There is still a Critical Mass in Seattle but the long fight for cyclist rights in the city feels sometimes like more of a planning session than a direct action. The city has settled on a formula for adding its version of protected bike lanes to areas like Pike and Pine, the Fremont Bridge Bicycle Counter ticks its data into the City of Seattle Open Data portal, and we move on.

But the critical — and more profane — energy lives on. Saturday, bicyclists of all types gathered outside the temporary home of the Punk Rock Flea Market on Capitol Hill’s 15th Ave E for the start of the annual Dead Baby Downhill race.

Approaching its 30th year, the annual cannonball run-style rally through the streets of Seattle to the Georgetown finish brought its starting line to Capitol HIll where bikers gathered Saturday afternoon before pedaling off to the south.

There are very few rules and no set route for Dead Baby racers who take part in the annual first Saturday in August event.

As for 15th Ave E, the race adds to a year of unusual activity on the street where the Punk Rock Flea Market is set to use the neighborhood’s former QFC as a venue for markets and events through at least the end of the year.

A design review for the block’s planned mixed-use development that will demolish the old grocery is scheduled for September.

And biking in Seattle? It is hopefully better planned and at least a little safer now than when we last were there for a start of a Downhill Dead Baby race in 2016.

It’s a big start to the Dead Baby Downhill bike race in #Seattle pic.twitter.com/N1EKWimAfV

— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) August 4, 2024

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