Wow, just saw something that made me want to run a bunch of bikers down

[jyl]

It is a variant of civil disobedience.

Protest marches, demonstrations, sit-ins also break laws and briefly inconvenience people. But usually onlookers don't say they want to ram their cars into a protest march, or crush demonstrators with their SUVs.

The reason why some onlookers get so bent out of shape about a critical mass ride is because some drivers feel entitled to use the roads without having to slow or wait for cyclists (or pedestrians), and some people get prone to anger when their driving entitlement is threatened (aka road rage). Critical mass rides push those buttons, which is kind of the point, many of the participants would say.

I don't go on those critical mass rides myself, because we don't have them in Portland. I think we used to, but bikes became accepted enough by drivers that the perceived need for this sort of in your face demonstration kind of went away. We've had a couple of demonstration/protest rides this past summer, one where a cyclist had his leg torn off by a truck turning left in front of him (left cross), and another where a cyclist was killed by the same maneuver. But it's not a regular thing in Portland anymore.

I remember there used to be these critical mass rides a lot in San Francisco, back in the 80/90s. Back then the city was very hostile to cyclists, drivers and city officials alike, and the cyclists fought back with pretty aggressive riding (especially the bike messengers). Now you see bike lanes, commuting cyclists, bike share, etc all over downtown SF, and everything seems quite peaceful.

My guess is that a city will see regular critical mass type protest rides at a certain stage in the development of biking there - when there are a lot of cyclists, but the city, roads, and drivers are still quite hostile to bikes. Eventually everyone moves past that stage.

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by Otter74

Cars dominate everything, all the time - you can live with the inconvenience for an hour once a month.

So the rest of the month they're free game??

I absolutely hate it when they ride on the road next to each other, blocking traffic.
Then they have a BS excuse that the bikelane is not smooth enough for their overinflated thin tubes...
Who the F cares? If the road is not up to my liking, I am not taking my car up the bikelane, am I??
If your bike is not suited for the bumpy bikelane, get a ******* mountainbike, douchebags.
Rant over, sorry.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by jyl

It is a variant of civil disobedience.

Protest marches, demonstrations, sit-ins also break laws and briefly inconvenience people. But usually onlookers don't say they want to ram their cars into a protest march, or crush demonstrators with their SUVs.

The reason why some onlookers get so bent out of shape about a critical mass ride is because some drivers feel entitled to use the roads without having to slow or wait for cyclists (or pedestrians), and some people get prone to anger when their driving entitlement is threatened (aka road rage). Critical mass rides push those buttons, which is kind of the point, many of the participants would say.

Sorry, but I'm not convinced. I still think it's selfishness, not civil disobedience.

This isn't an organized protest where the organizers take the time to secure proper police escorts, road closures, and such, like Armenians recently did a few months back to protest their Genocide at the hands of the Turks. And they're not protesting some sort of noble human rights violations like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr in the 60s. The "right" to ride a bike on city streets cannot be compared to equal rights for all races/ethnicities/genders.

If you want to promote cycling, do something like CycLAvia, an annual event here in Los Angeles where the city closes down a major thoroughfare (like Ventura Blvd this year or Sunset Blvd in the past) for a day. Or how Boston closes down Storrow Dr. every summer Sunday in Cambridge for pedestrian/bike/rollerblade use. This is a bunch of (angry?) people/cyclists getting together and acting like antisocial hoodlums, using boorish behavior to intimidate others (cages in this case).

What happens when you see a horde of guys on motorcycles (usually sport bikes) infamously doing the same thing in urban areas? Are those guys protesting for the civil rights of bikers? Or just acting like selfish children?

I've commuted to work by bike before (when I lived in Boston). I'm not naive to how motorized vehicles ignore the safety of cyclists on city streets. But I'm not sure being a jerk in return (and inconveniencing/pissing off a lot of innocent cagers in the process) is the right way to go about settling things or making a constructive statement.

[Jrboulder]

I wonder if these douche bags ever try this attitude around busy railroad crossings

Edit: yes they do
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/29549240/metra-bnsf-trains-stopped-after-pedestrian-hit-near-berwyn

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by jyl

The reason why some onlookers get so bent out of shape about a critical mass ride is because some drivers feel entitled to use the roads without having to slow or wait for cyclists (or pedestrians), and some people get prone to anger when their driving entitlement is threatened (aka road rage). Critical mass rides push those buttons, which is kind of the point, many of the participants would say.

Ummmm, that's sort of why the roads were built. People were tired of transportation via horse, bike, and walking. The roads don't exist for your exercise, they were not only built for vehicles but also paid for by vehicles. So the sense of entitlement is on the part of bikers, they feel they should be able to have the same rights without payment or purpose.

