I hate getting in internet pissing contests.....I can't sit this out. In fact, I'm upset about how fast people doubted Torrin and talked trash without knowing the whole story, but I'm more upset with our lack of community support.

We do have a lot of new riders or at least new people in the forum. All of us seem to be really opinionated, which I have come to expect people in here. In fact I have come to expect 2 things from people in SS/FG.
1. We all have something to say about anything and everything
2. We always take care of our own.
From when i was a messenger, I knew that no matter who's fault it was, if i saw a cyclist get into it with a car that I would rush to the cyclist's aid. If I ever see a cyclist in need, I help out. If a fixie rider comes in my shop and needs something I hook them up the best I can. Even right now with my broke hand, one of the fixie riders loaned me a car to get to my orthopedic appointment. WK has given me serious career advice, INKDWHEELS gave me my frist fixie and taught me everything I know about survivng on the streets on a bike. We built Nolageek a new bike after Hurricane Katrina. When Brandie (http://www.myspace.com/brandeleen) died in NYC we all felt that pain, we all feel the same rage for drivers who don't respect our lives. We are a community, a group rooted in culture and many of us are very new to this culture. Some of you I've known for 3 or four years only through internet contact and still consider you close personal friends whom I would do anything in my power to help. Torrin was one of the old school when I got here and his accident was the first I really saw people come together on here. Its sounds so stupid, but we will destroy part of what makes riding a fixed gear so great if we keep tearing each other down. So many of us seem more than willing to attack the character of a man we have never met and had no contact with. So many people seem willing to take sides based on a few articles instead of getting alot of insight into the history of the accident. If you dig through the forum at one point Torrin or someone close to him did report that his vision had been improving. Also from early on, there was a discussion as to how the legal case would play out considering how highly connected the driver was.
I guess I'm asking for solidarity. If you want to bicker and cast blame for other issues involved, I know safety and advocacy forum is all about blaming the cyclists for problems on the road or with their lives. For those attacking his legality, I just hope none of you ever run a red light or violate a single law because then we are just getting hypocritical (and we already are). I used to consider a large part of this forum like a family or network of close friends, now I feel like I couldn't trust alot of you to help me off the road after a hit and run.
Maybe I saw something in here or on the bike that wasn't really there, or ever will be or dissappeared along time ago. I can't help but most feel pity for those of you who come in here with a chip on your shoulder or an attitude of F*** everyone else or F**** this guy. I pity you because you miss one of the best parts of riding and of fixie culture, but no matter what I'd still back any of you up on the streets or in a courtroom and I'll mourn for everyone of us hurt and those tragically struck down because I was taught to do so. Torrin was one of the people who taught me that a few years ago and even if I hold issue with the way he may have handled certain things, it would never keep me from standing by his side.

"If the punks are united, they will never be divided"
-The Casualities

I've said my piece, I'm sure many will hold issue with it, some will hopefully agree and maybe some might even change their minds about some things. All I know now is that everyone of us will still be very opinionated. My hand hurts, I'm going to put my splint back on now.