Advocacy & Safety - RNC critical mass...

i just got home from the NYC critical mass (and a post critical mass couple of beers).
overall, there was a fun, positive vibe except for some disturbances, one which just almost ruined the night for me. So, as always, bikes were blocking off side streets so that cars didn't run rampant over the cyclists. At one sidestreet off of Houston st., a white Range Rover SUV was edging forward constantly, refusing to stay put. Finally, it started to bump into the cyclist who was blocking the street, and started pushing him. The cyclist lost balance and fell onto the ground, at which time the driver of the SUV deemed it permissable to RIDE OVER the cyclist. I could not believe that another human being would display such disregard for another's life and well-being... and for what? to be on time to a party? to get home to watch a favorite sitcom?
The back half of the cyclist's bike was crushed under the wheels of the car, and it seemed that the cyclist had gotten his legs injured somehow, but i couldn't tell. Many people were writing down the licence plate # of the car and some others chased it down... I have no idea how this event was resolved, but I just hope that that poor cyclist is okay (i heard later that he was taken away in an ambulance).

Despite the hero's welcome that the critical mass procession recieved on other streets throughout manhattan by throngs of pedestrians, it only took one sick individual to leave a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the night (an to send one brave, unlucky cyclist to the hospital).

anyway, i just had to get this off my chest. i won't try to vent my frustration (which is considerable), i think the event speaks for itself.
this is only my second critical mass, but now that i'm a fulltime NYC resident, I plan on attending each and every one (and the Brooklyn critical masses on the 2nd friday of every month).

i heard about that, hope the person is alright

I too hope the person is alright. While I don't agree with the tactics of critical mass in general, I also hope that the driver of the Rangie gets hauled away in handcuffs and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you happen to find out what has happened to either the cyclist and/or the driver, please post an update.

For all of you at NYC ride, the ride made national news. I heard about it on NPR this morning. WTFG!!

It's being reported by random posters at nyc.indymedia.com that the driver of the Range Rover was none other than hiphopper Foxy Brown... and that no charges were filed against either the driver or the cyclist.

That's f-ed up!!

There's some good photos @ http://nyc.indymedia.org

in case people don't already know, something like 250 people were arrested while participating in the mass. Not a good precident for the police to set for the first major protest of the week.

tim

was none other than hiphopper Foxy Brown...

cool. than at least there is a slim chance he gets shot some day. ;)

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/28/rnc.bike.protest/index.html

I caught the ass end of a blurb on CNN last night when I got home. Best wishes to the cyclists and I hope they get the guy who drives over people.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/28/politics/campaign/28protest.html

cool. than at least there is a slim chance he gets shot some day. ;)

Foxy Brown is a "she," not a "he."

The happening also made it to the news in Finland, that's northern Europåe:) Well done! As far as im concerned, any peaceful demonstration is a good demonstration... It is a shame if things get (and unfortunately they tend to) ugly... I hope the person who got hit by the car is alright, and all the arrested people (250, that's a LOT!) can roll home soon and safe! :roflmao:

Foxy Brown is a "she," not a "he."

err..whatever. hope she breaks her fingernails or something.

http://www.indybay.org/uploads/cmassarrests.mov

I'm sickin too about that guy who ran over the cyclist. I'm also sickin that the news didn't report it and just decided to report the arrest. You NYC cyclist HAVE to get this guy.

I moved to San Diego from New Jersey and I use to ride the NYC critical mass often. I miss it as the San Diego CM isn't a fraction of the excitment of the NYC CM.

