This was a Critical Mass event, which is why the bicyclists are taking up all of the street as a way to reclaim the streets and protest the lack of safety for riders under usual conditions. It’s not legal, but protests are never useful if they’re fully legal now, are they.
For all of the unequivocally civic commenters on this thread, ask yourself this: would you be defending someone driving through a protest if the protesters weren’t on bikes?
lots of people in this thread that don’t understand how protests work.
I obey the traffic laws. I’m apparently one of the only people in my town that has read them. I like riding my bike. I like my town. People Hollar at me from their cars. I get called “fag” every second day. For taking a bike ride.
This is how cyclists feel when they are surrounded by cars on busy roads because the cycling infrastructure is shit.
Except, cyclists can’t kill people in cars with their bike.
So, lady, imagine our frustration.
Edit: spelling 🤦♂️
They feel like cars are coming from both sides of the road through red lights?
Where do you bike?
Yes.
I’ve witnessed cars driving in the wrong lanes (headed towards me) as they recklessly pass drivers.
I’ve seen drivers turning onto dedicated bike paths.
I’ve seen drivers jumping curbs. In the city, they’ve even managed to hop TALL, concrete barriers protecting bike lanes.
I’ve seen numerous cars flying through stop signs and red lights. At least a few times per week. And even more “stopping” on crosswalks.
I’ve witnessed a teen getting hit by a car while she used a crosswalk in front of her school. I’ve nearly been hit several times crossing at intersections, too. I saw an elderly man who was almost run over by a car turning right without slowing down (the driver then yelled at the old man).
If you think these are rare occurrences, you likely don’t live anywhere near cars. This shit happens all the time, everywhere.
And I won’t even bring up aggressive drivers who are hostile towards cyclists and use their cars as weapons.
I’ve witnessed cars driving in the wrong lanes (headed towards me) as they recklessly pass drivers.
Cool, as they pass drivers. Did you see them drive en masse the wrong way through red lights? Come on, you know you haven’t. You know how dangerous it is. Even if it were people walking, it would be dangerous; this isn’t safe. This is so dishonest.
Are there bad drivers, yes. But no where, in any city, are drivers doing what these bikers did. Taking up the entire road to drive the wrong way as dozens of them go through red lights.
If you think these are rare occurrences, you likely don’t live anywhere near cars. This shit happens all the time, everywhere.
No, no it doesn’t. And this is why bikers are often ridiculed by people. I want safer roads, but I don’t claim that cars drive both ways on the road and through red lights by the dozens.
This shit happens all the time everywhere? Really. Everywhere, cars are just all going the same direction, ignoring every traffic law en masse with no cops doing anything? This is so dishonest, again. There are so many good points and ways to fight for more biker safety, creating false narratives isn’t one of them.
I’ve witnessed a teen getting hit by a car while she used a crosswalk in front of her school.
How is this relevant to the point at all? This feels more like ranting that discussing the topic on hand. How these bikers are breaking traffic laws in ways cars do not, and in doing so are putting themselves and others in danger for 0 gain. This feels like an “own the libs” thing for bikers where making drivers get upset is the only point. Which a lot of people seem excited about in this thread, further proving that point.
And I won’t even bring up aggressive drivers who are hostile towards cyclists and use their cars as weapons.
Good because it’s not relevant. I’m saying cars don’t drive like these bikers do. They are acting extremely unsafe for no reason. This doesn’t help gain any support or change anyone mind. If anything it makes people hate us bikers more.
I’ve witnessed a teen getting hit by a car while she used a crosswalk in front of her school.
Cool, as they pass drivers. Did you see them drive en masse the wrong way through red lights? Come on, you know you haven’t. You know how dangerous it is. This is so dishonest.
Are there bad drivers, yes. But no where, in any city, are drivers doing what these bikers did. Taking up the entire road to drive the wrong way as dozens of them go through red lights.
You do realize that this was a Critical Mass event, right?
In that context, YES, I’ve seen cars in large groups going through red lights and driving the wrong way during similar events. In fact, just this past weekend, I saw numerous cars going through red lights at a local Pride Parade 😘
… but I don’t claim that cars drive both ways on the road and through red lights by the dozens.
If you take a survey of stop signs, you’ll find that the majority of motorists do NOT stop at those signs. Hundreds of cars per intersection per day.
This shit happens all the time everywhere? Really. Everywhere, cars are just all going the same direction, ignoring every traffic law en masse with no cops doing anything?
