East Bay Bike Party: Coal in your stocking you naughty kids

The volunteers who organize the monthly East Bay Bike Party announced no ride for December 2014, citing a “a general decline in civility at our bike parties.”


East Bay Bike Party WoS

Like any large event, EBBP organizers have struggled to balance the diversity and chaotic fun that’s so much a part of cycling with the fact that any large event has an impact on the neighbors. They consistently announce rules asking participants to follow the rules of the road and to not be complete jackasses on their bikes.

In spite of these efforts, Bike Party organizers say they have seen an increase in bad behavior such as attacks on motorists, property destruction, threats directed at volunteers, theft of bicycles and personal gear, disregard for music volume limits in residential areas, offensive and exclusionary misogynistic music, and littering.

Because of this increasingly hostile environment, organizers say that artistic expression of themes and female participation has decreased.

East Bay Bike Party organizers have canceled the December ride, and ask regular participants “to reflect on Bike Party’s values and in turn, increase your appreciation, participation, and commitment to East Bay Bike Party.”

San Jose Bike Party has similar problems, and I’ve personally limited my own participation at SJBP because of the rampant drinking, drug use, and overtly offensive music. I’m thrilled at the wide demographic represented at SJBP, and I can appreciate the free, libertarian attitude that prevails at Bike Party, but too many take this license as an opportunity to go nuts and never mind about the impact they have on people around them.

Read the East Bay Bike Party announcement here.

Thank you to to David Coldiron for the heads up.
East Bay Bike Party photo CC NC-BY-SA by Wilson Tai.

5 Comments

  1. Well said… Same reason I don’t like going on group rides these days as well, blocking traffic so they can riding shoulder to shoulder to chat… Too much mob mentality going into these things…. or maybe I am just a loner…. 😀

  2. Sadly, I think they were overdue for this sort of action. I used to enjoy watching the bike party people ride by, but lately it’s been more of an excuse to blast music through people’s neighborhoods and intimidate anyone who dared to use the street besides the group. I know it’s tough to handle these loosely-knit activities, but something needed to change before they burned through whatever goodwill was left of the people impacted by their parties.

  3. The idea of a bike party always sounds fun for some bikers. However, this is really sad for them. I just hope those who were not following the guidelines, learn from this. Thank you for this post, Richard!

  4. I was at the first EB Bike Party back in 2009/2010 and am sad to see that it’s gone downhill. Hopefully this month’s cancellation will discourage people who attend in the wrong spirit.

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