Many years ago, I used to ride Los Angeles Critical Mass, starting in 2014. I rode for years, and while the experience was good, it was often rough and chaotic. I remember the original leader, a guy named Brian, who was notoriously rude and obnoxious, constantly yelling at the crowd and the volunteers. Everyone knew to avoid riding behind the lead vehicle he drove; it spewed toxic fumes that were unbearable. Personally, I preferred riding in the middle of the pack, where I felt safer and more comfortable.
Over the years, ride marshals would come and go, but the ride routes were always enjoyable enough to keep me coming back. One person I always remembered was a kind young lady named Lisa, who drove the back support vehicle. I’ll never forget one ride when I got a flat tire, and she graciously let me ride with her. Her kindness left a lasting impression on me.
At the end of 2019, I left for New York for a job venture. Fast forward to early 2024, I returned to Los Angeles and started working for a local radio station and a law firm. My family is full of attorneys, and my boyfriend is a DJ at one of the popular radio stations in the city.
When I rejoined Critical Mass, I was thrilled to see how it had evolved, especially under Lisa’s leadership. The atmosphere was much improved, with better organization and a more inclusive vibe. I noticed that there were better people riding, and Lisa’s influence made the ride so much more enjoyable.
In 2024, my boyfriend and I became regular donors to the ride, often Zelle-ing $100 to Mark, one of the ride marshals. However, I wasn’t too fond of Mark, as he had a tendency to flirt with my boyfriend whenever he approached us for donations. It felt like he was fucking my boyfriend with his eyes—he always had a creepy vibe, but he was part of Critical Mass. He was the only one taking Zelle donations. We never carried cash on us, and Zelle was a much better option for us in donating.
When we found out that Mark had been ousted in 2025 because Critical Mass never received any of the donations we had given, my boyfriend and I were furious. We believed in supporting the ride, and to learn that our contributions were mishandled was incredibly disappointing.
Despite this, I was pleased to see Lisa taking over the ride and making significant improvements. Since she stepped into leadership, we have seen Critical Mass, with a minimum of 1,500 participants each month and some months reaching as high as 4,000. It feels great to be part of such a fantastic and supportive community again, and I looked forward to many more rides filled with camaraderie and even advocacy for a bike-friendly Los Angeles.
Lisa, I personally want to thank you for taking Los Angeles Critical Mass to the next level. Including live performances on the main break with local artists has transformed our Friday nights into an outing that feels like icing on the cake. Critical Mass is the best ride, and I prefer it over CicLAvia, which I find boring at times. However, Critical Mass has a party atmosphere with high-energy vibes with a lot of people that has smiles on their faces. Happy people that truly make it a celebration, a real party on wheels.
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