Bipedal, By Pedal: A history of bicycle activism in Portland, OR

In this, the third issue of Joe Biel’s award-winning, ongoing look at the Critical Mass movement, we are given a well-researched analysis at the history of bicycle activism and police spying in Portland, Oregon. The result is an engaging and readable combination of story, activism, and history. Over the course of 44 pages, Biel looks at why a city so bike-friendly as Portland has virtually no Critical Mass ride, while cataloging the ways the Portland Police Department has interacted with local riders and historic activism. Says Biel, It’s concerning how many times a cyclist has repeated to me the police’s version of Portland’s cycling history or how years later new rumors are created about what happened. Strange and inspiring, Bipedal, By Pedal #3 is essential, illuminating reading for cyclists and non-cyclists alike.