This ship happens all the time, everywhere, was referring to the list I wrote of things I encounter on a regular basis.
I didn’t touch on speeding.
Cops will only “do something” if they can catch someone.
And when we have “traffic enforcement blitzes”, what do you know? We catch a LOT of drivers behaving badly. It’s too bad we only do this a few times out of the year.
They are acting extremely unsafe for no reason.
I think you’d be surprised to learn about the history (and purpose) of Critical Mass, because it’s not “for no reason”. It’s quite literally a form of direct action to promote cycling safety and activism.
And the fact that they are riding in a large group makes them safer.
These events happen all around the world, and are widely celebrated as powerful social movements.
I cited Critical Mass and documentation about it in my response a lot. I think you might have a lot to learn about the movement based on your reply.
In that context, YES, I’ve seen cars in large groups going through red lights and driving the wrong way during similar events. In fact, just this past weekend, I saw numerous cars going through red lights at a local Pride Parade 😘
At a parade? One that has permits and works with the city? Yah… lol. Looking into criticall mass is says “These events are spontaneous and unpermitted.” Do you know the difference between a permitted event and one that’s not? Traffic can be re routed, cops can be places to manage traffic. This is not that. On CM it says “The routes of some rides are decided spontaneously by whoever is currently at the front of the ride.” That means anyone can do whatever, causing massive issues with traffic and safety. What a false equivalency.
Looking further into it, they give the reason: The disorganized nature of the event allows it to largely escape clampdown by authorities who may view the rides as forms of parades or organized protest.
So they know it’s dangerous and doesn’t have the permits needed to make it safe, which is why parades and such need them, but they see that as a pro. They basically take to the streets to break the law en masse and inconvenience everyone, including emergency services and they think this will make more people want to support bikers?
If you take a survey of stop signs, you’ll find that the majority of motorists do NOT stop at those signs. Hundreds of cars per intersection per day.
This is either being dishonest or not understanding what I said. I’m not talking about an aggregate across the country, I’m talking about dozens doing it at once in such a way that it creates a wall that can cause an accident.
Cops will only “do something” if they can catch someone.
Lol, so cops should just mail tickets to people randomly? You have to catch someone committing a crime to charge them with it. That’s how the law works…
I see plenty of bikers breaking traffic laws too, every week when I ride. None of them get tickets either. Doing the things they do like going across a cross walk when they don’t have the right away, could cause an accident. But you conveniently ignore that and the laws they break.
I think you’d be surprised to learn about the history (and purpose) of Critical Mass, because it’s not “for no reason”. It’s quite literally a form of direct action to promote cycling safety and activism.
Not surprised. You can do something for a long time for no reason. CM started in the 1990s. If it’s not pointless, please show me the changes it has pushed or championed. I would love to know all the good work that came from CM aside from performative protesting.
And the fact that they are riding in a large group makes them safer.
Yah, so they can safely ignore all traffic rules and literally break laws to put on this show. Laws meant to keep people safe. You realize that right?
Also they are literally breaking off to try to control traffic.
From CM: In the Critical Mass practice of “corking”, a rider breaks away from the group to block the side streets of an intersection as the mass crosses. This prevents traffic travelling through the intersection on a green signal and allows the riders to ride through red lights. This both contains cross-traffic while the mass passes and protects the mass from splitting or from drivers who might attempt to pass through the mass.
They are not only unsafely trying to control traffic, they are causing mass congestion, again for no reason but some parade of bikers they decided to do without proper permits. This is such a “look at me, I’m the main character” movement.
These events happen all around the world, and are widely celebrated as powerful social movements.
Powerful? Sure, but powerful isn’t always positive. I mean take a step back and look at this from a normal persons point of view, someone who is not an avid cyclist. This doesn’t make me think they need more safety or protection; this makes me think they are reckless and a nuisance. This does nothing but make drivers hate bikers more, this doesn’t change minds, at all.
Argh… my browser crashed as I had almost finished my reply. 😱
I’ll condense my points:
Looking into criticall mass is says “These events are spontaneous and unpermitted.”
Yes, it’s a protest. Just like with protests involving pedestrians, the streets get filled and people “ignore the rules”.
Lol, so cops should just mail tickets to people randomly? You have to catch someone committing a crime to charge them with it. That’s how the law works…
To this point, let me expand on what I mean.