Not to hijack this thread but I'm going to...kinda. I'm an ex-middle-right- Republican who because of the policies of this administration I have become a full fleged Dem. Now I am very scared of the prospect of Cheney and Bush et al getting another 4 years (first time in my 42 years that I've every been afraid of my own government). I first thought that John Kerry would run an effective campaign and disslodge these neo-cons from power. As the campaign continues it seems that Kerry is shooting himself in the foot, starting with the stupid statement that he would have still voted for the war knowing what he knows now. Is it just me or do you all have this feeling too?

the end of the ride was scary--about 80-100 cops in riot gear surrounded the group of bikes. They brought prison buses and hundreds of plastic handcuffs. People who did not leave the street--they were just standing with their bikes--were squeezed between the ranks of cops and arrested. I'm not sure how standing still qualifies as disorderly conduct, but I guess that just means I should bring my lawyer whenever I ride...

inside the church grounds people were ladling out free food, sitting and talking. a helicopter shone its searchlight on us. It was a ridiculous contrast, heavily armed cops seemingly scared of completely peaceful cyclists.

I've been busy and haven't read this board in a while, so I don't know how well this has been covered already... but the cops really cracked down on this critical mass, splitting us into several sections and diverting us from MSG. They usually cooperate with the bikes, even blocking cars for us. As far as I can tell the only difference this month was the number of bikes (10,000 seems reasonable est.) and the behavior of the cops. All my friends were disappointed and depressed. Although anything you can ride away from is not all bad.

peace
--orange

There's too many pissed off Americans. Just look at the 100,000+ turn out in last Sunday's prostest in NYC. I hope Bush gets what's coming to him.

Best thing to have done would have thrown the broken bike at the suv and broken a window out. That would have pissed "it" off!

There's too many pissed off Americans. Just look at the 100,000+ turn out in last Sunday's prostest in NYC. I hope Bush gets what's coming to him.

There aren't enough pissed off americans. I fear Bush won't get what's coming to him.


(though the size of the protests was heartening, after seeing all the protests in europe at the start of the war and next to nothing in this country)

Wow all warm reception to the rnc crit mass, cool and this is certainly better then the one in the safety forum. I have only herd mixd reports about people getting there bikes back, apparently the cops didn't tag many of of the bikes and still this problem makes me very nervous. The cops were so nasty and it just makes me sick.

I'm an ex-middle-right- Republican who because of the policies of this administration I have become a full fleged Dem.

Leaving the Republicans! Getting Fixed! Welcome brother.

There's too many pissed off Americans. Just look at the 100,000+ turn out in last Sunday's prostest in NYC.

Yeah, but they were all libs...

Leaving the Republicans! Getting Fixed! Welcome brother.


Yeah my wife is really stoked, she's always been a Dem, and now that I'm fixed she's off the pill!

Seriously though I see JK just tanking this campaign. He should have, like many Dems and Reps alike, and said I would not have voted yes knowing what I know now! I worked in the entertainment industry for 15 years before we moved to Austin. Believe me their is not liberial bias in the media. I worked for Access Hollywood on the NBC lot and believe me there are a ton of Bush supporters. There are a ton of pissed off Americans but there are more scared Americans. This administration is very good at keeping people scared and keeping them from the real issues. If Kerry doesn't get his sh#t together he/we are going to lose and I'm moving my family to Canada.

times-up.org is arranging legal support and replacement bikes for people who got arrested... if this sounds right to you, now would be a good time to donate bikes or $$.

I should point out that time's up and critical mass are limited to bike rights and don't have a specific election agenda.

P.S. the estimate of 100,000 (from the police, BTW) for Sunday's march is low. 3-400,000 would be more accurate. The organizers claimed 500,000.

Didn't the Times report 500,000?

(though the size of the protests was heartening, after seeing all the protests in europe at the start of the war and next to nothing in this country)
That's not really very true. There were very sizeable, albeit tame, protests throughout many US cities prior to the invasion of Iraq. The news mostly mentioned it in passing from how I remember it, but then again, I make it a point not to listen to mainstream news.

times-up.org is arranging legal support and replacement bikes for people who got arrested... if this sounds right to you, now would be a good time to donate bikes or $$.

I should point out that time's up and critical mass are limited to bike rights and don't have a specific election agenda.

