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Thread started by
KiMS1 at 07.28.08 - 1:02 pm
i came across these today at work
http://sfist.com/2008/07/28/critical_mass_gets_uglier_in_seattl.php
http://seattlest.com/2008/07/26/media_no_one_is_safe_from_rampaging.php
http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/07/the_driver_speaks
I dunno, the rides out here are getting pretty rowdy. im sure you will all agree.
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Pretty enlightening to see things from the other side. I feel worse for the driver then I do the bikers. Mistakes were made but 1 against 100 isn't a fair fight. It's a shame it takes all this just to get people to recognize bikers rights on the road.
DetroitRider07.28.08 - 1:08 pm
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This is America.. put them all in prison.
XPC07.28.08 - 1:21 pm
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Well, its hard to see the whole picture clearly. But It takes two parties to tango.
Cyclists need to try their best to practice politeness despite some dumb ass who dares to get caught in the path of the swarm.
It's unfortunately the nature of the beast.
CM has its bad qualities. At the same time it still is part of the movement.
We will be seeing a lot more of this shit for then next few years. Hopefully things will work out more positively than the latter.
Joe Borfo07.28.08 - 1:26 pm
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Ive been on the drivers side of CM and other rides and it kinda sucks sometimes. What if I had to poop or something
We are supposed to raise bicycle awareness right? We’re supposed to let drivers know that the road should be shared and that bikes have the same rights as automobiles right?
I dunno, it looks pretty bad when we’re all blowing through redlights, beers in hand and yelling "show us your tits" to pedestrians. Plus half of these kids are clearly adolescents.
could you imagine what's gonna happen if we have a drunken 15 yr old rider eat shit and get slammed by a car?
if we want bike policies to be passed for los angeles, we need to cut out the nonsense.
since first starting the rides, i feel as if we lost a lot of bike advocates and gained a lot of drunken hooligans.
KiMS107.28.08 - 1:30 pm
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"could you imagine what's gonna happen if we have a drunken 15 yr old rider eat shit and get slammed by a car?"
imachynna07.28.08 - 1:40 pm
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"could you imagine what's gonna happen if we have a drunken 15 yr old rider eat shit and get slammed by a car?"
imachynna07.28.08 - 1:41 pm
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Kims1
I don't dissagree with you.
We can try to control the "douche bag factor" the best we can by communication with each other. Like you are attempting to do. However, this is just the beginning stages of a long line of discussions, and arguments over the nature of CM and it's not going to get easier soon.
People are starting to digest this bicycle idea more and more. Those with brains know that it's getting out of hand with people doing bad things like stealing, tagging, throwing bottles, throwing fireworks, getting aggresive with drivers, etc. etc. you name it.
If you love bicycle culture and you want it to stay positive then YOU are going to have to do something about it by trying to communicate with our community and bring AWARENESS of our responibility as being a safe and supportive community of people who ride together and look out for each other.
The MAIN thing that I am dreading is that authorities will start to frown on our freedoms and rights to the road due to negative press and begin to put a stranglehold on our rights to ride on the road.
THIS IS A MOVEMENT. It needs to be taken seriously, and people need to become responsible for thier own actions and we can help by reminding others of the PRECIOUSNESS of what bicycle culture is and that we need to preserve this!
Do what you can to make this a better place. Be the Change!
dot com
Joe Borfo07.28.08 - 1:41 pm
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"could you imagine what's gonna happen if we have a drunken 15 yr old rider eat shit and get slammed by a car?"
imachynna07.28.08 - 1:42 pm
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third times a charm, chynna.
I could imagine, and that's something I am not ready to deal with.
We need to be safe, folks. It's not worth it otherwise.
Joe Borfo07.28.08 - 1:45 pm
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you poop!
as for rowdy? i don't know. i think the aggression of drivers towards cyclists and vice versa on the rides tend to be equal. in general when a car blocks an intersection preventing a whole entire road from moving i've never seen someone get out and try to beat that driver up. they may honk and mutter to themselves, "idiot..." but never move their car forward to threaten them.
as for the hypothetical 15 year old who got hit by a car the person who gave the 15 year old the beer will be responsible. same as an underaged driver or an underaged pedestrian that gets hurt because of alcohol.
also i've never heard someone yell "show us your tits!" before but if they did i'm sure that person says it just as much from the backseat of an automobile.
neverclever07.28.08 - 1:45 pm
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i'm just waiting for winter to come around so it'll weed out the retards.
KiMS107.28.08 - 1:46 pm
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Sorry for that. It was just a pretty scary visual.
imachynna07.28.08 - 1:48 pm
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What Neverclever is saying is that it's not just the cyclists part that is the problem, but the mentality of the drivers.
We cannnot change the majority of the Drivers feelings towards cyclists.
Our options are:
1. Piss Them Off More, and possibly spark future road rage incidents. And get aggresive when a driver makes a mistake, and loosen the mentality about following road rules.
or
2. Overlook their impatience and ignorance, and try to be an example of positive F.U.N. energy. And skillfully remind the majority that Cyclists HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO THE STREETS. (But not shove it down their throats)
The originator(s) of Midnight Ridazz have always been on the fence about CM because it has a tendency to get more aggressive than MR rides have been in the past. As we have been experience this has been changing slightly. This also doesnt mean CM is inherently bad or vice versa. I think what it comes down to is our ATTITUDE.
If we can deal with obstacles we face from drivers, pedestrians, or cops in a rational patient, respectful way, the better we will be able to maintain this type of culture on the streets.
Joe Borfo07.28.08 - 1:54 pm
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i'm just sayin, we already have an uphill battle.
i dont what we should do to remedy the flaws.
i guess just keeping things like this in mind through out the rides.
telling the younger kids to slow down with the booze, etc.
KiMS107.28.08 - 1:54 pm
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Yeah, some of us will forever be coined "The Nazis", & wahtever... It's stupid.
We're just looking out for everyone's best interest. I can deal with it, so can you.
Joe Borfo07.28.08 - 2:54 pm
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