Solidarity Ride Surprise

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Mayor Giuliani received a jolt on a sunny Sunday afternoon in September, when 150 whooping and hollering cyclists poured into the abandoned parking lot at City Hall just as he was descending the steps alone to his waiting van. T.A.'s first-ever "Solidarity Ride" had arrived in merry style. His two police bodyguards initially panicked, but upon being assured that the assembled cyclists were there to champion safe streets--not to assault their lightly-protected boss--they told the curious Mayor about the ride's goal of safer streets, a crackdown on dangerous driving and speeding, and greater respect for cyclists' right to the road. The Mayor listened attentively, then hopped in his van, which peeled off, making an illegal U-turn across two lanes of traffic and the raised median of Park Row. More rides and Mayoral education are obviously in order. Just the same, the September 28th Solidarity Ride was a spirit-raising good time, as participants filled the canyons of Broadway with chiming bells and good citizenship.

Pedestrians waved in acknowledgment of the ride's good cheer and goals. Look for more Solidarity Rides this spring.