Mayor Hickenlooper
City and County Building
1337 Bannock Street
..350
Denver, CO 80202



Dear Mayor Hickenlooper,

As concerned citizens of Denver and avid bicyclists, we, XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX, and the rest of the mass of Denver cyclists who participate in Critical Mass, urgently encourage you to join us in a brief, face-to-face dialogue about the 14-year-old tradition of riding bikes in Critical Mass. To ensure that this months ride, on May 26th, goes smoothly, it would be best to meet before May 26ths ride begins.

We desire to maintain the wonderful reputation that the Mile High City has built as one of the most bicycle-friendly urban areas in the country, and trust that you share this sentiment. By now you must be keenly aware of the ongoing tensions between the Denver Police Department and riders in Critical Mass, something which threatens our citys positive image.

The people of Denver have already witnessed and greatly appreciated your efforts at bettering communication between people of all ranks and striving to accommodate our needs. We come to you now, as diverse and decentralized citizens faced with a pressing dilemma, to bring forth an active invitation to a partnership. To borrow language from one of your recent campaigns, we come to you as neighbours building solutions.

You need look no further than the nearest gas station sign or the most recent issue of the Westword, where it was reported that some 400 cities worldwide celebrate Critical Mass every month, to realize that bicycle-riding in large numbers is here to stay and should be discussed and assured safety and respect. Although no individuals, including us, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, can speak on behalf of Critical Mass, as it is a self-proclaimed unorganized coincidence, there are a few points that can be clearly seen as the consensus.

First, we, as cyclists on the streets of Denver, are not blocking traffic we are traffic and we wish to be treated as such. It is an obvious objection that if this is true, then riders in Critical Mass should not be surprised when they are all detained and written tickets for traffic violations. But the next time you are driving on I-25 or any Denver road for that matter, we challenge you to pay attention to the critical mass of automobiles that ride together, breaking traffic laws nearly every second, and are not targeted with road blocks or police helicopters for doing so. Can you imagine if every time a group of 100 cars sped along together, yet as individuals, at 10-15 miles per hour over the speed limit a reasonable estimate of the non-rush hour flow of traffic they were all pulled over together and charged fines? The idea, most would agree, is absurd. The police in every city know they must choose their battles. There are clear and present dangers that threaten peace and order, and compared to a car barrelling down the road at 45 miles per hour, how dangerous could a group of bicycles turning right on a red light illegally be?

Second, we, as cyclists in Critical Mass, recognize the need to watch out for one another and secure unity and a steady flow for the sake of safety in our group. This entails passing with caution through red lights and stop signs. If you ever ride with us in Critical Mass, which we eagerly invite you to do, you will see neighbours of this city who have never met, communicating with one another positively and in sincere selflessness, in order to keep the group together and clear from accidents.

Third, we, as cyclists, will continue to exercise our freedom to enjoy the fresh Colorado air in our faces and the beautiful sights and atmosphere of Denver, whether it be riding alone on our daily commutes, on an afternoon recreational bike ride, or in a group of hundreds or even thousands of other cyclists on the last Friday of each month. It is not a matter of whether or not we will ride; it is a question of how the City of Denver, and you as its central representative, will respond.

Mr. Mayor, you are in a unique position to engage in a constructive conversation with your people, and consequentially making a statement about Denver to communities around the world. The people of Denver must consider what it says about our city when our police force is determined to keep a group of peaceful bicyclists in fear rather than tackling more malevolent predators at large.

At least 70 riders from the last Critical Mass are waiting for their upcoming court dates, and wondering what will happen on Friday, May 26 when we ride again en masse. Your immediate involvement with this issue is crucial, sir. If you will agree to meet with us, XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX, on the 26th of May, before the next Critical Mass ride, we can work together to redeem respect between the bicyclists and the police of Denver. By taking suggestions from cities such as Chicago and San Francisco, where Critical Mass runs smoothly each month, you can act as a catalyst for positive change and a more pleasant and community-centred city.

Yours sincerely,



Three names