If you’re an environmental lobbyist, then make sure you join other Capetonians in the Moonlight Mass bike ride at the end of the month. Despite the name, this monthly event is anything but church related, and aims to raise awareness of Cape Town’s exceptionally high carbon emission rate. The ride promotes less environmentally taxing forms of transport. You don’t have to be a shaved-legged lycra-clad fitness fanatic to take part in this event. You simply have to own a bicycle.
Main Event: Green Point Roundabout
This month’s cycle is scheduled for 28 November 2012. In honour of the month’s incredibly rare blue moon (when two full moons occur in one month), the dress code for the cycle tour will be blue. Cyclists are invited to meet under the Green Point roundabout at 9pm, and although the route varies from month to month, it always ends with a social drink somewhere. Due to the popularity of the occasion, smaller branches of this event will be happening all over Cape Town. If you don’t live in the CBD, have a look at these cycle tours scheduled across Cape Town:
Observatory, River Club
Participants will meet in the car park of the River Club at 8:30pm and head off at 8:45 for a relaxed 10km bike ride along the river. You can bring any vehicle you choose as long as it is human or electric powered such as rollerblades, bikes, skateboards, scooters etc – be creative! The route will circle back to the River Club, where the Player’s Café will be open for drinks and snacks.
Cape Peninsula, St James Station
Riders will meet opposite the Octopus Garden at the St James station parking lot at 8pm. As with all the other tours, any vehicle goes and all are welcome. The route will travel to Muizenberg and return to the Octopus Garden for drinks afterwards.
As this event is strictly “fun only”, there are only four rules that need to be considered:
- Wear a helmet
- Use reflective gear
- Switch on the lights
- Obey all traffic laws
In order to make travelling to the starting point a lot easier, Moonlight Mass has collaborated with Metrorail, and organised a train from the Southern Suburbs to Cape Town central station. There will be live music on board as well as a FREE Vida e Café voucher provided with each ticket. Tickets are R50 and bikes are allowed on board. MyCiti has extended their operating hours and will have a return bus to the Northern Suburbs leaving at 11pm.
If for some reason, you aren’t able to make the cycle this month, don’t fret as you can join the next month’s event scheduled for 28 December 2012. For more info, visit the Moonlight Mass website or email [email protected].
Pictures – Moonlight Mass
