It was wrong what the cop obviously did. A lightning strike would be more satisfying or a crane toppling on them. These people should be locked away for a long long time for being purely obstructional and obnoxious. When rule-obeying and pleasant cyclists complain that drivers have no respect the problem is the groups who ride primarily to be a$$h0les and confirm their own existence by the effect they have on others. They are borderline and not-so-borderline sociopaths and these are the folks that drivers notice and remember. It is the Identity of bicyclists for others on the street. When I see colorful cricket suits riding four or five abreast across two or three lanes of traffic, sometimes I have to turn off to an alternate route just to keep my composure.
Critical Mass rides to provoke. It is a provocation.
I’d like to see more focus on assault by police officers in city jails where citizens in the holding cells are subject to assault while they are in “protective” custody.
And any attacks by a police officer in uniform whether in the line of duty or not put the city at risk of a massive lawsuit. Officers are a “protected” class and self-defense against a law enforcement officer (even one who is not enforcing the law) can itself be a charge (assaulting an officer).
I’ve never ridden a road/race bike and I’ve never worn the lycra that some riders wear. I’ll ride a mountain bike and wear regular clothing. Though I did read that special shorts are now being made without the inseam down the middle, to make riding more comfortable.
If you see a lone rider or two, with backpacks and tubes coming out of them, on mountain bikes, you don’t have to change streets, because odds are they’re not a problem.