Assholes on bikes

[john_childs]

This is why I have never supported, and will never support, Critical Mass and that style of adversarial advocacy.

This just happened in Seattle Friday night:

Bicycle demonstration turns violent (http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_072508WAB_car_vs_cyclists_KC.262be9a.html)

10:47 PM PDT on Friday, July 25, 2008

By ELISA HAHN / KING 5 News

SEATTLE – A demonstration turned violent Friday night after a group of cyclists taking part in the Critical Mass demonstration got into an argument with a driver on Seattle's Capitol Hill.

Critical Mass is a group of cyclists that takes to the streets the last Friday of every month to promote cyclists' right to the road.

It's wasn't clear what sparked the confrontation at 15th and Aloha, but witnesses say they saw about a dozen cyclists surround a white Subaru, blocking in the driver.

"There was some screaming and yelling and crunching as he pulled out into the street," described witness Mark Pedersen.

Apparently, the driver felt intimidated and tried to back up to get away, but he backed into at least two cyclists.

He then tried to take off, but cyclists chased after him, bashed in his car window and assaulted the driver.

"There was a giant hole in the windshield... and blood around his neck," said witness Barbara Rockey.

The driver was taken to an area hospital.

The two bicyclists suffered minor injuries in the melee.

KING 5 was told there were two passengers in the Subaru. One appeared to be a pregnant woman. It was not immediately known if the passengers were injured.

It was not clear how many cyclists were arrested.

The cyclists on the scene declined to comment on what happened.

[Mikefule]

If you go out to prove that cycling is dangerous and motorists are assholes, you can quickly find evidence - they call it confirmation bias. Sounds like this lot were probably hoping something like this would happen. They've behaved badly, and done no good to their legitimate cause.

[qhxakg]

They dont say anything about what was done to the driver. Was he also arrested.

The video is slightly more in depth it sounds like they went a little to far but the driver was an idiot.

[Spudman]

I've never attended a critical mass, and don't plan on it. There are too many stories like this.

We're lucky here in Tucson, we have a big community weekly bike ride every tuesday night. Unlike critical mass, we actually stop at stop lights and only take up one lane. We make an effort to go on roads that aren't busy and wave cars by if they're trying to get out of a driveway or trying to turn onto a street.

We've had up to 300 people on some of the rides, and we haven't had a single incident yet (these rides have been going on for a little over a year). The general response we get from cars is actually good; lots of people wave and we get a lot of cheers. I like to think that our tuesday night rides have raised more bicycle awareness and strengthened our cycling comunity more than any critical mass ever will.

Oh, and the footdown is amazing here. :)

[Into the blue]

I'm gonna reserve judgement until I hear both sides of the story.

[john_childs]

They dont say anything about what was done to the driver. Was he also arrested.

The video is slightly more in depth it sounds like they went a little to far but the driver was an idiot.
The driver went to the hospital.

You must not have ever witnessed a critical mass ride. The cyclists are out to intimidate and annoy drivers. They flout the road laws, intentionally block traffic, run lights and stop signs, swarm around cars.

It is no accident that the hole in the rear window is the size of a U-lock. It is no accident that all his tires were slashed and U-lock sized dents made in the body panels.

Some critical mass riders talk amongst themselves about "what if" scenarios if a driver gets aggressive. They make plans to use their U-locks to break windows and dent the car. They make plans to slash the tires. Those actions are pre planned. It is no accident that the driver had that happen to his car. It was planned in advance.

[Mikefule]

It was planned in advance.

You must work at a place like I do if you have to specify that plans were made "in advance". Most of my bosses' plans are retrospective...

I've ridden bicycle, tandem, veteran bikes, unicycle, scooter and motorcycle on the road - solo and in small groups. The group mentality can be a dangerous thing if someone starts getting militant. The size of the group gives the hotheads a feeling that they have permission to act badly, then the sheep join in.

An accident happens: someone is clumsy, stupid, lazy, incompetent or just plain unlucky. It happens.

You assault him and damage his property and, however justified you feel at the time, you are committing a serious crime in revenge for his honest mistake.

On the other hand, if someone runs into you maliciously - and it's happened to me a couple of times - you immediately sacrifice the moral high ground of you retaliate. If you are part of a group that already has a negative stereotype, then you reinforce it and make yourself vulnerable to further injustice.

[peleschramm]

I'm gonna reserve judgement until I hear both sides of the story.
that's what I'm thinking...

[john_childs]

Here's another news article on the event. Doesn't make it look good for the critical mass riders. Just a bunch of punks out to harass and intimidate drivers.

Critical Mass riders attack, injure driver on Capitol Hill (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008074874_webcriticalmass26m.html)

Seattle police were still looking today for one of a group of Critical Mass bicyclists who attacked and injured a driver during a violent altercation on Capitol Hill Friday evening.

By Seattle Times staff

Seattle police were still looking today for one of a group of Critical Mass bicyclists who attacked and injured a driver during a violent altercation on Capitol Hill Friday evening.

Two other bicyclists have been jailed.

Just after 7 p.m. Friday, the group of at least 100 bicyclists was moving en masse down East Aloha Street when a man and his girlfriend in a Subaru station wagon tried to pull out of a parking spot, said Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson.

For years, Critical Mass has held monthly public bike rides through Seattle to demonstrate for bicyclists' road rights.

Some of the Critical Mass bikers, who filled the street and were blocking traffic, got in the way of the Subaru and prevented it from leaving, Jamieson said. Some bikers sat on the car and were banging on it, he said.

"The driver was pretty fearful that he was about to be assaulted by the bicyclists," Jamieson said.

The man tried to back up, but bumped into a biker. "This enraged the group," Jamieson said.

Several of the bikers bashed up the Subaru, shattering the windshield and rear window, Jamieson said.

The driver tried to drive away, but hit another bicyclist, Jamieson said. Still, he drove about a block, to the corner of Aloha and 15th Avenue East, before the Critical Mass riders cornered the car again and started spitting on it and banging against it.

... (continued at source)

Perhaps the critical mass ride next month will be done under heavy police observation and a big pad of ticket books.

These critical mass jerks just make things worse for proper regular cyclists. All they do is get motorists angry at cyclists.

[qhxakg]

The driver went to the hospital.

You must not have ever witnessed a critical mass ride. The cyclists are out to intimidate and annoy drivers. They flout the road laws, intentionally block traffic, run lights and stop signs, swarm around cars.

It is no accident that the hole in the rear window is the size of a U-lock. It is no accident that all his tires were slashed and U-lock sized dents made in the body panels.

Some critical mass riders talk amongst themselves about "what if" scenarios if a driver gets aggressive. They make plans to use their U-locks to break windows and dent the car. They make plans to slash the tires. Those actions are pre planned. It is no accident that the driver had that happen to his car. It was planned in advance.
I admit that I have never witness a Critical mass or met anyone who has been part of one.

The article said the driver went to the hospital but was he charged with anything for taking out two of the cyclists or were the cyclist said to be at fault for that.

