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 ...
Not impotent, just governed by rules of civility. Rules that apparently DON'T govern the bicycle thugs. It's just a matter of time until that veneer of civility wears through and some bicyclists start getting their heads bashed. Ironically, the motorists who start swinging will then be painted as "lawless" and "hooligans."
I do not mind sharing the road with bicyclists, however I just ask that rules of the road be obeyed, this a huge problem in my area with all the Armstrong wannabes....
as long as you aren’t one of those Gomers that rides his bike in the street where there is no shoulder, but there exists a perfectly good sidewalk to not obstruct traffic in, then I’ll let the comment pass.
or loose gravel....
Yeah, but a roofing nail will take out a car tire also and I'd like to avoid collateral damage. A regular size thumbtack doesn't have a long enough spike to penetrate a car tire but will take out a bicycle tube quite nicely. You could buy 10 thousand of them for less than a hundred bucks and spread them thickly all along the route. Watching hundreds of these jerks changing tires or carring their bike cuz they have no spare would be worth the cost.
They stayed by the bikes like they’re more important than their health. It’s a bike, they could buy a new one for $100.
“Nevertheless, police maintain a hands-off stance”
Is that Larry Craig style?
You'd be shocked how much some of these guys pay for the superlight alumnium frame touring bikes.
Oh, I’ve nothing against your avergage cyclist who’s trying to save gas...it’s these nut-jobs who block traffic and destroy people’s property and are trying to “save the planet”! who I’ve got it in for. Truth be told, it would take an awful lot of aggravation for me to snap and do something that could actually hurt someone.
What kind of nutjob would see a Disabled license plate and think the person should be riding a bike?
“Bicyclists are—supposedly—required to obey all the same traffic laws as those driving automobiles. Why are they given a free pass?”
Wow. Post #20 shows the first evidence of intelligence concerning “nation of laws.”
(previous posts say shoot them.)
Heck, a crowbar in the spokes will hurt quite a bit.
Hyperbole is a very old tradition in the English language, yes?
Naah... no shooting necessary. Just wait for them to stop for a rest, then draw on the "Kenworth vs. motorcycles" scene from Smokey & The Bandit for inspiration.
Just slap a piece of duct tape over your license plate number first.
Yes, it appears to be another form of “ Eco-terrorism “ as they are imposing their will upon the the motorist masses in the name of the enviroment .
Nothing more self-righteous than a mob of bicyclists slowpoking down the road, lol.
Actually, some of the bikes that they ride cost upwards of 500 to 1000 dollars, sometimes even 3000 dollars. And yes, it’s worth it having a bike that costs more than 500 dollars because maintenance is less, it’s a more comfortable ride and the bike lasts for more than one riding season. I own a bike that costs 300 dollars (Which is considered a deal for a high performance bike) and I’ve only had a few problems with it since I’ve owned it.
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