Comments on: Clearing the air on San Francisco Critical Mass http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: StraightDs http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-112342 StraightDs Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:06:43 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-112342 Critical Mass is slowly being seen for what it truly is. A farce. No goal besides mob rule anarchy. No reason for existing besides the enjoyment of the few through illegal action at the expense of the whole. I ride a bike too, and like most honest bikers I find Critical Mass appalling. Critical Mass is slowly being seen for what it truly is.
A farce.
No goal besides mob rule anarchy.
No reason for existing besides the enjoyment of the few through illegal action at the expense of the whole.

I ride a bike too, and like most honest bikers I find Critical Mass appalling.

]]> By: Slackbastard http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-104440 Slackbastard Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:28:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-104440 I wholeheartedly agree. Two incidents of a few criminals in 2 years? Ban all bikes. This crime wave must stop. I wholeheartedly agree. Two incidents of a few criminals in 2 years? Ban all bikes. This crime wave must stop.

]]> By: db http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-103634 db Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:31:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-103634 The bicyclists attacked the family. I recommend that you condemn anyone who does this. Suggesting that these incidents do not occur frequently is denial of reality. I was attacked in a nearly identical manner a few months ago. We were surrounded, they pounded on all of the windows until the front window was broken. We tried to get them to stop and were mugged. The people who attacked me were hysterical. Unbridled hatred for something. It was weird. This is where you blame me. We started it, we tried to run them over, we yelled something. Yes go on, do your best. Fortunately fewer and fewer people believe. When the subject comes up I tell them what happened. The bicyclists attacked the family. I recommend that you condemn anyone who does this. Suggesting that these incidents do not occur frequently is denial of reality. I was attacked in a nearly identical manner a few months ago. We were surrounded, they pounded on all of the windows until the front window was broken. We tried to get them to stop and were mugged. The people who attacked me were hysterical. Unbridled hatred for something. It was weird.

This is where you blame me. We started it, we tried to run them over, we yelled something. Yes go on, do your best. Fortunately fewer and fewer people believe. When the subject comes up I tell them what happened.

]]> By: Bill http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-55226 Bill Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:31:06 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-55226 Critical Mass = Mob Mentality. Back when I was commuting to SF in the late 90's, I saw with my own eyes cyclists striking cars with fists, screaming at them and surrounding them when the 'offending' car or truck would dare to try to inch into an occluded intersection to get on their way. I know for a fact that for every family with a busted window on their van, there's been dozens - probably hundreds - of incidents that went unreported or unpublicized since the aggressors in question were so easily able to You people, and by 'you' I mean the asshole massers who disregard the laws of the road and then are the first to become enraged when a car accidentally hits a cyclist... The ones who purposely block intersections (what if someone is trying to get to a hospital or some other urgent need?)... The ones who blow through intersections at breakneck speeds when the light is red, narrowly dodging through traffic and flipping off shocked auto drivers who have no chance to react... YOU need to get your asses thrown in jail. The fact that the city fails to take action against your rampage and that the media kisses your ass for your thin facade of 'environmental activism' makes me sick. In this case, if someone was RUN OVER as some of you claim, WHERE is the person involved, WHERE is their bike? Would YOU just sit there when a raging lynch mob came screaming after you and your kids? Try developing a fit MIND to go along with that body. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Stop attacking people when it's your OWN damn fault they tapped your bicycle. Stop running red lights and stop signs or cutting across a busy street without looking. Stop acting like you have some legal and moral highground by stopping and vandalizing a minivan with kids in it when most of you couldn't give half a shit about traffic laws to begin with. Hypocritical assholes who hold drivers in contempt, prone to dangerous and illegal driving and outbursts of violent rage. You folks should be working on THAT image, because that's how most people view you, today. Critical Mass = Mob Mentality. Back when I was commuting to SF in the late 90′s, I saw with my own eyes cyclists striking cars with fists, screaming at them and surrounding them when the ‘offending’ car or truck would dare to try to inch into an occluded intersection to get on their way. I know for a fact that for every family with a busted window on their van, there’s been dozens – probably hundreds – of incidents that went unreported or unpublicized since the aggressors in question were so easily able to

You people, and by ‘you’ I mean the asshole massers who disregard the laws of the road and then are the first to become enraged when a car accidentally hits a cyclist… The ones who purposely block intersections (what if someone is trying to get to a hospital or some other urgent need?)… The ones who blow through intersections at breakneck speeds when the light is red, narrowly dodging through traffic and flipping off shocked auto drivers who have no chance to react… YOU need to get your asses thrown in jail. The fact that the city fails to take action against your rampage and that the media kisses your ass for your thin facade of ‘environmental activism’ makes me sick. In this case, if someone was RUN OVER as some of you claim, WHERE is the person involved, WHERE is their bike? Would YOU just sit there when a raging lynch mob came screaming after you and your kids?