Here's another news article on the event. Doesn't make it look good for the critical mass riders. Just a bunch of punks out to harass and intimidate drivers.

Critical Mass riders attack, injure driver on Capitol Hill (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008074874_webcriticalmass26m.html)

This Article makes it seem like the driver was provoked by "bikers who sat on the car and were banging on it."

[john_childs]

Here's a blog post in response: Critical Mass or Critical Mess? (http://awildcelticrose.blogspot.com/2008/07/critical-mass-or-critical-mess.html)

And here's a blog post from one of the riders: Critical Mass Collision (http://awildcelticrose.blogspot.com/2008/07/critical-mass-or-critical-mess.html)
There is a bit of a debate going on in the comments.

And more comments in the Cascade Bicycle Club forum. Not everyone is happy about Critical Mass and their actions: "Critical Mass" incident on Friday (http://www.cascade.org/Community/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=11589)

The bike that got run over is the same frame that I have from my fixie. Except his bike has been hipstered while mine is still basically stock (drop handlebars, both brakes, etc.).

[Spudman]

John, I just realized that this happened in the city you live in (doh). I hope the streets don't become more dangerous after this incident and you are still able to commute safely.

Based on one of the witness accounts (this one (http://arcanius.silverfir.net/blog/critical-mass-collision)) it seems that it was a case of bikes block cars, car gets fed up and tries to push through, cyclists retaliate. I've never heard of such a nasty result of this kind of confrontation, though. The fact that the cars tires were slashed and windows bashed in with u-locks so swiftly kind of indicates that they were prepared for what happened.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out in court...

[Pigs on Unicycles]

I would have done the same thing, except I would have pulled my pistol out from under my seat and let them know I have it.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

I don't defend the actions of the bikers, but the driver no doubt was hostile to begin with. He couldn't wait a few minutes for the group to pass before tying to pull out of a parking space? So instead he ran down bikes with his car? If he was pulling out of a parking space the speed was extremely low, so hitting a bike with your car is not an accident.

It looks like a case of aggression is retaliated against with more aggression and gets out of hand

P.S. John both your links are to the same blog

[uni57]

From a response to one of the blog entries --

"Critical mass is even worse because it is a community wide flagrant disregard of traffic law, with the expectation that everyone else will obey the rules." (here (http://arcanius.silverfir.net/blog/critical-mass-collision), second response)

Apparently they take over the road and illegally block intersections (as they proceed through en masse) for up to five minutes. Maybe cars should form a blockade when they see the bikes approaching. Yeah, that should be safe.

They surrounded a vehicle containing a pregnant woman. I'm sure the driver said something like "get out of our way; we are late for dinner." He probably received an angry response from the people surrounding his vehicle. He naturally wanted to get himself and his pregnant wife out of harm's way -- because he was surrounded by an angry mob of people who have a history of violence and confrontation. I would have used whatever means necessary to do just that, once the situation escalated high enough. Car vs. bike shouldn't be a problem (granted, it would be a bumpy ride).

And the Critical Mass people say how unfortunate it is that the media (and police report) "got it wrong" and biased everything against the cyclists. It's incredible how the mind can justify one's own behavior (speeders have this same twisted mentality). Maybe it's a facility we borrow from when we are dreaming (we don't seem to question bizarre events).

[colin340]

ok i see both side but i have know too many people that have died bucuze the of drivers who don't think about who else is out there on the roads (my buddy was crossing the street at a fourway stop got smashed and died he was the smartest person i have ever known he was out the change the world. he followed all the rules of the road but some asshole in a car was to lazy to think there are bikes on the roads. if drivers have to be sacred of cyclist for use to get respect so be it. now what they did surrounding the car was polly ment to keep him from back out in to the other riders they call it corking

we need change, change in never peaceful

[SqueakyOnion]

ok i see both side but i have know too many people that have died bucuze the of drivers who don't think about who else is out there on the roads (my buddy was crossing the street at a fourway stop got smashed and died he was the smartest person i have ever known he was out the change the world. he followed all the rules of the road but some asshole in a car was to lazy to think there are bikes on the roads. if drivers have to be sacred of cyclist for use to get respect so be it. now what they did surrounding the car was polly ment to keep him from back out in to the other riders they call it corking

we need change, change in never peaceful

I'm sorry, but please please please try to write with better grammar and spelling, especially on debate threads.

Call if unfair, biased, elitist, stupid, whatever...but the fact remains that if your ideas are written well, they will be more well respected.

Regarding your ideas:

To an extent I agree with you. It's as if people are always yielding (literally and figuratively) to motorists. Motorists do NOT respect cyclists. Although violence is NOT and never will be the ultimate answer, these critical mass rides demonstrate the reaction of this disrespect by motorists. It's a demonstration of "Hey motorists! We're pissed! Start paying attention and stop hitting us!" Although I do NOT agree with some "masser's" escalation to violence, I do support Critical Mass rides, specifically because they are disruptive to motorists.

Quietly trying to gain respect will never happen. You've gotta take an in-your-face stance, but refrain from escalation to violence.

In this specific instance, I think that surrounding a vehicle, especially a man with his wife in the vehicle, was asking for a physical confrontation. The man must've felt trapped, and was concerned about the safety of his family. In such an instance, a man is much more likely to break laws and bones in the interest of escaping the dangerous situation.

Ultimately, the person(s) who escalated the confrontation to physical violence first is in the wrong, be it the motorist or cyclist(s).

[Mikefule]

Motorists do NOT respect cyclists.

As a motorist, I resent that remark.

Motorists are people. Some of them are people who ride bicycles or unicycles. Some aren't. Some are careful and skilled drivers; some are skilled but careless drivers; some are careful but unskilled drivers; some are careless and unskilled.

Only a small number are sufficiently hostile towards cyclists to risk damaging their cars, or losing their licence and incurring other penalties by deliberately provoking a collision.

Many cyclists ride with a complete disregard for traffic laws. Not all, but many. In the UK at present, I'd say it's well over 50%.

Several times as a motorist, I have saved the lives of cyclists by making allowances for their bad riding, by conceding right of way, by covering their backs when they make difficult manoeuvres and so on.

Several times as a cyclist, I have had to take evasive action because a motorist didn't see me.

As a cyclist, on a designated cycle route, I was once put in hospital by a pedestrian who stepped into my path without looking.

On all forms of transport from walking to unicycle to bicycle to motorbike to car, I have had aggressive road users deliberately try to run me off the road.

The problem isn't motorists, it's people - whatever their means of transport.

But making sweepingly hostile statements about motorists is unfair and counterproductive.

[BillyTheMountain]

i like what Dave said about the twisted mentality.

[Irnotdum]

Wow....

What I don't understand is why these protests, or whatever they are, have to turn violent... Personally, I kinda like that one bald dude's ideas on protesting.

[colin340]

sorry if you were hurt but come on were all motorist but the problem is very few motorist have ever ridden were commuters or other real riders do
now about them laws they weren't made with cyclist in mind i break them but only to be safer and to put other in less harm

[SqueakyOnion]

As a motorist, I resent that remark.

