hear the noise and hopefully not have to worry about a loved one in Iraq! As for PARENT: I am thankful I am not your child or a relative of yours.

I loved seeing it go by! A lot of fun to see that many bikes and folks having a good time.

I missed it as I was in Moab riding the Century there for Team in Training. I am so sorry to have missed it as it sounds like a lot of fun -- harmless fun. To all of you people who are complaining about this event that rode through mountain view, I want to say "Chill out."

I watched the bike ride from inside my car, where I was temporarily trapped on a side street until they passed. I thought it was a privelege to see so many smiling, happy people having fun.

People complain about the timing of the event, but what time exactly would be better? The streets are about as empty as they get later on on Friday Night. Other weekday nights would be inconvenient for people on commutes or work schedules, and weekend days the streets are too busy as well. With this schedule, the minimum (not to mean NONE, of course) of people were disturbed.

What I am seeing here, much like with the healthcare debate, is that the "ANTI"s are the most impolite, hateful, and foul-mouthed. As one other person pointed out, there are always community events that upset someone, but a working society has some tolerance for that. We are all living together on this little corner of the planet, and nobody - read NOBODY - is entitled to have things their own way all the time. Especially "PARENT" who seems to think that they're entitled to not only have their way but also insult and attack others just because they're a "PARENT." The fact is, your kids will be riding in this group before you stop calling them "kids." That is because they are not YOUR kids, but rather their own people. And your rights don't derive from having had them or taken care of them.

To solve the problem of drunk or unruly riders, SJBP can do what other organizations running public events do: deputize staff to control the masses, and require that the masses agree to that control in advance.

-Seer

I have read the majority of the comments here, and yes Oscar's mom, even yours. I used to be an avid bike rider years ago and I drive frequently now because I work 50 miles from where I live.

Most of the pro bike-event comments here appear to have been written by self-centered, immature and ignorant individuals like Amber of Jackson Park who stated:

"Real adults with real responsibilities don't work on Saturdays (if we want to go into stereotypes), so 11:30 PM shouldn't be a problem."

Well I have news for you Amber, I am a real adult with real responsibilities who works in the computer industry. Computer Techs, Police Officers, Firemen, Grocery Store Clerks, and even the Bartender who served you your drinks before you wrote your opinion, ALL WORK ON SATURDAYS!

Just because you have never held a real and demanding job doesn't mean that no one else has.

With regard to drivers not knowing the law about sharing the road with bikes, we do. It is cyclists that do not know the law! Every day I watch out for cyclists because you never know what incredibly stupid thing they will do next!

I see MOST cyclists riding the wrong way down the street, blowing through stop signs and red lights as if they don't apply to bikes as well, riding on the sidewalks and through crosswalks (all of which are illegal), swerving in and out of traffic like helmeted kamikazes, blocking cars in the turn lane when the cyclist is not turning (just because they can), and various other behaviors that make it a hazard for vehicles and pedestrians alike.

In my three years living in Mountain View, I have seen very little evidence that the cyclists that LIVE here understand the rules of the road for bicycles, let alone the hoodlums imported from all surrounding areas for this event.

Cyclists should try to imagine what it would be like if say, Mustang drivers came through your neighborhood by the thousands, driving the wrong way on the streets, driving on bike paths, clogging traffic, playing load music on their stereos, honking thier horns and doing doughnuts everywhere.

If that sounds like fun to you, see paragraph 2 above.

I wonder -- if the guys who got busted on Bush St. some time back had been sitting on bikes, would they have gotten the same harsh treatment. From what I understand, they were whooping and hollering and carrying on just like these bikers -- not a whole lot of difference, yet they get arrested while the bikers go on their merry way with nary a discouraging word. Go figure.....

My husband and I rode the bike party from Santa Clara, looped through Palo Alto, and biked home from Rengstorff. I saw no alcohol on the ride, and all the riders I was around were very curteous, stopping at red lights, making way for cars. It was such a blast, and an easy 5 mph ride, best riden with a cruiser. I hope more folks can join the fun. The Mountain View police really over estimated how many patrol officers were needed - I think we maybe saw one officer when we passed through Santa Clara and Sunnyvale, but Mountain View had a bunch of cops on motorcycles stationed all over - way overkill.

