This month carried big moments for Critical Mass — moments of connection, reflection, and momentum. Here’s a look at what shaped February and what’s ahead for our growing community.

Hello everyone,

February reminded me of something I never take lightly: when we ride together, we don’t just take up space — we reclaim it. We shift the energy of this city. We remind Los Angeles that people on bikes deserve to move through their own streets without fear, without invisibility, and without the constant risk that comes from streets designed for cars first and people last.

What I saw in February was a community that understands its power. Riders showed up early, supported each other, held formation, and moved through the city with a unity that felt intentional and deeply grounded. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people care — about safety, about visibility, about each other, and about the future of our streets.

And we have to be honest: Los Angeles still has a long way to go. Too many intersections remain dangerous. Too many drivers are distracted or speeding. Too many families have lost loved ones to crashes that were preventable. Every month, we ride with the knowledge that safer streets aren’t a luxury — they are a necessity, and they are long overdue.

As we head into March, I want us to carry that same intention forward. Critical Mass is not just a tradition; it’s a living movement. Every month, new riders join us. Every month, someone finds their confidence. Every month, we show this city what it looks like when people move with purpose and solidarity.

Thank you for showing up with heart, with respect, and with a commitment to each other. Let’s keep riding for joy, for visibility, and for the safer streets every Angeleno deserves.

Let’s keep building something that lasts.

With love and momentum,

President & CEO,
Lisa Lundie
Los Angeles Critical Mass

February 2026 Ride Recap — A Night of Presence and Purpose

February’s ride was powerful from the very beginning. As I stood in Koreatown watching cyclists gather, I could already feel the energy building. LAPD was present at the start, supporting the rollout and riding with us as we made our way toward Culver City. Above us, news media helicopters circled, their lights sweeping across the crowd as they followed our movement through the city.

We rolled out together and moved as one through:

• Koreatown
• Wilshire Park
• Mid City
• Culver City
• Marina del Rey
• Playa del Rey

As we entered Culver City, Culver City PD greeted me and the ride, welcoming us as we continued toward Marina del Rey. The formation stayed tight and intentional — cyclists communicating, marshals locking down intersections, everyone supporting one another through the long stretches.

By the time we reached the coast, the ride had become more than movement — it had become a statement.

The Playa del Rey Memorial

As we approached Playa del Rey, I could feel the entire ride shift. At Del Rey Lagoon Park, I saw LAPD, members of the Playa del Rey City Council, the local community, and Regan’s family already waiting for us. They stood together as our ride arrived, and then escorted us through the final stretch toward Manchester Avenue and Pershing Drive — the place where Regan and her child lost their lives.

When we arrived, our masses of cyclists gathered tightly around the memorial space. Lights dimmed. Conversations stopped. The entire ride fell into a deep, collective silence — thousands of people holding the moment with respect and intention.

I stepped forward to open the memorial and offer the introduction. After I spoke, Regan’s father took the mic. His words were raw, honest, and deeply felt — the kind of truth that quiets even the largest crowd.

When he finished, SAFE stepped forward to speak, grounding the moment in the broader fight for safer streets and the work ahead to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again.

It was emotional. It was grounding. It was necessary.

Moments like this remind me why we ride — to honor those we’ve lost, to demand safer streets, and to show that our presence is not symbolic, but essential.

L.A. Marathon Crash Ride — March 8th Recap

This year’s LA Marathon Crash Ride brought the tradition back to life — and it started exactly where it always has: the old Tangs Donuts corner at Sunset and Fountain.

Our LA Critical Mass SLT arrived at 3:00 AM, joining cyclists already gathering in the dark, filling the intersection with lights, energy, and anticipation. By the time the ride rolled out a little after 4:00 AM, the streets were packed with hundreds of cyclists ready to reclaim the marathon route.

A Return to the Roots

The rollout from Tangs felt like the early days again — a massive, unified push westbound through Hollywood, West LA, Brentwood, and finally toward the ocean.

The energy was unmistakable:

• hundreds of cyclists at rollout
• tight formation through the early miles
• calm, respectful pacing
• a shared sense of purpose

Arrival at the Pier — Still Completely Dark

Cyclists reached the Santa Monica Pier between 5:45 and 6:00 AM, and it was still pitch‑black. No sunrise. No early glow. Just the sound of the ocean, the glow of bike lights, and the quiet satisfaction of hundreds of cyclists completing the westbound push in total darkness.

A Huge Turnout — And a Huge Shift

Last year’s Crash Ride was small and scattered. Cyclists knew it was happening — it just didn’t draw a big turnout, and the tradition felt like it was fading.

This year was different — because we made it different.

Our SLT and the LA Critical Mass community actively promoted, marketed, and shared the Crash Ride weeks in advance. We reminded people of the history, the route, the culture, and the magic of starting at Tangs.

The result:

• a massive turnout
• cyclists from every corner of LA
• new faces and returning veterans
• a ride that felt alive again

This wasn’t just a bigger ride — it was a revival.

Introducing: Ride Ready LA — A New Safety, Skills and Mobility Program (In Development)

This year, we’re working on something new — something built directly from what we see and experience every month on the streets.

Ride Ready LA is a developing program designed to support transportation‑dependent cyclists with the tools, knowledge, and visibility they need to ride safely and confidently in Los Angeles.

The program is still in the works, and we do not have a set launch date yet. We’ll share updates as soon as they’re ready.

What We’re Building

• Free Safety Kits
• Street Skills Micro‑Workshops
• Support for Youth, Families, and Older Cyclists
• Community‑Centered Safety Education

Hands‑On Bike Repair & Build Workshops, including:

• learning to work on your own bike
• building or rebuilding bikes from donated bike manufacturers (in development)
• gaining real mechanical knowledge
• leaving with skills, not just a fixed bike

Why This Matters

Every month, we meet cyclists who rely on their bikes, lack safety gear, or want to learn basic repairs but don’t have access to tools, guidance, or the funds to get the support they need.

Ride Ready LA is our answer — a way to strengthen our community, reduce risk, and support the people who depend on cycling the most.

Media & Photography Opportunities

Every month, I see incredible photographers out on the ride — capturing the energy, the movement, the joy, the scale, and the emotion of what Critical Mass really is. I want to open the door wider for those of you who are out there documenting our community with intention and heart.

If you photograph our monthly rides and you have strong images you’re proud of, we would love to see your work. We are always looking for photos to feature on our website, and when we post your images, you will be fully credited.

There are also opportunities beyond the website. As we continue building CM Magazine, we are looking for photographers whose work reflects the spirit of the ride — the people, the culture, the city, and the movement. Strong contributors may be invited to have their work featured in the magazine, and potentially in outside partner networks as those opportunities arise.

And I want to emphasize this: CM Magazine will not only highlight LA Critical Mass — it will feature other community rides, other Critical Masses across the country, and Critical Masses around the world. These are huge doors of opportunity for photographers who want their work seen on a larger stage.

In return, we want to uplift the people who uplift this community. For photographers we choose to work with, we will be offering:

• A dedicated profile on our website
• A short bio
• Your social media links
• Visibility across our platforms
• Opportunities to contribute to CM Magazine and possibly other partner sites or networks
• Potential features connected to global Critical Mass communities

Our development team is also working on a private media server for photographers we partner with. This will allow you to upload your photos directly for review and potential publication. We’ll share more details as soon as the system is ready to launch.

If you’ve been capturing the ride — or if you want to start — this is your moment. We want to build with you, grow with you, and highlight the talent that helps tell the story of LA Critical Mass and the global movement we’re part of.

Community Highlights

• Last month I met new cyclists from all over SoCal — first‑timers from LA, the Inland Empire, Orange County, the San Gabriel Valley, and the San Fernando Valley who were excited to be riding LA Critical Mass.
• Continued relationship‑building with City Council offices, local Chambers of Commerce, LAPD, and other civic partners committed to safer streets and community visibility.
• We also have upcoming meetings with LA County Supervisors and additional regional partners as we continue expanding our advocacy footprint across the county.
• We are actively building partnerships with organizations whose missions align with LACM’s vision and goals, strengthening our collective impact and expanding the network of groups working toward safer, more equitable mobility in Los Angeles.
• Families and first‑timers completing the full route
• Beautiful night photography from Koreatown to the coast
• A heartfelt memorial moment at Playa del Rey
• LACM Senior Leadership representing at the Crash Ride at 3:00 AM
• A massive revival of the Crash Ride tradition

Closing Note

Every time I speak to the masses — at the start of a ride, during our mid‑breaks, and again at the end — looking at the lights, the faces, and the people who show up even when life is heavy or the city feels overwhelming, I’m reminded that this movement is built on more than bikes. It’s built on people choosing to show up for each other.

Some of you ride for healing.
Some of you ride for community.
Some of you ride because the streets have taken too much from us already.
Some of you ride simply because it’s the one place you feel free.

And many of you come to ride to have a good time — to see the city from a different perspective, to meet new friends, to feel that rare sense of camaraderie that only happens when thousands move together through the night.

Whatever brings you here, I want you to know this: you matter to this movement. Your presence changes the energy of the street. Your voice strengthens our advocacy. Your courage inspires someone who needed to see you out there.

Critical Mass isn’t just a ride — it’s a reminder that we are not alone in this city. We carry each other. We protect each other. We move forward together, even when the world around us feels chaotic or uncertain.

Thank you for showing up with heart. Thank you for showing up with purpose. Thank you for showing up for each other.

I’ll see you in the streets — as someone who’s grateful to share this movement, this community, and this moment in time with you.

Recognizing Our Official Attorney: Richard “The Amigo” Pourgol

We also want to recognize Richard Pourgol — known throughout our community as The Amigo — the official attorney of Los Angeles Critical Mass. Richard has been a steadfast supporter of our movement, showing up for riders both on and off the bike. His commitment to cyclist safety, legal advocacy, and community empowerment reflects the very spirit of LACM. We’re grateful to have an attorney who not only understands the law, but understands the streets, the riders, and the movement we’re building together.

Ride Rules & Safety First

Every month, we ride together — and every ride depends on us following the rules that keep our community safe.

That means staying behind the lead vehicle at all times. It’s not just a guideline — it’s a safety necessity. The lead vehicle sets the pace, protects the front of the ride, and coordinates with support teams and traffic control. When riders surge ahead, we lose cohesion, increase risk, and make it harder to protect everyone.

We ask every participant to respect the ride rules, stay behind the lead vehicle, and help us keep Los Angeles Critical Mass safe, unified, and joyful for all.

Safety isn’t optional — it’s how we ride.

Support LACM

Los Angeles Critical Mass is fully self‑supported, with no outside funding or institutional assistance. Every ride we host — from support vehicles to safety supplies to volunteer coordination — is powered entirely by our community. If you’re able, we invite you to make a donation to help keep this movement strong. Every contribution, no matter the size, directly supports the largest community bicycle ride in the USA.