Copyright Baton Rouge Advocate
There’s no better time than the fall to enjoy bicycling around New Orleans, and there’s no better way to enjoy bicycling than by joining the seemingly myriad social ride groups that roll across the city on an almost daily basis. Social rides create not only a sense of community among cyclists but also a “strength in numbers” sense of security that shows the potential of safe or complete streets. Some of the larger rides, like Tuesday’s Get Up N Ride or the monthly Critical Mass NOLA, feel like joyful street takeovers as hundreds of bikes — often decorated with blinking lights — fill the lanes. While some motorists might scowl, the vast majority smile, cheer, take photos and videos or honk in encouragement. Tooling through residential neighborhoods on smaller group rides — ranging from 20 to 50 cyclists — draws even more positive energy from delighted residents. It’s a heckuva feeling to experience. And the pit-stops at local bars or restaurants for a quick beverage or restroom break create a form of economic impact for any small business that benefits from the visit. On Sunday, Bike Easy will roll with its 2025 Bicycle Second Line, with hundreds of riders cycling on a 10-mile route that loops around Mid-City and the edge of the downtown corridors. There will be a mid-way stop in Washington Square and an after-party at the Broadside featuring Sweet Crude. (Don’t worry; it all wraps up just in time for the Saints-Rams game that afternoon.)
