It wasn't long ago that we were still wearing short sleeves, but the seasons have shifted rapidly, and it has gotten quite cold these past few weeks.
Personally, I think this crisp, cooling weather is when riding a bike is at its most enjoyable, but it happened so suddenly that it feels like winter arrived by skipping autumn entirely; it gives me mixed feelings when I think about the state of our planet...
That said, the season where we can enjoy autumn foliage in the mountains is right around the corner, so I want to spend my time cutting through the wind on my bike and feeling the change of seasons on my skin.
Now, last night was the final Friday of October, so I participated in CRITICAL MASS NAGOYA!
Also held: "Pliking," trash pickup in bicycle lanes
Critical Mass is a civic movement held on the last Friday of every month that advocates for an environment where bicycles can travel safely. Before the gathering, there is also a "PLIKING" session—picking up trash along bicycle lanes.
I actually didn't make it in time for the pliking and only joined from the Critical Mass ride, but when I arrived at the meeting spot, there was already a large amount of trash collected. It’s an initiative that changes locations every month, and I hope it spreads throughout the city, little by little.
You notice various issues when you actually ride
This Critical Mass ride was an attempt to follow the bicycle navigation markings painted on the roads in the Sakae 2-chome and 3-chome areas. While most of the roads in this area are one-way for cars, the bike markings allow for two-way travel. Of course, there are both pros and cons to this, but we wanted to try riding it ourselves and think about it together.
When I actually rode it, my impression was that it was relatively easy to navigate at night compared to the congestion during the day. Personally, I had avoided this route whenever possible since these markings were installed, so it was a great chance to experience the issues firsthand.
I hope to treat the situation right in front of us as a personal matter rather than someone else's problem, and contribute to improving the future cycling environment, even if just a little. In that sense, Critical Mass is a great opportunity.
Oh, and speaking of taking things personally, don't forget that tomorrow is election day. Let’s all make it our own business!
The next Critical Mass Nagoya will be、、、
Critical Mass Nagoya
Friday, November 26th
18:00~ Pliking
19:00~ Critical MassMeeting at Hisaya Odori "Kibo no Hiroba" (Plaza of Hope)
Details
https://www.instagram.com/criticalmassnagoya
We look forward to seeing everyone there!