Aftermass

How did both Europe and North America's greatest bike cities come to be? Aftermass: Bicycling in a Post-Critical Mass Portland is the first feature documentary to explore the events, people, politics, and social changes that led to Portland becoming the first major bicycle city in the western hemisphere.
Aftermass features many of the leaders and major participants behind the growth of bicycling ridership since 1971. The narrative shows the complex dynamic throughout the 1990s between advocacy organizations, politicians, city planners, and the then-new, grassroots Critical Mass ride. The film is full of smiling faces on two wheels, but also explores the controversies, setbacks, and bumps along the way, including riots, political roadblocks, and an illegal police spy. The film provides new and vital insights into Portland's history and paths other cities can follow to a bicycling future.

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

Joe Biel: Joe Biel is a writer, activist, filmmaker, teacher, and founder of Microcosm Publishing and co-founder of the Portland Zine Symposium. He tours with his flims with the Dinner and Bikes (dinnerandbikes.com) program. He has been featured in the Time Magazine, Publisher’s Weekly, and Utne Reader.Alice Isley: Alice Isley is a filmmaker living in San Francisco.Jeff Hayes: Jeff Hayes writes, performs, and records musical instruments of all types in his home studio in Portland, OR.

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