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Vancouver celebrated Bike Month big, as some 800 riders, rollerbladers, scooters and skaters took part in the 2000 + 4 Wheels Ride on June 25th. The event invited cyclists to "take the lane" in support of clean air, safe, car-free transportation and for the pure joy of moving under one's own power.

While a Critical Mass Ride takes place on the last Friday of every month, this ride was about three to four times the size Vancouver usually sees as volunteers encouraged friends, neighbours, relatives and even (gasp!) total strangers to participate.

Pedal powered vibes

The ride made its way through the streets of Vancouver, crossing the Granville, Burrard and Cambie Bridges and delighting the denizens of restaurant patios, sidewalks and quite a few motorists along its route. Seasoned Critical Mass riders in the crowd called out slogans such as, "We're not blocking traffic. We are traffic!" and "If you love your car, set it free!"

Complete with a pedal-powered sound system courtesy of PedalPlay the ride rocked through Vancouver streets releasing into the atmosphere considerably fewer emissions and far more smiles than conventional motorized vehicles.

Click here for more photos of the ride by photographer David Grove. Here for photos by Ian Patterson. And here for more information about Critical Mass.

Amy Walker is at large editor for The Tyee's Fisheye galleries, and a Critical Mass rider.