Rile yourself up some more as the LAPD supports Critical Mass...
 

http://la.streetsblog.org/2010/06/16...dazz-the-lapd/

Mmm-hmm. If the LAPD figures they're going to weed out mischief makers, they might as well arrest the entire CM group and be done with it :lol:

Sounds as if someone in the LAPD's PR department is a CM'er.

-Kurt

And you believe the claims of LAPD?

Lets not be too skeptical. This could be a genuine olive branch. Let's see what happens on the 25th

Oh, please. This is the LAPD for crying out loud. The only reason they would be holding an olive branch is to hit you upside the head with it.

Why extend the olive branch to Critical Mass, of all things?


Considering what type of effects Critical Mass has on motorist perceptions of cyclists, we could only hope that such is the outcome.

-Kurt

"We"? Who else besides YOURSELF do YOU think YOU represent?

Your use of "we" on this list is especially silly since you post so much trolling tripe (like this OP) ridiculing the other posters on this list.

i dont own a car, yet every time i see cm ride here in mpls, with they behave, i want to get a big diesel truck and run them all over. i think the irresponsible riders, make the whole group look bad. the cagers dont see us as separate parts of a collective, they see us as one big group. the dirty west bank hipster, sporting the blah blah blah, doing the salmon weave uptraffic stream, brings the group down, as a whole, imo.

Hopefully, not you.

-Kurt

Heck, riled up? whatever for?

LAPD will probably do the corking!

I believe a few years back, there was a ride, not CM, but a decent sized ride during some kind of big event(Don't remember what it was).
The LAPD picked up on it and sent a few motorcycle officers to lead them safely through the crowded streets and red lights. One officer took them through a tight construction area(the kind in big cities with a little plywood wall seperating the street, making it a narrow corridor).

Out of nowhere the officer in front blocked the exit and and officer in back blocked it as well. Don't remember all what went down, but I think I remember hearing people getting tickets and arrested.

Does anybody remember this? I think it may have been a young adult group ride.

I would imagine that most police departments see Critical Mass as a problem that they would like to deal with, but are keenly aware of the political cost of doing so. (The laws that are broken are generally pretty minor, and many eyes and cameras will be on whatever the police do, and many of the riders are active politically and will cause problems for the police if they're riled up.)

Announcing in a public way that they're going to join the ride (and then doing so) seems like a pretty good plan, as long as they generally leave things alone and don't use it as an opportunity to try to arrest the entire mass or something along those lines.

And really, if the mass wanted to screw up the police's plan, they could simply change something -- instead of one mass, have the mass break up into several groups if it's big enough. Or have the mass start two hours early. Or two hours late -- screw with the police's staffing.

I'll be watching the news for how it turned out ...

We (you and me) are in agreement on that.

Feel free to answer the question (Who do YOU think YOU represent when YOU use the word "we" on this list?) when YOU think of an intelligent response, rather than a snappy but evasive retort.

Undercover cops are all over the Chicago CM ride, on bikes, no booze or drugs is tolerated. Kinda funny to read how some self-hating cyclists get their panties all bunched up over CM. I suppose they would have aimed the fire hoses and held the dog's leases in Selma too....

How are you enjoying those bike lanes in Florida?

I haven't gone to CM in a long time, but I might go to this one. I know some people that want to try and get everyone to behave well. If they get LAPD on CM's side then this may be a good thing.

They don't want CM to run red lights. Well, if people don't run the lights then there will a bunch of smaller groups causing more traffic congestion. Maybe LAPD will pick up on this and start corking for CM. With the cops corking for CM it may send a message to motorists, maybe. The chief of police seems to be on the side of cyclists, so who knows what will happen.

As a matter of fact, you can blame most of the BL's in the City of Miami on the local Saturday Critical Mass group - which is indirectly sponsored by the city. They lobbied for bicycle facilities, and blindly accepted bike lanes going anywhere. Sharrows? Half of them don't understand the concept.

-Kurt

"you can blame most of the bikelanes in the city of miami on the local saturday critical mass group - which is indirectly sponsored by the city"

what an innovative perspective!

Oh for ****s sake. You aren't comparing cyclists to those who struggled for civil rights because of the color of their skin, are you?

Well, Mr. Bikelaneologist, before you trumpet that viewpoint, you might find it interesting that the City of Miami often stripes their bike lanes on sidewalks.

-Kurt

naw, we dont hate ourselves, we just hate the riding style you represent. :p

Or, they could go after the real trouble-makers in L.A. and arrest most of the LAPD.

My two favorite ignore listers posted replies, let me guess, they're in a tizzy, panties in full-bunched mode! As a wise felon once said, "Can't all just get along?" ;)

I've witnessed bike cops attending a couple of urban group rides in NC. Guess what? They cork the intersections for the rest of the participants, and sometimes even open the signal cabinets to turn the signals green!

If cyclists want empathy and support for safe and lawful cycling in groups, the participation of cops on bikes is a good thing.

anyway, this is what some people want to turn this month's CM into and I like it

"As some of you may know, the LAPD will be riding with Critical Mass on the 25th of June.

Please see this flyer for more info - http://lacbc.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/page0001.jpg

At the ride start of the Critical Mass on June 25th, there will be a faction of people, including myself, who will be encouraging something we are currently calling, "Project Civil Obedience", in which all cyclists will demonstrate what it means for 1000+ riders to obey all road rules. That includes stopping at every red light. We will also be encouraging mass riders to cooperate in choosing a destination to ride to so that they can reunite if they get separated by red lights from the main group. The plan will be to get to the destination within 45 minutes (a reasonable riding time frame).

If everyone participates in this idea by consensus, the result will be that all participants will be free to travel in any direction they need to reach the destination. Some groups may get broken up by red lights. However, we will all be demonstrating that WE ARE TRAFFIC by following all road rules to the LAPD and the rest of the public.

There may be some old school traditionalist Critical Mass veterans that may be opposed to this idea. However, CM was designed to be improved cooperatively. There are no leaders here, just a mass of riders who are working together to improve the image and effect that CM can have in our city.

Please pass this cooperative idea along, join in encouraging others at the ride, or contribute to the discussion here and on other forums.

See you at Los Angeles Critical Mass!"

Critical Mass lobbied for nothing. Critical Mass exists for 2 to 3 hours a month, when a group of cyclists coalesce for a ride. And then it stops existing. It's not like a political party where there are members and an agenda. But you were confused over the difference between a driveway and an MUP, so I won't be surprised if this is lost on you. :(