Motorists are people. Some of them are people who ride bicycles or unicycles. Some aren't. Some are careful and skilled drivers; some are skilled but careless drivers; some are careful but unskilled drivers; some are careless and unskilled.

Only a small number are sufficiently hostile towards cyclists to risk damaging their cars, or losing their licence and incurring other penalties by deliberately provoking a collision.

Many cyclists ride with a complete disregard for traffic laws. Not all, but many. In the UK at present, I'd say it's well over 50%.

Several times as a motorist, I have saved the lives of cyclists by making allowances for their bad riding, by conceding right of way, by covering their backs when they make difficult manoeuvres and so on.

Several times as a cyclist, I have had to take evasive action because a motorist didn't see me.

As a cyclist, on a designated cycle route, I was once put in hospital by a pedestrian who stepped into my path without looking.

On all forms of transport from walking to unicycle to bicycle to motorbike to car, I have had aggressive road users deliberately try to run me off the road.

The problem isn't motorists, it's people - whatever their means of transport.

But making sweepingly hostile statements about motorists is unfair and counterproductive.

I'm a motorist, too. I keep an eye out for cyclists, and thus clearly did not actually mean that EVERY SINGLE MOTORIST is disrespectful.

However, you're right, I shouldn't have made such a sweeping statement. I most definitely meant that most motorists have little respect or regard for cyclists. I experience this almost daily, since I commute to work and errands primarily via bicycle. I make a point of obeying all traffic signals and the like - I try to "think like a car," acting in a predicable manner.

It's true that there are morons that use any form of transportation, but drivers are conditioned on how to react to other motor vehicles and to a lesser extent, pedestrians. This is not so with bicycles, at least in my experience. The US most definitely has a "car culture" that often leaves motorists with a sense of entitlement to the roads - again, which I experience almost every day.

You're right, motorists are people. People are, in fact, morons. At least...I need to act as if they all are when I'm commuting, because a large enough percentage of them actually are.

[lpounds]

During Critical Mass rides in Toronto there is that mentality that was mentoned before about bikers intentionally provoking drivers.

I think for the most part it is a small percentage of riders who frequent the race that end up in these disputes. Some kind of uprise usually occurs in the croud of bikers though little real violence has resulted.

For the rest of us the ride is a great way to relax and enjoy the end of the week and month. The group is made of many granola types and the phrase to yell at onlookers is, "Happy Friday!"

Here is a story of a driver-cyclist incident turned violent in Toronto from a few years ago.
Photos (http://www.citynoise.org/article/2770)
Story (http://torontoist.com/2006/01/when_motorists.php)

[uni57]

most motorists have little respect or regard for cyclists.Most motorists have little respect or regard for anyone.

[yUNIkoner]

I think that a lot of road sharing problems between bikes/unis and cars could be solved with more education on both sides. I am sure that quite a lot of motorists don't really know what rights cyclists really have. This can often be be complicated by the fact that cyclists are riding on the shoulders, not the road.
I have to admit that I get frustrated with cyclists in our areas at times. Road biking has become very popular here and you always have a few bikes out on the highway. Often you will be traveling at highway speed and come up on a couple of cyclists riding side by side sometimes even chatting and unaware of their erratic movements. As a motorist you have to move into the oncoming lane (2 lane highway) to go around them or slow down to 15 km/h. This creates dangerous situations. You wouldn't see cars driving side by side down a 2 lane highway unless they are passing or street racing (another road danger). Cyclist are required to ride single file on the roads here but I think that this is ignored at least 30% of the time on the highway (most cyclist here seem to ride in groups). I just doubt that many people are really aware of the rules although you would probably follow most of them if you applied common sense. If cyclists want respect we need to know the rules of the road. If rules need to be changed then work within the legal system to change them.
Just my rant:o

[john_childs]

I think that a lot of road sharing problems between bikes/unis and cars could be solved with more education on both sides. I am sure that quite a lot of motorists don't really know what rights cyclists really have.
My proposed solution to that is to have a bicycling road test as a part of every driving road test to get a driving license. That would be fun. :D

Have them negotiate a route by bicycle through an urban area while the test examiner follows behind.

Sometimes I come up with brilliant ideas. :cool:

[harper]

Sometimes I think I come up with brilliant ideas.

FIFY

[maestro8]

Most motorists have little respect or regard for anyone.
Help me parse your sentence above... are these statistics from a published report? What was the criteria for "respect" versus "regard"? What qualifies as "most", is that >50.0%?

Dave, I understand you've some issues with driving, but how many stem from your interpretation of reality? Sure, there are some a-holes on the roads, but might you be creating some of those a-holes through your own misperception? ...wearing "rage-colored glasses"?

It's often the case that drivers view all cyclists as "A-holes on bikes" even though it's only a select few that like to run stop signs and ignore road markings. Be careful that you don't do the same yourself.

I wonder what it is about these "critical" events that bring out the A-holes... perhaps it's the opportunity to ride with fellow A-holes, knowing that they've strength in their numbers, so it's cool to dish out the A-hole behavior.

[Pseudonym]

They surrounded a vehicle containing a pregnant woman. I'm sure the driver said something like "get out of our way; we are late for dinner." He probably received an angry response from the people surrounding his vehicle. He naturally wanted to get himself and his pregnant wife out of harm's way -- because he was surrounded by an angry mob of people who have a history of violence and confrontation. I would have used whatever means necessary to do just that, once the situation escalated high enough. Car vs. bike shouldn't be a problem (granted, it would be a bumpy ride).

And the Critical Mass people say how unfortunate it is that the media (and police report) "got it wrong" and biased everything against the cyclists. It's incredible how the mind can justify one's own behavior (speeders have this same twisted mentality). Maybe it's a facility we borrow from when we are dreaming (we don't seem to question bizarre events).

This makes perfect sense to me. I have a huge problem believing the info given out by the media. They are all biased in some way, so i try to take every account with a pinch of salt.

If i was the driver surrounded by people who don't like motorists and actually protest then i would be scared, both for myself and my significant other and the unborn child. It's not hard to imagine that his thoughts for their safety made him think he really needed to get out of there in a hurry. those riders should be ashamed that their mob mentality got the better of them.

Saying that, I have very few good things to say about motorists in either Portsmouth or Bristol, but that's because you don't remember the majority of drivers that pass by you with plenty of room and don't drive up you ass. It's the ones that try to kill you that lodge in your mind and make you want to take a U-lock to someones face/car/both.

[thayr]

I live and cycle in Los Angeles, and numerous times have ridden with LA and Santa Monica Critical Mass. A law that is consistently broken is stopping at red light/stop signs. In some states this law is different, and I would personally prefer it:

A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection.

California vehicle code places bicycles in the same boat as motor vehicles, bicycles (and unicycles and other human-powered vehicles) are clearly NOT motor vehicles and I think the laws should in some ways be different.

