Minneapolis Critical Mass
Monthly last-Friday bike ride through Minneapolis streets. Meet at Loring Park fountain, roll out at 5:30 PM — no route, no leader, just bikes.
The vibe
Take back the streets, together
Every last Friday of the month, cyclists gather at the Loring Park fountain — corner of Willow and Grant — starting around 5:00 PM. By 5:30, the mass rolls. There’s no set route, no official leader, no permits. The crowd decides where to go, and the streets temporarily belong to bikes.
Critical Mass rides exist in cities around the world, and Minneapolis has had one of the more consistent chapters in the Midwest. The format is the same everywhere: show up, roll out together, make the point that cyclists belong on the road. In practice it’s part protest, part party, part community bike ride. You’ll see everything from fixies to cargo bikes to beach cruisers, and the crowd tends to be welcoming to anyone who shows up with two wheels.
First time? Arrive by 5:00 PM to find the group at the fountain. Bring lights — rides can run late into the evening. The pace is social, not race-paced, and no one gets dropped.