Meet • Entertain • LiveMeet • Entertain • Live| guest | Posted Jul 29 2008, 02:20 PM |
| Craigslist R&R post I don’t get it… tying up traffic in DT Vancouver for hours to get some point across? Are you all really that desperate for attention (good or bad) that you feel a mass swarming of hooligans on wheels will bring a city to its knees just for your cause. Allow me let you in on a few things,,, As a driver, cyclist, recycler and proponent of reducing my own carbon footprint, I am above all else an upstanding and law abiding citizen that loves residing in this great city of ours. I pay my taxes which help pave the roads we all share and keep them in usable condition. I abide by the laws of the road and like most frown upon those both in cars or bicycles that don’t. To have my rights infringed upon in this way is to me and I’m betting 99% of the rest of those law abiding citizens who drive cars, walk, bike or ride public transit and pay taxes completely ridiculous and infuriating. Instead of drawing positive attention to your cause, no, you would rather draw attention,,, any kind of attention it seems and amazingly you people just don’t seem to care. So much for your cause I guess. I’m not going to sit here and threaten to run you over, spit, yell obscenities etc, etc… But I can promise you that what you want most, and I’m assuming it’s support for your cause, will not come from me or the hundreds of thousands of law abiding people looking upon your actions with complete distain and frustration. In fact, I’m betting that you will soon get all the publicity you need when and god forbid you impede an ambulance, fire department or loved one trying to get another to a hospital, doctor or whatever causing your first “critical mass” death. Yes, maybe I’m being to pessimistic, after all, not every one of you are hooligans and I’m sure that there is a percentage of you that pay your taxes etc, etc. BUT looking at the crowd, even some of you involved must realize that Wright or wrong you will be judged by the people around you, their actions, looks and perceptions are unfortunately a reality in today’s society. Read the other rants in this category if you doubt that… Now being caught in several of these so call “swarms” I can say that many of you look pretty normal. But having covered many political events from behind the eye of a camera, I know that a great deal of you are just there to cause havoc and I’m willing to bet that a large percentage of you don’t actually have any clue what you’re riding for. I constantly see the same dirty, mindless idiots at your swarming and then see the same folks at the “insert cause here” event. Bottom line is that your swarm is really made up of mostly non-law-abiding, no tax paying, living off our tax dollars welfare cases riding around on what is more than likely a stolen bike going from event to event simple to go against the system whether they know or understand what system they are rallying against. Hey, here’s a though for the organizers… get people that make your cause look good instead of allowing a bunch of squeegee kids with green and purple Mohawks to tie up our streets. I really am amazed that the commuters have for the most part kept their cool with this. It must be that the Vancouver air or something because you know as well as I do that if this were done in a major city like New York, Paris, London or any other world class city, there would be allot of trouble. I’m always amazed that the majority of the vulgarity comes from the swarmers themselves. Flipping the bird, spitting on cars and riding in the nude must help because it’s a common occurrence. And please don’t reply saying “I never do those things” because even if you don’t, those around you do and once again you will be judged by the company you keep. So according to one of the local Vancouver websites and this may be the mother ship,, I’m not sure, it claims the following.. “Critical Mass is a grassroots reclamation of public space -- a bike ride and skate -- held the last Friday of every month. You are invited to enjoy the safety and comfort in the car-free space that we create by simply riding together! Bicycles, skateboards, rollerskates, self propelled couches, and any other form of human powered locomotion are all welcomed!” I love one bloggers response as to why he participates in this…. “It’s a great way to meet like minded people” Ya.. ok, lets go out and meet real outstanding folks… good job! Speaking of which, if everyone had jobs and goodness knows we’re very lucky in this city and jobs are plentiful,,, at the end of the day you would be too tired to participate in this sort of public mischief. Hard working people go home at the end of the day to relax, get out and enjoy their free time. No one looks forward to getting into grid lock on their