Wheels, colors, flags, smiles. Thousands of cyclists fill the main streets of the city, blocking traffic for cars. This is not a race, not a competition, but a carnival. The bicycle carnival is a festival that erases the boundaries between transport and art, between participant and spectator. In 2026, such carnivals take place in dozens of countries, from Colombia to the Netherlands, from Russia to Vietnam. What is this phenomenon, how did it arise, and how to become a part of it?From Critical Mass to CarnivalThe prototype of modern bike carnivals was the "Critical Mass" actions that emerged in San Francisco in 1992. Cyclists gathered on the last Friday of the month to show, through mass rides, that they were a force to be reckoned with. The actions were political: for cyclists' rights, against car dominance. But gradually the severity faded, leaving only the carnival. People started to decorate their bikes with flowers, ribbons, play music. In Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, it turned into a real festival. Today, the bike carnival is not a protest, but joy. The first large-scale carnival in Russia took place in Moscow in 2016, and by 2026 it had become a tradition in dozens of cities.How a Bike Carnival WorksThe route is usually a loop through the city center, without steep hills. The length is 5-15 km. The speed is not more than 15 km/h. Everyone participates: from children on balance bikes to elderly people on tricycles. The main requirement is brightness. People dress in costumes, paste tinsel on the frame, attach balloons, hang bells. Contests are often organized: "most creative bike," "best family team," "smallest participant." The final point is a common picnic in the park with music and dancing.The Carnival and EcologyIn 2026, bike carnivals actively use the ecological agenda. Participants demonstrate that a bicycle is not only fun but also beneficial for the planet. Many come in T-shirts with slogans like "Save the Air," "No exhaust fumes." After the carniva ... Read more