Posted on 05/12/2007 3:21:50 PM PDT by SmithL
BERKELEY -- An angry confrontation erupted during Friday night's Critical Mass bike ride in Berkeley when cyclists accused a motorist of trying to run them over, a participant who videotaped part of the fracas said today.
The incident, similar to an altercation that occurred during a Critical Mass in San Francisco in March, occurred about 8 p.m. as dozens of cyclists rode through the intersection of The Alameda and Monterey Avenue, said bicycle activist Jason Meggs.
Tempers flared on both sides and the motorist's windshield was shattered and a wiper bent, but Berkeley police did not make any arrests, Meggs said.
Police officials were not immediately available for comment, and the identity of the driver was not known.
A man driving a Chevrolet van allegedly drove toward the cyclists, Meggs said, prompting the confrontation.
A video of the incident shot by Meggs shows a woman, identified as his wife, in the van -- which has disabled person license plates.
On the video, three bicycles are seen stuck beneath the right front tire of the vehicle and bicyclists trying to remove them.
"Everybody, back away!" one person is heard shouting. Cyclists are seen and heard pounding on the vehicle's hood and windows.
"What the f-? What's your f- problem?" one cyclist demands of the driver, who is inside the vehicle with the windows closed.
At one point, the man's wife opens her door. "How dare you be so violent?" someone is heard asking her. "Are you people drunk?"
The woman says something that can't be heard, prompting a man to ask her, "Guess who started it? Guess who did it?"
"You're on top of three bikes!" a bicyclist tells the driver, urging him to move.
...Meggs said police blamed the bicyclists for instigating the confrontation, a charge he denied.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
UPDATE
The Berkeley PD has decided to charge the cyclist with a crime for CLIMBING ON THE HOOD OF THE VAN AND KICKING IN THE WINDSHIELD...this, of course, was edited out of the video before Jason Meggs started SELLING THE VIDEO TO TV STATIONS AROUND TOWN.
kron(dot)com had a report, under the video title of “Police to charge cyclists...”
But it isn't and you need to deal with it.
Are there other parts of the public infrastructure you claim dominion over, other than roads? Do you assert the right to control who sees the Grand Canyon, Library of Congress or Lake Michigan (darn canoes)? Perhaps you feel the urge to limit who can use the local sewage facility?
Darn Amish with their horse and buggy, and stupid farmers with tractors slow down traffic on winding country roads. Deal with it.
And you can bet your patoot that if there were people wanting to use the Grand Canyon, the Library of Congress, Lake Michigan, or the local sewage facility in inconsiderate ways that directly endangered the lives of others, I'd feel the urge to "claim dominion," and you would, too, if it was your children, your friends, or you who were endangered.
So I guess you think it should be legal for bicyclists to use the freeways? No wonder bicyclists have such a bad rap. THEY EARNED IT.
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