Miami Critical Mass

One-​of-​a-​kind and completely unique Miami experience. Gives you a totally different perspective of the city and takes you places you normally wouldn’t go.
First time doing this and was really glad I did. I had always been a little skeptical about the whole thing, but once your experience it, you’ll want to do it again and again.
Some words of caution: The ride itself can be dangerous. Thousands of people riding in close proximity is almost certain to see a few accidents and they did occur. For the most part, people are respectful but there are some punks that weave through the bikes so you have to be very cautious. Wear a helmet! I saw a kid putting his feet up on the handlebars too and he rightly fell soon after. Also, the police now work with Critical Mass and roads are blocked off for the event.
The ride is about 10 miles? but it goes very fast and takes about 1.5 hours… a great way to end the week with some exercise. Everybody is in a good mood and many people have their bikes decked out in lights.
Great event to promote biking. Very highly recommended.

A must at least once in your life! I’ve done this ride with a friend and I have done it solo. It could be very intimidating at first but once you find your own pace it’s very enjoyable and the energy of this community is vibrant and fun. There are all different kinds of bikers here– from professional riders to people who take their vintage bikes out and just cruz. There will be a couple of super vibrant people with costumes/​flags/​and various stereos blasting all times of music genres. We cruz down the streets and have fans yelling„ cheering and video taping as if we are in a parade. This ride also has it’s personal cops that help the bike flow and make sure cars are respecting the bikers. Once your on your bike it’s pretty cool to see the streets that you might not go down if you were riding in your car. This is an epic look at what 305 has to offer. Mark your calendars because this ride only happens once a month. Please always ride with caution. There are some wild riders so make sure your on point and sober.

Great Ride. Different routes and a lot of interesting things to see. Only thing they need to work on is the start. Seems the bridge is always up when we start.

Miami’s Critical Mass is a little crazy, fun challenging and potentially a nightmare if you don’t come prepared. First check the rain, our first mistake. It poured on us for a solid 20 mins. Next go with a small group. There is literarily a mass of people here, we’re talking easily over a thousand. The larger your group the more you will have to worry about staying together instead of enjoying the ride. This one isn’t a must but I think it’s helpful, check the route, towards the back it can get confusing. Bringing a bike with gears is also a big plus.
Now on to the mass itself. Everyone meets at government center and around 715 it starts. When the ride begins expect to half to walk your bike some, because the crowds are large. Once the ride gets going enjoy the view. Miami is a beautiful city, especially at night and seeing it by bike gives a little more appreciation. If you’ve heard about the crazies they are there but being aware of both them and traffic should keep you safe. The night I rode I did see a few accidents but most could have been easily avoided and we rode for 23miles. I was actually surprised how smooth it went considering the distance and amount of riders.
Anyway, get out their and ride. It’s the last Friday of the month and people begin getting there at around 630.

Since it’s been more than 4 years since I first reviewed Miami Critical Mass, I figured it was time for an update. Though I’m only able to make it to maybe 4 or 5 CM rides per year, there are usually a handful of Unilocalers and their friends/​family members who attend nearly every month. I can’t help but laugh a little when I go back and read some of our reviews from a few years ago; In their reviews, Marcos mentions something about 60 – 70 riders in attendance. Gus mentioned about 100 in the first review he posted. I said approximately 300 riders when I reviewed the Critical Mass rides back in 2010 — and we thought those were decent sized groups!
Fast forward to the most recent rides, and conservatively, a few thousand riders show up each month. At least 2K in attendance, usually more. The good thing is that, with this many riders it really does raise awareness of the cycling community in and around Miami, and it shows that they’re a huge group and that they’re not going away any time soon. This hopefully reinforces to the city governments how important things like bike lanes, signage and other things are that support cycling and encourage people to bike in their towns. On the flip side, with that many in attendance it also means that there is more potential for problems as some riders are more skilled and more aware of the laws governing cyclists than others, there are more frustrated motorists stuck in traffic as intersections are taken over and blocked for several minutes at a time to allow all the riders to get through each one before they let motor traffic flow freely once again, and many «weekend warrior» riders who don’t have much interest in the sport of cycling or the laws/​rules, they just want to show up and ride while drinking, smoking, texting, riding up on the sidewalks, overtaking more lanes of traffic than people on this ride should do, etc.
For now, though the groups are huge, these rides are overwhelmingly a positive thing for our city IMO. They’re a great chance for people to get to know/​see different parts of the city while getting some exercise at the same time. They also allow you to meet new people both during the rides themselves, and also afterward when the ride disbands and the riders file into one of about a dozen downtown bars and restaurants to refresh and refill after the rides. People of all levels of skill are welcome, and you will see an eclectic group — everything from hipsters on fixed gear bikes to serious riders on road bikes wearing their spandex shorts and jerseys to families and people pulling trailers behind them with their kids inside — You’ll also come across a few people on roller blades, unicycles and other random wheeled creations. Come out and join in the fun — Last Friday night of every month, the ride begins at Government Center downtown, departing at 7:15 p.m. sharp!