Try developing a fit MIND to go along with that body. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Stop attacking people when it’s your OWN damn fault they tapped your bicycle. Stop running red lights and stop signs or cutting across a busy street without looking. Stop acting like you have some legal and moral highground by stopping and vandalizing a minivan with kids in it when most of you couldn’t give half a shit about traffic laws to begin with.

Hypocritical assholes who hold drivers in contempt, prone to dangerous and illegal driving and outbursts of violent rage. You folks should be working on THAT image, because that’s how most people view you, today.

]]> By: OutOfCali http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-31156 OutOfCali Wed, 16 May 2007 09:09:03 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-31156 It's interesting to see the responses to these incidents. You have the die hard health lovers working against the evils of the car, you have the pro "Leave us the hell alone when we're driving" people, and a couple of knee jerk reactions to the very idea of the peaceful protest. Mao - Way to troll, dude. Live the dream. Barb - You had me right up until your last few sentences, where you went from explaining a logical and compelling point of view to vulger insults. Not having been there, or seen unbiased reposrts, can't say who to blame for escalating things except for the CM person(s) who decided that breaking out the window was a good idea. If that was my mother, and she was suddenly surrounded by a large gang of strange people intent on "making" her slow down by deliberately interfering with traffic to prove apopint that is unkown by the drivers being interferred with, I'd say "Good for you, mom! Did you call the cops after you left the area and explain that you were afraid for your safety and that of the kids in the car?" Of course, on the other hand, if the CM group was being as peaceful as they claim (and I'm sorry here, but I'm seeing more and more reports that reported CM protest ride tactics are anything but, and in some cases downright dangerous), then something went majorly wrong. Why was the cyclist riding that close to the van in the first place? Why were the other CM riders more intent on exacting "justice" than taking the plate numbers and vehicle descriptions? Peaceful protests are one thing, and I'm all for flying your colors and making your statement, but for any group to be taken seriously, they must act in a serious fashion, even while having fun, and forcing incidents only works against their cause. Me, I live in a large city, but commute to work in a 15 minute drive on the highway from my apartment, which is the only one that I could afford. How would you suggest that I bike to work when mass transit does not go near the workplace, and I would be looking at a 2 hour commute - each way - to go mass transit and bike/walk. It’s interesting to see the responses to these incidents.
You have the die hard health lovers working against the evils of the car, you have the pro “Leave us the hell alone when we’re driving” people, and a couple of knee jerk reactions to the very idea of the peaceful protest.
Mao – Way to troll, dude. Live the dream.
Barb – You had me right up until your last few sentences, where you went from explaining a logical and compelling point of view to vulger insults.
Not having been there, or seen unbiased reposrts, can’t say who to blame for escalating things except for the CM
person(s) who decided that breaking out the window was a good idea.
If that was my mother, and she was suddenly surrounded by a large gang of strange people intent on “making” her slow down by deliberately interfering with traffic to prove apopint that is unkown by the drivers being interferred with, I’d say “Good for you, mom! Did you call the cops after you left the area and explain that you were afraid for your safety and that of the kids in the car?”
Of course, on the other hand, if the CM group was being as peaceful as they claim (and I’m sorry here, but I’m seeing more and more reports that reported CM protest ride tactics are anything but, and in some cases downright dangerous), then something went majorly wrong. Why was the cyclist riding that close to the van in the first place? Why were the other CM riders more intent on exacting “justice” than taking the plate numbers and vehicle descriptions?
Peaceful protests are one thing, and I’m all for flying your colors and making your statement, but for any group to be taken seriously, they must act in a serious fashion, even while having fun, and forcing incidents only works against their cause.
Me, I live in a large city, but commute to work in a 15 minute drive on the highway from my apartment, which is the only one that I could afford. How would you suggest that I bike to work when mass transit does not go near the workplace, and I would be looking at a 2 hour commute – each way – to go mass transit and bike/walk.

]]> By: chile http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-30866 chile Mon, 14 May 2007 22:08:28 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-30866 When I first heard of CM I thought it would be cool to ride around the city with a whole bunch of other bicyclists. Then I saw those CM riders on the street, and they scared me. I don't know what's up with that crowd. When I first heard of CM I thought it would be cool to ride around the city with a whole bunch of other bicyclists. Then I saw those CM riders on the street, and they scared me. I don’t know what’s up with that crowd.