The absence of a ticket does not mean the behaviour doesn’t exist. There are a LOT of motorists who run reds, ignore stop signs, drive over the speed limit, don’t use signals, make illegal turns, park illegally, drive while intoxicated, etc. More than you’d think.
If you set up automated speed cameras, red light cameras, DUI checkpoints, and school zone blitzes, suddenly you realize that it’s more than just a few drivers behaving badly. And that’s during normal traffic, not during a protest.
If it’s not pointless, please show me the changes it has pushed or championed. I would love to know all the good work that came from CM aside from performative protesting.
It’s hard to quantify, because this form of protest operates on many levels:
- It gets a large number of cyclists together, making riding safer than as individuals. It also gets people who were too afraid to cycle around traffic a safe space to ride.
- The visual of a large group brings attention to the needs of cyclists. “Nobody rides a bike” NIMBYs take note when these events happen.
- It puts pressures on municipal governments to take notice of the demand for safer cycling infrastructure. Some would argue that Critical Mass events are what sped up the development of cycling infrastructure around the world.
Yah, so they can safely ignore all traffic rules and literally break laws to put on this show. Laws meant to keep people safe. You realize that right?
As with other protests, this is normal. And those traffic rules… are only there because cars make public spaces unsafe. People don’t need traffic rules.
They are not only unsafely trying to control traffic, they are causing mass congestion
On the flip side, would you prefer that every single cyclist in that group STOP at every single red light and stop sign? I’m a massive fan of that type of malicious compliance, so I’d be OK with that, too.
I mean take a step back and look at this from a normal persons point of view, someone who is not an avid cyclist. This doesn’t make me think they need more safety or protection; this makes me think they are reckless and a nuisance. This does nothing but make drivers hate bikers more, this doesn’t change minds, at all.
Man, I don’t even know what to say.
When I see protests, even when I don’t know the motivations or goals, I still respect and value the right to protest.
And if someone “hates cyclists” because of a protest like Critical Mass, they probably hate black people, gays, Palestinians, workers, the disabled, unions, First Nations, environmentalists, animal rights, and other groups of people who deserve to be heard and seen through public protests.
Yes, it’s a protest. Just like with protests involving pedestrians, the streets get filled and people “ignore the rules”.
Then why did you bring up the Pride parade? You said: “I’ve seen cars in large groups going through red lights and driving the wrong way during similar events. In fact, just this past weekend, I saw numerous cars going through red lights at a local Pride Parade.” That is a permitted event. Driving the wrong way can be permitted by a, ya know, permit. Bringing this up then saying “of course their breaking the rules” only proves my point. Bikes are doing this, cars do not unless it is done legally with a permit. And you saying “ya I know” means you knew that but presented it anyway. That’s extremely dishonest.
If you set up automated speed cameras, red light cameras, DUI checkpoints, and school zone blitzes, suddenly you realize that it’s more than just a few drivers behaving badly. And that’s during normal traffic, not during a protest.
And I’m sure you’d find the same with biking. Many bikers break laws about where to cross or how to handle intersections and are just ignored all the time.
It gets a large number of cyclists together, making riding safer than as individuals. It also gets people who were too afraid to cycle around traffic a safe space to ride.
Do these people not know about side streets or bike paths or anything else? There are places to bike outside of traffic. If anything this is making it worse because you’re not just driving around traffic, you’re driving into it and trying to control it. This is a weak reason to but people in danger.
The visual of a large group brings attention to the needs of cyclists. “Nobody rides a bike” NIMBYs take note when these events happen.
So the only way to show people that bikers exist is by massively disrupting traffic and causing safety issues? Yah, it brings attention to them, but not the good kind.
It puts pressures on municipal governments to take notice of the demand for safer cycling infrastructure. Some would argue that Critical Mass events are what sped up the development of cycling infrastructure around the world.
Or it shows the government that bikers don’t listen to traffic laws and do whatever they want. This doesn’t make the government do anything except maybe arrest some bikers for breaking the law.
See, this has been going on for 35 years and the only thing you can point at is maybe it might have possible sped up some cycling infrastructure. Maybe. Yah, that’s not a lot of progress for 35 years of this nonsense. There are much more effective ways.
As with other protests, this is normal. And those traffic rules… are only there because cars make public spaces unsafe. People don’t need traffic rules.
This is just wild… People need traffic rules. Have you ever been in a large crowded city? Do you know all the foot TRAFFIC rules? There is literally a section of code on just this. And yes, cars exist, but what do you propose to avoid needing these rules, have no cars at all? That’s absurd. Look at rural areas and tell me how that works.
