MIDNIGHT RIDAZZ

'Midnight Ridazz' is a group bicycle ride that celebrates bicycle culture in Los Angeles, California.
Originally, rides were scheduled and held on the second Friday of each month in various districts of Los Angeles. That changed in 2006. Ridazz was growing rapidly and a new website aided its growth. The latter served as a virtual community for Ridazz and included a web calendar where riders could post their own rides. During the summer of 2006, the frequency of Ridazz rides also increased to two or three events per month. But as Ridazz continued to grow in popularity and a website was built for it, the frequency of rides increased as well. There are now multiple Ridazz rides per month and the website also serves as a ride calendar for non-Ridazz rides.
Midnight Ridazz is rooted in a punk ethos, challenging the status quo of Los Angeles, a city largely designed around the automobile. Midnight Ridazz does not overtly profess to engage in political activity other than its stance that "Riding a bicycle in this country in and of itself IS the political act." It has some similarities to the pro-bicycle Critical Mass phenomenon in its massive rides of more than a thousand cyclists. However it is largely distinct from Critical Mass in that the rides are pre-planned by self appointed ride care takers and the general atmosphere—some say "Driving Force" of Midnight Ridazz—revolves around party culture and fun. The ride began with 8 participants and quickly grew its base from both experienced cyclists and largely new or re-aquainted cyclists. The ride has since inspired many new ride groups in the Los Angeles area and is credited with popularizing bicycle ride culture in Los Angeles. It has spread to cities like bike crazy San Francisco and Portland as well as towns like Santa Barbara and Davis.
The ride itself follows different routes each month, with the ride varying between 15 and 40 miles in length. It is traditional for the route to include the 2nd Street Tunnel in downtown Los Angeles.
Midnight Ridazz is growing in popularity, with more than 1,300 cyclists participating in the July 2006 ride.
Its one year anniversary was celebrated Friday, February 11th 2005.

Contents

Theme Rides

External links

Theme Rides

Every ride has a specific theme commemorated by spoke cards. It’s common for participants to wear costumes matching the theme. Past themes include:

★ The Downtown Fountain Tour (February 2004)

★ Strip Ride (August 2005)

★ Heavy Metal Ride (September 2005)

★ Twins Ride (May 2006)

★ Midnight Ridazz Sells Out (June 2006)

★ Pizza Delivery to the Mafia (July 2006)

★ Take No Prisoners (August 2006)

★ Swarm the Pier (September 2006)

★ Visions of Superstitions (October 2006)

★ La Noche de los Biciclistas Muertos (November 2006)

★ The All-City Toy Ride (December 2006)

★ The UFO Ride (January 2007)

External links

★ Official Website www.MidnightRidazz.com

★ KCET/PBS Covers the history of Midnight Ridazz

★ City Beat Rides with the Ridazz