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Submitted by Meta Hogan on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 9:34am.
In the O's breaking news. OLYMPIA - A bicyclist who was participating in a “Critical Mass” bike ride was arrested under the city’s pedestrian interference ordinance downtown about 6:15 p.m. Friday after he blocked the path of a sport utility vehicle between Legion Way and Seventh Avenue on Capitol Way, police said.
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I thought that was
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 12:04pm.a rather odd application of the ordinance. The first arrestee is someone participating in a demonstration for bicycle awareness.
And what was that SUV doing on the sidewalk in the first place?!
Weird
Submitted by Norm on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 1:38pm.Based On What I've Read
Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 3:16pm.Critical Mass, the group of bicyclist are a group of protesters who organize in large masses with the idea of drawing attention to how unfriendly the city was to bicyclists.
Sounds to me this particular rider was maybe taunting the SUV?
Here's somebody in the comment section of the O claiming to have witnessed some events:
I have observed this event twice in San Francisco. The behavior they exhibit is scary--no different than the family pets getting together into an intimidating pack. Their objective is to get their "message" across with intimidation and outright vandalism of motorized vehicles. Their tactic is to create problems and escalate any confrontational situation into one where their numbers overwhelm their victims. After seeing how the SF Police kept their distance, kudos to the OPD for standing up to their tactics.
Gerry | 10.26.07 - 9:29 pm |
Critical Mass
Wikepedia on Critcal Mass
Critical Mass Bicyclist Directory & Objective - Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists' right to the road. The idea started in San Francisco in September 1992 and quickly spread to cities all over the world.
"Do not mistake for conspiracy and intrigue what can best be explained by stupidity and incompetence." - Unknown
Angry people in 2-ton cars
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 4:21pm.What is often perceived as
Submitted by Rob Richards on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 4:24pm.That's baloney. Can a car
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 5:01pm.Stopping in the middle of the intersection and blocking another user's right of way is a violation of traffic law, the same law that bicyclists are quick to invoke when people tell them to get off the street.
When people are following each other in cars and one needs to catch up, the leader pulls over and waits. They don't stop in the middle of traffic.
Your comment "Sounds like the SUV driver had one too many triple venti caramel macchiatos" reinforces the belief that, not all, but many bicyclists have an attitude problem. More like "Sounds like the bicyclist thought the whole damn world revolved around him." Not surprising that many of the same people in this group believe that other people's property is there for them to paint on.
Why does Critical Mass insist on these Friday Rush Hour rides? Their only purpose is to intentionally put a snarl in traffic; then they wonder why people have a problem with them.
As for the biker rear-ending the car in front of him...he was following too close if he couldn't stop in time. Or maybe he just wasn't paying attention. Either way, they're the ones being unsafe.
Finally...the Pedestrian Interference Ordinance. A stupid law, passed using lies and fear, intended to clear out groups of people who are legally allowed to be treated like vermin in communities all over the country. A horrible law, and then it's not even used properly. Unless, as The G-Man suggested, that SUV was on the sidewalk too.
Damn the United States! I wish I may never hear of the United States again!
Philip Nolan, the man without a country
I used to like baloney, now i think it's gross
Submitted by Rob Richards on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 5:21pm.Of course they do!
Submitted by Norm on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 6:31pm.Can you give us the schedule
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 9:09am.Can you give us the schedule for traffic law enforcement? I think we'd all like to know when we are free to ignore them.
Just like a protest, if you break the law you are subject to the penalty.
I hope police continue to
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 4:27pm.I hope police continue to watch these events and arrest or cite bicyclists and drivers who are breaking traffic laws. I'm sure some drivers are unable to control their emotions. Let's hope they don't do anything stupid with their right foot.
How does the law-abiding bicycle community feel about critical mass cyclists who provoke drivers? It happens. I've witnessed it on two occasions now - once around the traffic circles on 4th and once on Capitol Way.
Don't care
Submitted by Norm on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 4:44pm.Why don't you just
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 4:53pm.Tase them, Bro, while they're at it.