Motorists in LA are as crazy as they come, and all encounters I have had with motorists on Critical Mass rides and riding in general stem from the drivers being impatient and ignorant about cycling rights. In my experiences it has ALWAYS been the motorists who escalate the conflict, be it verbal, horn honking or running over cyclists. Most of the violent stories you hear stem from road raged motorists.

On the other hand, Critical Mass riders knowingly block traffic so the group of riders can stay just that, a group. It is this illegal activity that usually causes trouble, for example- corking an intersection. So, cyclists are illegally blocking your car, do you a) wait for the cyclists to pass by or b) become angry and run them over. In some instances cyclists start the conflict, but I believe in almost all, the motorists escalate it to violence.

Here's a recent event in Los Angeles:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8nbOdWfGrs&feature=related

[wickedbob]

So they don't start most of the conflicts... they just piss a lot of people up until they get run-over?


I don't follow. Seems like they are poking the bear. Not meaning retaliation or violet reactions are excusable, but they shouldn't seem so surprised like they always do.

[john_childs]

Here's a followup from the Seattle Times

The driver didn't know what was going on. Thought he had wandered on to a parade route. Perfectly understandable given that 99.99% of the people in the Seattle area don't know what a Critical Mass ride is, wouldn't know it if they ran into it, wouldn't know what was going on or what the mob of people were doing. Very easy for someone to freak when confronted with an unexpected situation like that especially with a mob surrounding your car.

The only good Critical Mass is an ex-Critical Mass. The Cascade Bicycle Club looks to be acting as a liaison now to get changes to the Seattle critical mass rides. Expect changes in the way critical mass is next month.


Driver says he was provoked, but overreacted in Critical Mass incident (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008078135_webmotorist28m.html)

The driver of a car that police say was attacked by a group of cyclists Friday on Capitol Hill says he wants to move past the incident.

By Sara Jean Green

Seattle Times staff reporter

First the driver was confused and frustrated, then angry at being held up by a massive group of cyclists Friday night on Capitol Hill. But he said rage quickly turned to fear and panic as he was surrounded by the cyclists, who battered his car, smashed his windows and tore a mirror from the driver's side of his 1998 white Subaru Impreza.

He stopped his vehicle when he heard he'd hurt somebody — but was then hurt himself when someone clubbed him over the head with a bike lock. Doctors stapled the wound shut.

"I didn't start the incident — they provoked it," said Mark, the 23-year-old driver at the center of Friday's melee with participants in the monthly Critical Mass ride that's aimed at raising awareness about cyclists' road rights.

"I freaked out and overreacted — I should've turned my car off and waited for them to leave," Mark, who asked that his last name not be published, said in a phone interview today.

Mark, who grew up in South King County and now lives on the Eastside, said he thought he'd accidentally driven into the Seafair parade route when he encountered hundreds of cyclists Friday on Capitol Hill. He pulled over to let them pass but was blocked by a group of cyclists when he tried to pull back into traffic.

How events unfolded depends on whom you talk to — the cyclists say Mark was the aggressor and say he hit two cyclists with his car and tried to speed away from the scene before his tires were slashed. But Mark said he revved his engine, not knowing his car was in gear, and accidentally hit two cyclists. Feeling threatened and cornered, he said, he just wanted to get away but stopped when he heard someone yell that one of the cyclists had been injured.

Police estimate that Critical Mass participants caused roughly $1,500 in damage to Mark's car. According to Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson, Mark is considered a victim. Two men were arrested on suspicion of malicious mischief but were released from the King County Jail after each of them posted a $1,000 bond on Saturday, jail records show.

Seattle police were still trying to contact the man suspected of assaulting Mark with the bike lock, the spokesman said.

"I was attacked by an aggressive group of people," Mark said.

Still, he's sorry things happened the way they did: "I want to apologize to the people I hit and would like to move on from this, if possible."

[thayr]

Pissing someone off is one thing, hitting someone with your car is another. If you're driving and someone is going slow in another car in front of you, or cuts you off or something, do you run into them with your car?

He said it best himself - "I freaked out and overreacted — I should've turned my car off and waited for them to leave."

The driver also said, "I didn't start the incident — they provoked it." They were blocking him in so he wouldn't drive into the middle of a bicycle ride... they were bicyclists, not flesh eating zombies. I think it's absurd that he was ever "provoked" enough to feel the need to escape by running people over.

It's too bad that the only times motorists and cyclists have any sort of interaction is in a confrontation of some sorts.
http://bittercyclist.com/v3/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/ac3.thumbnail.jpg

[john_childs]

I think it's absurd that he was ever "provoked" enough to feel the need to escape by running people over.
Put yourself in the position of a driver who is unfamiliar with critical mass and bicycle activism and the mentality of the hipster wannabe bicycle courier movement.

Suddenly you are boxed in and surrounded by a mob of bicyclists. Some of them look like thugs. Some are carrying knives and are willing to use bike locks as nunchucks. You have no idea what is going on. They brush up against your car and push the side view mirrors in so they can get by easier. You're wondering if you have mistakenly wandered into a riot or a parade route. There are no police around. What do you do? If the bicyclists are lucky the driver acts rationally and calmly. If the bicyclists are not lucky the driver panics, quite understandable given the circumstances.

Critical Mass is confrontation like this waiting to happen. It's not a matter of if, but when.

Here's the Cascade Bicycle Club statement:
Bike Advocacy News

Seattle Critical Mass
Some of you may have been present at Friday's Critical Mass ride in Seattle, and many of you have read media accounts of the incidents that occurred at the ride. Cascade Bicycle Club is not involved in nor are we affiliated with the Seattle Critical Mass rides. Our organization has always taken the position that cyclists must obey all the rules of the road. We also support law enforcement of bicyclists who violate traffic laws and regulations. We do not condone or support the unlawful behaviors that some riders choose to follow on Seattle Critical Mass.

It is our hope, and that of others, to see a de-escalation from this point forward. To this end, we are calling for a meeting of bicycle community members, law enforcement and city officials. Seattle is on the brink of great work in terms of bicycling, and we would like to see positive focus on these issues.

Full statement in PDF: http://www.cascade.org/Advocacy/pdf/cbc-cm_statement_07-28-08.pdf

[BluntRM]

The Driver Speaks

posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on July 27 at 11:21 AM

This morning, I spoke with the driver involved in Friday night’s Critical Mass brawl, to get his side of the story. Obviously, it’s very different from what Critical Mass riders have said up to this point

Mark—who asked us not to print his last name—a 23-year-old travel agent, says he was heading to the University District to pick someone up for a birthday party.

While driving through Capitol Hill, Mark says he saw a herd of Critical Mass riders and pulled over on a parking strip on Aloha to wait for them to pass. After waiting for five minutes, Mark says he tried to turn his car around to get out of the way and get off of the street. That’s when about a dozen cyclists surrounded his car, he says.

“As soon as I tried to turn around, they completely corralled me in and were shouting things,” Mark says. Although he says cyclists were initially “playfully taunting” him, Mark says the longer he waited, the more aggressive they got. “They wouldn’t let me move even after the rest of the bikes went by, he says, adding that he started to panic when cyclists began tugging on his side mirrors and he heard someone say “let’s tip the car.”

