“San Francisco Is So Horny!”

Those were the words that I heard exclaimed by a young man on a blue Schwinn ten-speed as thousands of my fellow bicyclists and I came pouring out of the Stockton Tunnel during Critical Mass last Friday. He seemed a little overwhelmed and thrilled by the endless throbbing swarm of bicyclists that were flowing past.

The rush of the crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable as we all pedaled into the bright rays of the setting sun in a vibrant and bustling Chinatown. And though I have never heard my town described in those exact terms, I think he may be right. As I continued pedaling down Polk Street, one cell in the living protean hoard of bicyclists streaming throughout the streets, I felt incredibly happy, alive and engaged in my beautiful and horny city.

The Transformative Power of Direct Action

I had not ridden in Critical Mass in a few years, and I had forgotten the thrill of biking through the city with several thousand others, not only as bike transportation activists, but also just basking in the joy and simplicity of celebrating the bicycle as everyday transport. It felt really good to be physically taking part in a direct action that was not only a fun demonstration of sustainable transportation, but also got me to my destination in a most festive manner. As the mass spread throughout different parts of the city, the positive impact that it had upon each neighborhood was readily apparent and tangible.

My friend Lissa Ivy described the transformation of Valencia Street in the Mission this way: “I was locking up pony [her bicycle] outside of Chris Corales‘ extremely gorgeous art opening, when I was alerted to, and then consulted inner calendar to confirm the fact that it must be Critical Mass day! And such a perfect bike night! Nothing like boy on bicycle with ghetto-blaster blaring “Here Comes the Sun” to remind us all the power of the Beatles plus pedals. Seriously. The entire character of the street changed! Everyone got happy! I smiled goofily and sang along, just like all the other motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists I saw. It was just that simple, and that effective. Unadulterated joy.”

As the living organism that is Critical Mass flowed past San Francisco City Hall, I detoured my beautiful Breezer bicycle across the street to attend Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi’s Persian New Year, or Nowruz Deed-o Bazdeed Celebration, that was being held in his second floor office.

As I watched the endless river of bikes stream past me on Van Ness, I was really struck by the power of the most simple acts, like engaging in friendly conversation with a stranger, writing a story, helping a neighbor, or riding a bicycle. I thought about how good this glorious Spring day felt, and about the many local community gardens that have sprouted in my neighborhood, and of the scores of new trees that the Friends of the Urban Forest have planted throughout the city. Although our nation’s economy is gasping and flailing, I see many positve changes happening here in San Francisco, even our long awaited city-wide Bike Plan is finally going forward. Standing in the glow of City Hall, I was filled with hope that positive viable solutions do actually exist to our many global environmental crises. The problems are convoluted and intimidating, but perhaps part of  the solution is just as simple as riding a bike.