Hello everyone,

This month’s newsletter highlights the strength of our movement and the impact we create when we show up together. From thousands of riders reclaiming the streets in January to our leadership continuing to advocate in civic spaces throughout 2026, this issue captures the momentum we’re carrying into the new year. Inside, you’ll find a recap of last month’s ride, appreciation for our partners, and details about our February giveaways — all rooted in our shared commitment to building safer, more equitable streets.

I’m deeply proud of what we continue to grow together, and I wanted to share my reflections and updates from this past month. Please read below for everything I’ve written for this issue. I hope it informs, inspires, and keeps us moving forward as one community.

With love and momentum,

President & CEO,
Lisa Lundie
Los Angeles Critical Mass

A New Year, A New Momentum

Los Angeles Critical Mass enters 2026 with the same spirit that carried us through every ride of 2025 — community, joy, resistance, and the belief that our streets belong to the people who move through them.

Last year’s rides brought thousands together each month, creating a rolling celebration of visibility, solidarity, and the simple power of showing up on two wheels.

As we step into a new year, we carry that energy forward — stronger, louder, and more united than ever.

Reflecting on 2025

The 2025 ride season was unforgettable.

We saw record-breaking attendance, new riders joining from every corner of Los Angeles and surrounding counties, and a growing coalition of families, commuters, students, organizers, and long‑time LACM crews. Each month brought its own story — from summer night rides that lit up the city to our December festival of lights that closed out the year with warmth and community.

These rides weren’t just events. They were reminders of what happens when thousands of people reclaim the streets together.

January 2026 Ride Recap

Our first ride of the year was nothing short of outstanding.

From the moment the group rolled out, the streets felt alive — a river of cyclists stretching block after block, filling entire intersections with color, motion, and pure momentum. Thousands of riders showed up for the kickoff to 2026, making this one of the largest January rides in LACM history.

You could feel the energy before we even started moving. New riders clipped in with nervous excitement, long‑time crews reunited with hugs and laughter, and entire groups arrived together — families, college squads, workplace teams, neighborhood crews — all ready to set the tone for the year.

January Community Action: Partnering with SAFE

Last month, we were honored to stand alongside Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) — one of Los Angeles’ most dedicated and impactful street‑safety organizations.

Together, we supported their January 2026 efforts to honor lives lost to traffic violence and to demand real, systemic change from city leadership. Our partnership reflects a shared mission: to build a city where no one has to fear moving through their own streets.

From amplifying their message to showing up in solidarity, LACM riders helped strengthen a movement that stretches far beyond a single event. We’re proud to continue building this alliance throughout 2026.

Our Commitment to Advocacy

Los Angeles Critical Mass is more than a monthly ride — we’re a growing movement pushing for safer streets throughout Los Angeles and the neighboring counties. Every month, riders from across the region come together to reclaim space, build community, and make our presence impossible to ignore. What started as a simple group ride has evolved into a powerful force for visibility, connection, and collective action — and each ride strengthens the momentum for safer, more equitable streets for everyone.

We extend a heartfelt thank‑you to CalBike for their continued leadership and statewide advocacy. Their work strengthens every local effort, including ours, and we’re proud to stand alongside them — and alongside SAFE (Streets Are For Everyone) — in pushing for safer, more equitable streets for all.

LACM Leadership: Showing Up for Safer Streets

Our senior leadership team is preparing to attend Los Angeles City Council meetings throughout 2026, along with transportation committee hearings and public forums centered on street safety, mobility justice, and cyclist visibility. We want city leaders to understand that cyclists are not invisible. We are here, we are organized, and we are committed to advocating for safer, more equitable streets across Los Angeles.

By showing up in these spaces, we strengthen our relationships with city departments and ensure that the needs of our cyclists are represented in every conversation about transportation and public space.

Building New Partnerships for 2026

We are actively in talks with several nonprofits that serve and uplift our communities — from mental‑wellness organizations to suicide‑prevention advocates to groups fighting for safer streets.

Many of these nonprofits ride with us every month as part of the largest community bicycle ride in the USA, standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our participants and sharing in the movement we’re building together.

We’ll be working with these organizations throughout the year and will keep you updated on our shared efforts and future collaborations

February Giveaway: A New KHS XC Mountain Bike + Cash Prizes

To kick off 2026 with excitement, gratitude, and a spirit of giving back, we’re thrilled to announce this month’s giveaways. These incentives aren’t just prizes — they’re our way of showing our riders that we truly appreciate them and that we’re committed to reinvesting into the very community that keeps this movement alive.

This month, participants will have the chance to win:

Our goal is simple: to celebrate the people who show up, ride together, and help build the largest community bicycle ride in the USA. These giveaways are a small but meaningful way to show our appreciation — and to continue giving back to the communities that ride with us every month.

Thank you for your energy, your presence, and your commitment to keeping this movement strong.

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, 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.