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

Wow. I'm shocked at what I just saw. I'm not sure if it was sanctioned, but it was very, very poorly managed.

For about 10-15 minutes, hundreds of bikes flowed down 2 lanes of the street in front of our apartment. We are at a fairly big intersection for the area. When the light turned red for the bikes, they just kept on streaming. I think they kept streaming through somewhere between 5-10 cycles of the lights. During that time cars backed up because the bikes didn't stop. As the cars got pissed and started honking, the bikers just yelled and whistled and kept going. We did have a few cars eventually get pissed and slowly work their way through the bikes. Inevitably, someone on a bike would just fall over not having hit the car or even been near the car. At one point during a red light some guy came out and held his hands up and tried to stop the bikes. A few stopped and then started again, one fell over and the rest just flowed around him.

At what I think was the middle of the "parade" the bikes were straying into at least 1 and sometimes both of the oncoming lanes of the road.

At first, it seemed like a hoot, but as they kept streaming and the cars backed up more and more, I started to think they were a parade of douche nozzles. It was like they were being bullies. I kind of wish I'd been on the roof of the apt with a few hundred water balloons. Every time the light turned red and they ignored it, I think I'd have started throwing. I found myself wishing popped tires and skinned knees on them. Another fun thought was a large truck with one of those enormous, douchey train horns, just for the red light runners.

I didn't think to take video until it was nearly done, and managed to catch one of only 2 times that the bikes stopped for a red light.
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UPwwfKm-qrw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yep, that about sums it up.

That would have been the local Critical Mass ride. CM is not really my bag, but I am sympathetic. Cars dominate everything, all the time - you can live with the inconvenience for an hour once a month.

I just found out what this was.

Critical Mass Houston

Apparently, it's a monthly bike ride in Houston. They've got a set of "commandments". Unfortunately, a couple of big ones get ignored.

<a href="http://www.criticalmasshouston.com/" target="_new" title="Critical Mass Houston"><img src="http://www.criticalmasshouston.com/wp-content/uploads/critical-mass-commandments.jpg" alt="Critical Mass Houston"></a>

Pphlbt! I thought it was pretty cool when I first saw it. I'm even OK with them taking up both lanes in the direction that they are riding. But riding in the lanes for the oncoming traffic and completely ignoring the traffic lights is BS.

Honestly, I'd have even been OK with them ignoring the lights assuming they had motorcycle cops at each intersection like you see with a funeral procession.

They do rides here in Phoenix with 200+ bikes. They'll shut down full intersections and do circle wheelies... Those are the guys who give bikes a bad name, but at the same time projects the outlaw outlook...

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

I figured they were headed to Sturgis.... :)

Sorry, but I find that to be a pretty selfish attitude. If you ever wonder why society seems to be as sh tty as it is, that is one of the reasons why, IMO. Flame away.

Bicycle riders and cross country skiers = Selfish Arrogance

I agree. Not a lot of things get me pissed-off, but having my lawful freedom of movement impeded by a throng of inconsiderate show-offs would do the trick. I'd be very tempted to lay on my horn and roll on through when I got the green.

What on earth would make you think cyclists are so put upon by motorists? Motorists are forced to bend over backwards to accommodate cyclists who are, for the most part, essentially just playing in the street. We give you special bike lanes, the absolute right of way, and are immediately found to be "at fault" in any incident involving cyclists, even when you are clearly at fault.

You post speaks to the lack of maturity and the absolute self-centeredness so prevalent in cyclists today. Keep it up - there are far, far more motorists than cyclists, and one day we will have had enough. You'll be reduced to riding in the skateparks with the rest of the losers on their skateboards.

There's never a cop around when you need one.

One of the mantras by which I try to lead my life is: Don't be a dick.

Regardless of whether what you're doing is legal or not (and particularly if it's not), if it's going to be dickish behavior (as construed by societal norms), then don't do it. This was dickish behavior.

Only about 3 people managed that.

There was one, he came to the light as they were running the red. He hit his lights and they just kept going, so then he hit his siren, and they stopped long enough to let him pass and then they started up again. I was flabbergasted that he didn't do anything about it, but then I guess he was hopefully, going to a call.

Cyclists, not bikers.

Sorry, but the roads weren't built for a bunch of spandex clad douchebags to recreate.

I'll show them the same respect when they have to pay the same fees for using the same roads as a motor vehicle. They seem to be an entitled bunch of d-bags.

Good idea. But base registration fees on vehicle weight.
When the data is calculated corresponding to theoretical damage to a public road surface, this would amount to about nil.

Never rode in a CM but they got a point.
They are people. A lot of living/voting/spending people who want better alternative transportation options.
Commuting 5 miles on a bike is very different than a car. Instead of a busted bumper or a flat tire from a pot hole it could be death.
It is a social protest and those will always be full of jackhats.

But it is something to consider as long term policy:
The number of commuters increase.
The number of roadways stay the same.