Cyclist, motorists clash in Berkeley Critical Mass

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/12/7 | Henry K. Lee

[Cicero]

What does “dozens of cyclists” mean? 36? 150? 500?

One of the leaders “said the cyclists had a green light when they entered the intersection, but he did not know if the light had changed before they’d all made it across the street.”

In other words, there were probably so many damned bikes that they expected traffic to sit there and wait through several green lights. I don’t object to bicyclists, but they have an obligation under the law to stop for red lights and let other traffic go through.

It used to drive me crazy when messenger bikes zipped through red lights in NYC during the rush hour and never even looked to see if cars were coming.

[Yogafist]

Thats right, Catholics can’t cuss. Unless they are drinking.

[SteveMcKing]

Jason Meggs

The poor queen is one giant victim on the road.... The Man just won't leave him alone!

[Rodney King]

I hate bicyclists. They need to decide if they are traffic or pedestrians and stick to it. However, they want the best of both worlds. They want to ride in the street, and then if there is a lot of traffic, red lights, stop signs, etc. they jump up on the sidewalk, etc.

I’d love to drive a van threw a whole swath of them if I could be certain I wouldn’t cause serious injury.

[yooling]

A good choice.

This was my first thought

[trumandogz]

I am a cyclist but do not ride with Critical Mass or even believe in their cause. For the most part these CM riders do not wear helmets and do not obey traffic laws. However, you will find that road riders with with our helmets, jerseys, $300.00 shoes and $2,500.00 bicycles will almost always follow the rules of the road.

Its a big investment and a crash with a car or otherwise will not only cost tons of money but likely our life and limb.

[Rodney King]

Do you wear one of those gay rubber bracelets?

[ArmstedFragg]

Critical Mass does this routinely, frequently riding in violation of the laws of motoring and common manners. The intent of their rides is to take over the streets from automobiles. Provoking/creating/inventing an incident is part of their M.O. The fact that their ‘taper/spokesperson’ says the P.D. blamed them for this one is a good indication of whose fault it was.

[Dumpster Baby]

OMG, is that Cheney on another one of his bloody hunting trips?

[trumandogz]

I wore a Yellow Bracelet that was given to me by Lance Armstrong one day when I ran into him at a bike shop here in Austin. I had never seen one before but within a week everyone in town had one so I took it off forever.

[LiveBait]

As a pedestrian, I say keep your bikes off the sidewalks and on the streets!

[Kimmers]

Geez I get upset and think all sorts of nasty when I am behind a small herd, the size of 8, that are taking up the whole road and ignoring traffic laws......I have nothing to whine about because it could always be worse.

[steve86]

I’m not particularly fond of Earth First activists, nor gay bicyclists or whatever, but some of the replies in this thread reek of fat cat upper crust republican hate mongers, which is really all the conservatives need at this point.

[Kimmers]

I do not have ad issue with riders like you and am quite happy to share the road with you. I just get irritated with the riders that ignore laws and basic common courtesy.....stay safe

[ArmstedFragg]

Poor old Jason just seems to have a running problem with vans.... http://www.ebbc.org/?q=node/377

[Political Junkie Too]

... participant who videotaped part of the fracas said today.

That's all that I needed to read.

-PJ

[CindyDawg]

I can’t stand cars. Get your automobile off the sidewalk:’)

[Rodney King]

OK, that’s fair.

[trumandogz]

Perhaps if they would have bothered to build a sidewalk in New Orleans over the last 40 years I would ride my bike while I am there on the sidewalk. However, in New Orleans the roads the do exist could destroy a Hummer within a week I hate to think what it would do to the tires on my road bike.

Moreover, the only people in the world that drive cars worse than people in New Orleans are the citizens of Calcutta.

But I must say that a dozen or so loops at the hike and bike train at Audabon Park is always refreshing.

[Rodney King]

I’m not particularly fond of Earth First activists, nor gay bicyclists or whatever, but some of the replies in this thread reek of fat cat upper crust republican hate mongers, which is really all the conservatives need at this point.

First, I'm sure that bikers annoy non-homosexual blue collar dems more than they do upper crest republicans.

Second, who cares?