Radio Script

10/29/2011                                                                                                                 Jenna Long

Slug: Bemidji Critical Mass

TRT- 1:10        

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Anchor in Studio:

Make sure that you keep an eye out for a group of bicyclists if you are driving through the city of Bemidji this afternoon.  A critical mass event is set to begin within the next thirty minutes.  The event consists of a group of bicyclists riding together through city streets.  Sandy Callwell is currently at the statues of Paul and Babe, the starting place for the critical mass.

Reporter:

Critical mass is an event that occurs in cities across the world every month and can consist of up to five hundred bicyclists riding as a group through city streets.  Critical mass events are controversial in some cities because the event is notorious for breaking traffic laws, but we have been assured that today’s ride will be peaceful.  Luke Holden, a B-S-U student and bike enthusiast, has participated in several critical mass events and is excited about the ride today.

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Intro: “I’ve always loved bikes. . .

Extro:  . . .take back the streets for a while.”

As someone who grew up infatuated with bicycles, even going so far as to recreate the bicycle from the movie “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” Holden feels his bike is just a natural extension of himself.  Holden has yet to participate in any illegal activity while riding in a critical mass event, but he has endured rude and demeaning encounters while riding his bike throughout the years.

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Intro: “People in vehicles have . . .

Extro:  . . . I wasn’t doing anything but riding my bike.”

Bemidji, being relatively small, does not see violence as described very often but it is easy to see how an interaction between a driver and bicyclist could get out-of-hand, especially if it involved a group of bicyclists.  As of now, Bemidji’s critical mass involves less than twenty participants and meets the last Saturday of every month.

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Intro: “It has been getting larger. . .

Extro: . . . more people will hear about it.”

Posters are usually hung up around the B-S-U campus and Bemidji community.  Anybody can publicize the event because there is no one person in charge of critical mass events.  

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