P.S. the estimate of 100,000 (from the police, BTW) for Sunday's march is low. 3-400,000 would be more accurate. The organizers claimed 500,000.

Sorry about making it political I assumed that since the CM was taking place just before the RNC it was a political protest.

In Los Angeles we had protests of the war with well over 100,000 protesters. The papers and TV news would estimate the crowds to be 1/10th that. They also would only show the "extreme" protesters and completely ignored the "middle America" housewives, grandma's and grandpa's. It seems to me that they are afraid to show that there is a real face to the desent. If they only show the people burning flags and throwing rocks through Starbucks window's then it's "just a bunch of hotheads".

i just got home from the NYC critical mass (and a post critical mass couple of beers).
overall, there was a fun, positive vibe except for some disturbances, one which just almost ruined the night for me. So, as always, bikes were blocking off side streets so that cars didn't run rampant over the cyclists. At one sidestreet off of Houston st., a white Range Rover SUV was edging forward constantly, refusing to stay put. Finally, it started to bump into the cyclist who was blocking the street, and started pushing him. The cyclist lost balance and fell onto the ground, at which time the driver of the SUV deemed it permissable to RIDE OVER the cyclist. I could not believe that another human being would display such disregard for another's life and well-being... and for what? to be on time to a party? to get home to watch a favorite sitcom?
The back half of the cyclist's bike was crushed under the wheels of the car, and it seemed that the cyclist had gotten his legs injured somehow, but i couldn't tell. Many people were writing down the licence plate # of the car and some others chased it down... I have no idea how this event was resolved, but I just hope that that poor cyclist is okay (i heard later that he was taken away in an ambulance).

Despite the hero's welcome that the critical mass procession recieved on other streets throughout manhattan by throngs of pedestrians, it only took one sick individual to leave a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the night (an to send one brave, unlucky cyclist to the hospital).

anyway, i just had to get this off my chest. i won't try to vent my frustration (which is considerable), i think the event speaks for itself.
this is only my second critical mass, but now that i'm a fulltime NYC resident, I plan on attending each and every one (and the Brooklyn critical masses on the 2nd friday of every month).

I don't see single speed or fixed gear mentioned on anything here.

Read it again, William.

But we are the main demographic for that kind of activity and when was the last time you saw the road racer types talking about any of this stuff.

But we are the main demographic for that kind of activity and when was the last time you saw the road racer types talking about any of this stuff.

that demographic bull-pockey is the same stuff that brings idiots in here (like a certain headphone addict ) who don't ride a fixie/ss but who wanna ask us moronic questions about messenger bag color etc. because "you all ride FG/ss, you're those messenger-types." I think what WK was saying is; don't lump us in your demographic -- just because we ride the same bike as some of the protesters doesn't mean we care about a CM ride in NYC that went sour (unless it has something vaguely to do with your FG/SS). CM has nothing whatsoever to do with FG/ss, something i realized awhile ago. Fixie riders aren't the only people out at CM, that's for damn sure.

There's a thread in A&S, a thread in General, and a whole political forum where you can have these discussions... and you already are glomarduck. Leave it there, along with your "demographics"

you're right, this belongs more in advocacy. just got an IRO mark V, and so i've adopted the fixed forum as my own. mods, feel free to move post.

you're right, this belongs more in advocacy. just got an IRO mark V, and so i've adopted the fixed forum as my own. mods, feel free to move post.

NO there is all ready one of these there and it its out of control

I would love to know who made the decision to make Critical Mass a left wing political organization. I thought it was about bicycle advocacy?

I would love to know who made the decision to make Critical Mass a left wing political organization. I thought it was about bicycle advocacy?
How many old-rich-white-fat-bald people without ecologic foresight or a sense of social responsibility do you see riding in the CM's? Left-wing goes with the territory. Expecting anything else would be like hoping the 'young republicans' have a strong showing in the Berkeley student elections!

