Not-a-Leap-Year Ride

We heard that the Mayor has proclaimed that 2015 is the Year of the Bike in Tacoma! Unfortunately this year is one day shorter than others, so we're celebrating this misfortune with donuts a bike ride. ;) 

Meet up at Legendary Donuts (2602 6th Ave) on Saturday, Feb. 28 around 9 or 930. We'll provide some special donuts for the young riders then roll out to Wright Park and burn off some sugar. If the weather is good, we'll take a 2 mile route to the park; if the weather is crummy, the direct route is just over 1 mile. There are public restrooms and water fountains at the playground. Young riders should dress for the weather and bring a grown up to ride with them. Contact us if you have questions.

This is a friendly ride with kids and families, teaching everyone how to ride in the street safely with confidence and respect for others. Expect a super slow pace. 

Please note that training wheels and push bikes may not be the best for this ride, but you are welcome to walk on the sidewalk to Wright Park with those youngest riders or even just meet us there and ride on the trails.

Also, many thanks to the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club for sponsoring our 2015 season. Family memberships are just $20/year and dues help support rides, advocacy, trails, and events throughout Tacoma and Pierce County.

If you ride with us often, please show them your support.

Coming Up: Downtown Winter Solstice Ride

Kidical Mass Tacoma is heading downtown on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, for a short ride on the shortest day of the year. The full route is just 2.9 miles!

Meet at the corner of S 19th and Jefferson (across from The Swiss) around 10:30 a.m. Dress for the weather! Email Matt if you need routing advice on the best way to ride to the start location, otherwise street parking is free on Sundays downtown.

We'll roll-out at 11 a.m., taking the lane past the Tacoma Art Museum and down to Dock Street. Thea's Park is our turn-around point.

On the way back we'll see a few murals, pay tribute at the Sun King sculpture, and cross the Bridge of Glass. There's public art everywhere on this ride. We'll finish up on Pacific Ave with free hot chocolate and cookies with the SOTA Bike Club at the School of the Arts. 

Parents and kids are welcome to join us for lunch afterwards at the Harmon Brewing restaurant for some 2015 ride brainstorming. (Kids eat free on Sundays at the Harmon!) Bring a bike lock if you're staying for lunch. 

RSVP on Facebook!

For November: 2nd Cycle Shop Ride through Hilltop

Mock up of the new shop at 1205 MLK Jr Way in Tacoma

Join us at the brand new 2nd Cycle shop on Sunday November 2nd to celebrate DIY bikes. Meetup at 10:30 to get ready, roll-out at 11am for a loop ride around the Hilltop neighborhood. We'll return to the shop for snacks and a hands-on tutorial for kids on how to change a flat tire. Let 'em get their hands dirty - that's how they learn!

So long old shop...

2nd Cycle is a community cycle center where you can buy new/used parts and shop time. They help teach you how to use the tools to repair and maintain your bicycle. It's an empowering concept that your kids will love.

Their old shop down the street has been an amazing resource for both the Hilltop community and Tacoma at-large. They are making the transition to this new, permanent space at 1205 MLK Way throughout the month of October.
This is a free event sponsored by the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club, but donations to 2nd Cycle are appreciated and encouraged. You can support them in-person at the shop or through their IndieGoGo site.

This is our first winter ride, and we're expecting it to be a little chilly and wet. Dress for the weather, or just join us at the shop. The route will be almost entirely flat, 2-3 miles, and rideable for riders of nearly all ages and abilities. Email Matt the ride leader if you have specific questions. 

We love riding in Hilltop!

Facebook event page

For September: South Tacoma School Ride

September is Back to School month so we're heading to South Tacoma on September 14 to ride the historic Water Ditch Trail from South Park to Arlington Elementary to get kids motivated about biking to school. And, at the request of several families, this is our first ride on a Sunday! As usual, meetup at 10:30am to get everyone ready then we'll rollout at 11am. 

Some improvements have been made to the trail since we first rode it together last summer. Most importantly, the two No Crossing signs at South 56th Street have been replaced with a new pedestrian crossing signal.

Before, looking south at 56th

Now, looking north at 56th

This is a huge improvement. Our 3.8 mile round-trip ride will start and end at South Park, which has bathrooms, a sprayground, a playground and lots of afternoon shade. 

We'll cross 56th and head south past Edison Elementary and on to Arlington Elementary. We'll stop and play on the playground for a bit, then return to South Park for a snack. 

The Water Ditch Trail is quite flat with a few short hills. Most of the route is paved trail, but we will also be riding in the street. (That's the whole idea - kids are traffic, too!) Kids on training wheels and push bikes are welcome, but be aware there are a few short hills to navigate. 

If you're new to Kidical Mass, you can find out more about our free family bike rides here. Feel free to leave questions in the comments section below or email Matt at kidicalmasstacoma<at>gmail.com.