]]> By: GreenCitizen http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-28979 GreenCitizen Sun, 29 Apr 2007 09:35:58 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-28979 I ride my bicycle every day, it is my way of getting around...And unfortunately yes, it does make us look bad when some dipshit breaks a car window, but i don't go around calling every motorist an asshole because of the fact that i got hit by a single car... I ride my bicycle every day, it is my way of getting around…And unfortunately yes, it does make us look bad when some dipshit breaks a car window, but i don’t go around calling every motorist an asshole because of the fact that i got hit by a single car…

]]> By: Bryan C http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-28820 Bryan C Sat, 28 Apr 2007 11:41:00 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-28820 GreenCitizen, Before you start pointing out spelling and grammar errors, I suggest you learn to use the English language correctly. Your comment is a valid one, but your own spelling and grammar errors make you look like a more self-involved version of those you seek to condemn. I am glad nobody was hurt at the ride, but I still think critical mass is the live version of a poorly typed blog in all caps. It makes us all look bad, and those of us who really do ride on a regular basis are the ones who end up suffering, when we are not in a huge mass. GreenCitizen,
Before you start pointing out spelling and grammar errors, I suggest you learn to use the English language correctly.
Your comment is a valid one, but your own spelling and grammar errors make you look like a more self-involved version of those you seek to condemn.
I am glad nobody was hurt at the ride, but I still think critical mass is the live version of a poorly typed blog in all caps. It makes us all look bad, and those of us who really do ride on a regular basis are the ones who end up suffering, when we are not in a huge mass.

]]> By: GreenCitizen http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-28818 GreenCitizen Sat, 28 Apr 2007 11:15:43 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-28818 I think that it is pretty comical that the majority of anti-cycling anger ridden bloggers on this site have not only presented horrible comments and complaints about critical mass, but they are also full of horrible spelling errors...I enjoy the fact that people raging about this can't even spell ridiculous (Righteous Anger), or bicyclers (Mao)...That is my first comment...second...directed at Mao...how did was your mother late to work on a friday night in between the hours of 6 and 9...unless she works at a bar or restaurant, i don't see that being a posibility...and from working in restaurants myself...even shifts usually start at 4 or 5pm. Also...Elissa, how could someone with such a coherent argument and train of that fail to realize that one(1), yes one person, was responsible for breaking that window. Now i disagree wholeheartedly with this and don't promote it at all, but i hope that you would say the same thing to the person who hit me in an SUV and conveniently drove away one day on my way to work...causing four fingers on my left hand to be crushed... Anyhow...i'm glad this is bringing critical mass to light..maybe all of you complaining will: 1. not drive anywhere between the times of 6 and 9 on one day out of the month...2. two, not drive just because it's a more sustainable lifestyle, or 3. get a bike and join the fun... LOVE, a happy cyclist.... PS critical mass was great today! PSS Preach on Barb!!! I think that it is pretty comical that the majority of anti-cycling anger ridden bloggers on this site have not only presented horrible comments and complaints about critical mass, but they are also full of horrible spelling errors…I enjoy the fact that people raging about this can’t even spell ridiculous (Righteous Anger), or bicyclers (Mao)…That is my first comment…second…directed at Mao…how did was your mother late to work on a friday night in between the hours of 6 and 9…unless she works at a bar or restaurant, i don’t see that being a posibility…and from working in restaurants myself…even shifts usually start at 4 or 5pm. Also…Elissa, how could someone with such a coherent argument and train of that fail to realize that one(1), yes one person, was responsible for breaking that window. Now i disagree wholeheartedly with this and don’t promote it at all, but i hope that you would say the same thing to the person who hit me in an SUV and conveniently drove away one day on my way to work…causing four fingers on my left hand to be crushed…
Anyhow…i’m glad this is bringing critical mass to light..maybe all of you complaining will: 1. not drive anywhere between the times of 6 and 9 on one day out of the month…2. two, not drive just because it’s a more sustainable lifestyle, or 3. get a bike and join the fun…

LOVE, a happy cyclist….

PS critical mass was great today!
PSS Preach on Barb!!!

]]> By: d man http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/comment-page-1/#comment-28745 d man Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:52:20 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/04/05/clearing-the-air-on-san-francisco-critical-mass/#comment-28745 Hey Mao- Sorry to hear about your mom losing her job. that's awful that her employer is not more realistic about bay area travel times. anyway, i'll be at the mass today. can't wait to see your plan unfold. have you thought it all the way through, or is just kind of cobbled together? like most plans, there are usually a lot of unanticipated contingencies. think it through. i'll be on the orange cinelli road bike handing out candy and smiles to motorists that get stuck at lights. cheers! Hey Mao-

Sorry to hear about your mom losing her job. that’s awful that her employer is not more realistic about bay area travel times.

anyway, i’ll be at the mass today. can’t wait to see your plan unfold. have you thought it all the way through, or is just kind of cobbled together? like most plans, there are usually a lot of unanticipated contingencies. think it through.

i’ll be on the orange cinelli road bike handing out candy and smiles to motorists that get stuck at lights.

cheers!

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