Ahoy junior riders, especially the piratical kind! Come and join the biggest family bike ride ever!
On September 19, all over the world, families on bikes are taking to the streets to share the joy of wheels, in a one-off one-day event called Kidical Massive.
Auckland will not only be a part of the fun – we’ll be first in the world to kick it off, with a pirate-themed waterfront bike ride and picnic, thanks to Bubs on Bikes and our mates at Panuku Development Auckland.
What a great way to welcome spring!
The global Kidical Massive event is brought to you by the Kidical Mass movement. Started in April 2008 in Eugene, Oregon, Kidical Mass encourages group rides “for kids, kids at heart, and their families”, under the motto “kids are traffic too.” Yep, the name is a pun on Critical Mass, but it’s not about jamming traffic – the main rule of Kidical Mass is to HAVE FUN.
OK. AUCKLAND KIDICAL MASSIVE: ARE YOU READY TO HAVE FUN?
- Where Meet at Waitemata Plaza, in the inner Viaduct Harbour
- When Saturday 19 September. Meet at 10 for the briefing. Ride starts at 10.15.
- What An easy, flat 1.5km route (perfect for the smallest riders), with an optional longer jaunt of just over 5km (out along the Westhaven Boardwalk and back), followed by a BYO picnic lunch at Silo Park.
- Why Because bikes are fun, silly!
- Who Kids and families and kids at heart
- Wear Anything you like, but hey hey! September 19 is International Talk Like A Pirate Day, so dress up piratical if you can. (It’s also NZ Women’s Suffrage Day, if pirates aren’t your thing)
FAQ
Q. What age kids is this aimed at?
A. All are welcome, but it’ll probably be most fun for those under 8.
Q. Where the heck is Waitemata Plaza?
A. Here:
Q. How do we get there?
A. Bike, if you’re close enough! And taking your bike on the train or ferry is a doddle. There’s also plenty of open-air parking at Wynyard Quarter.
Q. What should we bring?
A. Water and a picnic lunch. And bikes. Bikes are very important.
Q. Will there be places to get food on the day, if we forget our picnic food?
A. Wynyard Quarter is well stocked with places to get food (fish & chips for the pirates, arrrrr), and occasional food trucks.
Q. Are there other activities planned, like, say, obstacle courses and stuff?
A. Yes! Watch this space.
Q. Will there be bike parking?
A. Yes, Auckland Transport will be providing bike stands.
Q. Will there be goodies?
A. There will be prizes for best costume (get yer pirate gear ready, maties! or your suffragette get-ups! or frankly, dress up as anything you like, if you like!). We’ll also have heaps of little spokey-dokeys and bells to give away, and there’ll be a sweet treat for participants.
Q. Can we ride further if we want to?
A. Of course! There’s nothing to stop you tacking on an afternoon ride of your own – along Tamaki Drive, say.
Q. Excuse me, I really need to go. Where are the toilets?
A. Before the ride: Te Wero Island is probably the closest. At the picnic: Silo Park Playground.
Any other questions? Ask below, or pop over the event page on Facebook. Otherwise, just show up on the day and know you’re in excellent company – there’ll be kids on bikes in Alaska, Antwerp, London, Los Angeles, Jerusalem, Vancouver, Walla Walla Washington and beyond!