Mark says he felt intimidated and was concerned for his safety, so he began to rev his engine. “[I] was going to…try to be macho and scare some people,” he says. “I didn’t realize my car was in first [gear].”

Mark says he rolled over two bicycles when his car lurched forward, before a crowd of cyclists swarmed him. One rider tried to punch him through his open car window, but missed, and others were clinging to his car as he sped off.

Although a number of reports have indicated that riders slashed the car’s tires, forcing it to stop, Mark says he heard a rider shout “someone’s really hurt” and slammed on his brakes. “I thought I just knocked 2 bikes over,” Mark says. “I wanted to get away from the situation but if I’d hurt someone, I didn’t want to flee.”

Mark says he got out of his car and was immediately struck in the back of a head by a cyclist wielding a U-lock. Mark then told the angry crowd he was “sorry” and “didn’t know anyone was hurt,” before walking up to where the injured cyclists were. This, Mark says, is when cyclists “completely destroyed [his] car,” breaking his windows and slashing his tires.

Although Mark still believes cyclists instigated the confrontation, he doesn’t believe anyone should be facing charges for the incident. “I hit two of their friends and they tore apart my car,” he says. “I’d rather not have anyone…be charged from any of this.”

While a some cyclists I’ve spoken with have written Mark off as another indignant road-hog, Mark says he actually used to be a bike commuter when he lived in Seattle a few years ago. “I sympathize with [cyclists’] cause. I ride bikes too. I’m a liberal hippie democrat,” he says, adding “I’m gay, the person with me was a lesbian and we were a attacked by eco-terrorists. It’s the most Seattle thing that could have happened.

While Mark still believes this incident was sparked by hostility from cyclists, he does seem genuinely remorseful about what happened and is disappointed that cyclists are being charged for the incident. “What I did was probably a mistake,” he says. “I want to apologize to [the cyclists]. I didn’t mean for it to happen. It was terrifying for me. I was pissed off, I overreacted, I didn’t pay attention to what I was doing and I’m sorry for it.”.

[BluntRM]

I think it's interesting to hear someone explain that the reason for blocking intersections and running the lights is to keep the 300+ cyclists in the same cohesive group; to an extent it does make sense that you wouldn't want motorized traffic wedging itself inside the group and becoming stuck in the mass.


I sense a failure to communicate:

The cycle blockade: "Excuse me, our cycle group is still following this way. If you would give us a moment, we'll be out of your way shortly."
Running over the cyclists: "I'm sorry I missed that last part, could you repeat it."
Assault with a U-lock: "Of course, our cycle group is still following this way. If you would give us a moment, we'll be out of your way shortly. Thanks."

[ThisGuyIKnow]

From the article BluntRM posted it seems like everyone involved cyclists and motorist should get together for a nice joint press conference, where both sides apologize and concede to the middle ground of both sides overreacted and responded inappropriately due to a lack of communication, and want to work together to improve communication between cyclists and motorists.

[unicyclist.ca]

"But Mark said he revved his engine, not knowing his car was in gear, and accidentally hit two cyclists."

I am not saying he had it coming to him but bicycle awareness is the reason for critical mass. Being a moron and not knowing your car is in gear then hitting 2 people THEN driving away?! he should be getting hit and run charges.

[siafirede]

I think that a lot of road sharing problems between bikes/unis and cars could be solved with more education on both sides. I am sure that quite a lot of motorists don't really know what rights cyclists really have. This can often be be complicated by the fact that cyclists are riding on the shoulders, not the road.


This is by far one of the best solutions, or at least a step forward in cyclists rights. You can have all the laws in the world protecting your right to cycle on the road, but if people aren't educated on your rights, they mean nothing for you as far as your safety is concerned.

Here in the States we have to take Drivers Education and pass a pretty simple test to get our liscense. It is FAR too easy to receive a liscense in this country, and it makes for very dangerous roads and uneducated drivers. I do not recall being taught ANYTHING about cyclists in my drivers education class and there was nothing that was on our short test about cycling or pedestrians in crosswalks.

Here in Northern Virginia, drivers aren't used to seeing bicyclists on the road, and beep and go crazy when they see someone in the road. Some people actually don't know that you are allowed to bike on certain roads, or what to do when they come behind a cyclist.

The thing that really gets me the most is how our crosswalks operate. If a pedestrian, or cyclist is trying to cross a road and hits the button to activate the walk signal...after a minute or two the WALK sign will appear, but this sign coincides with either a green light to turn right or a green light to turn left for oncoming traffic. This is extremely dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross the road. There have been numerous times where I have dismounted from my unicycle, pressed the cross button, and tried to cross when the walk sign has appeared and almost been run over by a car/truck/bus turning left on green.

Not only are motorists not educated, but our department of transportations have failed to provide safe means for pedestrians and cyclists to cross roads. No wonder why more accidents happen at intersections...there is no safe means for pedestrians or cyclists to cross the road, AND the drivers simply don't know to look for people in the crosswalk. I feel much safer driving in the road riding with traffic (probably pissing off motorists) than I do while riding on a cycle path or sidewalk.

[Bondo]

Meanwhile on the Other Coast.

A cop body slams a rider during a Critical Mass ride in New York City. Cop claims the rider was stopping cars illegally and drove his bike at the cop forcing them both down...
Problem is someone video taped it and now the cop is in BIG trouble.

Video on YouTube (I can't link here due to work firewall)

and Video w/story also here:
http://gothamist.com/2008/07/28/cop_caught_on_video_assaulting_cycl.php

Shameful reaction from the police, this guy gets put down hard.
I'm sure he'll win the law suits (you know they're coming) based on witnesses and the video!

[thayr]

Suddenly you are boxed in and surrounded by a mob of bicyclists. Some of them look like thugs. Some are carrying knives and are willing to use bike locks as nunchucks.

I think you're mistaken to think that Critical Mass riders go around with knives and bike locks in hand yelling and taunting drivers. For all the Critical Mass rides that happen all over the world events like this are rare. In most cases when a rider corks he has a smile and he waves to motorists and answers their questions like, "What are you guys doing?", "What is this?".

Mom Violence at Critical Mass http://youtube.com/watch?v=R7b-Yk9IAN4

Attack of the Bicyclists (This seems like a similar incident to the thread topic. Yes, much of the cyclist's attacks were edited out, but the fact is the cyclists didn't assault the vehicle until AFTER the guy ran over some bikes.) http://youtube.com/watch?v=n1eReGrbzkA

[harper]

From the accounts of all of the witnesses, it seems as if the motorist and his companion were in a clear state of perceived danger of grave bodily harm. In the state of Washington this incident seems borderline for justifiable homicide for the self defense of the motorist. A car is a very effective lethal weapon and can be legally used in ones own defense.

9A.16.050
Homicide — By other person — When justifiable.

