Today is the last Friday of April. Which means it's National Arbor Day -- you know, that one special day a year when you wake up early and rush out to plant a tree in a silent and unnoticed but deeply symbolic demonstration of your commitment to reversing centuries of human pillaging of our glorious and fragile Mother Earth.
It also means it's Critical Mass, when hordes of South Florida bicyclists take to the streets for a massive group ride. Here's where they're headed tonight:
The Miami version of the event meets at 6:30 p.m. at Government Center, at 150 NW First St., and begins at 7:15. Today's route heads north along NW 7th Avenue to the Upper Eastside before cutting east across the 79th Street Causeway to Miami Beach. It then proceeds south along Collins Avenue to Dade Boulevard before crossing the Venetian Causeway back west and finishing downtown.
This evening could well be the last time for months that the ride can use the Venetian Causeway: The County confirmed yesterday that the Venetian will be closed for an expected nine months to replace a section of its bridge.
In Fort Lauderdale, the ride meets by the War Memorial in Holiday Park, at 800 NE Eighth St., around 6:30 and begins at 7.
For those interested in joining the Miami ride, organizers advise bringing a bike lock and a copy of the route map. For everyone else, be kind to the cyclists, please.
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