There were no arrests or altercations, but members of the Winnipeg Police Service said a Critical Mass rally Friday involving hundreds of cyclists was "disappointing" due to a spate of broken traffic laws by participants.

About 300 cyclists, rollerbladers and skateboarders took part in the Critical Mass rally in the city's downtown core, crowding streets and blocking traffic in a 75-minute ride.

The rally-on-wheels drew what participants said was the event's largest attendance ever, following heightened media attention on the event after scuffles broke out between police officials and cyclists during two rallies in May.

However, although no cyclists were taken into custody or issued fines Friday, police said the Critical Mass ride was a failure.

"There were no tickets issued because we were focusing on the participants' safety, rather than the disregard for the law the riders were demonstrating," said Sgt. Jackie Chaput, spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Police Service.

About 10 uniformed members of the Winnipeg Police Service were present at the rally, riding on mountain bicycles among costumed and helmeted participants.

Chaput said officers observed many Critical Mass participants taking up multiple lanes of traffic, riding the wrong way down one way streets, and potentially putting pedestrians in danger by travelling down sidewalks. There were also other infractions of the Highway Traffic Act, she said.

"It's a problem," said Chaput.

"We need to evaluate everything that went on. That'll guide our response and participation in future rides."

The event Friday is part of an international Critical Mass movement dedicated to promote alternatives to motor vehicle use, and has occurred in Winnipeg since the late 1990s.

However, Critical Mass garnered increased media coverage in May for events where participants said they were swarmed by police officers during rides, with certain members hauled away in paddy wagons and questioned by officials.

Following a May 26 Critical Mass bike rally, at least 11 people filed complaints with the Law Enforcement Review Agency (LERA) alleging excessive force by police.

At least another six cyclists filed complaints with LERA regarding their treatment by police during a May 3 Critical Mass event, where participants also protested the Winnipeg-based military training exercise Charging Bison.

Participants said they were pleased with the behaviour of police officials present at the event, and said they hoped face-offs between police and cyclists were over. "It was wonderful, people seemed very happy. I think the police presence was very reasonable," said Pat Krawec, 33. Krawec spoke out at a press conference earlier this month organized by Critical Mass participants who said they felt they had been mistreated by police.

He also said his son, Gabe, was too intimidated to attend the rally after observing earlier Critical Mass altercations between police and cyclists -- but felt comfortable Friday.

"At first, Gabe wasn't sure if he was going to go again," said Krawec. "I think it was really great for him to see everyone having a good time."

Not everybody was thrilled, however.

Some motorists said the rally caused drivers undue frustration, especially after they watched cyclists block cars but allow city buses through the kilometre-long trail of participants.

Starting in Central Park, cyclists completed a loop which travelled down Vaughan Street, Broadway, and Main Street. At the corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street around 5:45 p.m., many cyclists disembarked from their bikes and lifted them over their heads, stalling traffic for about five minutes.

"I think it would be nice if they planned this ahead and told motorists which areas to avoid," said Susan Hample, who sat stranded in her vehicle while a young man parked on his bicycle in front of her car to blockade traffic. "People are stuck for a few blocks back...they want to ride their bikes, that's fine, but they don't have to make it hard for everybody else."

The ride was completed at roughly 6:00 p.m. at The Forks.