Wow. I'm surprised by the incredibly poor grammar & spelling & use of language in many of the biker posts. You are all well-educated business professionals typical of Silicon Valley residents? Really?

You guys need to decide what you want. Last time i checked the bike lane was on the right hand side. Therefore making it complicated for a driver to do right hand turn. But then you are implying that we should not share the road and stay in the bike lane. So which one is it?

Also most of the time I see a bike going the opposite direction of traffic it is to be better seen. Running people do it all the time.
cyclist would not swerve so much if drivers would be respectful to bikers. A lot of drivers never look for incoming bikers when making a right hand turn. Biker is 1/10 of the weight of a car. So excuse us for doing everything to be seen by the drivers

I'll just say, both side of this thread seem completely self-absorbed with themselves, their lifestyles, and how it's all about them. Grow up and get over it.

@nelson,

If you are not going to contribute to this topic in a constructive manner, please don't.

Hard to believe how many strong opinions there are on this single event!

I think Oscar's mom about a dozen posts up sizes this thing up perfectly. The SJBP group may have committed some transgressions this past Friday in Mountain View, which could be improved the next time, but some of the reactions about this being MY town and these people not being "invited" to MY neighborhood are far more disturbing.

I live in Old Mountain View, am an occasional cyclist, and also own an automobile -- though only one for my 2-person household of my wife and me. I shudder to think that someone would say that I or anyone else needs to be "invited" to enter THEIR neighborhood, whether on bicyles, on foot or by car, one at a time or a in a group.

I see a connection here between this kind of thinking and the unbelievably virulent opposition I've seen posted on the OMVNA list in opposition to the Minton's development on West Evelyn. "How dare they (the Minton's family, the developer, the City) think that they can put somewhat higher density housing in MY neighborhood, without MY permission?" Well, I live in this neighborhood, too, and support the Minton's project, and providing more housing options, and a wider variety of housing (including rental and ownership) to our city. I would like to see our city reduce its carbon footprint and help fight global warming, and encouraging compact development near transit is one of the most effective ways of doing so.

I'm about to shout down those who think otherwise, especially not on the grounds that it's MY neighborhood or MY city. I can only hope others will think with open minds, too, about the Minton's development or the SJBP and bicycing in our city.

That last paragraph should have read

I'm NOT about to shout down those who think otherwise, especially not on the grounds that it's MY neighborhood or MY city. I can only hope others will think with open minds, too, about the Minton's development or the SJBP and bicycing in our city.

I was greatly inconvenienced by the heavy traffic backed up on El Camino during the Art & Wine Festival. BUT there is no way I would come in here and argue against having that event ! I am happy to live in a city that offers events like the festival and bike ride, even if they are not my cuppa tea. Does everything run smoothly? Of course not! Next time the bike race may have to work with police to ease the congestion, calm the rowdies, etc. Don't cancel events just because they need some tweaking. And please refrain from attacking people for having an opinion that is different from yours...or who have bad spelling and grammar. Focus on the issue and maybe we can all find a solution. Rude, petty, mean comments are divisive and just make people stick to their guns. Why would you want to change something to appease a pack of bullies?

This was not a bike race. SJBP is turning into a Critical Mass event, which is the sort of thing I specifically avoid living in the city for.

The Wine Festival was not at midnight in a residential area. It was mid-day and despite being a wine festival the crowds were not loud or drunk and breaking signs, trespassing into private property.

The Amphitheatre is not in a residential zone. Added security appears as needed or anticipated.

The thousands of bikers, while some, perhaps the slight majority, were nice, they brought along a horde of loud drunks, vandals, and traffic ... dis-obeyers. I dunno. All at around 11 PM to midnight where there are specifically not that sort of thing going on.

Perhaps SJBP should look at doing this in a more appropriate venue?

This MUST be the thugs and hoodlums you guys are talking about!

Web Link
Web Link
Web Link

yep, they sure look like a bunch of mischievous riders to me.

Things sound so much louder when there is no ambient noise, such as cars, people in the street.

I am sadden by the embellished description of the behavior of so few riders out of such a big group. But then again it is human nature to generalize situation and make them sound worst than it actually is.

