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Cycling group's West Coast antics could be replicated here [Minneapolis]
Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | October 07, 2007 | Katherine Kersten

Posted on 10/08/2007 12:35:56 PM PDT by Caleb1411

Critical Mass, the loosely organized bicycle group that ties up rush-hour traffic once a month in Minneapolis, has demonstrated who rules our streets. But Minneapolis isn't the only place where the Mass mob has strong-armed the police and City Hall, and left outraged motorists fuming but impotent. Today, Critical Mass cyclists cow commuters in more than 300 cities, from Denver to Rio de Janeiro, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The ride got its start in San Francisco (where else?) in 1992 with about 50 cyclists. Authorities there looked the other way as riders ran red lights and snarled traffic. Soon, the event was drawing hundreds, even thousands, of riders.

And therein lies a cautionary tale for Minneapolis.

Today, ugly confrontations are a fact of life in the City by the Bay, and traffic is a bad trip on the last Friday of the month. Cyclists sometimes scratch or beat on cars, taunt or spit at motorists, and come close to running down pedestrians.

Nevertheless, police maintain a hands-off stance, acting as little more than bystanders.

In March 2007, a mother who had brought five young girls to the city for a birthday party wandered into the path of 3,000 Critical Mass cyclists. Hundreds swarmed around her minivan, circling wildly and pounding on its windows. As the terrified children sobbed, one rider threw his bike and smashed the van's rear window. Damage totaled more than $5,000.

The incident provoked citizen outrage. But Mayor Gavin Newsom -- after a few empty threats -- declined to order arrests or more controls, and merely beefed up the ride's police escort.

How did San Francisco get into this state of anarchy?

The city ran up the white flag 10 years ago, after a pitched battle in July 1997 set a pattern of capitulation.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: California; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: agitators; anarchists; bicycle; criticalmass; ecoterrorism; gavinnewsom; sanfrancisco; trafficjam
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1 posted on 10/08/2007 12:35:57 PM PDT by Caleb1411
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To: MplsSteve; rhema; Valin

Ping


2 posted on 10/08/2007 12:36:28 PM PDT by Caleb1411 ("These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G. K. C)
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To: Caleb1411

I’m thinking the answer to this is thumbtacks. Lots and lots of thumbtacks.


3 posted on 10/08/2007 12:40:38 PM PDT by joebuck
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: Caleb1411
As an avid cyclist that tells at least a dozen Gomers a year to read their drivers manual (as soon as they learn how to read) to understand that I don’t have to be on the sidewalk, I must say that these people are a$$holes.
6 posted on 10/08/2007 12:43:30 PM PDT by Minn (Here is a realistic picture of the prophet: ----> ([: {()
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To: Caleb1411
Meanwhile, defense attorneys rushed to rescue rioters from consequences. The cyclists had engaged in "protected First Amendment activity," they said.

Then the motorists should engage in more protected first amendment rights of physically clearing the streets of all obstructions!

7 posted on 10/08/2007 12:44:46 PM PDT by Edgerunner (If you won't let the military fight your battles, you will have to. Keep your powder dry...)
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To: joebuck

I’m thinking “accidentally on purpose” opening the car door at JUST the right time... like when one of those idiots is riding by.


8 posted on 10/08/2007 12:48:32 PM PDT by SoKatt
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: joebuck
I’m thinking the answer to this is thumbtacks. Lots and lots of thumbtacks.

Housing's been a bit slow lately. There's probably a glut of roofing nails to be had cheaply.


10 posted on 10/08/2007 12:50:07 PM PDT by Zender500
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To: Caleb1411

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRoEbC22ppY

Just the look on that butt ugly hippy when her bike gets run over is fantastic.


11 posted on 10/08/2007 12:51:12 PM PDT by jcs1744
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To: Caleb1411

Let these morons ride through Vegas.. lol I can guarantee you it will turn ugly. Lots of armed people here AND lots of gambling junkies who cant be late for bingo.. as well as the drunks.. haha

Add 12,000 Leftists on bikes, stir, shake well.. and stand back.


12 posted on 10/08/2007 12:51:52 PM PDT by eXe (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: Caleb1411

Well, it’s San Francisco.


13 posted on 10/08/2007 12:52:12 PM PDT by wastedyears (George Orwell was a clairvoyant.)
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To: SoKatt

Easy there, I’m a cyclist who rides to work and I’m all in favor of putting more people on bikes.

That said, anarchist tactics are inappropriate and taint the whole cycling community with the antics of a few, the one-percenters.

Think before you do something malicious that could endanger someone’s life, we are not all a-holes out there. The crash you cause could injure somebody who is just trying to get around without putting any money in the pockets of OBL and the Islamonutballs.


14 posted on 10/08/2007 12:52:34 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck (US out of the UN - UN out of the US)
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To: ShadowAce

Cannister


15 posted on 10/08/2007 12:53:04 PM PDT by Sword_Svalbardt (Sword Svalbardt)
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To: joebuck

Just as long as you don’t put thumbtacks around my bike, I’m fine with it. I’m sick of these pretentious bikers in this area. They make the rest of us look bad.


16 posted on 10/08/2007 12:53:15 PM PDT by TypeZoNegative (Trinidad&Tobago: Proof that a Muslim minority (5%pop) causes a majority of a country's problems.)
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To: Glenn

LOL !
Cyclists should be forced to use the sidewalks . They have no business being in the road if there are no bike lanes available .


17 posted on 10/08/2007 12:53:37 PM PDT by Neu Pragmatist (Unite against Rudy ! - Vote Thompson ! - It's the only way to beat Hillary !)
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To: Zender500

Those are too tall. You need small stuff that that won’t shine in the sun.


18 posted on 10/08/2007 12:53:41 PM PDT by wastedyears (George Orwell was a clairvoyant.)
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To: Caleb1411
Cyclists sometimes scratch or beat on cars, taunt or spit at motorists, and come close to running down pedestrians.

I'm thinking aluminum baseball bats would be a good non-gunpowder solution to this problem.

19 posted on 10/08/2007 12:56:00 PM PDT by CholeraJoe (I will not try to BS xsmommy. I will not try to BS xsmommy. I will not try to BS xsmommy.)
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To: Caleb1411
Nevertheless, police maintain a hands-off stance, acting as little more than bystanders.

Why!?

Bicyclists are--supposedly--required to obey all the same traffic laws as those driving automobiles. Why are they given a free pass?

20 posted on 10/08/2007 12:56:36 PM PDT by TChris (Governments don't RAISE money; they TAKE it.)
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