NORMAL - Cyclists in the Twin Cities will join a national movement Friday afternoon to draw attention to the presence of bicycles on urban streets.

Known as Critical Mass, cyclists take part in group rides beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the last Friday of each month. Other towns in Illinois listed on the Critical Mass Web site as hosting rides are Macomb, Chicago, Edwardsville, Evanston, Joliet, LaGrange, Oak Park and Peoria,

The Bloomington-Normal ride, which will leave from the Illinois State University quadrangle, is the first event of its kind in McLean County. Publicity has been done via emails to members of various cycling and cycling-related clubs in the area, local cyclists said.

A movement and not an organization, Critical Mass has no spokesman. Without insurance, cyclists ride at their own risk. Traffic laws will be obeyed, said local cyclists, who think turn-out will be low initially and build as weather warms and daylight lengthens in spring.

Mike Kerber of Bloomington, a longtime bicyclist, plans to take part. A grain dealer, Kerber joined a Critical Mass ride in Chicago, where the group is well established. About 2,000 took part in October when Kerber was there. He thinks the time is right for Critical Mass to begin events in the Twin Cities.

"I wanted to be in a Critical Mass ride to make a statement that bikes belong on the streets," Kerber said. "We need to be moving in that direction for the environment. We need to be conserving oil so we aren't sending so much money to the Middle East and encouraging more terrorism. If more people rode bikes, we wouldn't have to import oil from the Middle East."

Kerber and Phil Warlow of Hudson, who also plans to ride, said the Critical Mass rides in Illinois also will remind motorists that state lawmakers passed legislation effective Jan. 1 to require vehicles to give bikes at least three feet of clearance when passing.

Warlow is president of the McLean County Wheelers bike club, but stressed he is taking part as an individual. As an organization, the Wheelers have not taken a position on Critical Mass.

"I feel it needs to be done," said Warlow. "Cars overlook over the fact bikes have a right to share the road with them in a safe manner. This is one way to bring that to light, that we can coexist safely."

Andy Sweet, a Bloomington triathlete and student studying for his master's degree in biology at ISU, said cyclists also need to be visible to show support for local efforts to push for more bike lanes on streets. A committee has been formed by the town of Normal to look at the issue.

"If we want positive changes from the biking committee, we need to make our support known," Sweet said.

Doug Oehler of Normal, a long-time cyclist who leads the town's bicycle, pedestrian and transportation committee, said the ultimate goal is to propose ways people can travel safely anywhere by bike or on foot. On Critical Mass, Oehler said, "As long it's done in a positive light, that's fine."