I was in the back of the group and we were out of mountain view residential area by 11:30 pm.

I would like to express my apologies to citizen of mountain view, how viewed this event as disrupting and noisy. Many liked it, some disliked it. It is the way of life.

Isn't it all too obvious that the bikers see this as a revenge for the city destroying those makeshift bumps and jumps off the Stevens Creek Trail? Yes, quite obviously.

As a past member of the Mountain View's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, I have more than a passing knee jerk reaction to the coexistence of those who bicycle in town, and those who chose to be more sedentary.
The San Jose Bicycle Party is an evolving event, and as such has been suffering teething pains which do include a similar or less proportion of the population who get drunk on a Friday night, choosing to do so on this group bicycle ride. As for me, that's better than them doing so and then operating a motor vehicle, but less so than if they did not consume alcohol at all.
However in any large group of people, a small amount of them will act disorderly, regardless of the appropriateness or efforts by organizers to maintain acceptable civil behavior.
It should be noted that bicycling under the influence carries a $250. fine, and I hope that police department do enforce this code vigorously, not just during a San Jose bicycle Party, but at all times.
I commend the organizers for evolving an event in a rapid time, that is taking on a life of it's own more than could have been hoped for.
However along with this, any large gathering on a Friday night will attract those who will be unruly regardless of where they are or what they do.
If you live in any neighborhood in any town where this or any other organized bicycle ride passes through, please keep this in mind, and do not condemn all for the scattered unwelcome acts of a tiny few.

when is the next bicycle party

Bike Party is always the 3rd Friday of the month, making the next one October 16. The route changes each month to minimize impact on communities and is announced 24 hours before the ride. Check out www.sjbikeparty.org for more information.

@ Barry Burr: Well stated... I thank you for your comments!

The girl in the photograph on her bicycle is not wearing a helmet? That say's it all.

I wish all the snivelers would just stop it already. Your LUCKY to have the lack of pain in your life to be SOOOOO upset over some minor thing like this. Good lord.

First it was the "loud planes" practicing their touch and go's at night. Then it was the "loud whistle" on the train. Now it's the "loud bikers" on a Friday night. Please, please stop complaining about small things. If this is the worst you have to deal with on the weekend, you're doing just fine. Yeah, sometimes things wake me up on Friday night when I have to work on Saturday, and you know what I do? I go back to sleep happy that I still have some time to rest.

Some residents act as if nobody should be entitled to have fun, unless that fun is agreed upon first by everyone. My idea of fun is going to be different from yours. You can't apply your ideas and beliefs to people by calling them names and insulting their good time. I'm just bummed I missed the ride. Maybe next time.

As a rider of sjbp. Thanks to the mvpd, papd, and all the cool residents who came out to the street to cheer us on. As a person who lives life drug and alcohol free it is aw-some to get to ride my bike and hang with others who live the same way I do. Which is probably 85% of us. Believe me when I was living a different lifestyle you needed something to worry and complain about. I'm sorry to those who we inconvenianced by our loudness and some of our trash and those less than welcomed riders. At least were not robbing your houses kidnapping and molesting your children or driving drunk thru the front of your homes we are just people of all walks of life riding our bikes and keeping our hearts and bodies from stiffening up from sitting on our couches doing nothing but complaining about people living life. No Matter how hard you try your never going to please everyone all the time. That's Just a matter of fact. :)

I agree with Barry Burr, however after having read the majority of the comments on this site, I'm left with the impression that the mojority of the pro Bike Party opinions voiced here have little to no regard for the people who oppose their right to party. I myself consider it to be like any other party and if it should infringe on the rights of others I suggest the following; In the event of a loud party that is disturbing the peace, call 911. Include the location (address, if known) of the party. Provide dispatchers with as much information about the party as possible, including: Number of participants,dangerous conditions present, any crimes, in addition to disturbing the peace, that may be occurring, and additional information as requested by the dispatcher. It is helpful to provide your name, address, and telephone number as a complainant, but, you have the right to remain anonymous when reporting a loud party. I hope this information is helpful to everyone involved.

