"Douching it up" may be a bit strong. For those that are too lazy to follow the link let me quote the first two paragraphs which strike me as entirely fair and accurate.
The only part that I've been wondering about is this one:
cascade wrote:
In response to this incident, the Cascade Bicycle Club has called for a meeting between bicycle community members, law enforcement and city officials. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the potential that Critical Mass has to be a more positive expression of bicycle culture and transportation.
Which "bicycle community members" have they invited? When and where is the meeting? Where any CM riders invited to this meeting which is discussing CM?
alex
lantius
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:27 am
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
i didn't get called. =(
snyd3282
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:30 am
could suck the fun out of a blowjobJoined: 23 Jul 2007Posts: 588Location: Ballard / Fremont
Chris Cameron is not the CBC spokesperson, was talking off-message, shouldn't have taken that call, and has been reprimanded.
Go with the press release which is less douchy.
Since the King County undercover cop incident, it sounds like SPD has been very hands-off. CBC is trying to get a conversation with someone from SPD, someone from the city council, someone from the city attorney's office, and the bicycling community. At least that way we don't have SPD trying to stop the ride all together without a voice, or have them trying to arrest all corkers. I'll share more info as I get it.
the dreaded ben
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:41 am
Grumpy GreebJoined: 20 Aug 2005Posts: 5329Location: flavor country
i love it when bureaucrats solve all of my problems.
derrickito
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:45 am
now with 50 percent more EVILJoined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 10566
it was an isolated incident. in no way reflects the majority of CM rides. go about your normal business eh?
tehschkott
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:48 am
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
snyd3282 wrote:
Chris Cameron is not the CBC spokesperson, was talking off-message, shouldn't have taken that call, and has been reprimanded.
Great I guess we can expect the CBC to issue a retractment of his statement on tomorrows front page of the Seattle Times.
OOOPS.
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lantius
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:04 am
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
tehschkott wrote:
snyd3282 wrote:
Chris Cameron is not the CBC spokesperson, was talking off-message, shouldn't have taken that call, and has been reprimanded.
Great I guess we can expect the CBC to issue a retractment of his statement on tomorrows front page of the Seattle Times.
OOOPS.
what, uh, exactly are you really upset about him saying? perhaps this first part goes a bit far:
"Critical Mass isn't doing Seattle any good — it's a rolling party," said Chris Cameron, director of the bicycle-commute program for the 10,000-member Cascade Bicycle Club.
but this seems hard to argue with:
Regardless of what happens in court, Cameron of the Cascade Bicycle Club said everyone involved behaved badly and is responsible for escalating the situation.
"The motorist should face charges, absolutely — he was in a 3,000-pound weapon that accelerated and hit somebody," Cameron said. "It was hooliganism on the cyclists' side, a mob mentality. They overreacted."
Still, he thinks tension between motorists and cyclists has actually decreased in recent years as drivers have become more accustomed to sharing the road with bicyclists.
Friday's clash "was an aberration," said Cameron. He said local Critical Mass rides haven't done anything to improve conditions for the riding public.
"It's kind of a merry pranksters event in Seattle versus the rolling protest I believe the original founders of the movement wanted to communicate," he said.
tehschkott
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:12 am
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
I guess largely that first part.
Of course the medias going to put the most sensational quotes up front - and on the front page - thats physical paper, not the internet mind you - it says even Cascade Bicycle Club is against CM...
And then it goes on to qualify the statement there on page A4 or whatever it is. Point being, it sort of continues on with the PR fuckup that this is.
I agree with you - and him on the rest.
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langston
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 3:36 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
tehschkott wrote:
snyd3282 wrote:
Chris Cameron is not the CBC spokesperson, was talking off-message, shouldn't have taken that call, and has been reprimanded.
Great I guess we can expect the CBC to issue a retractment of his statement on tomorrows front page of the Seattle Times.
OOOPS.
It'd be great if it cost that douche his job. I about vomited in my mouth when he practically bragged about barely being a bike commuter for his moderate commute to Sand Point in Seattle Magazine (I think, can't remember precisely which lame glossy) . Why would CBC have a "cager" as their fricken commute-guy? gah.
Daverham
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:35 pm
Joined: 02 Aug 2007Posts: 18Location: Cap Hill
Quote:
There are a number of people who are silently anti-biker and when something like Friday's incident happens, they start spewing on the message boards. CM didn't generate that type of anti-biker, CM simply helped identify the person as anti-biker.
Good call. I'd buy that. I guess I was thinking of people that are on the fence... or maybe there was something like this in the news that made them anti-biker to start with. Mostly, probably people just think a solo biker is in their way, slowing them down, so that's probably where it usually starts.
I'm down with the suggestion, "just go about your biz" - that's probably the only thing we can do. go out there, ride, be nice, have fun. drink beer afterward.
