This film is Great! Please watch it!
—Gus Van Sant
“Aftermass showed me that, contrary to what I believed twenty years ago, the bicycle activists who participated in Critical Mass were my people.”
—Elizabeth Kiker, Executive Director of Cascade Bicycle Club
“This movie will change your whole perspective on the history of the bicycle movement and your own role in the future of it.” —Elly Blue, Bikenomics
“With candid interviews from key players in Portland’s bike legacy and new reporting on dubious, anti-bike police activities, the film explores what led up to Critical Mass and what has happened since the iconic protest ride has fizzled out.” —BikePortland
"Biel unearthed a long and complicated struggle between City Hall, the media, cops and bike advocates." —Williamette Week
“Explores Portland’s storied history with cycling both as a mode of transportation and as a social movement.” —Phoenix New Times
“A reminder to those of us who value bicycling that the fight is far from over and that we must carry on the work that was started by the brave first adopters of bicycle commuting over two decades ago. Aftermass is a must-see movie for anyone who wants to know more about the Portland bike scene and how Portland became known as ‘America’s Bicycle Capital.’” —BloomingRock
"The story of Portland’s bicycle culture past and how the vision became a reality." —Portland Radio Project
07/01/2015
As citizens of Oregon became increasingly involved with environmentalism, bicycling activists in Portland sued to obtain the one percent or more from new transportation funding that should have been set aside for bicycling under the 1971 Oregon Bicycle Bill, in the process halting construction of a major freeway. With funding assured, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), and similar organizations began to build the bicycling infrastructure that makes Portland, OR, the most bike-friendly city in America. A particular focus of this film is the periodic confrontations (1993–2013) between Critical Mass, an activist group promoting bicycle access and the freedom to ride city streets, and the Portland Police Department. The video may put more emphasis on that conflict in the development of Portland bicycle transportation than it probably deserves. VERDICT This video is recommended for general viewers and highly recommended for collections exploring urban lifestyles.—Cliff Glaviano, formerly with Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