Reading your comment I feel that you have no regard toward the bikers or the events. Btw 911 is for emergency only, I do not believe being loud is an emergency. Yes if there is vandalism or such occurrence you should call 911, moreover, Police officers were on the scene, escorting us, just in case no one noticed.

Reaction from Liz Wylie, police spokesperson "From our point of view it went fairly smoothly for the number of people in town." it is at the top of the page.

So Overall it was smooth. We all been young, we all went to event with big crowd in residential and commercial areas, dont you guys remember?

no surprise. the bike crowd is a bunch of self righteous jerks.

wanting everyone to be open minded, and telling those who disagree with them their opinion is worthless

Dave,

As opposed to your closed minded name calling. Not much room to talk there.

Let's all do like Joe Public says and tell on our neighbors. Don't forget to take his advice to provide as much information as possible, such as "Number of participants,dangerous conditions present, any crimes". Dangerous conditions? Any crimes? At what point are you harrassing your neighbors Joe P.? What city do you think you live in? Maybe you and "parent" above can count all the kids not wearing helmets and get them ticketed. Or maybe you could just go back to living your life and let the people ride their bikes without your harsh judgement.

Bigot: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially one who regards or treats the members of a group with hatred and intolerance.

Sounds like many of the posters here. At least we can now factually call them what they are.

When someone says "All those bike riders are ..." or "All those drivers are..." they might as well be saying "All those hispanics are..." or "All those gay people are..."
Its bigotry people. Webster says so

Seems to me that the legal speed for a car confronted by hundreds of bicycles no matter what laws they may be breaking is zero.

Basic Speed Law

22350. No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.
Amended Ch. 252, Stats. 1963. Effective September 20, 1963.

some of you, mike, need to calm down. it looks like you will still be worked up about this and bent out of shape from one hour of noise by next month when we are back to downtown sj having fun. don't be so square. i have a real job and a real car and real responsibilities and fun still gets penciled in on my calender. and if i choose to stay home for the csi marathon i won't cry for weeks when others decide to have fun and i can hear them.

I have no interest in sorting out the rotten apples in SJBP, Bruno. Like I stated in my previous post, if anyone feels that any party is disurbing the peace, it is within their rights to notify the local police and have them, the police, determine what infractions have occured. I'm not going to play the bad guy, or daddy, to a bunch of unruley punks who dont give a rats about anything except where the next party is at. I'll let the police handle it, trust me.

Call our friends down south. All this outrage could inspire a remake of a classic movie - "The Wild One - 2009"

FYI - Bike Party already notifies the police of each city, giving them a heads up and telling them what the route is and what time approximately we will be passing through, in effect calling the police on ourselves. Also, San Jose Mercury News, Mountain View Voice, and others have published our presence in advance. More PR would be great, such as working with radio stations, etc. But there's only so much we can do in advance. Self-enforcement is our ongoing project and as the months pass we are becoming increasingly better at keeping the "shady" elements of the ride minimal and in-check. I wouldn't say that this is necassarily to appease any one individual or community, but becasue its the right thing to do. It also isn't perfect but the pratical fact of the matter is that this ride exists and will continue to exist. If the people planning it and the volunteers who try to give it direction and leadership during the event call it quits, who knows what will happen next. But there is a group of dedicated and responsible individuals behind this and a deeper story than a handful of people on this site think. It's also good to note that Liz Wylie of the MV police department has described the night as "running fairly smoothly giving the amount of people in town" (see top of this page). I think that this quote says a lot. If we were as rowdy as some say, why would a police department, who's existence is predicated upon publice safety, describe the event as such. As our ride evoles, we will only become stronger, more unified, and get closer and closer to achieving the goals listed at www.sjbikeparty.org/about.

If you haven't seen this, CBS News did a great piece on a previous ride. It's worth watching no matter how you feel about us. Web Link

Nice Video, keep up the good work and see you in couple of weeks for the next ride.

I think many of you in the MT View community are potential Bike Party participants. I have had the priveledge of meeting and speaking to many of our revelers and I am quite surprised by our diversity that is ironically a microcosm of the whole diverse Bay Area community.

We are senior citizens, baby boomers, gen X'ers, genY, parents with five year olds in tow, undergrads, grad steudents, MBA's. Ph.D's, city council members, newspaper reporters, college professors, off duty police officers; etc., etc...