I've seen bikers bang on car windows when they had no right, and ive seen drivers act lick dicks. they both piss me off i guess. what can you do... i'm still going to try with a a new flyer idea - you'll see it around, but odds are that's not going to convince anyone but people that already agree. oh well, die trying, right?
_________________ "Every day you don't ride your bike is a day you will never get back"
- Me
Quote: This is a classic example of the eternal conflict between the younger, more progressive generation and the older, more conservative one—except of course that the rider was 29 and the officer was 22.
Huh.. too funny. Yep, it's typically the rookie cops who tend to have the biggest attitudes.
gyngve
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:17 am
Joined: 29 Jul 2008Posts: 8
Apologies in advance for using the injured as a material example. Hope he gets well.
One of the beauties of critical mass is that it operates purely on anarchy. No predetermined routes, no leaders, no rules. That means that the only thing protecting the individual is personal responsibility. If you can't safely go down a hill in a pack on a fixie with no brakes, then it is your sole decision to dismount the bike.
If "no steep hills" becomes a rule, will "must have helmets" become a rule too? How far does it go before the character of the ride is changed?
SofaKing wrote:
I read about some newb auguring into the back of a truck down a particularly steep section of the ride. That really pisses me off as much as the Aloha incident.
pete jr
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:22 am
Joined: 13 Dec 2005Posts: 1930Location: balls deepx
despite the fact that cascade is generally a bunch of douchey nancies, i think the most level-headed statement about the event comes from their press release:
cbc wrote:
We ask for the public to take from this incident that escalation is an inappropriate response and can have disastrous consequences.
If "no steep hills" becomes a rule, will "must have helmets" become a rule too? How far does it go before the character of the ride is changed?
SofaKing wrote:
I read about some newb auguring into the back of a truck down a particularly steep section of the ride. That really pisses me off as much as the Aloha incident.
"No steep hills" doesn't need to be a rule. Sometimes there are steep hills and you can't avoid them. So instead of there being a "rule" against hills, I instead suggest that anybody, or group of anybodys, who thinks it's a good idea to take critical mass up and down some of the steeper hills in town are flippant assholes. I'm guessing 20% of the riders could care less, 10% enjoy the challenge, 65% are cursing under their breath and whichever bastard turned that way, and 5% you just gave the middle finger to and told to fuck off and go away. People on shitty bikes, out of shape, cargo bikes, with kids, etc. There's plenty of good routes, even in this city.
Sure... you got to be in control of yourself. you got to be responsible for yourself. I can't argue with that. But think of the perfectly good, innocent bike that was killed in that incident? The bike didn't deserve to die like that. THink of the bikes!
_________________ I use my powers for awesome.
tehschkott
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:01 pm
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
SofaKing wrote:
gyngve wrote:
If "no steep hills" becomes a rule, will "must have helmets" become a rule too? How far does it go before the character of the ride is changed?
SofaKing wrote:
I read about some newb auguring into the back of a truck down a particularly steep section of the ride. That really pisses me off as much as the Aloha incident.
"No steep hills" doesn't need to be a rule. Sometimes there are steep hills and you can't avoid them. So instead of there being a "rule" against hills, I instead suggest that anybody, or group of anybodys, who thinks it's a good idea to take critical mass up and down some of the steeper hills in town are flippant assholes. I'm guessing 20% of the riders could care less, 10% enjoy the challenge, 65% are cursing under their breath and whichever bastard turned that way, and 5% you just gave the middle finger to and told to fuck off and go away. People on shitty bikes, out of shape, cargo bikes, with kids, etc. There's plenty of good routes, even in this city.
Sure... you got to be in control of yourself. you got to be responsible for yourself. I can't argue with that. But think of the perfectly good, innocent bike that was killed in that incident? The bike didn't deserve to die like that. THink of the bikes!
I suggest everyone shut the fuck up about this already, show up to CM next month if you feel like it, and take it for whatever it is.
EYENOE - crazy.
The guy apologized. Unless it was your bike/body under the wheels, lets move on.
I was all hot on getting back in the game, going to the next CM and doing my part to be part of the solution.
Burning Man CM?
Man... this was actually going to be the year I made it to burning man too. Then I changed jobs and lost my vacation time. Then my brother decided it was the right time to hitch the knot. Guess it wasn't meant to be.
_________________ I use my powers for awesome.
ipl31
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:58 pm
Joined: 09 Jul 2008Posts: 139Location: Georgetown
btm wrote:
SofaKing wrote:
I was all hot on getting back in the game, going to the next CM and doing my part to be part of the solution.
Burning Man CM?
I will be watching the CT ride (Critical Tits) on the playa.