I did my first critical mass today and it was an amazing experience… there’s been some news about bad apples ruining the experience but either they have moved away or they just didn’t show up today. The event started right on time. we had a specific route guarded by police in motorcycles and bikes preventing cars from crossing the streets. Every biker I encountered was polite and genuinely cared about their fellow bikers. I did not see anyone being disrespectful or rude or drunk. Critical mass runned smooth and without any disturbances. If this is the way is going to be. then I’m def joining them every last Friday. Its a great workout and also an experience u have to see for yourself. Can’t wait for. the next one.

4 years ago I was an avid participant and a staunch supporter of this ride. It had become what it was intended to be in the first place. Safety was paramount and for the most part, most of the riders were respectful of the rules and behaved accordingly.
Not the case anymore. Unfortunately, word got around that there was a ride every month were anarchy is the rule. Nowadays, way more than a few bad apples have regularly been engaging in behavior that in my view hinders what we bicycle advocates are trying to accomplish.
If history has taught a lesson, we cannot change culture by engaging in the very same behavior that we are trying to change.
If South Florida cyclists want to be respected and have any hopes of someday be regarded as another vehicle with as much rights to be on the streets are cars, we can’t just simply emulate the behavior that Miami drivers are famous for… being idiots! This makes us no different than them, or in fact, it actually proves that the great majority of Critical Mass participants these days are just that … idiots ! the only thing that changes, is the vehicle they operate.
5 Solid Stars to Rydel and his group, these guys are awesome and they are a glimmer of hope in what otherwise has turned into a mob mentality with no regards for the fellow man. If Critical Mass espouses freedom, it needs to begin with the very definition of it… your rights end, where another’s begin.

They block traffic for hours instead of flowing with it. Rude bikers screaming out profanities. This is not the way to get your message out! You will get a lot more support if this is done in a more professional and courteous way.

$ 10 parking. It was very slow to start since there are so many people and the bridge went up. Once we got moving after a few miles we were averaging 16 mph. The route was 20 miles over 79 st bridge to Miami beach and back over the venetian causeway. There were police at many intersections directing traffic.
You need to feel comfortable on a bike surrounded by people to do this route. It is easy to take the metro to the start spot or park in the parking lots for $ 10. You can go early and have dinner at the Lime, Burger King, or a pizza place on Flagler.
Friendly people and well organized.

There’s a lot of cities around the country that participate with Critical Mass (community bike ride held on the last Friday of the Month to promote bike awareness, bike safety and good ‘ol fun)… but let’s just say some of better than others… this one NOT being one of the better.
Yeah, Lebron James and Dwyane Wade recently showed up one night but that doesn’t make it great either.
The ride in general always has potential to be great… thousands of bikes on a social ride in the evening at a pace that my grandmother could handle; what’s not to love. Maybe it’s the stoners and drunkards, maybe it’s a pack mentality, maybe it’s just immaturity or maybe just a misunderstanding of what Critical Mass really is… Here’s a sampling of why my first «MIAMI» Critical Mass may be my last:
1. RUDENESS: I have no issue if some bikers want to drink beer during the ride but throwing your bottles and cans into people’s yards and onto the sidewalks is just rude; and unfortunately I saw this throughout the ride… on second thought, I do mind the «open containers» during the ride… no need to put me and others at risk cycling while intoxicated
2. RESPECT: a lot of people show up with the whole family including young kids (they don’t seem to ever finish but good for them for trying)… so if you’re a stoner, is it really necessary to light up during the ride beside so many kids. I watched these three guys light up a joint as big as a cigar beside kids. Plus, I don’t need that stench blown in my face either
3. DECENCY: people fall off bikes on other rides and people stop to help each other and check for injuries… but not on Miami Critical Mass; people fell and NO ONE ever stopped… I was dumbfounded
4. COURTESY: large bike rides generally cork roads (a bike stops to hold traffic up to allow bikes to stay together even after light turns red)… most of the time the corker shows appreciation to the drivers (a waving gesture or saying thanks or «sorry, but it’s for safety of the group»). Sometimes drivers are upset and sometimes curse but most rides the corker remains calm and just says «sorry»… NOT in Miami. They started rude and remained rude; no wonder the drivers were cursing and threatening
5. OBNOXIOUS: hasn’t anyone ever heard of «respect thy neighbor». Some of the bikes were flying around, riding wheelies and doing tricks, riding outside the traffic lanes and often on the wrong side of the road… this doesn’t not promote safety and if anything makes observers dislike bikers… defeating all purposes of Critical Mass
As impressive the size that Miami Critical Mass is, it’s also a crutch. That many bikes attract too many different walks of life… Lake Worth Critical Mass and Fort Lauderdale Critical Mass are considerably smaller (Lake Worth is less than 100 and Fort Lauderdale is roughly 1,000)… compared to 4,000 bikes rolling through Miami
It’s not all bad but the negatives outweigh those positive points by a long shot… more importantly, will I give Miami Critical Mass another chance… YES. I look forward to being proven wrong…
And if anyone is interested in the Fort Lauderdale Critical Mass:

