Bahahahaha
Thread started by
OsnapsonJC at 06.27.12 - 11:41 am
So Im starting a new ride and I said one bad thing about Critical Mass......
"Hmmm Critical Mass suck's Now?. . .don't want start another drama session but I have this to say.
I haven't been to one in a while and I will be at the next one, but when I was going they were a lot fun and to ride through various Parts of Los Angeles and plus the 30 mile or more distance was what kept me going and supporting Brian's ride.
I understand it's a slow ride, it's organized and setup to for everyone & all ages, Families of all types of riders to come out an network, to meet new people and ride with your friends & family safely throughout streets of Los Angeles.
The Fact that L.A.P.D is involved show's what commitment they have to keeping the riders safe and at the same time gaining trust with the public and my Hats off to Brian for working with them & having that rapport.
I would like think one Bike ride Leader/Organizer could have enough respect for a fellow organizer to not degrade it online
Not all rides will be the same and they shouldn't be, but to say critical mass sucks without reason on this page will discourage other riders wither it was your intention or not to coming out to it."
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If your wondering what happened. I posted in the FB 818 group saying... Hey Im starting a ride next month in the valley going toe-2-toe with CM. I'm almost tempted to say you know what lets get down this Friday but I have nothing ready to do it. He then goes on.. wait.. just read it....
" I am well aware of it's past L.A.P.D. altercations. and yeah the city's Police were documented doing some ill stuff.
Your ride is your agenda, and let's say for the sake of argument, could critical mass be where it is today " one of the biggest safest rides if not the biggest in the Nation without the City taking part in it?"
Let's say it could. . .taking that number of riders leaderless with no route throughout the streets of Los Angeles is making it's self vulnerable to accidents with traffic, could still be a good ride but is safe?
Having a large number of riders anywhere and without leaders or an organized route riding aimlessly can be frowned upon from drivers & residents and safe riders as you ride throughout the various neighbor hoods & streets and bike-lanes.
Your ride will get big, John don't doubt it, because it will, you have an open invitation as Critical Mass does and everyday people are getting bikes and want to ride now that it's summer and more. And your rides will grow and without safety concerns and an organized structure to keeps riders guided will create many vulnerabilities.
Just ride safe. . .and know that your rides are a reflection upon you as is Critical Mass is on Brian and other organizers."
OsnapsonJC06.27.12 - 2:34 pm
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Save the facebook drama for facebook.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by OsnapsonJC
06.27.12 - 2:40 pm
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But this is stuff that should be on this and im shocked you said that.
OsnapsonJC responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
06.27.12 - 2:44 pm
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seeing how this is MR related and all.
OsnapsonJC responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
06.27.12 - 2:45 pm
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Your ride idea sounds fine. Go for it.
Unless Brian the cop butt kisser wants to post his opinions here, then i don't care what he says about group rides in LA.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by OsnapsonJC
06.27.12 - 2:54 pm
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As far as I am concerned Critical Mass (at least its traditional start time and place) was hi-jacked by LAPD & a group of people assisting them.
I've seen the LACM team doing all kinds of stupid shit like jamming on the sidewalk at 20mph to pass riders.
I've seen an LAPD officer speak in very disrespectful terms to the LACM organizers saying "WE are leaving in 5 minutes, if your not ready we will leave you here ... I don't want to be out here all night"
The tail most definitely wags the dog at this point.
But the real reason most of us avoid LApdCM is that is a sluggish clustefuck of a ride with an overbearing police presence. and for every chill cop on a bike who's friendly and will chat with you, there are 2 on motorcycles yelling and blasting ear piercing siren chirps in the ear.
The whole thing serves to remind you that you ride in safety because they LET you.
Exactly opposite from the freedom exercise that attracts so many of us to ride.
On the other hand it keeps the cops busy, and mostly out of hair of all the good people who want to ride LA on happy friday without a chaperone, and there are many. The diverse collection of LACM alternative rides on the last friday is a good sign, showing LACM is still a cultural virus that can not be contained behind police lines.
Ride on.
trickmilla06.27.12 - 2:58 pm
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The funny thing is its not even him!!! I was blown away by that. Is this really what people think? I have never heard anyone say that EVER.. Brian.. I agree on that ass kissing...
OsnapsonJC responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
06.27.12 - 3:04 pm
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Thats what Im saying. I remember when they first started coming... I went 2 months and was done.
OsnapsonJC responding to a
comment by trickmilla
06.27.12 - 3:08 pm
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yeah. I'm tired of the CM argument.
I support CM in every city without cops running it.
Group rides in la should adopt the safety approach under the Midnight Ridazz banner. If a ride doesn't abide by those ideas, then it's not a MR ride.
CM however isn't MR, in my opinion. CM is it's own thing. LAPDCM is also not true CM.
And what Trickmilla said.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by OsnapsonJC
06.27.12 - 3:12 pm
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John, do your ride and we will come out....
I, like borfo am over the whole critical mass argument...I cared for a bit but no longer...the ride's not on my radar anymore....
I was upset with Brian and Stuart for taking over critical mass back when i cared.
