Critical Mass

[Martin318is]

Who deleted my post? And a bunch of posts from other people?

 

[soOpOSMthanks!]

Who deleted my post? And a bunch of posts from other people?

Dunno, but I do know Fernando doesn't exist anymore @_@

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I deleted all the posts by F. Cauliflower who was banned before as F. Artichoke, then came back to troll. Your post just happened to be one because you got sucked into arguing with him, it was just one anyway. Be glad he's gone.

 

[pedaling squares]

I have been on two rides in London, the last time I was being heavily harrased by a very big cop, I wouldn't go back again without camera/s. The cops accompany you on bikes and this fellow was built like a prop on steroids, when I say i think he was on them, I not joke. I'm fairly huge myself but you start fighting them and you are guarenteed to lose, one way or another, he did deserve and was asking for a beating. A lot of the people were Ok, a father and son from Brixton on American police mock up bikes, big sound systems. I might go on Friday, day after the Fool Moon.

I have no experience with these rides so have a couple of questions for you. I'm not picking a fight, just trying to understand what you wrote about. What was the point of this particular ride and what was the officer doing to harass you? I.E. was he trying to get you to stop a specific act or was there something in particular that drew you to his attention? No doubt your opinion would differ from his, that's human nature, but it is interesting to see what creates the public vs police conflicts in these rides. Thanks for any answer you care to provide.

 

[Martin318is]

I deleted all the posts by F. Cauliflower who was banned before as F. Artichoke, then came back to troll. Your post just happened to be one because you got sucked into arguing with him, it was just one anyway. Be glad he's gone.

oh okay - fair enough.

Bit of a shame though as his point that I was responding to was actually on the surface a reasonable one to make (although flawed) and on topic.

 

[Fred Thistle]

oh okay - fair enough.

Bit of a shame though as his point that I was responding to was actually on the surface a reasonable one to make (although flawed) and on topic.

Pretty obvoius trolling if you ask me- you got sucked right on in there.

You're absolutely right though- cyclists should keep out of the way- it's not as if they really need much space- there is enough over to the side.. and they don't even contribute to taxes paying for roads anyway.

It drives me nuts when I'm driving down to the park to go training and you get this hippie dips taking up the whole lane causing a traffic jam

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

oh okay - fair enough.

Bit of a shame though as his point that I was responding to was actually on the surface a reasonable one to make (although flawed) and on topic.

I just don't want to give him any reason to come back. You know what I mean.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I'm going back on topic. I made some pretty harsh accusations towards the CM crowd, in general I do stand behind everything I said. It just doesn't accomplish anything positive in terms of cycling advocacy. However, In certain cities it's more accepted than others. Here in Minneapolis it's treated as an illegal protest, and last year it came to fist-0-cuffs with the police. I've attended one here in the past when it was much mellower, and I vowed that I'd never go to one again, until Budapest 06. 10,000+ cyclists in the streets, different vibe, still didn't change my mind about it even if it went of without a hitch there. One of my friends is a major organizer of the Budapest version, but it's much different there. It does nothing tangible in terms of awareness or anything, it's just a parade whether it's more accepted in your city or not.

 

[scribe]

Any improvement has nothing to do with CM. They harm the cause more then they help

Just saying. Cool things like bike specific traffic planning started happening after more aggressive measures by 'advocates'. Attribute civic viewpoints toward cycling to whatever events that you see fit.

 

[Ripper]

Critical Mass is not good for cycling, it's just a parade of really obtuse people thinking they're doing something good for cycling awareness, when they're in fact not doing a thing but making a lot of people angry. In my view, as an ex-messenger even, nobody I know takes Massers seriously at all, cyclist or not. If you really want to experience the lamest bike parade in town and not accomplish a thing in terms of any positive advocacy at all, go attend a CM.

+1 ........

 

[Archibald]

funnily enough I had to wait at an intersection (give way/yield) for a mass of folks on rollerblades occupying the entire street here in london the other night. I then had to wait til all the slowed up traffic past as well - I was there over around 15mins!!
reminded me of CM and was just straight forward annoying...

in an ideal world if all drivers and riders obeyed the road rules and didn't think only of themselves we'd all be far better off on the roads. unfortunately, it's the minority of idiots (both drivers and riders) that fu(k it all up for the rest of us...

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

You're absolutely right though- cyclists should keep out of the way- it's not as if they really need much space- there is enough over to the side.. and they don't even contribute to taxes paying for roads anyway.

It drives me nuts when I'm driving down to the park to go training and you get this hippie dips taking up the whole lane causing a traffic jam

Respectfully disagree with the highlighted point. Most, if not all, cyclists do pay taxes on the roads because they are also motorists.

I agree with the second point. It drives me crazy when I see an experienced bike rider (not cyclist-I think there's a difference) jumping into traffic, swerving into lanes, crossing at random points, riding against traffic, etc. I just know it infuriates motorists and makes us all look bad. Just the other day, I saw a bike underneath a car leaving a shopping center. Judging from the bike, the rider sitting on the curb, and the area I was passing through, I'm almost positive it was the rider's fault. I hate to make assumptions, but if the shoe fits....

The vibe I get from CM is they feel they have a right to be morons and motorists should just deal.

 

[Winterfold]

I would never go on one and think they make things in London worse.

My view is that it is much more caught up in anti-capitalism type uncivil behaviour. I think (hope) motorists look on them differently to someone in a club jersey riding round Richmond Park or someone on their way to work in a fluoro jacket, but they don't do cycling any favours IMO.

They probably all hate Sky too.

 

[Fred Thistle]

Respectfully disagree with the highlighted point. Most, if not all, cyclists do pay taxes on the roads because they are also motorists.

I agree with the second point. It drives me crazy when I see an experienced bike rider (not cyclist-I think there's a difference) jumping into traffic, swerving into lanes, crossing at random points, riding against traffic, etc. I just know it infuriates motorists and makes us all look bad. Just the other day, I saw a bike underneath a car leaving a shopping center. Judging from the bike, the rider sitting on the curb, and the area I was passing through, I'm almost positive it was the rider's fault. I hate to make assumptions, but if the shoe fits....

The vibe I get from CM is they feel they have a right to be morons and motorists should just deal.

missed the sarcasm I guess

both points come from a car-centric view.

Roads belong to the people
all sorts of road users display inadequate road sense- In all honesty if you were to identify the road user type that is most often dangerous, rude and incompetent it would be car drivers- but no forum thread for them due to the car-centric paradigm of perception.

The vast majority of my delays come from the 'me first' competition of drivers that leads to traffic jams

Don't get me wrong- I believe absolutely in COMPETENCY for road users of all types.
If you cannot look behind without keeping hands on brakes and maintaining a straight line, get off the road and practice- TRY IT

 

[fatandfast]

sick but true NYPD newby made a bed and slept in ****. He knocked down a guy who should have been a discharge and gave up even moire insurance money. Sad day for cycling and cops. If it's my mom or ister beat down and ask questions later. Keep up the good work. I believe in police and all they do for our communities

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

missed the sarcasm I guess

both points come from a car-centric view.

Roads belong to the people
all sorts of road users display inadequate road sense- In all honesty if you were to identify the road user type that is most often dangerous, rude and incompetent it would be car drivers- but no forum thread for them due to the car-centric paradigm of perception.

The vast majority of my delays come from the 'me first' competition of drivers that leads to traffic jams

Don't get me wrong- I believe absolutely in COMPETENCY for road users of all types.
If you cannot look behind without keeping hands on brakes and maintaining a straight line, get off the road and practice- TRY IT

I did. Next time add the smilie .

I do agree with the rest of the post, by the way.