[SDCBC] urban ride a holiday treat

[Dave White]

How often do you have a chance to ride through urban and surrounding 
areas in a tight peloton of 150 cyclists - AND put a smile on a child?
The SDBC Holiday Toy Ride (the club's 20th, our first) today was a real 
treat.  http://www.sdbc.org/core/includes/docs/ToyRide2007.pdf
The spontaneous response from motorists and 
pedestrians-turned-spectators was overwhelmingly positive and in the 
spirit of the season, especially in response to the obvious mission of 
the decorated holiday entourage.  Hoots and toots and cheery exchanges 
were plentiful, and lots of ringing bells.
The gifts of toys and food were delivered at the Salvation Army, which 
provided a hearty snack table for cyclists.
A special thanks to Santa (aka Ralph Elliot), who really knows how to 
lead and pace a parade peloton.  The event demonstrates, to cyclists 
and motorists, one of the most effective uses of the take-a-lane 
technique.  The 4-6 wide peloton took the lane (where appropriate) and 
made effective urban transit.
This was sharing the road at its best - at a time and place where there 
was plenty of road to share, and bicycles outnumbered motor vehicles.
Thanks to SDBC for the ride, and to participants for all the fun.
Happy Holidays
Dave & Nancy 'Stoker' White (and Hairy, the orangatang)