own time. Now I’m not a political or a civil servant but I’m pretty sure that self propelled couches are not road legal. Joke of not, that not the point. What is , is the nonsense of trying to reclaim PUBLIC space for your own agenda. Hey, here’s a thought… how about holding public meeting with your appointed town officials, members of government, community leaders, etc. If you can’t get a forum with them, go to the media and plead your case. Pool your money, hire a public media relations expert, get an attorney because like I predict you will need one sooner or later and go about this the non terrorist way. If that fails, well then stick to your swarming but continue them on outlined bike routes, public parks or SHARE the road with cars. Face it,, cars will never go away. The only proven car effecting method of reduction is the ever increasing cost of gas. I have no doubt that in the years to come traffic will lessen as many simply cannot afford it. But those of us that still can and will be driving hybrid or more full efficient and smaller cars still have the right to drive where we please, when we please regardless of your own personal agendas. At the end of this day this is all about getting the respect of each side. But you need to realize that your method will not work. It won’t matter if you get 10,000 cyclists out there. Even if you managed that, your actions will continue to cause anger, frustration and eventuality your cause will just fade away. Holding a city hostage for a few hours will not work with it’s population. Holding a city hostage for days will not work,, working together with the people that build, run, and pay the taxes that keep a city running will work. Share the road…. |
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| craigslist rant | Posted Jul 29 2008, 01:07 PM |
| The point is to draw awareness to alternate forms of transportation, specifically the safety issue in regards to bikes having to share the roads with cars/drivers that feel roads are only for cars. The idea (in vancouver I believe) is try to get cities to design roads/paths that make it safer for bike riders and to draw attention to bike riding, a healthy and evironmentally friendly way to commute, or to just have fun riding a bike. I would ride a bike to wrok if I felt it was safe, but its not. (the route I would have to take is not safe at all). We build mega highways for cars, why not build a few dedicated routes for bikes. It would benefit car drivers and riders alike. Its pretty evident from the posts here that some people feel that roads are for cars only, and that anyone who rides a bike is gay and or cant afford a car. Which is about as ignorant as one can get. |
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| craigslist rant | Posted Jul 29 2008, 01:03 PM |
| It's also a CELEBRATION of bike riding, community and getting involved with others and our city. Notice tha lack of chants and boos and the numerous happy bell-rigning, costumes and smiling? That's people having a good time, out in their communities with their neighbours. Critical Mass is FUN! that's the point. Kind of like when paunchy middle-aged guys get together with their classic cars and drive around the town. It's a parade. Everybody loves a parade. |
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| robber | Posted Jul 29 2008, 12:58 PM |
QUOTE (guest @ Jul 28 2008, 04:48 PM)  Yep, their naked, stoned on pot or booze and just plain idiots. They go by our condo every last Friday of the month, and we see first hand how they screw up the traffic, ignore red lights and stop signs.I can't wait for the day that some unsuspecting motorist legally goes through a green light and knocks off a few of them in the lead! They also get police escortss and I would like to know who pays for that!!!!! It's also very noticeable that they are fair-weather protesters. Their numbers drop about 80% in the winter, especially on bad weather days! "Stoned on pot or booze"??? BS. On the whole ride only a few lit up a joint. And where were they drinking? Nice guy - hoping someone runs down cyclists! The police choose to join the group to keep the peace. And to arrest drivers should they use their car to assault anyone. |
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| guest | Posted Jul 28 2008, 04:48 PM |
QUOTE (Cognizant 1 @ Jul 28 2008, 04:11 PM) Some of them were naked for some inexplicable reason. Yep, their naked, stoned on pot or booze and just plain idiots. They go by our condo every last Friday of the month, and we see first hand how they screw up the traffic, ignore red lights and stop signs.I can't wait for the day that some unsuspecting motorist legally goes through a green light and knocks off a few of them in the lead! They also get police escortss and I would like to know who pays for that!!!!! It's also very noticeable that they are fair-weather protesters. Their numbers drop about 80% in the winter, especially on bad weather days! |
