Lots of '70s bikes. Some of the shirts were also throwbacks. This was the gathering of the preride from City Hall. The real ride wasn't due to start until we get down to Happy Hollow.

     

     

When we got near Happy Hollow we started to see a lot of other bicycles converging on the place from similar directions to us. I imagine there were similar things happening on other streets to. Definitely the excitement of bike party was building.

    

I got one of those tie dyed bike party shirts to.

     

     

        

It's a funny thing, but that guy in the dark sweatshirt has exactly the same haircut I had in '77. His bike looks like the one I wished I'd had at the time to.

        

Every time I wander around in that park I'm reminded again how much that bridge looks like a metal rainbow.

     

Diane wants everybody to know "World-wide, Saturday September 24th is the day to take positive peaceful action to reduce climate change by moving without fossil fuels. We’re doing it in San Jose with an all ages kid-friendly bike party from 11 am to 2 pm!" We're still working on the details. Check with sjbikeparty.org closer to the date for more information!

  

     

I was trying to only take pictures of '70s looking people. I suppose I could disqualify that woman in white because she had the logo of a European car company on her cheek instead of a peace sign, but that would be too anal.

By this time we were starting to roll. I got to the first light and thought "I've never tried to capture bike party hitting the road." I pulled over at the center island and started clicking.

These people were following not far behind me when I pulled over.

That's the tail end of the first pulse of bike party hitting the road.

The crowd would fill in while the light was red. Then when it went green they would get moving.

     

     

  

By this time I had the numbers on the light. I knew which transition went green to yellow just before our light went red to green. As it did I'll call out "get ready". Then when our light went green I'd yell "BIKE PARTY!" in my loudest voice. The riding would start again.

When the flow had ebbed to a trickle I joined the ride.

     

        

        

Jackie was telling everybody "Go right on Minnesota!"

     

     

        

        

        

Somewhere in this time frame I realized we were lost. I'd been just following the people in front of me, and they were doing the same thing to the people in front of them. Unfortunately about a dozen of them had decided to turn right an go home, and they got a mile or two before they realized they were leading a parade. There we were, in unfamiliar territory with no idea what to do next. We retraced our route and found the ride okay. It was easy to know when we were back, the river of bikes going by was an unmistakable sign.

        

That mobile cooler was awesome. The guy riding it could corner better than bicyclists, and he was probably twice as fast as us to. He said his rolling chair, which he'd made himself, would go about fifteen miles on a charge and could hold a six pack of beer. I think he designed it to take him fishing. I'm still figuring out the URL that was on his seat. Let me know if you get it and it's good.

     

        

  

  

When we left the last regroup I rode with friends until we were somewhere on Minnesota. Then I realized the time had come to hop the light rail. I ended up taking the last train to Civic Center from Willow Glenn, which connected with the last Alum Rock train. I got off at Tasman and pedaled the rest of the way.

  

It used to be that the thing to do was turn right on Innovation. There was a bicycles only shortcut that I loved. Those days are over. The place (including a piece of the road) has become a construction site surrounded by chicken-foot fencing. Now we have to go around that fire station and those huge antennas, just like the car people.

  

It really is easy for me to get the rest of the way home once I see Easy St.