Since I gave up my car, I've biked 3,800 miles in six months. I ride because of the rising costs of cars and the crappy state of public transportation. By riding, I take care of myself and the environment. Santa Rosa Police traffic sergeant Brad Marsh stands next to his squad car in the late-afternoon sun, not far from the shimmering surface of Lake Ralphine. The ride, scheduled for 5 p.m., starts a little late with a fusillade of cheers as the swarm of bicycles pour slowly onto Summerfield Road.
Kickstands are upended and the crowd begins to move.
Marsh's squad of three motorcycle patrolmen on shiny Harley Davidsons, supported by a few police cars, accompanies the Critical Mass ride for 90 minutes, lending the pomp of a parade as the cyclists ride down Summerfield Road, loop through Santa Rosa, and end at Courthouse Square. I don't think that people realize the cost of cars. The biggest issue is pollution. Most of the reason people come to these rides is because they're frustrated with not being treated equally. It's a threatening situation to be riding alongside a really busy road and there are cars whizzing by constantly.