Homicide is also justifiable when committed either:

(1) In the lawful defense of the slayer, or his or her husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in his presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury to the slayer or to any such person, and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished; or

(2) In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in his presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which he is.

[1975 1st ex.s. c 260 § 9A.16.050.]

This is a link to the state code. (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9A.16&full=true#9A.16.050)

The bicyclists got off easy.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

The bicyclists got off easy.

The motorist appeared to be trying to run someone over with his car that also gives a perceived threat that he might try to hit more people with his car which by the same logic gives the bicyclist the right to hit him with their u-locks.

The aggression was clearly going in both directions and the motorist had a more deadly weapon.

The motorist got off easy.

[harper]

The motorist appeared to be trying to run someone over with his car that also gives a perceived threat that he might try to hit more people with his car which by the same logic gives the bicyclist the right to hit him with their u-locks.

The aggression was clearly going in both directions and the motorist had a more deadly weapon.

The motorist got off easy.

The motorist was hospitalized and had a gash on his head stapled together. One bicyclist got his leg run over but no injuries were reported. I still contend that the bicyclists got off easy.

More deadly does not count here. It sounds cool and raises emotions but it is not part of the Washington state code. Let's say this went to court. Who was arrested? Who was not arrested? Why? These are points of interest. Would the testimony of the witnesses corroborate that the bicyclists initiated this conflict and that the motorist and his companion perceived the potential of grave bodily harm? I think so, maybe you don't think so. I'm basing the legal justification of the actions of the motorist on how I perceive the case would go in a court of law in the state of Washington.

[BluntRM]

Here, I found an actual picture of the event:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/don_veto/mad_max/madmax.jpg

[uni57]

You only get one chance to make a fatal mistake. You can't say, if you are dead, "in retrospect, I should have done more to get away from that angry mob."

If the initial THREAT did not exist (assuming that's how it actually started), there would have been no opportunity for the driver to "overreact".

[ThisGuyIKnow]

The motorist was hospitalized and had a gash on his head stapled together. One bicyclist got his leg run over but no injuries were reported. I still contend that the bicyclists got off easy.

More deadly does not count here. It sounds cool and raises emotions but it is not part of the Washington state code. Let's say this went to court. Who was arrested? Who was not arrested? Why? These are points of interest. Would the testimony of the witnesses corroborate that the bicyclists initiated this conflict and that the motorist and his companion perceived the potential of grave bodily harm? I think so, maybe you don't think so. I'm basing the legal justification of the actions of the motorist on how I perceive the case would go in a court of law in the state of Washington.

The question would be did the driver move his vehicle before or after the cyclists even touched it. I highly doubt they were banging on his car before he was pulling out toward them or if he was yelling or honking at him. Someone banging on your car is only a threat to property not life, and a threat of property damage does not justify homicide, in an actual court case both sides would be able to give their full testimony, whereas the media coverage seems to have only talked to the motorist.

Even crazy cyclists aren't going to attack a car that's just sitting there or they'd be banging up every car parked on the street, so clearly the driver did something in an aggressive or hostile manner, and if someone in a vehicle is being aggressive or hostile toward someone on foot, they are the greater danger since they have a 5000 lb object that they can hurl (and in this case did hurl, whether accidental or not) at the people on foot.

To even suggest that the motorist would be justified to kill the cyclists is absurd and would never hold up in court

[ThisGuyIKnow]

You only get one chance to make a fatal mistake. You can't say, if you are dead, "in retrospect, I should have done more to get away from that angry mob."

If the initial THREAT did not exist (assuming that's how it actually started), there would have been no opportunity for the driver to "overreact".


The driver overreacted at the fact that he had to wait for cyclists to pass and that someone was standing in front of his car to prevent him from pulling out, things escalated from there by both sides

[harper]

To even suggest that the motorist would be justified to kill the cyclists is absurd and would never hold up in court

This is the part that is interesting. Of course the motorist didn't kill the bicyclists but, according to Washington state code, he could easily have been justified in doing so. He would then also have been justified in using the vehicle to escape his predicament even if the cyclists were injured. Washington state code is what is applied in court decisions in Washington state. At the end of the trial, the jury would be told that such and such section of the code is to be applied to this particular case. Then they would have to determine if the testimony described a situation within the confines of that section of the code and if the conditions set forth were met. The example of the code that I cited happened to be for justifiable use of deadly force by persons other than a peace officer.

Law is a weird thing. Another thing I have always found interesting is that so many people believe that court decisions are based on justice when in fact they are based largely on precedent.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

This is the part that is interesting. Of course the motorist didn't kill the bicyclists but, according to Washington state code, he could easily have been justified in doing so. He would then also have been justified in using the vehicle to escape his predicament even if the cyclists were injured. Washington state code is what is applied in court decisions in Washington state. At the end of the trial, the jury would be told that such and such section of the code is to be applied to this particular case. Then they would have to determine if the testimony described a situation within the confines of that section of the code and if the conditions set forth were met. The example of the code that I cited happened to be for justifiable use of deadly force by persons other than a peace officer.

Law is a weird thing. Another thing I have always found interesting is that so many people believe that court decisions are based on justice when in fact they are based largely on precedent.

It comes down to whether or not he moved his car before or after the cyclists were getting aggressive towards the driver, from cyclists points of view that I've read it was before, and the cyclists get to testify in court too.

A car is a much deadlier weapon than a u-lock. So if the motorist could be justified to run over multiple cyclists the cyclists could just as easily be justified for immobilizing the vehicle and attacking the driver.

[harper]

A car is a much deadlier weapon than a u-lock.

Again, this is of no significance.

So if the motorist could be justified to run over multiple cyclists the cyclists could just as easily be justified for immobilizing the vehicle and attacking the driver.

If the bicyclist perceives that a motorist is about to run over them, their first course of reasonable action is to get out of the way if possible. It would be imprudent of a bicyclist anticipating being intentionally hit by a car to immobilize the car, remove the driver, and then attack him.

I think we disagree primarily on what took place at the scene. We may also disagree on what might take place in a courtroom. I think they're going to kiss and make up and we'll never know.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

I think they're going to kiss and make up

Which is really the best possible outcome

[UniBrier]

I'm surprised anyone has the energy to post. You'd think y'all would be exhausted from jumping to conclusions.

According to Seattle's own Ken Schram, the Police are to blame (http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/25995589.html)for allowing Critical Mass rides in the first place!

[thayr]

the Police are to blame for allowing Critical Mass rides in the first place!

Now you're getting into the realm of a Police State and violation of our 1st Amendment rights. A lot of CM rides go by very smoothly and lawfully, you cannot criminalize the group for the actions/reactions of a handful of individuals. Both drivers and riders need more Critical Manners and to be respectful of others rights to the road.

http://i.timeinc.net/time/potw/20070927/potw_09.jpg

[thayr]

Also, I think cyclists should be rewarded more for choosing not to get into a resource consuming speeding metal box of pollution... Instead we get the pothole ridden sides of the multi-billion dollar automobile dominated roadways. Annually there are over 40,000 vehicle related deaths, and unprecedented amounts of pollution, all the while the auto and oil companies reap the profits.