I want to set the record straight about Brian...He's truly a good person with really great intentions. I'm friends with him and he's done nothing but support my rides and even though we don't see eye to eye on ride styles, he's doing a good thing getting people out on their bikes. I only wish he and Stuart (skd) would have started another ride with their riding ideas of safety and bringing out the family sort of thing instead of putting their efforts into cm....Brian's ideas are somewhat in tune with the LACBC ethics if that means any sense.....
I don't even think at this point it's a matter of "going against cm" or doing an alternative...that ride is here to stay and Patrick painted a clear picture of what cm is about nowadays.
John, post your ride up...we'll come out.
barleye06.27.12 - 3:27 pm
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and like that I got booted from the group.
OsnapsonJC06.27.12 - 4:01 pm
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Don't worry, John! We accept you for who you are. Kind of.
Rosiekins responding to a
comment by OsnapsonJC
06.27.12 - 4:06 pm
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Oh man! It's funny you should say something now, I had the most
interesting bullshit conversation with Brian a week ago. I'll post it publicly if I feel like it later.
danya06.27.12 - 5:50 pm
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I never did support CM much but Maybe that detachment allowse
to see and appreciate LACM from an outsider perspective... I went last month for the first time in about a year and i was blown away actually. The ride went to watts towers and the cops, well the cops have calmed way the fuck down. The moto cops no longer chirp and buzz you they make little click sounds as they cruise by at a reasonably slow speed. The bike cops are more in shape now and they just ride along in pairs talking and seeming to have fun. The kids and riders generally ride on the right and disciplined... I was pleasantly surprised.
I admit i was suspicious of the cops getting involved and Brian seemingly coming out of nowhere to "take it over" but since i never really cared much for cm it fell off my radar. Tell you the truth i went last month and it was so well facilitated by Brian, officer Helper and Brian's volunteer crew i thoroughly enjoyed myself and forgot about watching for cars and fixie whippers and started enjoying the ride and the neighborhoods. It is truly a parade of the people. Its an institution and tons of people have fun. I certainly did. Im gonna go again!
I think the route should be published in advance where people can get excited about destinations... If i knew it was going to explore some cool neighborhoods i would be jazzed to go.
I totally see the point of anti cm rides and those rides should continue and grow as well. But on a big picture scale its pretty cool to hop on a ride that the city of LA supports and its pretty cool to know it wont get fucked with by car drivers or cops.
I give Brian and the LAPD a thumbs up.
LACM is escorted by cops in other cities and they do it here now too. Having been on SFCM i'd say this one is just as fun and far less antagonistic. LACM is an institution of the city. I hope it lasts and grows for decades to come.
Roadblock06.27.12 - 7:14 pm
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Also Brian if you read this, if people criticize your ride in the FB LACM group, let it ride and let people debate it. If people post other rides its not leeching its blossoming. Took me a while to get that.
Roadblock06.27.12 - 7:16 pm
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i was just reading yet another one of Brian's spam to the LAPDCMFBGTFO and was amazed at the amount of resources hes throwing around.
LA critical mass isnt just a bike ride anymore; Brian is turning it into his own for-profit, patriarchal organization.
Yes the intentions are good, but when you have multiple support vehicles(!!!) and cops setting the agenda, it looks more like the city's ride and less like the peoples ride...
newarkhouse06.29.12 - 2:49 pm
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I don't do Facebook or LACM -- which Brian is this? Just curious.
theroyalacademy06.29.12 - 3:04 pm
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Ppl are profiting off LACM? How is that possible?
JOKER responding to a
comment by newarkhouse
06.29.12 - 3:21 pm
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Brian Will:
"Snacks, Limited Edition Spoke Cards, and drinks (Water, Soda, Gatorade, Red Bull) will be available from the Ride Support Vehicle (look for the Yellow Flashing Light at Stops) for $1.00/$2.00/$3.00 each. All donations benefit the effort to keep the rides inclusive positive experiences for all. Tubes are also available. Even if you do not want a drink, snack or spoke card please help us by donating what you can so we can continue to help our fellow riders and make the ride experience even more positive for all."
Straight off the FB LAPDCM
July responding to a
comment by JOKER
06.29.12 - 6:42 pm
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I did see candy and refreshments being sold... I bought a water once.. it was convenient for it to be there... I suppose if it got ridiculously commerical but that wasnt bad.
I dont know... is it really that bad that it's the city's ride? I just saw it go by my office and I only recognized one person out of 500? 1000? There were a ton of people having a good time... fuck it. CM was never my thing anyway. But I swear I had a good time last time I went. This time it went to the LA zoo parking lot... that's pretty cool. fuck it let the city have that ride.
Roadblock responding to a
comment by newarkhouse
06.29.12 - 8:59 pm
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hahahaah these gifs are killin me larry
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
06.29.12 - 9:01 pm
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Let's get out there and show society that bicycles belong on city streets as long as there are a whole bunch of them, they're all going the same place, and they're accompanied by a platoon of motorcycle cops and a truck to hold their water bottles and bananas!!!
PC07.1.12 - 11:48 pm
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