And I'm sorry, but seriously inconveniencing people that have nothing to do with the "cause" is not something noble or civil disobedience. Making people late for work is a disrespectful douchebag move.

[masraum]

Critical Mass Houston is a casual bike ride starting from downtown Houston and going wherever. Cars rule the road every day, but one day a month we get together to celebrate our love for bicycles and have fun riding our bikes. This is generally a slow-paced ride where persons of all skill levels can participate. People start gathering around 6:30 and we roll out around 7:15pm. We’re usually at our final location between 9:30 – 10pm, and each time we try to finish some place fun and hang out for a while.

Meet up on the last Friday of the month between 6:30 – 7PM at the Historical Market Square Park at 301 Milam in downtown. It happens every month, rain or shine. We’re pretty easy to spot, just look for the thousands of bicycles.

I'm still looking for the civil disobedience or protest angle.

We got this downtown earlier this year. Dedicated bike lanes painted bright green and lined with huge rubber bumps. When the traffic lights turn green, there is a bicycle specific green light that goes green for 3-5 seconds before the regular lights go green to give the bikes the opportunity to get through the intersection before the cars.
New Green Bike Lanes Downtown

[masraum]

This is Texas, everything is big here. Streets are usually big and wide with huge shoulders. Sidewalks are usually big and wide. There's generally plenty of room. I get a little frustrated, but I don't really mind when I come up behind someone on a bicycle with their head down making time on a ride in the right lane. I do get a little grumpy when it's a few folks on those rented bikes tooling along at a walking pace with no goal.

I see bikes on the road all of the time now that I'm living near downtown. I'm sure not everyone is courteous to them, but I've never seen any issues.

I also notice that 90% of the time, folks on bikes blow through red lights and disregard traffic laws. So it seems to me like what they want is for them to only have to worry about the rules of the road that they like.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Bicycle riders and cross country skiers = Selfish Arrogance

snickering at you....
What the heck comment is this about?

[scottmandue]

I'm forming my own critical mass... in this case we will be motorist driving in bike lanes... who is in?

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by masraum

This is Texas, everything is big here. Streets are usually big and wide with huge shoulders. Sidewalks are usually big and wide. There's generally plenty of room. I get a little frustrated, but I don't really mind when I come up behind someone on a bicycle with their head down making time on a ride in the right lane. I do get a little grumpy when it's a few folks on those rented bikes tooling along at a walking pace with no goal.

I see bikes on the road all of the time now that I'm living near downtown. I'm sure not everyone is courteous to them, but I've never seen any issues.

I also notice that 90% of the time, folks on bikes blow through red lights and disregard traffic laws. So it seems to me like what they want is for them to only have to worry about the rules of the road that they like.

Steve- I'm an avid cyclist but have never participated in this type of activity. Matter of fact, I'm rather selective who and what kind of group rides to with. Also know a lot of LEO's and whom some are amateur racers. Decent guys but really have bad road cycling manners. In cap's - APPALLING!

Anyways, just last evening out with the misses, we're in the car awaiting our turn at 4 way stop intersection. A popular area for cyclist and designated bike route. Speed limit in this zone is 30 mph. An azzhat in work van came blowing thru - NO STOP - and would estimate doing 50 mph! Fortunately no one was hit and there were no cyclist near. I cringed.

[patz]

I don't ride or drive in groups. Too many idiots, but I do drive/ride armed.

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by Red88Carrera

No, I can't. Do bike riders have the right of way I am not aware of?

Cyclists are holier than thou.

[dad911]

Tired of cyclists attitudes around here. Rode bikes childhood through teen years, as did my friends, safely on the roads because even though we may have had the right of way, we respected vehicular traffic.

Around here, country roads, almost every weekend I come across cyclists riding side by side, blocking passing for miles.

Just last week, one lane was closed due to construction, workers at each end regulating groups of cars to take turns. Cyclist blows through the flagger, against traffic, forcing us to the cones and workers.

[yetibone]

Cyclists in groups of 50 or more are a problem on our two lane rural roads around here. On the weekends, there will be one, or two large groups, then stragglers every few hundred yards in both directions. Safe, and legal passing opportunities are limited, and the larger groups sometimes have riders on, or left of center.

Sometimes the riders group back up at a crossroads, or T intersection and don't always feel inclined to step off the tarmac in order to allow automobile traffic their due space. I've personally had a near collision with another car because I had to make a right at a T intersection with my wheels straddling the center line, while a car was trying to make a left onto the road I was turning off of.

I never see riders stop at stop signs, most rarely use hand signals, and many of them totally disregard all of the other much heavier, and much faster vehicles on the road. My impression is that they would very much welcome the opportunity to have a collision with a motor vehicle, so as to be a martyr to their colleagues, and an example of their cause that seeks to villify all operators of motor vehicles.


My position is this: cyclists who follow the traffic rules, are courteous to motorists by staying to the right as far as safely possible, who fall into single file lines to allow motorists to pass when there's an opportunity, use signals when turning, and when it's safe to pass will get my respect, and my concessions to aid in their safe travel on our roads. Cyclists that want to assert their misplaced authority of the roads, and show a gross lack of self respect by not staying as much out of the way of a 4000 lb, 55 mph motor vehicle as is possible, or try to argue that their rights to the use of the roads are above those of motorists will get nothing more than mockery, ridicule, and total disrespect from me. Period.

[intakexhaust]

On behalf of some cyclist, there's rules and permissions unlike a motor vehicle has. Problem is, motorist are unaware of those permissions.

Classic example is the Iowa stop. If there's no motor vehicles at a 4 way stop, cyclist may ride through. (There's some further and detail term's, but basically its permitted.)

Then again, look at the faces of car drivers visiting CA. Ex. Legal lane splitting for motorcycles. Car drivers freak out, and yes some are malicious.
I laugh at how many times someone tells me and how crazy we motorcyclist are, especially when in CA.

And back to the Midwest metro pop. cities / burbs. (Illinois likes to spend millions on making road signs of every type.... such signs to remind its not permitted to urinate in public, etc..) Anyways, some roads have signs for no left turns or road usage during 'X' busy time of the day... rush hour, etc., school bus zone only. Stinko GPS isn't aware of this either. Cops like to make revenue on those who like these short cut roads. Though bicycles are permitted using these routes even at those non-vehicle use hours. I've had car drivers scream and holler to stress levels I only wish they would collapse from...lol.

[Baz]

I'm an avid cyclist and one thing that really bothers me is when I can't hear a motor vehicle approaching from behind.

I admit my hearing isn't what it used to be.

So I implore all motor vehicle operators to please consider installing a nice loud horn such as this one....and please use it liberally as it will very much help awareness for cyclists like myself that are not always aware we are not alone on the roads.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

[Gogar]

Critical Mass Houston is a casual bike ride starting from downtown Houston and going wherever. Cars rule the road every day, but one day a month we get together to celebrate our love for bicycles and have fun riding our bikes.

Sweet!!!! I'm gonna start a movement called CRITICAL ASS because I don't agree with age-of-consent laws. One day a month we get together and celebrate our love for teenage girls and have fun riding our tykes.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

On behalf of some cyclist, there's rules and permissions unlike a motor vehicle has. Problem is, motorist are unaware of those permissions.

Classic example is the Iowa stop. If there's no motor vehicles at a 4 way stop, cyclist may ride through. (There's some further and detail term's, but basically its permitted.)
.....

Not in NJ.

From NJ Bicycle Manual:
An intersection is controlled if there are traffic signals or signs in any direction. A bicyclist must obey the signals and signs.

Red Light - A bicyclist must stop before the intersection or crosswalk and
remain stopped until the light changes to green.
Yellow Light - A bicyclist should stop before entering the intersection or
crosswalk, unless his/her bicycle is so close to the intersection that it
cannot be stopped safely. A yellow arrow means the signal is changing
from green to red and gives the bicyclist a chance to stop safely.

Traffic signals, signs and road markings are set up to control the flow
of traffic, making streets and highways safer for motorists, bicyclists
and pedestrians. Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic signals, signs
and road markings.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by jyl

It is a variant of civil disobedience.

But why? Holding up traffic and breaking laws is going to make people more courteous to bicyclist?

When I'm out riding a bike or a motorcycle it is just common sense to give right of way to two tons of much less maneuverable steel.

I don't get this new entitlement where bicyclists and skateboarder's think they own the road.

As has been said, many or most major cities have sanctioned bike rides where they shut down the streets for bicyclist.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Critical Mass Houston is a casual bike ride starting from downtown Houston and going wherever. Cars rule the road every day, but one day a month we get together to celebrate our love for bicycles and have fun riding our bikes.

Sweet!!!! I'm gonna start a movement called CRITICAL ASS because I don't agree with age-of-consent laws. One day a month we get together and celebrate our love for teenage girls and have fun riding our tykes.

Gogar, genius. Hilarious. You are a rock n roller aren't you. Hahahah