Planning Palmer Square Kidical Mass Rides

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jason Greenberg on May 4, 2010 at 10:04am

Hi Karen & Todd & Palmer Square Kidical Mass-ers-

Just checking in about the May 8th Palmer Square Kidical Mass Ride.

Its an unfortunate overlap that I already had this commitment at the North Park Village Nature Center that day, but I'd be happy to take the lead on the next (June 12th) Palmer Square ride.

Karen- I'm ready to promote and email all my contacts, but wanted to make sure you are still planning & willing to be the lead organizer.

Let me know and then I'll start sending out the invites...

Also looking ahead, do we want to skip the August ride (assuming folks will be out of town) or definitely have it (assuming folks will be looking for things to do with kids out of school)? Not sure the tactic to follow there...Dear membership, please add your opinions?

Permalink Reply by Todd Allen on May 4, 2010 at 10:15am

Jason, I don't see any reason not to have a ride Aug. 14th. Am I missing something? Are you concerned that some will be on vacation trips? If you are planning on being away then just announce it and hopefully, Karen or myself or perhaps Todd Gee or Lisa Phillips or someone else will step in to be the primary organizer for the day.

Permalink Reply by Rico on May 4, 2010 at 11:08am

Jason/Todd, I am more than happy to assist with organizing if either of you will be unavailable.

Permalink Reply by Jason Greenberg on May 4, 2010 at 11:23am

Thanks Ricardo-

It always helps to have at least a leader/head position and sweep/tail position to keep the mass together and prevent stragglers from getting lost. If you can coordiate with Karen & Todd for the 8th that would be great. And of course many of the adults always help chip in with the safety riding aspects too.

Ricardo said:

Jason/Todd, I am more than happy to assist with organizing if either of you will be unavailable.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on May 4, 2010 at 12:02pm

How easy do you think it would be for a young rider to peel off and return to start? My son is young. He rides solo without training wheels, but his max speed is probably about 5 mph, and the farthest he's gone is about 2 miles. We've done critical mass with him in a bike seat, and he's excited about having an opportunity to ride his own bike...

I don't want him to hold the big kids back, but he'll be thrilled to ride with them a little way.

Permalink Reply by Andrew Bedno on May 4, 2010 at 12:55pm

May 8th Palmer Square Kidical Mass Ride event posting:
http://www.thechainlink.org/events/kidical-mass-ride-4

Also see: Satellite View, History

Permalink Reply by Jason Greenberg on May 4, 2010 at 1:08pm

As a group we have talked about this issue for the younger kids. Proposing the idea that there will be 1-2 pre-planned "water-break" stops on the route where there will be a chance for the youngest-or tired- to turn back to the bunny playground with a possible escort from a ride guide.

If you feel its likely that your kid has a limited range, energy level or attention span for the full ride, please check in with the ride leader before the beginning of the tour, BUT the idea is for these rides to support kids at all levels in gaining confidence in their riding skills. Making a turn-around point or "back-up plan" before the ride starts is very helpful, so the young kids know that there is a shorter ride-leg specifically for them. So talk to the tour leaders and they will help you make that plan.

Having said that, we did have a few 6 year olds make it happily through the whole tour back in April....

Elizabeth said:

How easy do you think it would be for a young rider to peel off and return to start? My son is young. He rides solo without training wheels, but his max speed is probably about 5 mph, and the farthest he's gone is about 2 miles. We've done critical mass with him in a bike seat, and he's excited about having an opportunity to ride his own bike...

I don't want him to hold the big kids back, but he'll be thrilled to ride with them a little way.

Permalink Reply by Todd Allen on May 4, 2010 at 9:37pm

Elizabeth, as Jason said, this issue came up last ride and our current plan is to ask among our volunteers at the start of each ride who will be willing to escort any group that might need to turn back early.

Ideally, we should always be able to always support one escorted early turn around. When we can we tell all participants that they are free to shout out and request this early turn around at any time. However, as we know it can be difficult for the necessary communication to occur spontaneously between kids, parents and the ride leaders while riding. So we are planning to incoporate two stops in each ride where we will call out and ask if any one needs to turn back.

If someone does we will split the ride at that point. And strongly encourage anyone who is concerned about completing the entire ride to turn back at that point as it will be difficult to guarantee volunteers to escort a second split. On our previous ride we split the ride but at a point where some had raced ahead while others hung back. Unfortunately one rider up front ought to have joined the early return but was unaware of the split.

Anyway this is our new scheme, dreamed up after the issue arose during the previous ride. Hopefully it will work out well enough on future rides.

Permalink Reply by jennifer james on May 8, 2010 at 9:51pm

If it's hard to keep the fast big kids and the little slow kids together on the same ride, why try to take a ride that goes anywhere? Would there be a place for a ride that just takes over the streets around Palmer Square and has everyone going his or her own pace in circles around and around the square? It would take over the street for cyclists but allow everyone to stay together and keep everybody safer. It would let little kids get a chance to participate on their little crankless scoot bikes. Maybe there is room for several formats of Kidical Mass ride. Or little kids can do this while big kids head off to Humboldt Park...

Permalink Reply by Todd Allen on May 8, 2010 at 10:54pm

Jennifer, as the rides grow I imagine we'll get to a point where there are rides like you suggest specifically for the toddlers. As for riding in a loop around a park, we've been making an effort to select locations where that's always a possibility. Next Saturday's ride from Warren park and next month's ride from UIC's Recreation field both work for that. On our Palmer square rides we have been starting with a loop around the park before setting out. We've had a couple very young kids loop about the park on bikes with training wheels and then hop on a child seat or trailer for the rest of the ride.

So far though, we've not had kids or parents that want to stay at the starting park. They want to go somewhere. On next month's Rogers Park ride I expect everyone will want to do the short ride from Warren park to Indian Boundary park. Then we might split the ride with toddlers riding around the park or stopping to play while the bigger kids go for a faster neighborhood loop before joining back with the others for the ride back to Warren park. But exactly what happens will depend on who shows up and what they want to do.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on May 9, 2010 at 2:48pm

We had a great time yesterday! And Edden was a champ, and made it further than I think anyone expected. We're looking forward to next time.

Anyone interested in a toddler bike parade? Instead of going on the street, in true critical mass style, we could go around one of the larger parks. For example, in Lincoln Park, start at Sunshine Playground, at Deming and Lakeview, and do a loop around North Pond (about .7 miles) and back to the playground. That would be appropriate for scooters and balance bikes, and there are ducks and turtles to see along the way. The kids could decorate bikes beforehand, and play after.

Permalink Reply by Jason Greenberg on May 23, 2010 at 8:19am

Just wanted everyone to know we have a definite Palmer Square/Bunny Playground Kidical Mass Ride planned for Sat June 12

Social time starting at 10:30am / ride starts at 11:00am
Ride lasts approximately 1 hour with more optional playground playtime upon our return...

Please tell folks and invite your friends to join the ride!
RSVPing on Chainlink that you are coming on the ride is also helpful...

If we get very young and older contingents of kid riders, we will have plans for a beginner loop and a longer "advanced extension route" for the older kids.

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