By Abel Gonzales
Spring has sprung and this month we will be celebrating the San Jose Sharks. Bleed teal or start growing out your beard for the Sharks’ Beard-a-thon. The Sharks are in the playoffs; the forecast for next week looks clear and the city of San Jose is planning on installing a bunch of new bike lanes.
This month’s first regroup will feature a special bicycle-powered concert, a stop on the Bay Rising Bicycle Music Tour. The leg-power of volunteer pedalers from the audience will be converted into electricity to run the sound system. Confirmed to appear are:
- Rupa and the April Fishes
“Combining the sensual lyricism of Latin American nueva trova with the rhythmic punch of cumbia and the theatricality of cabaret, the April Fishes’ sound is ecstatic and powerfully evocative.” – LA Times - SHAKE YOUR PEACE!
SHAKE YOUR PEACE! is a San Francisco-based band known for their ebullient live performances, radical ecological & social justice politics, and bicycle-based music tours.
Stay tuned for information on other activities at the first regroup!
Be safe, legal, and courteous (see How We Ride!). We share the road with other traffic. Helping cars move through smoothly makes the ride more enjoyable for everyone. Do your part to encourage good behavior! Also, please remember to turn down the volume when riding through residential areas late at night.
Information on the route and more after the drop …
BIRDs
BIRDs are our wonderful volunteers that attempt to keep everyone on our rides safe. Please be respectful of their directions and thank them for all of the effort they put into the ride. If you want to help out and make your mark on Bike Party, please join the BIRDs at the volunteer cicle prior to the start of the ride.
Volunteer Circle
Volunteer Regroups are now marked on the map if you want to get plugged in come by and introduce yourself
Ravens
Ravens are the elite group of BIRDs that make sure we leave no trace behind by cleaning up after the party at regroups. They are essential to keeping the party going. If you see any of them with a trashbag collecting your trash, please thank them and if you are so inclined please join them! They are a really cool bunch. Please bring trash bags and help us leave no trace.
How We Ride
If you follow these eight rules, Bike Party will be safe and a positive place for riders, drivers, pedestrians, and the community.
Parking & Start Location
There is very little parking available at the start but there is a ton of parking available in downtown San Jose. If you must drive, please drive to one of the feeder rides and ride from there.
The start location’s address is 1500 South Tenth Street, San Jose CA, 95112
Route information
Feeder rides
Feeder rides are a great way to get to Bike Party They allow you to make great friends and get to know people who live near you. They also make it super easy to get back home as a group as most folks ride home with the group they arrived with. You save the planet and save on parking while getting a little bit more exercise. It’s all good.
- NSJ/Santa Clara — Led by Ian from Rivermark – Meet in front of Peets – Leaving at 6:45 (please RSVP in the comments)
- SCU/Santa Clara — ??
- East SJ — Led by Cris H from Carl’s Jr, Alum Rock and Jackson. Leave at 7:15pm SHARP.
- SJ Downtown — ??
- Campbell — Meet at the Campbell Water Tower (300 Orchard City Drive) at 6:30pm. Leave at 6:45pm.
- Willow Glen — Led by Izzi G from Fresh & Easy on Bird and Minnesota at 7pm. Leaving by 7:30pm
- Los Gatos — Couch Bike leaving Los Gatos at 6:20pm. See comments for meet location.
- Your neighborhood? (let us know in comments below if you want to lead a ride)