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 ...
bump
Driving to the hospital with a sick child... going for scheduled chemo treatments...
You are so right - :-(
Can’t wait to see if these people will be doing this during Minnesota’s balmy winters...
Eco-Terrorists. Just as Michael Crichton accurately depicted them in STATE OF FEAR.
Critical Mass
I knew before I even opened the thread.
Isn’t this why they give cops batons???
(Aim for the spokes boys.)
Caution: Foul Language
LOL. I was just thinking “where’s a kid with a stick when you need one”.
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.
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.
The Republican National Convention - 2008 - is to be held in Minneapolis.
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.”
Just in case you thought that maybe these bicycling hippies might not be completely nuts.
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.
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!
They can’t be concerned with real everyday concerns... it’s the ideal that is real for them...
We dealt with this folks years ago in Manhattan. I see they are going national.
flag
What percentage of this fine group, do you think, are liberal Democrats and will vote cheerfully for the Hildebeast?
I'm a solo bicyclist who has ridden up to 3900 miles in a year.
I ride mostly alone because I don't want to be associated with these @$$ho**$. They give a bad name to the rest of us.
These punks also drive around in cars (Surprise, Surprise!) when they aren't on their bikes, but it makes them feel ooooooohh soooooo Important when they get on their bikes.
Dumb@$$es and hypocrites.
If motorists will just start opening their doors when stopped in traffic (especially when these cycle-dopes are flying up in between vehicles), it won’t be long before they’ll be obeying traffic laws like the rest of the public.
A few webcam recorded episodes of cycles going one way, and their riders going the other and pretty soon this problem will be under control.
Of course, it is Minneapolis so I’m not holding my breath.
So why isn’t a little tear gas dispersed on these yucks? And the mention about opening car doors got me thinking. If a cyclist hits you, are there charges and how would you get compensation? They don’t carry cycling insurance right?
Be fun to drive with a box of tacks to scatter in front of the”Critical mass”. That would puncture their fun, and not affect the thicker tires of the cars.
What you need is a very loud horn
You laugh but during the March for Justice, a kid on a bicycle decided to become a disruption. He was running his bike over an “Impeach Clinton” sign and yelling pro-Clinton slogans. Finally someone said “You’ve got a flat, icehole”. Come to find out, a nail was protruding from the sign. The kid turned and walked off.
At its core, this is liberal arrogance put in action.
...and bumpers on cars.
That bears repeating.
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.
The vast majority of cyclists abhor these critical mass idiots. We want our fair share of the road and nothing more.
Had a great 16 mile commute in the dark and cold this morning to get to work. Aahh, a job, something else that critical mass types know nothing about
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Exactly, the point is not biking. The point is disrupting and holding others hostage to your will.
At least you have a valid reason to smell funky. 16 miles? I commend you.
Front wheels too.
Thanks,
Actually, I’ve found if I take a shower immediately before the ride and clean off real good at the office, I’m close to springtime fresh.
The only problem with riding in though is that I can’t wait till quitting time. Work is the eight hours between bike rides.
I wonder if a few strategically placed, lit, Bernz-O-Matic
propane torches mounted on a vehicle would energize them to
move over a bit.
“bump”
That’s the sound it would make as I’m driving over one of these bastards!
Militant
Understand. I have an 11 mile commute to work, and I’m always happier on the days I can ride my bike to work instead of driving. Even riding my Harley to work isn’t as satisfying as riding one of my bicycles.
I’d love to see these worthless filthy little sh!ts pwn3d by an out-of-control 18-wheeler.
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