now i'm kinda glad i got lazy and stayed home. This is why everyone needs to vote and get sorry a$$ mike out of office. don't know how much that'd help but it's something we can control if we all chipped in and do our part.

Who made the executive decision to end critical mass in NY? Does anyone know of a official statement made by the city? I just dont understand how an extremely effective non-violent protest turns into "reckless operation of [a] bicycle." Are they actually trying to discourage people from riding all together. What happens when national/city bike day falls on the last friday of the month (if that's possible)?

Indeed - and we don't just need to get rid of Mike, we need to be actively letting other cantidates know that this issue matters by showing up at their campaign events and asking questions in public. I've already seen a little bit of this kind of thing in the press... but far from enough! It also wouldn't hurt to write / fax your senator and ask them to get behind the proposed Senate investigation into police tactics at the time of the RNC... With a little luck and a lot of pressure, there's a chance we can even get Smolka dismissed and/or indicted for his role in that whole fiasco!

You should get in contact with the national lawyers guild. I am sure they will have some good advice at they very least.

thanks lockdown, will do.

Who ever would have thought when you ride a bike you now become a criminal..

It was an executive decision when it became political. CM was never seen as a political threat before the RNC convention. When you have people using CM as a vehicle for political objectives, then you got to think of the consequences. I'm not blaming or pointing fingers but riding a bike has or never will have anything to do with politics. I will sorely miss the peaceful CMs of yore.

true that. it isnt fun anymore, when you constantly have to be on the look out for police and people are all watching out for themselves, instead of for the group as a whole. it makes the ride much more dangerous for cyclists. i was reading a little bit of history on cm, and it seems that cm in san fran came to a head with violence and police action in 1997. perhaps it is the ebb and flow of cm?

**** hit the fan in portland Oregon with CM during the start of the war. People getting arrested and ticketed and beat up etc. Eventually the response was to form "alternative" CM's where we would organize a hush hush location via word of mouth. The cops never caught on and sometimes we would even see the normal CM ahead being "escorted" by cops.
Sooner or later NYC CM was gonna go down...just be glad it was later then some. New tactics need to be devised. If you dont want to ride with the main group get some friends together and ride around town at the same time. Many scattered groups can have the same message.

"I'm not blaming or pointing fingers but riding a bike has or never will have anything to do with politics."

You are sorely mistaken about Critical Mass not ever having been political before the RNC. For one, every CM rider defines the meaning of the event individually. In an case, there is a political aspect to everything we do. Politics means making choices and we make choices every day. I don't just choose to ride my bike, I choose to ride my bike instead fo driving a car. It's a choice with meaning to the world hence a political one.

By the way, check out the Freewheels website for more NYC Critical Mass info.
https://www.bicycledefensefund.org

I think you're missing a little bit of the point. Even if we agree that, as you say, everything one does is a 'political' decision (NOT all people will agree with that), I think many people who support the idea of promoting visibility and popularity of non-motorized transportation DON'T necessarily participate in CM in order to get into direct/aggressive/violent conflict with any authorities. Witness the previous posters who decided to sit this last one out. I personally have never gone, because the friends I have in SF who participate, deliberately go to practice 'revolution.' Most people I've met who participate in the events on a normal basis would be self-described 'revolutionaries,' as opposed to 'liberals.' The difference is that the former category is ideally looking to piss off and/or disrupt the status quo of civil society. I believe these people have their place, but I have always thought it was disingenuous to say that you're only 'abiding by the law,' and at the same time approaching the event with the implicit intent of disrupting the normal rhythms of urban society. And PS, we can't ignore the fact that the event also has a certain gravity for general mischief-making delinquents: I was outside of a bike shop on 14th st. on Friday, and a bunch of BMX twits rode by on the sidewalk, among all of the pedestrian traffic. I shouted at them to get off the sidewalk and one turned around and flipped me off. They were headed for Union Square. As a cyclist, those kinds of people infuriate and frustrate me, and I definitely do NOT share any 'political' attitudes with them.

I know that the police tactics have been unjust and unfair, but it's not like Bloomberg hates cyclists: he's been promoting and improving cycling in the city since he got into office. He's simply responding to the issue in the same, businessman's way that he responds to ALL problems: maintain order via the most efficient way possible. In this case, stifle the upstarts and deal with the legal consequences later. And by the way, as far as a political issue goes, I think that this is a tiny flea for him. Most people, other than the CM'ers, just don't care what Bloomberg does about it, as long as he keeps order in the city.

Cost-benefit analysis from my POV: CM is hurting the image of cyclists in the city about as much as delivery guys. And if you want sympathy from the general public, and to encourage a broader participation, you'll be sure to make it clear that you're a movement of fellow citizens, and act as if you are (both before AND after events), not a horde led by 'revolutionaries.'

The catch is, people I know who are 'revolutionaries,' ultimately just don't give a rat's-a$$ about anybody who doesn't align with their politics. So in essence, they're not really trying all that hard to persuade anyone out there. They don't think that they have their place, they think everyone else has no place. Kind of reminds me of some people way back called themselves 'Bolsheviks.'


iViva la Revolución! iViva Ché!

CM has always been about hanging out with friends and checking out everyones bikes "for me". No more, no less. I still ride the last Friday of every month. as well as everyday. I just don't need to call it anything.

Do you also have unprotected, premarital sex because you're taking a stance against Catholicism?

I masturbate for hands' rights!

Viva les HANDS!

One of my friends was arrested at the NYC CM.

here's her account of what went down:

"Hey, I, along with two other bostonians were arrested in NYC for participating in the critical mass. We know that many more than 18 people were cuffed, arrested, and held in prision. i was number 29, and have an arraignment in NY with others on June 7th. The charges will most likely be parading without a permit and at least one count of disorderly conduct. We were given violation, but this will undoubtedly be a big hassle. All of the bikes of those who were arrested were kept as "arrest evidence" and might not be given back untill all charges are dropped (at earliest in June).T here are NY orgs that are helping us to get our bikes back sooner, but this might not work. We spent about 3.5 hours in jail, and no bail was involved. I know that at least 3 paddywagons full of captives were taken, 11 were in mine. Some minor wrist injuries were caused by cuffs, and some property was stolen (form me personally 10 pins and my helmet). It was clear that the police were arresting at randokm untill all wagons were full. myself and the two others i was with were arrested even though we were sitting on a stoop on the sidewalk with our helmets off and our bikes next to us. While it could have been at lot worse, it still sucks and we appreciate the support form our home city.

love,
[name removed]"

First, who do you know that is lame enough to refer to themselves as "revolutionaries" (names should be named)? Are they talking about their wheels? Second, the "status quo of civil society" is definitely not 1. liberal 2. made up of people who ride their bikes, so it is, by default, about disrupting the status quo. If everyone rode bikes instead of driving, then critical mass would just be called 'traffic.' FixedFiend: I'm all about checking out other kids bikes, but CM is most definitely not about checking out other kids bikes.

Some of my best friends are hands!

I'm sorry to hear that Boston, I really hope she gets her bike back soon. It's soo ugly right now in NYC.

I was arrested in March and it did suck very much.

Don't worry about your bike, it took 4 days to get my bike back with the help of Gideon Oliver,. Esq. and my fellow volunteers at Times-up.

Just make sure that you take a good look at your bike before you leave the wharehouse in greenpoint, they are not "gental" with them.