Tonight 100 of cyclists across the city will once again come together to participate in a monthly community bike ride called Critical Mass. The ride, which originated in San Francisco in 1992 has since spread throughout the world and has existed for over 6 years in New York City.

Last night I took in a screening of Still We Ride. The story begins on Friday August 27, 2004 in New York City, just days before the start of the Republican National Convention, when 264 people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and parading without a permit during the monthly bicycle celebration. But unlike the majority of the RNC-related arrests, which have been dismissed, bicycle-related arrests and bike seizures at monthly Critical Mass rides have persisted.

"Under the law, including New York legal codes, a group of bicycles is exactly the same as a group of automobiles," says Stephan von Pohl, a World Carfree Network USA board member. "When any group of citizens are arrested for doing something legal, like riding a bicycle on a public street, we believe that it's a human rights violation."

Most recently, in March of 2005, there were 37 arrests and an even higher number of bike seizures. The monthly pattern of confrontation has forced the bike community into a legal battle with the city and has politicized the once celebratory ritual. The city believes that the event, which has no leadership organization or planned route must apply for a permit in order for cyclists to assemble and ride through the streets. "You’re blocking traffic," says the assistant chief Smolka, in one scene. A cyclist replies, "I am traffic! What do you mean?"

For five months, a small team of producers has been gathering hours of footage from independent videographers who have been documenting the ongoing harassment of Critical Mass. The resulting video is a collage of sound and imagery that is often raw and gritty and sometimes absolutely beautiful. It illustrates the most striking stories from the ongoing saga and condenses them into a continuous narrative. Still We Ride is directed by Elizabeth Press, Andrew Lynn, and Christopher Ryan and produced with the help of Brendt Barbur, director of the Bicycle Film Festival. -----End Original Message-----