I have been hearing and wanting to experience critical mass for quite some time now. My girlfriend and I decided, since we work in Broward, lets leave early and head to downtown Miami and finally do this. Man what an experience. I love biking, I mainly do Mountain biking and it had been a while since I hit the trails so I was happy to pedal 10+ miles to get back into the swing of things. The mass amount of riders that come to this event is just insane. So many people, so many bikes it was truly as almost artistic to see. Many riders have lights on there bike, others have music, some come with there old school Huffey’s just for the sheer experience. The path takes you in the heart of the city from Flagler, NW 54^th ST. The Wynnwood district and more. Miami has so much life at night. Watching the people cheer you on and enjoying the spectacle was very refreshing. Traffic seems to by at a stand still in the major intersection. For the most part everyone is understanding, like in any event of this stature and size, you have knuckleheads who want to beat the system which can cause safety concerns. However, the moderators do a good job in keeping the peace and safety. It truly is a great event. We were fortunate to be joined by Dwayne Wade and Lebron James who from what I have read do this event often. I can’t wait to do it again.

GOOD CONCEPT — CHAOTIC — POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. There are some key differences between Critical Mass Miami and other mass rides I’ve done. Read Miranda’s post on DOs and DONTs. She hit the nail on the head. In rides in more bike-​friendly cities, cyclists and and drivers are more careful and courteous to each other. It’s over soon, so nobody risks life and limb. There’s more smiling and waving. There’s some semblance of order, albeit like herd of cattle. We’re sharing. Here in Miami, hot dog cyclists zoom through crowds of wobbly first-​timers, drivers lay on the horn, screaming and shaking their fists at every other intersection because they’re going to miss the beginning of Big Bang, and not surprisingly, people are getting hurt. I saw shoving matches with drivers, and FIVE accidents last night.
Accidents:
1-​riding looking backward and taking pictures with cell phone, luckily wearing construction hardhat
2-​texting while riding, swerved into other bike
3-​riding too close and locked handlebars (guess)
4-​rider clipped another rider’s wheel, went over handlebars, went to hospital to reinsert teeth and sew up face
5-​ran into curb riding while looking backward, run over by stretch bike with giant speaker (good music)
I love group rides for the people watching and camaraderie but — c’mon people — if it’s not safe, it’s not fun.

I finally made it to Critical Mass and it was a blast. Yes, it rained for about the last 6 miles… but still it was great. This once-​a-​month bike ride is for all ages and the route changes monthly. Find someone with a boombox playing great music and stay close! Looking forward to the next ride andhanging out afterwards if it is not pouring rain. Invite your friends and enjoy the simple side of life with a fun-​loving bike-​ride through our great city!
Deck out your bikes in glow sticks, bells, whistles and horns for even more fun!

Rollin with the homies!!!
I have been riding with my homies for a few months now. This past ride was by far the most challenging for me but my favorite. It’s great to have events like this in Miami.
Thanks to the organizers that make this happen.