View Kidical Mass Tacoma: Water Ditch Trail in a larger map

August Ride: Waterfront to Ruston Family Fair

On August 9 our monthly ride will head to the waterfront for a 1.7 mile route to the Ruston Family Fair in the heart of the historic Ruston Business District. There will be many free activities for kids at the Fair including old fashioned games and wagon rides, a classic car show, and outdoor music. Something for everyone to see and do!

Let's meet-up at 10:30am near the Copperline Apartments (4760 Ruston Way), where the new Point Ruston trail starts with this Giant Octopus on the sidewalk. If you're driving to the start, there's a big gravel lot across the street (on the south side of Ruston Way) where you can park for the afternoon.

The ride will follow the waterfront trail north around Point Ruston towards the marina, then up the hillside towards the main entrance to Point Defiance Park. The hill section is a rather steep grade, but the paved trail is accessible to riders on nearly any size and type of bicycle, even training wheels and push bikes. We'll regroup at the top of the hill and ride together through the Ruston neighborhood to the Fair. 

We'll plan to hang-out at the Fair for an hour before regrouping again for a ride back down the hill. You are welcome to ride back with the group, stay longer at the fair, or head back early. (If you are staying at the fair, please bring a lock to secure your bikes!) 

As usual, our pal Jeff's Ice Cream will be along for the ride to hand out a free ice cream treat to all of our riders, courtesy of the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club.

If you're new to Kidical Mass, you can find out more about our free family bike rides here. Feel free to leave your questions in the comments below or email Matt at kidicalmasstacoma<at>gmail.com.

P.S. The Underwater Music Festival is also happening on August 9, so don't be surprised if you see a ton of boats moored off-shore near Point Ruston. 

July East Side Ride: Stewart Heights to Charlotte's Blueberry Park

Let's go berry picking!

On Saturday July 26, we'll meetup at 10:30am at Stewart Heights Park near the playground. At 11am we'll roll-out for a flat ride to Charlotte's Blueberry Park. We'll pick blueberries for a little while (bring a container!) then head back to Stewart Heights.

We'll provide a free ice cream to all riders at the finish, but you may want to pack a picnic or bring your swimsuit to take full advantage of both the Stewart Heights park and pool.

The route is quite flat and there's only one arterial to cross. The road surface through the neighborhood is a little rough, but this should be manageable for riders on smaller push-bikes or even training wheels. Roundtrip is 3.5 miles, but tired riders can make the ride a little shorter by not looping around the southern end of Blueberry Park.

View East Side: Stewart Heights to Blueberry Park in a larger map

Charlotte's Blueberry Park is a gem. There are TONS of huge blueberry bushes, picnic tables, a short trail, a port-a-potty and plenty of space to run around. The bushes are loaded with berries and should be ripening up just in time for our ride. The picking season continues through August.

Questions? Suggestions on how we can make this more fun and awesome for kids?  Leave us a comment below or email us kidicalmasstacoma (at) gmail (dot) com.

Summer Reading Starts with a Library-to-Library Ride in June

On June 28, Kidical Mass will ride from the Wheelock Library in Proctor to the Swasey Library in the West End. This will give our riders two opportunities to register for TPL's summer reading program. We'll try to find a few Little Free Libraries along the way.

Meet-up at 10:30am by the Mr. Mason statue at N 26th and Adams. We'll make sure everyone is ready to roll out at 11am. We'll be riding in the road, mostly on residential streets and the Scott Pierson Trail, but there will be times when we cross arterials and share the lane with cars. Here's our planned route:

View Wheelock to Swasey in a larger map

Matt will lead the ride over to Swasey, a 3.3 mile route, riding at a slow pace with stops to regroup. You are welcome to stay as long as you like, but bring a lock if you're planning to stay. If you need food, Pao's Donuts is next door and the Tres Hermanos food truck at 6th and Mildred is just a few blocks away.

After a 20-30minute stop at Swasey, Matt will head back to Wheelock. You are welcome to leave the group and make up your own route home. Roundtrip for the whole ride is 6.6 miles. We usually have free treats at the finish, but this time we may need to break out the ice cream at Swasey. (Jeff's Ice Cream rides along with his ice cream trailer - how cool is that?) We'll play it by ear and see what parents think when we get there.

What is Kidical Mass?

Kidical Mass is a bike ride for families, giving kids and parents an opportunity to ride together safely and lawfully. These rides take place in cities all over the country as a way to give kids (and parents!) the confidence to ride in the street while following the Rules of the Road.

Our Tacoma rides are typically 3-4 miles roundtrip, but please note that this ride is a bit longer than usual. Bikes with wheels smaller than 16" and bikes with training wheels are not recommended do to the distance and a few hilly sections, but feel free to bring younger riders along with kid seats, cargobikes, trailers and trail-a-bikes. Remember, Tacoma has a helmet law so helmets are required for all riders - including parents.

Questions? Feedback? Are you planning to attend? Ideas to make this more awesome? Please post comments or email kidicalmasstacoma(at)gmail(dot)com.