Good greif, it's a regular, peaceful event. The cops should just be there to make sure no one gets hurt during the half-hour it's going on.
If they go when the light's
Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 5:06pm.Intentionally blocking traffic is another matter. Just because they aren't throwing molotovs doesn't mean it's a peaceful action. If they want to insist that the whole group stays together, without any stragglers being left behind, then they should get a permit to have a Critical Mass Parade. Blocking intersections and roundabouts just makes for a dangerous situation.
Damn the United States! I wish I may never hear of the United States again!
Philip Nolan, the man without a country
legally,
Submitted by Rob Richards on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 5:22pm.No, they should be there to
Submitted by Norm on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 6:27pm.Just what I expect from
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 6:46pm.You have to be kidding me!
Submitted by DJW on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 6:56pm.NORM, read-my-words
Submitted by Rob Richards on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 6:57pm.Constitution cha-cha-cha
Maybe we should all pitch in
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 7:07pm.You can chachacha all you
Submitted by Norm on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 7:10pm.That's right Rob
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sat, 10/27/2007 - 7:25pm.Until the prosecutor/court
Submitted by Norm on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 12:32am.Until the prosecutor/court
Submitted by The Fire Inside on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 1:36am.I don't know how much I would agree with this. When you're being arrested, it's not a statement that the police department/officer is necessarily correct.
You're being arrested on suspicion of.
The judicial system will sort out whether you should have been protected by the Constitution, broke any law and so forth.
There wouldn't be much incentive for people to obey the law if they were simply given a nice little notice to appear in court on a certain date.
Just look at how many people skip out on a traffic fines.
Not sure what I think about the arrest. After reading this thread, I would probably fall on the side that Critical Mass is simply getting together each month to provoke people.
Action + Response Not Wanted = New Action.
Action + Response Wanted = Same Action.
I'm not saying it's wrong. If you wanted to provoke people, go for it. I just don't think people can attend Critical Mass every month and then when there's some confrontation between the different parties out on the road say, Well gee, I didn't see that one coming. We're just coming out here to raise a little awareness. We didn't think people would react this way when it's like the 1,000th time virtually the same incident has happened.
Hello,
Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 2:09am.Why did the police choose to arrest bikers this time?
Why did the police choose to
Submitted by The Fire Inside on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 7:26am.I haven't the slightest idea.
Maybe the officer spilled coffee on himself, putting him in a foul mood. The last thing he needed was a congregation of bicyclists clogging traffic.
Maybe the bicyclist was riding on a Schwinn and the officer owns stock in a rival company?
When it's all said and done, we're dealing with people doing a job (in this case, law enforcement.) They're prone to the same emotions that everyone else is. There's simply no telling why a certain action was ignored on Monday and punished on Tuesday.
We cannot afford law enforcement
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 12:36pm.quick!
Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 12:56pm.Why did the police choose to
Submitted by Norm on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 3:11pm.Why did the police choose to arrest bikers this time?
Possibly because he was antagonizing the driver. You notice the police didn't arrest everyone involved right? Just like the dipshit who decided to flatten the cops tires awhile back. Not everyone was arrested, just the ones stepping outside of the lines.
Action + Response Not Wanted
Submitted by Phil Owen on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 2:26pm.Action + Response Not Wanted = New Action.
Action + Response Wanted = Same Action.
I'm going to have to steal those lines from you TFI. A well spoken criticism of ineffective activism.
The Canaanite's Call
My point being, it doesn't
Submitted by Norm on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 3:09pm.This biker was arrested
Submitted by DJW on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 9:34am.Good. I hope he is charged
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 9:56am.Good. I hope he is charged and the case isn't dismissed like so many others in this town. Drop the m in mass and it suits this group just fine.
I give up my word-a-day calendar
Submitted by Guglielmo on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 1:58pm.Man am I starting to enjoy
Submitted by Phil Owen on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 2:24pm.Man am I starting to enjoy your guys' exchanges.
The Canaanite's Call
He's just being fussy
Submitted by Rob Richards on Sun, 10/28/2007 - 3:52pm.