The First Annual Kids’ Art Bike Ride for the Lower East Side is ready to roll for Sat., Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. An initial route was deemed too long by police, so the organizers shortened it. The new route — about a half-hour ride — will see 200 junior cyclists start at Ninth St. at Tompkins Square Park, pedal to Second Ave., then south to Fourth St., east to Avenue D, back up to Ninth St. and return to Tompkins Square Park.
At the end of last week, the East Village Community Coalition, which has organized and promoted the event, feared it would be denied a permit by police, but by this week, it appeared the event would get the permit.
“This is children,” Michael Rosen, of E.V.C.C., said. “I understand that the police have issues with the Critical Mass ride, but I can’t understand why they have issues with children — mostly children of color from NYCHA [New York City Housing Authority projects] and affordable housing, who have spent weeks putting work into this.”
Former Councilmember Margarita Lopez and Congressmember Nydia Velazquez will also ride bikes in the kids’ convoy, and Councilmember Rosie Mendez will roll in a pedicab.
