Cynthetiq

During one of the Critical Mass rides in NYC there was a huge amount of arrests. A couple I knew were locked up and they didn't get out for 72 hours or so. They were really upset that they were arrested and "singled" out from the rest of the group. They were also upset they missed a number of other activities and that they had to spend hours in a holding facility that was a garage so sitting on the floor was not pleasant.

I believe they got what was to be expected, and a little extra. If they weren't protesting they wouldn't have lost 72 hours. A little responsibility for their choices and decisions.

I'm not a fan of this kind of civil disobedience especially since one of the riders almost ran me over as I crossed the street.

This would have been an interesting thing to see, that's for sure. Some of the comments I've read on many of the cross posts state that the drivers and auto people felt more alienated by this type of protest. I don't know if I agree, but there is a point in the video where you can see there isn't much traffic during the exchange and drivers give lots of clearance to the riders.

As a motorcyclist, it was always dangerous when I split lanes. People sticking their arms out, sometimes in traffic actually opening doors to pour out cold coffee. California allows for lane splitting, but many states like NJ/NY do not.

The video doesn't do it much justice

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ubertuber

Strangely enough, I actually know a couple of these cats from work. There is a lot of (and increasing) bike activism here in LA, and I'm getting the impression that the scene has gained a lot of momentum in the last 5-7 years.

In a way it makes sense -- LA is largely flat and the weather is temperate with minimal rain. It ought to be the perfect bicycling city, but there just aren't a critical mass of riders to change the culture and care of drivers.

I biked to school all of last semester, and I'm trying to take advantage of a schedule change to include work in that routine as well. Part of that is my desire to exercise more, part is my hatred for having to drive everywhere and feeling like a slave to the expenses of my car (NYC for 8 years, what can I say?), and part of it is pressure from our $4+ gas prices.

I don't particularly think that biking on the freeway is safe or friendly, but I'm sure a few drivers had a momentary pause when they read the overpass sign (Ride a Bike, You'd Be Home By Now) while being passed by 45 cyclists and rollerbladers. Also note that it is now Bike to Work Week.

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Charlatan

There is a lot of bike activism going on in Toronto as well. While I am all for bike advocacy, I am not sure that this sort of protest has any effect on the system.

That said, there has been a strong push to open more bike lanes in the city and make cycling safer. Having been a bike courier and bike commuter I can attest that the Toronto streets can be, at times, quite unsafe.

The main things I would like to see is a more concerted effort on the part of city council to have a cycling policy (in the same way they have one for cars) that aims to create better signage, more bike routes and lanes and a strong campaign for both cyclist and driver education (let's face it, it is frequently the cyclists that are terrors on the road - not stopping for red lights or stop signs, not shoulder checking, etc.). People need to be better aware of the rules of the road and how they apply.

On a side note: there doesn't appear to be any thinking of this sort in my current city of residence.

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blahblah454

Having just come back from a bike ride, I think that the government should do more to promote biking. They need nice clear shots to downtown on trails that would entice people to ride more often. And perhaps even bike paths beside other heavily traveled roads. I know that if I did not have to ride on the road with cars I would take my bike many more places, I would probably never drive to a friends house again.

ASU2003

If I were in LA or NYC, I would have joined them. Riding in gridlock traffic on a shoulder can't be that unsafe.

And I wish that Americans would realize that there should be more massive protests if the system isn't setup or working correctly. I'm not saying that bike riding should make 1 million people take to the streets, but they protest all the time in other countries and it can be effective.

And 72 hours is excessive for people that didn't have charges brought against them with evidence.

ubertuber

I think the timing is good, as lots of my co-workers are realizing that with the current gas prices and insurance rates, their cars own them. Many of them are looking into mass transit passes and such to avoid driving their commutes.

I guess what I'm saying is that this week isn't like any other week. People are starting to look for alternatives. $4+ gasoline appears to be the breaking point for those on tighter budgets. So it's a great time to be reminded that there are other ways to live in a city.

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sapiens

72 hours does seem excessive with no charges filed. All they did was ride a bicycle on the shoulder?

I would ride a bike to work every day, but with the heat and no showers at work, it's not an option. That said, I ride home every day from work along a 4 lane highway with a small shoulder and a 65 mph speed limit. The noise is awful. (I'm dropped off with my bike every morning).

Shauk

the 405 thru bellevue looks way worst than that, as a result of merging like 6 lanes in to 2 at one point, it's retarded. Problem is, My 405 commute back in the day was 20 miles each way, and at worst, an hour long. I couldn't see myself doing that on a bike without being in much better shape than I am currently

Cynthetiq

no all they did was obstruct traffic in NYC. The people I know were participating in Critical Mass in NYC during the RNC2004, after they were denied permits to assemble as they would disrupt traffic. Once the ride started, the police arrested a number of people...

maybe that's the case. You are allowed to try if you like, please don't whine or complain if you do get injured in some manner.

Heck, walking on the sidewalks in NYC is dangerous enough with taxi cabs having jumped curbs and decapitated pedestrians.

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pai mei

I would travel by bike all the time, but I cannot because of the traffic in the city. It just does not feel safe when cars rush past you, just centimeters away

Hope the gas prices go up so much that everybody sells their cars and buys bikes. But by that time the way to travel will be the last of our worries

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