Driving an automobile on the roadway is a privilege, not a right. I think it's unacceptable that the automobiles rule the roads which forces cyclists to have events like Critical Mass in the first place. Human Power>Horse Power.

Long live Critical Mass.

[BillyTheMountain]

HERE ON THE EAST COAST cyclists are much better behaved. they rode peacefully until the Republican National Convention came to NYC. They continue to do so, but the police make them look bad now. they are environmentalists, which NYC needs and loves.

Then the police had to harass them.

This past Friday, the police arrested a cyclist in Times Square, but a videotape revealed the cyclist did nothing wrong, and the police provoked and pushed the cyclist.

The cyclist was released without bail. you can probably find the video on the internet.

[thayr]

This past Friday, the police arrested a cyclist in Times Square, but a videotape revealed the cyclist did nothing wrong, and the police provoked and pushed the cyclist.

Here's the link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7MZUm8RPaTA

[bugman]

I am all too familiar with Cops harassing cyclists. :D

Bicyle or pedestrian? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTYkQjt1hyg)

[canadauni]

Ok so the way i see it the bicyclists were the ass holes because there was a pregnant woman in the car and they could of damaged the baby

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Ok so the way i see it the bicyclists were the ass holes because there was a pregnant woman in the car and they could of damaged the baby

The fact that the women is pregnant shouldn't weigh into the equation at all as to who is at fault in the situation

[kurtismyhead]

I dont know much about Critical Mass but the rules of the road are there for everyone, regardless of how many wheels you have.

I love to ride but if a bunch of bikers get rowdy with me and I am in a SUV, I'll win...

[ThisGuyIKnow]

I dont know much about Critical Mass but the rules of the road are there for everyone, regardless of how many wheels you have.

I love to ride but if a bunch of bikers get rowdy with me and I am in a SUV, I'll win...

The question though is did they get rowdy before or after he ran them over, whether his lurching forward was an accident or not.

Your attitude is exactly why they felt the need to use force. Of course they were probably making his assumption about the drivers attitude, but your post clearly shows that such attitudes exists.

[thayr]

Here's a good video illustrating what Critical Mass is like, and near the end you can see how conflicts start with automobiles...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBXim_O87U&feature=related

[ThisGuyIKnow]

Here's a good video illustrating what Critical Mass is like, and near the end you can see how conflicts start with automobiles...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBXim_O87U&feature=related

If only they always got a police escort

[Seager]

Also, I think cyclists should be rewarded more for choosing not to get into a resource consuming speeding metal box of pollution... Instead we get the pothole ridden sides of the multi-billion dollar automobile dominated roadways. Annually there are over 40,000 vehicle related deaths, and unprecedented amounts of pollution, all the while the auto and oil companies reap the profits.

Driving an automobile on the roadway is a privilege, not a right. I think it's unacceptable that the automobiles rule the roads which forces cyclists to have events like Critical Mass in the first place. Human Power>Horse Power.

Long live Critical Mass.

My two cents.

I'm a long time bicycle commuter. I hardly drive at all. I've done 2 x-country rides and describe myself as bicycle lifestylist. I rode 500 miles last week alone. I'm AGAINST critical mass because it's going to get me killed.

There is a huge rift right now between cars and bikes and CM widens this rift. You guys know, YOU KNOW, that you are pissing off lots of people when you block the roads like that. It doesn't matter if it SHOULD piss of drivers - the fact is IT DOES and you need to STOP. You know what those drivers do after you get them all pissed off? They don't attack CM, they attack me the next day instead. They give solo bikes less room, they vote against bike advocacy laws, and pretty much decide that any bike friendly anything isn't worth their tax dollars because they view all bikers as "those CM assholes." I'm sick of being buzzed and yelled at by drivers that you guys pissed off the day before. Stop it!

CM is one of the worse things for bicycle advocacy that I've ever seen. We need to work together with cars and drivers to find a common solution, not constantly pick fights that we can't win. They outnumber us at the polls, lets try not to piss them off to much. Educate them, don't anger them.

The only way we'll create a more bike friendly society is by reaching out to other people, open our world to them, and encourage them to ride occasionally as well. THEN they'll start seeing bikes while driving, THEN they'll vote to create that bike trail. However, if you keep being CM jerks they'll never come over to our side and saddle up that bike. You catch more flies with sugar than vinegar.

Look up Critical Manners and Courteous Mass. Big group rides to raise awareness can be done without being such douchebags. It doesn't matter how nice you guys are to people, if you cork streets and intersections you're pissing people off.

[ntappin]

The driver went to the hospital.

You must not have ever witnessed a critical mass ride. The cyclists are out to intimidate and annoy drivers. They flout the road laws, intentionally block traffic, run lights and stop signs, swarm around cars.

It is no accident that the hole in the rear window is the size of a U-lock. It is no accident that all his tires were slashed and U-lock sized dents made in the body panels.

Some critical mass riders talk amongst themselves about "what if" scenarios if a driver gets aggressive. They make plans to use their U-locks to break windows and dent the car. They make plans to slash the tires. Those actions are pre planned. It is no accident that the driver had that happen to his car. It was planned in advance.

It sounds like you just have some poor critical masses in your city. In Ottawa the critical mass is much nicer.

We follow stop signs, lights (unless half of the group has already gone through while it changes and then we just cork to get the rest of the group through as fast as possible), we leave bus lanes open, quickly disperse the second we hear emergency vehicles coming, if there isn't a bus lane then we will make way for busses or emergency vehicles, and as far as I know there have never been any issues.

Quite often I have seen people having quiet 1 on 1 conversations between drivers in the event where traffic is being slowed or stopped.

Critical mass can be good, but I can see how a few bad apples can very quickly spoil a bunch and once that happens they usually don't go back to being calm rides anymore.

[john_childs]

In Ottawa the critical mass is much nicer.

Canadians, in general, are much more polite. ;)

[Mikefule]

My two cents.

I'm AGAINST critical mass because it's going to get me killed.... Stop it!

CM is one of the worse things for bicycle advocacy that I've ever seen... if you keep being CM jerks ... you're pissing people off.

We're all friends here. No need to beat about the bush.:D

Well said

[BillyTheMountain]

Coverage from the left-wing liberal bordering on socialist, New York Times:

Officer Investigated in Toppling of Cyclist
By JAMES BARRON; Cara Buckley contributed reporting.
29 July 2008
The New York Times
Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.

[QUOTE=JJuggle]Coverage from the right-wing conservative bordering on fascist, New York Post:

ROOKIE COP SLAMMED FOR CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
MURRAY WEISS, KATI CORNELL and KYLE MURPHY
29 July 2008
New York Post
(c) 2008 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

A rookie cop - the son of a highly respected New York City detective - has been stripped of his badge and gun after being caught on video viciously attacking a bicyclist who was part of a Times Square demonstration.

The startling YouTube video shows Officer Patrick Pogan, 22, apparently setting his sights on - and then tackling - a bicyclist as he peddled along Seventh Avenue as part of last Friday's controversial Critical Mass ride.

covered at length on the other thread.

