Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bike-riding mob owns the streets of minneapolis
Star Tribune ^ | October 3, 2007 | Katherine Kersten

Posted on 10/03/2007 10:20:24 PM PDT by yorkie

Now we know who's in charge of Minneapolis streets. It's a loosely organized group of serial lawbreakers called Critical Mass. Last Friday, 600 or so took over city thoroughfares, breaking traffic laws with impunity while police stayed in the background. Every month, Critical Mass cyclists ride through rush hour traffic in cities across the country. Some insist the ride is just a "celebration." Others acknowledge a political agenda: they want to enlighten the rest of us -- greedy capitalists that we are -- about the joys of bike riding so we can join them in saving the planet.

The Mass mob has chosen a strange way to promote its agenda. Critical Mass's philosophy is to infringe on others' rights by disrupting traffic and running red lights.

They block traffic by "corking" -- some riders hold cars at intersections during green lights while the mass passes through a red light. Others stand in the street and wave their bikes defiantly over their heads.

Are you rushing to catch the last few innings of your son's baseball game?

Trying to get to the show you promised your wife for her birthday?

Critical Mass doesn't give a rip. Tough luck for you, Mac, because you're a gas-guzzler and I'm living green.

Why are Minneapolis police condoning this lawbreaking? Because the guys upstairs do. Two City Council members, Cam Gordon and Robert Lilligren, joined the Critical Mass mob on last week's ride. Mayor R.T. Rybak also rode with the mob once several years ago.

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: bicyclescrunchnicely; criticalmass; minneapolis; minnesota; politicalcorrectness; sticksmeetspokes; twincities
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

1 posted on 10/03/2007 10:20:26 PM PDT by yorkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: yorkie

bump


2 posted on 10/03/2007 10:21:54 PM PDT by VOA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yorkie
Are you rushing to catch the last few innings of your son's baseball game? Trying to get to the show you promised your wife for her birthday?

Driving to the hospital with a sick child... going for scheduled chemo treatments...

3 posted on 10/03/2007 10:25:38 PM PDT by SteveMcKing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveMcKing

You are so right - :-(


4 posted on 10/03/2007 10:27:08 PM PDT by yorkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: yorkie

Can’t wait to see if these people will be doing this during Minnesota’s balmy winters...


5 posted on 10/03/2007 10:29:15 PM PDT by Paisan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yorkie

Eco-Terrorists. Just as Michael Crichton accurately depicted them in STATE OF FEAR.


6 posted on 10/03/2007 10:30:18 PM PDT by Henchster (Free Republic - the BEST site on the web!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yorkie

Critical Mass

I knew before I even opened the thread.


7 posted on 10/03/2007 10:30:34 PM PDT by Califreak (Go Hunter!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: VOA

Isn’t this why they give cops batons???

(Aim for the spokes boys.)


8 posted on 10/03/2007 10:31:26 PM PDT by geopyg (Don't wish for peace, pray for Victory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: geopyg
Aim for the spokes boys

Caution: Foul Language

9 posted on 10/03/2007 10:39:05 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: geopyg

LOL. I was just thinking “where’s a kid with a stick when you need one”.


10 posted on 10/03/2007 10:39:27 PM PDT by chaos_5
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: yorkie
I've been behind scumbags doing this in New Orleans. There were probably 20 or so of these gutter punks blocking the street.

Let's just say that if I saw a frustrated motorist gun his car and wipe out a few of these pukes, I'd have a "I didn't see nuthin'" attitude about it.

11 posted on 10/03/2007 10:39:57 PM PDT by SeafoodGumbo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yorkie

Critical Mass is to bicyclists as Oliver Stone is to politics. Unfortunately a gullible public, alas even many FReepers wind up believing that most cyclists approve of Critical Mass’s tactics. It should go without saying that most do not. Most of us drive cars, trucks and/or motorcycles as well as ride bicycles.


12 posted on 10/03/2007 10:40:03 PM PDT by Melas (Offending stupid people since 1963)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

The Republican National Convention - 2008 - is to be held in Minneapolis.

http://www.gopconvention.com/


13 posted on 10/03/2007 10:41:42 PM PDT by yorkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yorkie

Same thing here in Berkeley and San Francisco. They sure are good at getting people to hate their guts. Oddly enough, that’s just why I like them and hope they stage many more of these “protests.”


14 posted on 10/03/2007 10:43:17 PM PDT by Bonaparte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yorkie
Oh, yeah -- I forgot to add that these Critical Mass folks are in favor of the constuction of SF's super highrise skyscrapers. In addition to other environmental disasters, these buildings will bring 100,000 more cars into a city that already has 300,000 cars.

Just in case you thought that maybe these bicycling hippies might not be completely nuts.

15 posted on 10/03/2007 10:46:18 PM PDT by Bonaparte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Henchster

Awesome book!
I highly recommend it to anyone who starts talking to me about how much damage we are doing to the environment. Of course most of the time these people are faithful followers of the Church of Algore and stare blankly at me.


16 posted on 10/03/2007 10:48:28 PM PDT by frankiep (Insert clever quote here)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: yorkie
ahahahahahahaha!!!

search these people on youtube and see what we deal with in new york city. they used to ruin traffic the last friday of every month.

but then the nypd began really heavy ticket and arrest practices. they stretch out huge orange nets and arrest every biker caught inside! now they all just gather in union square, yell about their rights, ride around the streets for an hour or so. but they obey EVERY law! if they even stray an inch onto the sidewalk or go through a red light, they are stopped, checked and ticketed.

minneapolis had better learn these lessons quick!

17 posted on 10/03/2007 10:50:47 PM PDT by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SteveMcKing

They can’t be concerned with real everyday concerns... it’s the ideal that is real for them...


18 posted on 10/03/2007 10:51:12 PM PDT by antceecee (where do we go from here Ollie?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: yorkie

We dealt with this folks years ago in Manhattan. I see they are going national.


19 posted on 10/03/2007 10:57:36 PM PDT by montag813 (1)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MplsSteve

flag


20 posted on 10/03/2007 10:58:56 PM PDT by SShultz460
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson