Phoenix isn't exactly considered to be the most bike-friendly of towns, what with its sprawling freeways and oftentimes oblivious-to-others drivers. Cyclists of the Valley get to take back the roads from the motorized masses during the Critical Mass Bike Ride, which spills onto the streets of Central Phoenix on the final Friday of each month.
Local pedal pushers gather in abundance at Steele Indian School Park, before departing en masse in a swarm of steel steeds along one of the Valley’s main drags while hooting, hollering, and shouting “Happy Friday!" to passersby. "It's a welcoming platform for cyclists no matter what kind of bike you ride," says organizer Catie Raya. "It's exhilarating, and we all need a little bit of that in our lives."
