On Saturday, SXSW was in full swing, and Seattle based BikeHugger hosted their fourth SXSW Mobile Social. This year’s was huge with over 1000 two wheelers, but luckily BikeHugger brought in the pros at SocialCyclingATX who regularly handle 100s of cyclists on Austin’s streets without major conflict with cars.  Their able ride leaders shepherded us through downtown and east Austin without a hitch.

The ride was fun and the cold beer served up by Mellow Johnny’s at the end appreciated, but I’d ask next year’s Mobile Social to please, please have a police escort. Stopping the group at every stop sign and light really messed with the rhythm of the ride and meant we were blocking the streets longer for those using the road to go somewhere else. (My favorite part of the ride was the impromptu police blockade created by a very cool APD motorbike officer at an especially short stop light allowing the majority of the group to ride through the light unimpeded. The whole ride gave out a huge cheer. The anti-Critical Mass, critical mass indeed.)