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 @ https://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

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

https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/...est/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.

https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/28/po...28protest.html

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!

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

https://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 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.

Leaving the Republicans! Getting Fixed! Welcome brother.

Yeah, but they were all libs...

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.