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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 ...
LOL Brilliant! Something to puncture the tire of a bike but not a car, keep em in your glove compartment and if you see the freaks coming dump em out the window..
Isn’t it easy to go as much as 5 grand for a nice (but not designer) bike? Like the high end Teks or something. I know for custom made Italian racing bikes you can get into the tens of thousands.
Most MTB’ers dislike road bikers for that same reason. And not surprisingly, you will find many MTB’ers to have some conservative beliefs, including our semi-conservative president of the United States.
Interestingly enough, John Effin Kerry is a road biker.
Unfortunately you are right . It’s too dangerous to have cyclists on the shoulder , and if they swerve out a bit and you hit one , you’re liable .
Bianchi bikes can go for around 10 K, but then again, why pay for something that high priced when you’re not going to professionally race?
Bullies are bullies no matter what conveyance they prefer, and self-righteous political bullies are the worst of the breed. A mother trapped in a van by a gang of them screaming and pounding on it is absolutely justified in violent measures taken to protect herself and the children with her, in my opinion, including accelerating over whichever of them is stupid enough to block her escape. If I were on her jury she’d be getting a medal.
Sidewalks and bike paths aren't necessarily the same thing. I like being alive, and pick routes carefully to avoid narrow roads and high traffic areas. Funny though, most encounters with the "roads are for cars" types occur on roads perfectly suitable for cars and bikes to coexist peacefully. There's just this cretin mentality that makes certain types blood boil at the site of stretchy pants.
Ok , I get it now. Sort of like 4X4 offroaders versus Prius worshippers . Learn something new everyday :)
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I support bike lanes, as most states do not allow for sidewalk riding . I just cringe at the thought of running into one and getting sued .
And joggers! this morning I barely saw a jogger running at dawn in moderate rain in dark clothing. Darwinistic.
That would need a multiplier to replace my bike.
I guess I need a cowcatcher for my suv!
I guess I need a cowcatcher for my suv!
Jeez
Personally I’d like to see the filthy little degenerate vermin pwn3d by a runaway 18-wheeler. But that’s just me.
You can say that again. ;-)
I love that video. What happened to the driver? Anything?
How to handle ‘Critical Mass’ bicyclers, My experience at Bio 2004:
To: liberallyconservative
Oh, OK...
After moving less than half a block in 20 minutes (one block away from from Moscone), a bunch of bicyclists started riding between the cars, leader with a bull horn, shouting something about taking over the streets.
He had the horn pointed back wards so I didn’t hear him coming. Durn! he got away!
However, I popped my door open in front of the third or so cyclist in the string. (I did look first to make sure he had room to stop).
He screams “You effin’ clymer!!!” (OK, I cleaned it up a little, so sue me...)
I looked up smiled sweetly and said “That makes two of us...”
Totally messed them up. They had to stop and regroup. His buds split leaving him with two young “ladies” to protect him from the mean man in the car. Boo fricking hoo
I closed the door and he started to pass by and continued to berate me. When he was adjacent to the door I popped it open at him, not to hit him, but to persuade him to move along.
He darn near fell off his bike trying to dodge me.
“We’re going to call 911!!!”
“Don’t bother, I’ll call for you” which I did. (The line was busy)
He and the two chicks decided that it was past their collective bedtimes or something and split.
Felt GOOD...
3,573 posted on 06/08/2004 5:57:17 PM PDT by null and void
IOW, if they show up in your town, do what you would do for any other uninvited guest.
Show them the door!
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