[thayr]

by Adam Kessel, former Chicago Masser

...I challenge you to contact the 'mainstream' bike advocacy organizations
in Chicago and San Francisco to learn about the roll Critical Mass and pushing the envelope has played in making huge progress in these cities. Critical Mass has been indispensable to energizing and activating bicyclists in these and other cities, and has made -- I believe -- a tremendous difference in infrastructure, education, and enforcement. These masses are anarchic, leaderless, and powerful. Sometimes they follow the 'rules of the road', sometimes they don't...

Full article: http://chicagocriticalmass.org/about/faq/adamkessel

[BillyTheMountain]

by Adam Kessel, former Chicago Masser

...I challenge you to contact the 'mainstream' bike advocacy organizations
in Chicago and San Francisco to learn about the roll Critical Mass and pushing the envelope has played in making huge progress in these cities. Critical Mass has been indispensable to energizing and activating bicyclists in these and other cities, and has made -- I believe -- a tremendous difference in infrastructure, education, and enforcement. These masses are anarchic, leaderless, and powerful. Sometimes they follow the 'rules of the road', sometimes they don't...

Full article: http://chicagocriticalmass.org/about/faq/adamkessel

even the civil rights movement pissed people off. they even broke the laws sometimes. one black woman had the nerve to sit in the front of the bus, while others attempted to integrate lunch counters. don't ever piss people off. progress will come in its own time.
:D

[Seager]

I just think there are better methods than critical mass. CM makes it very easy for non-bikers to think of all of us as a bunch of elitist anti-car pricks. It creates an US vs THEM, and the THEM outnumbers the US. If we want progress we need to combine the groups, not further distance them from each other.

The civil rights movement analogy is only applicable if you consider the CM'ers as a militant wing of the black panthers. They aren't just trying to exist, they are trying to make life difficult for drivers. (Maybe not everyone on the ride, but enough that this goal is achieved.)

We can't get all mad when cars break the law and don't give us enough room, run red lights, or make turns in to us if we, ourselves, ignore those very same laws. We're asking for special, not equal, treatment when we behave this way and this fact is not lost on most people. We are shooting ourselves in the foot.

I know not all CM mass rides are full of jerks, but it only takes a couple people to make us all look bad. I'll attend the Eugene one this August with my friend video taping on the back of my xtracycle and we'll see if ours if a courteous one or not. I have a hunch that Eugene's will be one of the nicer ones.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a critical mass where all the laws were followed? All the cars on the road wouldn't be inconvenienced and they'd see what nice people bikers can be. They might even want to ride a bike themselves one day. WHAT A WORLD!

[thayr]

By Seattle Times staff

Ryan McElroy, 25, of Bellevue, was riding with the group and witnessed the incident. Later, he said that the driver was under no threat from the bicyclists when he drove into them.

"He snapped. He deliberately hit the gas," McElroy said. The driver accelerated into two cyclists, pushing one of them across the street and under the car, and then ran the left front tire of his car over the cyclist's leg, he said.

McElroy said there was shouting back and forth, but the cyclists did not attack the car until after it had hit the two. He said the driver appeared to be trying to flee until one of the cyclists slashed the car's tires.

McElroy said some accounts made it sound as though the cyclists attacked the car first, and the driver was trying to get away. "Not true," he said. "The window-pounding did happen, but not until the cyclists were run over."

Tom Braun, 36, of Seattle, said the Subaru ran over his right leg. His bicycle was damaged beyond repair, he said, and he ended up in the emergency room. He suffered no broken bones, and was released, but is being monitored for possible internal injuries.

Braun said he first saw the driver of the Subaru "screaming at cyclists to get out of the way."

Some cyclists were explaining that everyone was nearly past, but the driver yelled about being late for an appointment, and drove directly into the crowd of cyclists, he said.

The front right side of the car struck Braun and dragged him along with his bike as he hung onto the front of the car, he said.

Then the driver ran over his leg and bike, and sped down Aloha, he said.

Another cyclist, Jason Gruenwald of West Seattle, said he was participating in the ride with his son when the incident began.

"It was quite scary for us passers-by on just a bicycle to see a person threatening to use their car as a weapon," Gruenwald wrote in an e-mail.

"As the man didn't like the fact he may have to simply wait until the people on the bikes passed, he let his rage and discomfort escalate the situation by challenging the bikers with violence."

[Seager]

They seem to miss the point that the rage and discomfort was a predicitable (and for many intended) result of the CM ride in the first place. It was only a matter of time before they pissed off the wrong guy. I don't doubt for second that many riders are secretly, if not openly, glad that this happened - since it validates their extremist "cars are assholes" viewpoint.

Maybe these "leaderless" rides could become actual scheduled events with preset routes with roads that are closed off, like in a parade, and advertised beforehand. It would have the same positive impact (seeing people on bikes) without the negative side-effects.

It's like if someone put on a mask so they look just like you and then went around making enemies. That's how I feel when CM causes incidents like this. Big mass rides don't have to be like this.

[Pseudonym]

the guy was in the car with his pregnant partner... He was surrounded by a mob of people who weren't following the law. I'm not surprised he acted irrationally when things start to get heated. I hear (unconfirmed reports, but believable ones) that some of the corkers were saying to tip the car as the guy was getting mad. If they did say it, it was probably joking, but that's still scary stuff for the guy to deal with.

I'm not taking sides. I wasn't there, i don't have a truly objective standpoint. To me, it looks like a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other. CM are going to get no respect from road users by flouting the law. It may be "safer", but it's just not cricket. I would hate to ride around a city where one of these events had just finished.

[BillyTheMountain]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had a critical mass where all the laws were followed? All the cars on the road wouldn't be inconvenienced and they'd see what nice people bikers can be. They might even want to ride a bike themselves one day. WHAT A WORLD!

most of the cars behind the pack of bikes riding legally might feel inconvenienced, just as when people drive the speed limit, it inconveniences everyone who must tailgate them to try to get them to join reality.

Maybe these "leaderless" rides could become actual scheduled events with preset routes with roads that are closed off, like in a parade, and advertised beforehand. It would have the same positive impact (seeing people on bikes) without the negative side-effects.


Maybe those who drive cars like they own the streets should do the same thing, register a parade route and leave the rest of the streets free and safe for unicyclists.

[Seager]

most of the cars behind the pack of bikes riding legally might feel inconvenienced, just as when people drive the speed limit, it inconveniences everyone who must tailgate them to try to get them to join reality.

It's more the cars at perpendicular intersections that have to sit through several green lights because the bikes keep running the red ones. Driving the speed limit isn't illegal, corking an intersection is (and the cars know it.)


Maybe those who drive cars like they own the streets should do the same thing, register a parade route and leave the rest of the streets free and safe for unicyclists.

Hey man, I'm not giving cars a free pass here either. Cars that run red lights and drive like douchebags are just as bad. I'm a car-light person myself (trying for car-free.)