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| guest | Posted Jul 28 2008, 04:43 PM |
| July 27, 2008 1:42 p.m. EST Amy Beeman - AHN Seattle, WA (AHN) -- A driver was injured by a group of cyclists Friday after several from the group became violent when he attempted to drive his vehicle through the mass of bicycle riders. The group of bikers came together, as they do every last Friday in Seattle, to ride in a "Critical Mass Ride," which one web site says is an event "to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists' right to the road." In this case, the Seattle Times reported that some cyclists in the group became angered when the driver of a Subaru station wagon tried to pull out of a parking spot as the group of roughly 100 cyclists were riding by. A few in the group blocked the car from moving, and banged on it. The driver, outnumbered with only his girlfriend in the passenger seat, began to slowly back out when he bumped a cyclist, further enraging the group. Several cyclists attacked the vehicle, shattering the windshield and back window. The driver pressed on, hitting another cyclist. He drove a little way, but was cornered again by the large angry mob. Reportedly, someone punched him through his open window, and another person slashed his tires before he got out of the vehicle. Upon getting out, someone hit him in the back of the head causing a gash. Finally, police arrived and the crowd thinned. Two men were taken into custody for investigation of malicious mischief. Another man was questioned and released before being identified as the person who hit the driver in the head. Police are looking for him. No cyclists or the driver's girlfriend were hurt. The driver's injuries were not life-threatening, but he was taken to the hospital. According to a Critical Mass website, which states that there is no official CM website, "CM is intended to be a celebration, not an opportunity to cause trouble. Those who want to try to tie up traffic as much as possible and be confrontational with motorists are missing the point. We can assert our right to the road without being rude about it. Focus on the ride, not on the cars that also happen to be on the road." The site also says that there are no central leaders or organizers of the rides. The Seattle Times reported that some CM riders said they slashed the tires to prevent the driver from hitting any other cyclists. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011743421 |
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| do it... do it... | Posted Jul 28 2008, 04:17 PM |
| Turn off your engines then, duh! | |
| Cognizant 1 | Posted Jul 28 2008, 04:12 PM |
| They're creating more pollution by keeping these cars sitting on idle for extended periods of time. | |
| Cognizant 1 | Posted Jul 28 2008, 04:11 PM |
| Some of them were naked for some inexplicable reason. | |
| guest | Posted Jul 28 2008, 04:08 PM |
| July 17, 2008Login or register to post comments email print Hypocritical Mass is encouraging pollution Although I usually only bike or bus into Vancouver from the North Shore, I had to take my car this past Friday evening and had the dubious pleasure of sitting in a traffic jam several miles long that apparently is part of the monthly Critical Mass bike ride [Straight Talk, July 3-10]. I was only a few hundred feet from the intersection of Denman and Georgia when the Mass made its appearance, so I could see what was happening and shut off my car for the 20-minute duration. But for most of the people in a lineup that would have quickly extended across Lions Gate Bridge, down Marine Drive into North and West Vancouver and up Taylor Way, it probably meant 45 minutes or more of sitting in an idling car thinking it was rush-hour backup on the bridge or an accident had happened and waiting to crawl along. While I’m sure riding down the middle of the road shouting eco-friendly slogans and clichés at the people stuck in a jam you created is a lot of fun, I can’t think of a more environmentally hypocritical activity than deliberately creating a traffic jam that puts tons of vehicle emissions into the atmosphere so you can have an “ecofriendly” bike ride. I’m sure the total amount of air pollution these Mass-created traffic jams put out over the year far exceeds the benefits to the environment from these people using bikes instead of cars. If nothing else, obey the traffic-light signals and let traffic cut across the Mass to help reduce the negative effects of your activity. > Richard Montagna / West Vancouver http://www.straight.com/article-153804/hyp...aging-pollution |
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