“Whatever its shortcomings as a means to social change, protest movements keep reinventing the carnival. Almost every protest I have been to over the years — antiwar, feminist, or for economic justice — has featured some element of the carnivalesque: costumes, music, impromptu dancing, the sharing of food and drink.”
- Barbara Ehrenreich, Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy.
“For many involved in the long standoff between police and bike activists, the Bike Lane Liberation clowns helped bridge the space between the joy of riding free and possibilities for public-space environmental activism. 
Accompanied by a ‘sound bike’ blaring Freddie Mercury singing, ‘I want to ride my bicycle,’ the dancing Bike Lane Liberation rides brought a renewed spirit of fun to bike activism. With every new ride, the clowns better developed their moving theater, inviting more and more spectators into their performance. For the most part, the clowns operated within a ‘you get more with sugar than salr’ disposition. The majority of the cars were more than happy to move on.”
- Benjamin Shepard, The Beach Beneath The Streets: Contesting New York City’s Public Spaces
“Play helped activists envision a transportation network through the city that held a different relationship to the physical and natural environment, and allowed bike activists to reestablish a public space — the bike lanes — for popular use… 
The point is of course to break down the divide between spectators and social actors. The politics of play aims to allow those facing difficult moments such as the crackdown on Critical Mass to stay involved… These playful pranks presented students and activists a vision of an alternative way of organizing urban life, while serving as an uncomfortable reminder of idealist dreams for the liberal government. For many, the aim of movement organizing is to create a different kind of community of support and resistance. Here, play supports a prefigurative community-building dimension, in which activists seek to embody the image of the better world they hope to create.”
- Benjamin Shepard, The Beach Beneath The Streets: Contesting New York City’s Public Spaces
The orange ticket cyclists place on cars resembles parking tickets distributed by the City.
It notifies owners of illegally parked vehicles that “this could have been a real ticket,” and lists driving rules for New York City which support the claim. “Section 4-08(e): Stopping, standing, parking or otherwise obstructing bike lanes is prohibited. Subject to a $115 fine.”