Remember to bring plastic baggies for your phone in case in rains…
Yeah!!! This was awesome. I did a total of 16.5 miles, including to and from Government Center. This is a must do for the sports enthusiasts and neophytes alike. What is really cool is that there are people who bring big boom-​boxes and it is like doing a spinning class.
There are a few inconsiderate bikers — those smoking/​drinking/​texting while riding their bikes — making them just as reckless if they were smoking/​drinking/​texting while driving… yep. I was impressed at how much patience the drivers had since we were really holding up traffic. Of course I’m thinking… didn’t they get the memo? Why did they take this route?
The ride was made better because I had a friend who stayed with me — even in the big crowds, it can be lonely if you don’t know anyone — it was nice to have someone looking out for you. Though for the most part, everyone was friendly, and I guess it can be an activity to make friends — I can see that being a definite option if you do this ride each month.
The «leaders» of the pack, and corkers are brave and helpful, because there were drivers trying to break through the crowds, and potentially run someone over. This ride is not only a fun, social and healthy activity — it is a movement — we need to change the culture of this city — how can we live in such a beautiful place and not be bike friendly?
This was fun, and I will do it again. Now I am off to take a hot shower and rub my body with sweet smelling muscle relaxer lol

Critical Mass is the once-​a-​month best ride in Miami, last Friday of the month. Starts at Government Center and ends on SE 1^st Avenue, near the restaurants at the Village on SE 1^st.
Cyclists cool down and hang out afterwards in historic Downtown Miami’s Central Business District.

The only person who would not appreciate Miami Critical Mass is the person that’s in a rush, and sitting at one of the intersections that have been corked for the thousands of bicycle riders on a Friday night, at the end of rush hour. This event has grown massively over the last few years and I’m proud to be a part of it every month.
It’s free and people of all ages (families, kids, young adults, older adults, even the grandparents of today), with all kinds of bikes, get together on the last Friday of every month, rain or shine, and ride a 12 – 20 mile ride through the streets of Miami, for no other reason that to help promote bicycle riding and sustainability in the community.
LOVE!!!

Had you asked me after my first time, I probably would’ve rated Critical Mass a two-​star annoyance.
I was just so tired…
But after having done it again two weeks ago (and proving myself a more formidable bike rider than the time prior), Critical Mass has climbed up out of the ashes of my burnt-​out leg muscles and has cemented itself as a personal Miami favorite.
There really is nothing like it.
Starting at Government Square, Critical Mass takes you on a (usually) sixteen mile tour of all of Miami. From Downtown to the Gables, Little Havana to Brickell, you experience all of Miami’s ins and outs, its ups and downs: a block party on Calle Ocho, applauding spectators at every turn, the smells of Miami’s eclectic cuisine wafting from the restaurants prepping for the Friday night rush, and drivers honking angrily at our thousand bike hold up.
It’s a wonderful, physically trying experience. And it’s a lot of fun.
I just have two complaints: complaint the first, to those of you in automobiles ignoring the individuals stopping traffic, please realize that a car hitting a bicycle (and it’s bound to happen) is kind of like a tossing a rock through aluminum paper; and complaint the second, to those of you actually participating who think it a good idea to get wasted while riding around, well, it isn’t. I’m not opposed to your getting inebriated (by any substance), but please be aware that doing so is likely going to cause a sort of bicycle pile-​up. There are a bunch of kids riding around with their parents, and while I don’t at all like children, they really can’t fend for themselves and will likely be much more affected by a violent crash than their adult counterparts. Please be mindful.
Wow. I’m getting old. Time to go do something irresponsible to counter my diatribe.
Where did I leave matches?

Government Center, Brickell, Coral Way, Merrick Park, University of Miami, Sunset Place, Little Havana, Viernes Culturales, Downtown
21+ miles on a Friday night
I enjoyed it so much, I wanna take Critical Mass for a sunrise walk on the beach and hold it’s hand… kiss it on the lips…

Yes, like Jorge said; it’s a great ride and a great excuse to get on your bike. Critical Mass did start in San Francisco to bring awareness to the need to establish more bike lanes and laws favoring bicyclist.
The one in San Francisco is INSANE. Hundreds of bicylists show up and stop traffic. There have been some dramatic interactions with motorists in San Francisco as traffic comes to a halt and that does not bode well for the SUV drivers of the world, so you can imagine.
While the Miami Critical Mass might hold up traffic momentarily in order to ensure that the entire group gets trough an intersection, it is much tamer than it’s predecessor. Usually about 40 – 60 riders show up and it’s a mild paced ride of 10 – 14 miles.
There are two Critical Mass rides in Miami organized by 2 different people. It’s kind of confusing. This one is on the last Friday of the month and the other takes place on the 2^nd Saturday of the month. I haven’t been on Saturday ride, but I think it’s a little more casual than this one. I can’t imagine as this C. Mass ride is pretty casual to begin with. Come see for yourself. It’s a pretty cool way to spend a Friday evening.
You can find out about the Saturday ride here: