Gothamist: Critical Mass Ride Tonight

Pissed off

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:29:09 -0500

I'm going to break the head lights of the next Hummer I see, and then I'm going to go stick a nightstick up a cop's ass. In fact, I think instead of Critical Mass, the last Friday of the month should be "Beat the Shit Out of a Cop Day". Who's with me?

David Charles

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 16:38:55 -0500

Nice post, bk_ck. Well said. BTW, I actually saw a cop ticketing drivers who were double-parked in the 6th ave. bike lane last month. He was moving! He'd write a ticket, zoom around me and get the next offender. He did three before I passed him for good. I smiled and thanked him as I went by.

Rockabike

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:02:02 -0500

Kids, VTL §1234, which states that you must ride by the right-hand curb and no more than two abreast DOES NOT APPLY IN NEW YORK CITY . It is specifically superseded by 34 RCNY 4-02 (e). Another common one they cite CM riders with is failure to ride in a Bike Lane, yet in NYC, you are NOT required to ride in the bike lane. —34 RCNY 4-12(p)(1) states that bicyclists should ride in usable bike lanes, unless they are preparing to turn, or are avoiding unsafe conditions (including but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, pushcarts, animals, surface hazards). Check out the Freewheels website. More info and less arm-chair quarterbacking, please! http://bicycledefensefund.org/bikelaw.html

doc

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 12:31:43 -0500

It seems the "Critical" in "Critical Mass" stands for "critical condition."

SUV rules!

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 12:03:12 -0500

I want to see more cops, more fines, arrests and more head busting on stinkin' cyclists who get out of line. Make way for my Hummer, losers.

Gwin

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 12:00:38 -0500

Well said, bk_ck. I personally haven't done the CM ride since the RNC one (which was amazing) because I don't want to get hurt/arrested by the cops simply for being a law-abiding cyclist taking part in a group ride.

Kojak

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:58:37 -0500

"and really, who gives a fuck about critical mass riding once a month? what's the big deal?" You're 100% right. It’s not a big deal at all. But there seems to be a lot of passionate bicycle enthusiasts who are regulars on Gothamist, so it tends to pop up here more then other blogs. Careful though. Badmouth cycling and one of them will pop out of nowhere and bite off your nuts, because it really is THAT important.

bk_ck

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:55:00 -0500

once upon a time, critical mass was a fun, carefree monthly social gathering for city cyclists who, more often than not, travel alone through hostile city streets surrounded by careless auto traffic and constantly threatened by jaywalking pedestrians. Then came the RNC and the wild police over-reaction, and suddenly it became illegal to gather with a group of like-minded citizens and travel in the same direction around the city. Suddenly, critical mass, which happened here in nyc for 8 years and in hundreds of cities around the world with few negative incidents, became an excuse to harrass people who don't buy into the gas guzzling consumer mass mind that is american culture, to arrest otherwise normal, law abiding people, and to COVERTLY SPY ON (AND VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAGH) PEOPLE WHO'S ONLY "CRIME" IS TO BELIEVE THAT RIDING A BIKE IS A GOOD IDEA AND SOMETHING THAT MORE PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL SAFE AND COMFORTABLE DOING. It's a shame. Once upon a time, people could bring there children to critical mass and ride safely with hundreds of other cyclists on streets that would otherwise be life threatening for inexpereinced riders. Once upon a time, people looked forward to riding freely, expressing their joy in riding bikes, and making a little statement to the world that things don't have to be the way they are. Now, even "hardcore" cyclists and "diehard" freedom-of-speech advocates have to ask themselves, "is it worth it?" BTW, is anyone else at all curious about how much NYPD has spent enforcing this *serious* threat to our *homeland security*? ("*" to indicate sarcasm...)

CLM

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:53:04 -0500

In NYS, the law is that cyclists may not ride more than two abreast. The idea being that they would then take up the approximate width of a car. --k True of NYS, but expressly NOT true in NYC. NYCDOT's vehicle traffic rules explicitly set aside that chapter or NYS traffic law - so in the 5 boros, there's no legal restriction saying cyclists can't be more than two abreast. Misstating the law isn't going to help anyone.

bicycling kills!

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:35:30 -0500

i rode by the ghost bike yesterday on houston street where that kid was killed a few days ago. that's my route home every day. i had no idea it was right at that intersection. and a guy just got killed by a NYPD tow truck while he was on west side bike path. the cops are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes for the disregard that drivers have for bicyclists and pedestrians. people seem to think it is more important to run a red light so they can zoom ahead to the next red light than the fact that somebody's life hangs in the balance. and really, who gives a fuck about critical mass riding once a month? what's the big deal? has anyone ever tried to leave the city on a friday? trust me, the 4 hour gridlock to get an hour an a half from manhattan is not caused by a few kids on track bikes. bloomberg has a bug up his ass about anyone who challenges his godlike authority. the cops are only happy to oblige and use cyclists as their punching bags. it's total bullshit and they are flat out bullies.

Michael Green

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:33:42 -0500

Check out updates on Memorial ride and other bike events at www.bikeblog.blogspot.com

enjoy the ride

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:32:44 -0500

It's a holiday weekend, surely there won't be that much traffic. why does this City always has to bust balls?

drewo

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:29:57 -0500

the average New Yorker is getting screwed Yes, the average New Yorker is getting screwed. The avg. NYer doesn't own a car, but pays for others to drive their cars across our bridges and use our highways. The avg. NYer has to deal with the noise, pollution and chaos brought about by excessive and unnecessary automobile use. So riding bicycles for a tiny fraction of the month on a Friday night on a handful of city streets is a small way for the avg. NYer to reclaim a public space that is the avg. NYer's right.

Serpico

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:29:18 -0500

Can't do that, the NYPD exam is set up so anyone can pass. (you're hired even if you have a misdemeanor) not to mention the good ole boy network of giving you the answers before the exam. they know the question before the answer. But then the City knows this and pays them the starting salary of what? Nothing will change, sorry to say.

Margo

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:22:57 -0500

Critical Mass is not the problem. The few folks who spoil things for Critical Mass do not represent the event, just like the one (or two or three) folks who post ridiculous items on the comments pages do not represent all of Gothamist.com's readership. I vote that cops be given psychological testing every month to determine their mentail ability to not fly off the handle. If you fail, you get desk duty until you complete a series of anger management training sessions. Heck, maybe a few of you could benefit from that!

mrf

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:15:17 -0500

Critical Mass has been going on for how many years? And things have not improved at all. Maybe it's time to consider a different approach. As long as the juvenile us-vs-them mentality dominates nothing is going to get better. At this point, neither Critical Mass nor the NYPD has the common interest in mind, so the average New Yorker is getting screwed while a pointless drama plays out.

Myszka

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:07:17 -0500

The stick figure looks like someone about to sit on a beanbag.

k

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:02:08 -0500

i don't think my two choices are either cyclists running red lights or idiots from NJ clogging the streets with smog. seems there are thousands of tactics people could take that would be constructive. there needs to be more sensible solutions all around, beginning with enforcing existing rules for both cars and bikes.

Myszka

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:00:36 -0500

The stick figure looks like someone about to sit on a beanbag.

anomalous

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:54:00 -0500

NYC Fines and SUV rules!, you guys should get together as a comedy team. So witty!

comic book guy

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:51:51 -0500

The Hummer, WORST CAR EVER.

SUV rules!

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:46:35 -0500

Great chance for me to test out my new Hummer on the rough terrains of Union Sq.

r

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:42:51 -0500

Duderinoo's story notwithstanding, all the cops I've run across in brooklyn have used professional restraint when dealing with bikers. They even ticketed a woman who tried to run some riders off the road with her car during the Brooklyn Critical Mass. And, in turn, once the jitters wore off, the riders developed more of a report with the cops. After months of being harassed by NYPD in Manhattan, I was super impressed by the evenhandedness they showed in Bklyn.

NYC Finest

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:34:56 -0500

NYPD should create a lane for the CM ride, from Union Sq. straight into the East River. Hipster pests!

Pissed off

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:33:24 -0500

k - Do you instead endorse thousands of cars strung all over the city, clogging our crosswalks and filling our lungs with smoke? The NYPD has pulled the wool over your eyes. A few stupid cyclists flouting traffic laws does not justify cracking skulls while thousands of shitheads from Jersey get a green light to do whatever they want.

k

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:20:36 -0500

I don't really like Critical Mass being the face of cyclists in the city. I know they use theatrics to get attention, but I wish they could better represent the regular bike commuters who observe laws, stop at lights, and ride predictably. Breaking the law to get people to enforce it doesn't seem like the way to go. I know blocking traffic with 50 riders crowding an intersection gets attention, but it's illegal. In NYS, the law is that cyclists may not ride more than two abreast. The idea being that they would then take up the approximate width of a car. If CM could organize a simple, safe ride with 100 riders stretched out in a line, that would be a powerful symbol of responsible riding!

Larb

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:18:24 -0500

who were died....I hate when people get died.

Kojak

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:16:57 -0500

Vinny, many of the Critical Mass riders ride through the city like a bunch of crazy assholes and scoff at the traffic laws. The police are somewhat justified in cracking down, although perhaps a little on the harsh side.

Duderinoo

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:16:13 -0500

I had a friend who was riding his bike in a bike lane in Brooklyn, and a cop car saw him and took a quick right turn into him, knocking my friend to the ground. The passenger side cop then leaned out of the window, spit on my friend and called him an asshole. We tried to report it, but we were told it was our word against that of the cops, so essentially it was a dead issue. There is so much tension between the NYPD and cyclists in this city, but the NYPD holds all of the cards. At some point, a cop or biker is going to get seriously hurt or killed. We need city leaders to take control of a quickly spiraling problem... Blooberg: we need a real planfor taking back the streets for bikes, pedestrians and public transport!

Kojak

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:10:59 -0500

I say 15 will get fined, 3 will be arrested. And one run over by a cop car.

Vinny

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:07:43 -0500

WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER STUPID SAFETY CAMPAIGN. WE NEED THE DAMNED POLICE TO ENFORCE THE DAMNED LAWS IN THE DAMNED CITY WHEN DAMNED CARS PARK IN THE DAMNED BIKE LANES. I'm so sick of it. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH already. Enforce the damned laws dammit! Ticket these bastards once in awhile! Stop harassing photographers on the ferry, get out in your little motorized boxes and kick ass and take names. Instead, they'll arrest cyclists at CM. Bastards.

Anomalous

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:04:12 -0500

Thanks, Critical Ass, for adding so much to the discussion.

S.D.

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:57:16 -0500

Wonder how many people get Fined/Arrested tonite?

Critical Ass

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 09:56:27 -0500

Locked them up and throw away the keys! Nuisance to society! They are not part of traffic. Why else would it be called Critical Mass?????