On the flip side, would you prefer that every single cyclist in that group STOP at every single red light and stop sign? I’m a massive fan of that type of malicious compliance, so I’d be OK with that, too.
No, I would prefer they don’t disrupt an entire city for some performance that has gone on for 35 years with nothing to show for it. It’s just an excuse to protest and “stick it to the drivers.”
When I see protests, even when I don’t know the motivations or goals, I still respect and value the right to protest.
Ok, now imagine you are late to pick up a family member from the hospital, or you’re going to miss an interview, or a million other things. With a little empathy, you can quickly realize how this would cause issues for people, all for what? I can respect the goals, but I don’t respect the way they have chosen to reach those goals.
And if someone “hates cyclists” because of a protest like Critical Mass, they probably hate black people, gays, Palestinians, workers, the disabled, unions, First Nations, environmentalists, animal rights, and other groups of people who deserve to be heard and seen through public protests.
Jesus, you just went nuclear there huh? If someone hates cyclists for doing something like this they must be a bigot and racist? Tell me more about how you’re willing to empathize with the other side to reach a conclusion, FFS. You’ve decided that drivers are the enemy and so now they suddenly don’t matter at all. You can just assume they’re racist, sexist, anti-worker, hate animals, etc all from not liking bikers from this protest. Wow.
Maybe stop being so emotional and think for a moment. You can be pro-animal rights and think that what an animal rights group does is wrong. Are you really incapable of understanding that basic concept? Or can I just do anything under the banner of “cyclists’ rights” and call you a racist if you disagree with my actions?
Come on, what is this nonsense?
And recording while driving…
Imo it looks remarkably safe as long as we ignore the person in the car driving into oncoming traffic.
No but see youre responsible for all the actions of people who want to kill you.
With her smartphone out, recording.
The bikes in the oncoming lane are safe? C’mon what kind of joke. Blocking streets is one thing but they’re actually moving forward straight on in oncoming traffic, in what world is that safe?
Since when are cars the only one entitled to use the road?
Edit: Bunch of fucking idiots who don’t understand roads or protests getting all pissy because they were told they don’t own the road.
Cars are also not safe when driving into oncoming traffic. Thought that was obvious.
Huh, seen as how the driver here was unsafe, it appears you are intentionally misinterpreting what I have posted.
Seeing as I’m talking about the BIKES LITERALLY RIDING AGAINST THE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC, I think you’re missing that that’s what I’m talking about.
And we’re still talking abouy the car.
The car with a complaining bitch whining while still fully stopped? Still following the rules of the road? Just because someone is taking out their ass while filming doesn’t stop my point, which has been from the get-go a point about the cyclists who, unlike the rest of their group, are riding in oncoming traffic where the roads have clearly not been closed.
in what world is that safe?
In the world of every parade that has been performed in every major city for the last two centuries at least.
Ahhh, I’ll remember to drive right on into that parade next time they’ve moved off closed streets.
Nothing you say will stop the parts of this protest that are riding into oncoming traffic as safe. They clearly didn’t get coming traffic directed away.
The unsafe thing here is the driver who insisted on dangerous driving. Motorists have an obligation to not cause harm regardless of what others are doing.
If I threw you into oncoming traffic would that be unsafe? Simple answer, yes. That’s literally the only point I’m making. A protest being good doesn’t make the handful of troublemakers suddenly perfectly safe. They’re on the wrong side of the road.Travel direction does not change because you’re on a bike. Done. That’s it. Unsafe behaviors by some of the cyclists.
And the driver was the only person making the situation unsafe.
If they were also on a bike would the cyclists suddenly be unsafe? No, being on the wrong side of the road is unsafe. Idk why that’s hard to understand, especially in a protest that’s supposed to promote safer biking conditions. People riding into oncoming traffic is exactly the justification assholes are using for ripping out bike lanes. Shit people just follow the rules of the road.
Car brains are incapable of realizing that they’re the deadly threat.
I said it elsewhere but it’s worth repeating here that fighting drivers is fighting the wrong fight. Fight the government.
Even if you convince the drivers that you’re right, nothing changes.
You can do both
If you don’t change driver attitudes, fighting the government is pointless. We’re getting bike lanes TORN OUT right now, because it’s popular politics.
