Kidical Mass Salem

Spring Ride Dates Set

2012-02-22T10:11:00.003-08:00

Mark your calendar:

Ride Like The Wind!

March 18, 3pm

Broadway Commons

1300 Broadway St. NE

Earth Day Ride!

April 22, 3pm

Riverfront Park Carousel Playground

All Species Ride!

May 20, 3pm

Bush Park, Crooked House Playground

February Ride Report

2012-02-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to make the first Kidical Mass ride of 2012 such a success. The weather was superb for our tour of the Pringle Creek Greenway, Wilson Park, the Capital Mall, and Willamette University. If anyone has any more pictures they want me to put on the blog email them to salemkidical@gmail.com. Enjoy!

Kidical Mass Rides on Sunday!

2012-02-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

Feel like getting your pirate on?

This Sunday Feb. 19 at 1:00 pm Kidical Mass 2.0 kick off. Meet at the Crooked House playground in Bush Park. I will have hot chocolate to warm you up. I'm stoked to meet everyone and hear your thoughts on Kidical Mass 2.0.

Halftime in America

2012-02-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

I guess some folks in the Motor City have a different idea of what that means. I love this short film. It beautifully captures the power of bikes to strengthen and build community. Enjoy.

Detroit Bike City from Alex Gallegos on Vimeo.

A good day for active transportation

2012-02-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

SCAN, my neighborhood association, rocked the house last night! Breakfast on Bikes has covered the issue in great detail. What was so encouraging was that it wasn't just another "not in my backyard" display. It was that so many residents and businesses recognize the value of active transportation and the role it will have for the future livability of our city.

The Church St. corridor has been visited often by Kidical Mass. It will be part of our route on February 19th and will be a part of many future rides. Another (!!) parking lot downtown will unquestionably degrade the quality of this route and further marginalize walker and bikers.

It doesn't have to be this way! Salem Hospital doesn't have to continue to incentivize more car trips with yet another parking lot. Instead they could be a "place of healing" by embracing active transportation as an essential part of creating a healthier community.

Nuturing Our Kids' Personal Sovereignty

2012-02-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who has contacted me over the past week. I'm so stoked that Kidical Mass still means so much to so many. And to all the newcomers, welcome aboard. I really want to make this a special experience for everyone.

I came across an article, What Is Car Culture Doing to Our Children, in the NY Times. I think underscores why Kidical Mass is important. The author quotes Dr. Richard Jackson who is hosting a new four part series for PBS, as well as a companion booklet called Designing Healthy Communities:

"When there is nearly nothing within walking distance to interest a young person and it is near-lethal to bicycle, he or she must relinquish autonomy -- a capacity every creature must develop just as much as strength and endurance."

James Howard Kunstler in Home From Nowhere riffs on the same theme with a tone that is more strident:

"The truth is, kids older than seven need more from their environment than a safe place to rider their bikes. They need at least the same things adults need. Dignified places to hang out. Shops. Eating establishments. Libraries, museums, and theaters. They need a public realm worthy of respect. All of which they need to access to on their own, without our assistance--which only keeps them in an infantile state of dependency."

Word. What I think they are getting at is the heart of Kidical Mass. That kids are traffic too!

While the physical benefits of active transportation have been thoroughly documented, the developmental benefits of active transportation don't seem to me to be as well explored.

Salem has a lot to offer our kids. Unfortunately, the facilities to access these places safely, on their own, is something we haven't been able to deliver yet. It will take a long time to change our built environment. My hope is with Kidical Mass we can celebrate what we have and that, in time, the built environment will reflect the values of a healthy community.

Cargo Bikes Rock

2012-02-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Few things have transformed my life like my cargo bike. It has liberated me and my family from life behind the windshield. Check out this trailer for a new crowdsourced cargo bike documentary and feel the stoke:

There is a heavy dose of Portland in there but I've seen more than a few a round Salem too. Whatever you ride, rock it at Kidical Mass!

Whatever moves you

2012-02-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

Like I said...

Why Kidical Mass?

2012-01-31T14:44:00.000-08:00

It really can't be said enough. We need to help our kids rediscover the simple pleasure of rolling under their own power. Bikes, scooters, skateboards... whatever moves you. However quaint that may sound, our mechanized, motorized, digitized lifestyle has real consequences for the health of our kids as shown in this graphic from the Bikes Belong Foundation:

Kidical Mass has the antidote!

Kidical Mass Lives!

2012-01-30T12:19:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new site for Kidical Mass Salem. Kidical Mass is a monthly group bike ride for kids, their families or anyone else looking for human powered fun. I like to think of Kidical Mass as monthly celebration of active transportation. Every month will feature a new route in a different area of Salem. When planning rides we look for low traffic streets, paths and parks where riders of all abilities can participate with comfort and confidence. Of course, there is safety in numbers so the more the merrier. Check out the action from past rides. If you were involved in past Kidical Mass events I would love to here from you. Please help spread the word that Kidical Mass is back and post your suggestions for ride locations, routes and themes for 2012.