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Critical Mass Set To Take The Streets Friday

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Another month has come and gone. Following tradition, Critical Mass is set for Friday--the last Friday of the first month of 2015.

Drivers in Miami should take note of the 16-mile route hundreds of bikers are planning to take which is set to begin at 7:15 p.m.

Bikers will gather at Government Center, in Downtown Miami. The ride, according the Miami Bike Scene, will continue through Little Havana, Grapeland Heights, Allapattah, Brownsville, Liberty City, Wynwood, Overtown, OMNI, Park West, and Downtown. 

CLICK HERE To Watch Oralia Ortega's Report 

The Critical Mass movement started in order to raise awareness for the rights and the safety of cyclists and to have drivers respect cyclists and share the road with them.

Click here to see a map of the planned route for Critical Mass

The ride comes after last week's tragic accident in Key Biscayne where a fellow cyclist died. The death of a fellow cyclist 51-year-old Walter Reyes will weigh heavy on some of their minds.

"It's going to be emotional first and foremost.  We want to dedicate the ride to Walter Reyes, as well as to any cyclist and all that have been injured and/or killed," said cyclist advocate Chaunce O'Connor.

"It affects people deeply when a member of the cycling community has such a tragic accident.  I'm sure everyone feels for the family and they'll be talking about it," said cyclist advocate Lee Marks.

Twenty-one year old  Alejandro Alvarez faces multiple charges, including DIU manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash in connection to the crash.
Reyes is the fourth cyclist killed on Key Biscayne since 2008.

Chanune O'Connor, one of the co-founders of the Critical Mass knows all too well the dangers cyclists face. He says he himself was injured while riding his bike.

"The biggest thing that happens in Key Biscayne, I'm sure a lot of cyclists will say this, we get honked at aggressively all the time.  We're told to get off the road even though we're on  the bike path.  There are some cyclists who ride on the roadways but the majority of us don't," said O'Connor.

The cycling community has long advocated for changes to make the roads safer...and it appears that change is coming.

"We're very happy to see the county implementing some changes including the narrowing of the road and widening of lanes," said Marks.

 

 

 

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