The drivers are the ones pushing the government to not expand bike infrastructure. There are massive complaints anytime bike Lanes or other protection is installed in major cities and anytime it’s put up to a vote it’s the car drivers out there voting no
NGL, you’re fighting the drivers for this, just in a different medium. You think the government is just doing shit for kicks and giggles? Nah, they don’t put in bike lanes because too many residents complain when they lose their parking lanes to bike lanes, or the road gets widened solely to add a bike lane.
Sure there are some cases where the govt is making a bad decision, but don’t think that you don’t need to argue with those same people, just in a Public Information Session instead of on the road.
I mean Ive been a part of many of these in Orlando and the point was to never cross into incoming traffic. So she sort of has a point. That is super dangerous. The idea isn’t to give people who hate cyclist more fuel to hate cyclist. Have respect for all types of traffic.
As a Bicycle commuter… there’s plenty of “Am I the Asshole?” that needs to go around here.
I understand the cyclists are treating this as a protest, but unless the road is closed, get the hell out of the oncoming lane. You’re not doing anything here other than confirming the drivers bias that you’re the problem.
As for the driver, just fucking STOP until they pass. Is the risk of you hitting someone worth the few minutes that pulling over out of the way costs you? The driver’s pissing and moaning on the video is some self-entitled bull shit.
I don’t like cars, but this is fucking bonkers. Trapping people in place isn’t ‘protesting’, it’s being a twat.
All the people claiming that this is a legitimate protest surely understand that the car driver was only ‘counterprotesting’, right?
Only protest where no one is inconvenienced and you can easily be ignored, mkay?
What’s fucking bonkers is car infrastructure. Highways trap me in place all the time when I want to talk a a walk or cycle.
Trapping people in place isn’t ‘protesting’,
Have you ever seen any protests? How do you think they work lol
FFS we close our streets for less important things like construction, marathons, parades.
Oh. Is that how protests work? I am a non-driver who supports initiatives like making cities car-free, increasing public transport, improving cyclist/pedestrian infrastructure. Yet, I am now blocking this community because it’s clearly full of attention-seekers craving a power-trip.
This ‘protest’ makes me support the drivers, not the cyclists. I don’t understand how this silly idea came about that making people hate you somehow builds support for a cause.
this “idea” came from doing things and seeing what works. My personal observation is whatever you do there’s people who feel it’s too extreme and offensive, that’s the nature of trying to change things.
IDK about community here, don’t really participate, don’t care who leaves or joins. Critical mass as an idea is much older than any “fuckcars” community.
“Dangerous to drivers”
Because you’re going to give yourself an aneurysm over a minor inconvenience? You’re in a giant suit of armor. You could hit every single one of those cyclists without sustaining even a scratch.
If the cyclists were actually dangerous to drivers, do you think the diver would be accelerating aggressively towards them?
Whenever I’ve been on a Critical Mass ride, we’ve always had designated “corkers”, people whose job it was to block traffic with blockading/dancing/whatever while the others continued onward. Without people doing that, you run the risk of this sort of carbrained nonsense.
Idk about the usa but here in europe its EXPLICITLY written into the drivers code that even if someone is driving illegaly if its in your power to stop an accident you have to. So if a person steps in front of you randomly and you have half a second to react thats usually not your fault BUT if you for example saw that there was a school bus dropping kids off and then you hit a child running across the road theres a large chance that theyre gonna charge you. Of course in europe you have to put like 30 hours into theory and then a lot of driving lessons to get a license while in the usa you basically get a drivers license instantly and nobody gives a fuck so thats why people dont know the rules…
The US license comes with the fruit loops.
To add, in the Netherlands, known for it’s stellar bike infrastructure it’s exactly with actions like this that they reclaimed their cities from being purely car oriented.
That’s also because bike usage is encoded in legislation.
If you hit a cyclist with a car you are almost always considered liable. It needs a lot of proof to prove that is the cyclists fault.
Guess what, that makes people very careful around bikes.
“Everyone except me is crazy.”
This will make people hate bicyclists more than they already do. Maybe the bicyclists should be more weary of a 2 ton vehicle and safeguard their own lives. And stay on bike paths. And the bike lanes.
One thing I hate is when there’s a dedicated bike lane/path and the bicyclists are driving in the middle of the road instead with the 2 ton+ vehicles and then wonder why people hate them.
Maybe the bikers should be as considerate as the drivers.
Go ride a bike.
I need to repair my bike. I do enjoy a bike ride every once in a while. But I do stop at 4 way stop intersections and yield to cars, because I know I’d lose in a game of chicken.