It just sucks that because of my politcal views I'm not welcome at CM. I would love to ride for bicycle advocacy but its just turned into another political protest organization and has nothing to do with bikes anymore. I'm 22 and white by the way. I'm not hoping for everyone to become Republican, you missed my point. I'm hoping for everyone to remember WHY CM exists in the first place and start riding because of bikes, not Bush.

I'm hoping for everyone to remember WHY CM exists in the first place and start riding because of bikes, not Bush.

From everything I've seen, Critical Mass is like Microsoft Windows. Great design goals... horrible design and implementation.

From everything I've seen, Critical Mass is like Microsoft Windows. Great design goals... horrible design and implementation.

Man did you ever give me a nice setup for a stab at liberals but I think I'll pass this time :D

I say move this to Advocacy, or Politics and Religion. I stopped going to the latter sub forum b/c it was like watching a group of six year olds try and share the coolest toy ever.
Personally, CM can die and be rebuilt as something less "patchouli and posing." Tall bikes at CM is cool to see, but whiny Socialists and jellyfish Liberals make me sick, just as much as jackboot Republicans. Hell, make CM a certified religion, it will be easier for me to hate.

so perhaps this is due to a fault in my observational abilities, but the two times i've been to critical mass, it has seemed like quite an amorphous beast, not aimed in any general or coherent political direction. maybe more so the first time. many different people from many, many different walks of life, people on cruisers, track bikes, crazy tri-bikes, full suspension mountain bikes, road bikes, tall bikes and even a few low-riders, only united by the fact that they were all cyclists. And while this time around there may have been occasional anti-bush chanting, more frequent were general pro-bike chants (and for gods sake, what the hell does "bikes not bush" mean?). my point is just that critical mass has yet to strike me as the exclusive domain of liberals and those who think like them. Its about bikes... right?

On contrast, Helsinki Critical Mass was a lot more low key affair yesterdy

pics here

http://www.kulma.net/liikennekampanja/historia/kuvat/cmkuvat.html

Its about bikes... right?

bike advocacy, which is where this discussion belongs.

bike advocacy, which is where this discussion belongs.

Well played, counselor. School start, yet? Did ya have fun playing dress-up at the courthouse?

How many old-rich-white-fat-bald people without ecologic foresight or a sense of social responsibility do you see riding in the CM's? Left-wing goes with the territory. Expecting anything else would be like hoping the 'young republicans' have a strong showing in the Berkeley student elections!


Do you have a hatred of bald and or white people?
How many left wing movie stars or producers fit your little category?
(old, fat, rich, white, bald)

Why should such a thread be moved away from its original forum?

I assume so that those whom are offended or wary of such politically slanted threads can 'ignore' or 'post freely' without ever having to read such things.

To this I say: NAY.

You are all citizens of the world welcome to participate or not. If you do not like the content of a post or thread move on...

This thread started and remains a healthy and vital discussion affecting those "fixed gear and single speed" patrons whom wish to participate in the Critical Mass and it's discussions. To ignore the political nature of the Critical Mass, Bike Advocacy, or even Fixed Gear advocacy is naive and undemocratic.

To this I say good day and happy discussions.

David J.

Do you have a hatred of bald and or white people?
How many left wing movie stars or producers fit your little category?
(old, fat, rich, white, bald)

You forget John Kerry who isn't old, white or rich... oh... wait... :p

Why does riding a bike and exercising even need to be political??

healthy and vital discussion affecting those "fixed gear and single speed" patrons

Avoiding healthy and vital discussion is the exact reason I visit this sub-forum. Stop ruining it.

Riding your bike and exercising do not have to be political.

Talking with other humans about things is inherently so.

I'm just trying to say that coming in contact with others and arguing and discussing is a political process whether you like it or not...feelings are shared, ideologies are deployed. Life is political. I'm more advocating the healthy back and forth that makes us human.
And yes, CM is very progressive in nature…and progressiveness has a tendency to be un-republican.

Enjoy!

David J.