Welcome to NY

[Howie]

If Utopia (not the head shop) existed there would be no such thing as turkey bacon

Unlike some cities Critical Mass in NYC is the behavior of the bicyclists has been reasonably peaceful and inconvenience to cars has been probably been less than the average street fair, just enough to be noticed. 
If no one ever demonstrated we would probably still have whites only water fountains and women not allowed to vote.

[Got Duc]

Am I the only person that saw the person on the side of the road with the bottle of water for the Police Officer?

The poor guy was just going to get a cool drink and the biker hit him.

I don't blame the guy to brace for impact and avoid personal injury.

Then of all the nerve the cyclist resisted arrest.

Shame on you biker for hittting the thirsty cop.

[Pakhan]

If Utopia (not the head shop) existed there would be no such thing as turkey bacon

Unlike some cities Critical Mass in NYC is the behavior of the bicyclists has been reasonably peaceful and inconvenience to cars has been probably been less than the average street fair, just enough to be noticed. 
If no one ever demonstrated we would probably still have whites only water fountains and women not allowed to vote.

I think critical mass in NYC treads a fine line of what I would consider acceptable demonstration and being inconsiderate.  If their message is that they are like cars and need to be treated equal then they need to abide by the same rules.  None of this running red lights and blocking traffic crap.

I believe most of the people who ride it are not there to protest but to have fun controlling the streets for a little while.

[silentbob]

If no one ever demonstrated we would probably still have whites only water fountains and women not allowed to vote.

To demonstrate, you need to have a point.  If blacks wandered the streets en masse committing crimes where do you think the civil rights movement would be today? 

As for women having the right to vote, I'm still not sure that was a good thing.  Just kidding.

[KnightofNi]

I think critical mass in NYC treads a fine line of what I would consider acceptable demonstration and being inconsiderate.  If their message is that they are like cars and need to be treated equal then they need to abide by the same rules.  None of this running red lights and blocking traffic crap.

I believe most of the people who ride it are not there to protest but to have fun controlling the streets for a little while.

what about the protesters that blocked the entrances to buildings or refused to get up when told to thus blocking certain areas?

if you just shout it doens't make an impact. if you impede people's daily movements they tend to notice. a lot of times it is a fight to stay alive while riding in that city. many of the things i did that others might consider rude were doent o keep myself from being hurt by the jackass in his cage or the idiot walking without looking at what is going on around them.

95% of the times i got injured it was because of something stupid that someone else did. if you raise awareness about your situation then maybe people will start to look for you. (sounds kinda like the arguement for increased motorcycle awareness education doesn't it?)


keep in mind i agree that certain thigns should not happen (running red lights and the like)

[DucPete]

First off, I hate that people can do things to other people and the victim of whatever it is can do nothing about it.  Probably the thing that frustrates me the most in this world.

Secondly, I agree with the Dali Lama, Martin Luther King Jr, and Ghandi.  Silent protest is the way to go.  I agree to some degree that you can do something that would get you arrested but what gives the protester the right to infringe on other people's lives. 

If the argument is that it's the way to get the word out then I would say how do you morally justify the selfish act of imposing on other people.  Trying to promote an agenda is very difficult to do right.  The person that blocks buildings and prevents people from doing what they want to do makes the protester no better than what they are protesting against.  (within reason)

[He Man]

Silent protest is only effeective when the message is something that strikes the heart. When something is that powerful, the image is what moves you, not the words.

These are freaking bikes. If biikers stood on the corner and chained themselves to street poles. No one would give a shit.

Do you know what role bikes play in NYC? a HUGE ONE. Bikers are forced onto the streets with cars and this causes hundreds of accidents each year. maybe thousands, im not sure. If you dont ride a bike in the city, you would never know how hard it was, and if you as the mayor never rode a bike to work, as work, then you wouldnt know a damn thing about it. So why would you change it? You wouldnt, unless thousands of bikers came out and protested. there are more and more biker lanes on major avenues than there ever before and there should be more.

Mayor Bloomberg rides the subway everyday to work, the only problem is, his line is always tip top. So thats probably what he thinks of every other line. All the videos of him on the train are also when the train is at its emptiest. (probably very early when its not crowded) and i think he gets home by car. Does he give a shit about the MTA? Probably not that much since he doenst have to surffer am rush hour train traffic. Whos protesting? No one and nothings changing.

What once was a 81 million surplus, quickly became a 81million deficit LITTERALLY over the course of a few months. this was when the first fare hike to $2.00 came around. This year, they projecte an 800million deficit by 2010. There are 6 major projects underway, 4 of them must be completely stopped. dozens of repairs are put on hold, there are now less trains running than every before, the planne 2010 fare hike got pushed into 2009. So there is ANOTHER fare hike in Jan 2009, ontop of the one thye threw at us a few months ago.

Welcome to NY. Now get the make the beast with two backs out of my way, i need my hookers and blow.

[c_rex]

unprovoked, uncool, unacceptable and not to mention un-very nice.  I predict a massive apology and a large divot in the cash account for NYPD.  Officer Pogan sir... I do not salute you.

[eyeboy]

rookie cop gave dubious account of his videotaped bicyclist assault

this guy is a 'nus. his mummy let his cornflakes get soggy one too many times and SOMEONE was gonna pay