Tomorrow is the Lake Worth Critical Mass Ride

Come one come all? Tomorrow, Friday, is the Lake Worth Critical Mass (CM) ride. The bike ride is always the first Friday of the month. Previous rides have departed Bryant Park (at the Gulf Stream Hotel) at 7:00 p.m., but there has been a change; now the ride is scheduled to depart at 7:30 p.m. I've been on four CM rides and I can attest they are a lot of fun. You don't have to be a highly experienced rider or an Olympic athlete to participate. The image below is from the CM facebook page. Note the arrow and where I highlighted "AT YOUR OWN RISK". Also it is noted that lights and helmets are "highly recommended". Lights are required, front and back or you risk your person and getting a ticket. Since the ride doesn't leave until 7:30 and it will be very dark along some of the CM route, especially with the time change.

Earlier in the week I cited an alarming news story on the spike of bicycling fatalities due to riding impaired, i.e., alcohol. You can read that article here. In 2012 for example 28% of all bicycle fatalities had a BAC of 0.08 or higher and 88% of the fatalities were male.

Now let's examine the largest issue of all: The CM loop route through Lake Worth, Lantana, and Lake Worth (once again) is problematic. First understand, I am a big supporter of CM and their efforts to promote bicycling and making the public aware of bicyclists. As it pertains to bicycling I "walk the walk" so to speak. Many trips, be it the Post Office, City Hall, the Municipal Pool, Publix and Winn-Dixie I do on my bicycle. The bicycle is integral to my daily life.

Now the problem with the CM ride tomorrow. I participated in the CM ride on October 3 and they took this treacherous leg: In Lake Worth CM rode 18th Ave South heading West to Federal Hwy, South on Federal Hwy and MERGED ONTO DIXIE HIGHWAY. The ride continued down Dixie HIGHWAY until finally taking a left (East) on the Lantana Rd extension into the city. Highways and bicycles are not a good combination. Note that this is at night and without any police or safety escort. In the future, I'll use the sidewalk instead of following the crowd.

Note the two following images. One is the CM route, step-by-step, and the other is a map of the route.

Crossing Dixie Highway on a bicycle is difficult any time of the day; riding a bicycle ON Dixie Highway is insanity. On the map you will see four highlighted areas with the numbers 1 through 4. Although I will likely participate in the CM ride tomorrow, I will not be part of the CM group during these parts of the ride:
1: Dixie Highway from Lake Worth to Lantana
2: Lantana Road heading West towards I-95
3: South 'A' St in Lake Worth and the roundabout at 'A' and Lake Ave
4: Dixie Highway between 19th Ave N and 18th Ave N

These four parts of the CM ride are too dangerous for a large group of bicyclists. Motorists, both cars and trucks, drive very fast on these roads and most typically well over the posted speed limits. Let's briefly examine one of highlighted examples, #4. By this time it will be approximately 8:30 PM. The CM ride will be proceeding East on 19th Ave North, making a right on Dixie HIGHWAY and then a quick left onto 18th Ave North (heading East). Were someone setting up a challenge to test one's bicycling skills, risking life and limb, this part of the CM route would make sense. For a large group of bicyclists with a wide range of experience and skill levels it is simply not safe.

As an aside, by the CM route taking 18th Ave North off of Dixie Highway, by one block they bypass the entire College Park area of Lake Worth, one of the more bike friendly and historic neighborhoods in the entire city of Lake Worth.

Back on topic, in all fairness CM has well trained and attentive "corkers" who monitor the safety of the riders and stop traffic when necessary. Corking is illegal; only law enforcement and a few other entities can lawfully obstruct traffic. However law enforcement for the most part looks the other way as long as things do not get out of control. Corkers can control many situations but managing a drunk driver on Dixie Highway, a tractor-trailer driver behind schedule, or somebody racing down the road texting are not safely managed, even by the most skilled corker.

In conclusion, the solution for future CM rides in Lake Worth to make for safer rides on safer streets for riders of all skills, ages, and abilities, I would strongly encourage the Lake Worth CM to coordinate with PBSO and the Lantana Police Department. If CM is truly about encouraging bicycling and being cycling "ambassadors", is inconveniencing the motoring public on public highways the best way to go about this effort? As an avid bicyclist and motorist (by necessity), my answer is emphatically "no".

So, along with many others in "ElDub", I am looking forward to a Lake Worth Critical Mass ride open and safe for everyone: Families, children, old, young, experienced bikers, newcomers to the bike world, and other generally quirky Lake Worthians looking to do something different tomorrow night.  And the riders are not just from Lake Worth. Many come from as far away as Broward County, Wellington or other places that aren't as bike friendly as our neighborhood streets are here.