Yeah, we are just your regular "rag-tag" bunch who rolled through your community last Friday night.
Bike Party accepts everybody. All you need is a love of bicycling. Everybody is accepted; no one is rejected. Just follow the law as it applies to bicycling in the street and you can be part of the not-so-best-kept-secret in the South Bay.

Come on out and feel the biggest naturally induced endorphin rush you have ever felt. Plus it's a great way to end a rough week. You will sleep like a baby after Bike Party and you will have a positive stimulus trace that lasts for about two weeks. And you will be circling your calendar just itching with anticipation for the next one. Now pull out your old unused bike -- take it to a bike shop for a tune-up and get with us on October 16, for our second anniversary ride. You will find yourself primal screaming at the top of your lungs...
BIKE PARTAY!!!!!!!!
All your stresses and worries are wash away -- so cool in these tough economic times. Bike Party is preserving sanity and thus saving and improving lives. It's like free therapy.

I don't like Bike Party. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Lets all behave now.

Lets face it, the roads are a very dangerous place, especially nowadays. It's not a playground for children to play in. Nor is it a place were races should be taking place, whether it's a car or a bike race. Just like any race, this type of activity needs to be properly organized by shutting down the streets where it takes place. Plus the city should get some money for all the time spent on this type of activity.

@Now Now Children

The city does get "some money"

A.K.A. "My Tax Dollars"

The event didn't cost the city much, if anything. Most, if not all, of those police were already on duty. Plus, if Keynesian econmics are correct, government spending (in this case police salaries) is good for the economy. You should be happy that those cops will spend their wages in your local economy, especially as we come out of this recession. Bike Party also frequented many local businesses, and not just liquor stores as some would suggest, but restaraunts, grocery stores, bike shops, and gas stations for a quick powerbar or gaterade, all in the short time we passed through your nice little town.

So a group of bike riders decide to have a fun ride through Mountain View, and that's a problem??? If that is all those that are making such a fuss about this have to worry about in their lives, that's pretty pathetic.

More power to the bike riders, and please know that the whiners do not represent most people in Mtn. View.

Come back anytime...

I'm an avid cyclist and I support cycling events, but not when it is at the expense of other people. I went to bed at 9:30 that night becuase I had to work a 12 hour shift in the emergency room the next morning (read--I needed to be well rested). It was disturbing and frightening to be awakened to such inappropriate pandemonium. Is it really necessary to bike ride drunk, without helmets(some people), and erratically in a residential area? I cant express to you how loud and irritating it was right outside my window. This was not a celebration of bike riding, it was an inconsiderate excuse to behave badly!

I was at Castro when this amazing group rode through. I was chatting with the group that stopped at every lights. I spoke to the riders and researched more about this organization, Critical Mass. I think this is a great idea and I am planning to join them in their next ride.
When there is a group of 1000s and 1000s you mix with the party and have a nice time rather than cribbing about it. This was a very well behaved group and they are there for a reason- have fun raising awareness.

Just chill! people and have some fun. For God's sake, it was a friday evening.

@Rashmi

SjBikeParty IS NOT a critical mass ride. Infact, we ride for the opposite reason that group rides in SF.

Please don't confuse the two.

www.SjBikeParty.org

Have to say this group of bicyclists that came through our neighborhood in Santa Clara were out of control. Not giving cars the right of way when they had the right of way. (Running red lights as a mass) besides that the yelling and screaming could be heard blocks away, Oh and to top it off some one lit some dynamite!! THAT was unacceptable, really sounded like a building blew up,...........and where are the cops??? You know if it was done a little differently I think it would be fine, but the party drinking and disrupting people in there homes is just not cool. Try mellowing out a bit..........or something!!

Peace out

It looked like a huge amount of fun as it flew past our house. But the noise wasn't fun at all -- all the noise at 11 PM was objectionable. Downtown or in other lively commercial areas it's no problem, but not in an otherwise quiet residential neighborhood.

Speaking for myself, I would welcome the responsible SJ bike party people back in my neighborhood for future rides -- but not so late at night. Conclude your ride earlier, and you can whoop and holler to your heart's content on my street AFAIC.