You folks who will be protesting probably know this, but you folsk who intend to watch the protests may not. This via email:

I wouldn't count on anything being safe, considering that the reports of the arrests last night (I've heard variously 250, 250+, and 264) were mostly in the East Village. I haven't heard too many details yet (I live in the West Village) except that all you had to do was be there whether you had a bike and were part of the demonstration or not -- at least one legal observer was arrested, and who knows how many pedestrians who were there because it was a nice evening and that's where you go. Damn! If the Republicans want arrests to make the Democrats look bad, they're gonna get arrests, regardless. "Critical Mass" has been doing these bike rides for months with no problems. They're about environmental friendly transportation, not anti-Bush demonstrations.