_________________ -Ken (nobody appears to read my signature because they all ways ask if I am me)
ksep
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:05 pm
Joined: 27 Jan 2007Posts: 1879Location: Westlake
At the DBBIIF a guy from The Bikery was handing out a small flyer with the following on it:
Quote:
Seattle Cyclists! Friends! Critical Mass Riders!
Allies!
Let's Find the Truth!
Meeting to Discuss Support for Critical Mass Rider Terrorized and Injured by Friday's Attack and Riders Targeted by the Police
Witnesses and Participants are Welcome
This is Not a Press Conference
Sunday, August 3rd 6pm
20/20 Cycles 2020 E Union St
He said there would be a few refreshments. I think a subgoal of the meeting is to gather up a few people that want to take leadership roles in steering the mass in a positive direction. Probably not unlike how Vancouver's mass evolved from criminal mischief to police supported well corked bliss. I mean god damn, look at that second photo, they're well trained up there!
I hope a few folks on this thread can make it. I'll be in Vancouver this Sunday (and doing August CM up there too), so if someone goes and posts a summary of the meeting that'd be sweet.
_________________ -Kevin
nexus
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:17 am
Joined: 03 Jul 2007Posts: 5Location: Beacon Hill
Quote:
Sunday, August 3rd 6pm
20/20 Cycles 2020 E Union St
I just spotted this but would have been there. How did the meeting go? Did Lt. Hayes or any other SPD show up? (supportive community connected...)
Having/enjoying support from SPD like that in Vancouver and Portland would be awesome. SPD has provided backup to corking efforts in the past (WNBR 2005 or 6, East Precinct, Bike Officer). I witnessed it. Nothing pre-arranged, the officer simply approached an impatient corked 2nd-in-line driver and didn't even have to say a word. The driver mellowed instantly.
If SPD can put 8+ officers on bikes "present" at Westlake the month after the viaduct was taken, surely they can provide some kind of backup support to help keep the peace at corked intersections. They're primary objective is to keep the peace, right?
If 200 cyclists show up, great. If 1000 cyclists show up, then SPD really should be present to help keep the peace.
Chief "Mayor" Kerlikowske didn't even speak to road rage or the dangerous use of the Subaru in the "incident" in that damn cut/paste-up job of a letter. Unjust! Shame!
In case you missed the PDX July CM Report (click it, then click on "not-a-spammer", then click this link again)
And as for the hills issues and the diversity of CM riders, I hope the August route is kept to a thoughtful route.
Thanks for the great reading and the link to "Thanks for corking!" the Vancouver pix/report. I needed that warm fuzzy.
Peace,
~nexus
snyd3282
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:20 am
could suck the fun out of a blowjobJoined: 23 Jul 2007Posts: 588Location: Ballard / Fremont
I was there. There was no SPD presence. We had 20-30 people there.
There might be a meeting with Tim Burgess (city council), Tom Carr (city attorney), the precinct chief, and 6 cyclists in the next week or two. One of the cyclists will be from SBAB, another will likely be Chuck Ayers of CBC, they are looking for the other 4 to be good people to help represent the interests of CM.
My notes are primarily on what we pieced together from the eyewitnesses that were present. I have sent these notes out for corrections and haven't heard anything yet so I think they are correct:
The following is a composite account from approximately 6 eyewitnesses to the Critical Mass incident at Aloha Street in Seattle in July of 2008.
The group had turned from 15th right onto (eastbound) Aloha and were on a slight downslope after a hill climb so the group was thinning out with about one cyclist per two car-lengths and with a small group of riders yet to pass including someone pulling a child in a trailer.
At this point, Aloha is approximately 3 lanes wide with two lanes devoted to parking and it is not wide enough for two cars to pass without one car pulling into a parking space. The first interaction site, site A, was approximately 50 yards off of 15th. Cars were parked on both sides of the street. The car in question was parked on the right hand side of the street, mid-block, it and started to pull forward in the same direction as the cyclists. This car is initially facing eastbound. Upon seeing the attempt to pull out into the group, three cyclists pull up to block the car and ask the driver to "wait 30 seconds" for the rest of the cyclists to pass. The driver side window is half open and the driver yells at the blockers. Eventually about 6 cyclists are blocking the car and about half of these blockers are taunting the driver, the other half are trying to calm things down. Through this point no cyclist has touched the car. One cyclist comments that had there been any safe exit route for the car, she would have suggested it, but given the conditions the only safe action was for the car driver to wait. This blocking situation lasts about two minutes before the car starts to move again.
The car pulls forward and knocks one cyclist to the ground. The body of the car passes over this cyclist, but other than a chip in the paint and a bruise she appears uninjured. The car tire did not run over her.
The car driver backs up over the sidewalk and up a grassy slope and does a 3-point turn of about 120 degrees. The car is now aimed slightly back towards 15th. The blocking cyclists reposition themselves in front, to the front driver side and to the front passenger side of the car. The driver is visibly agitated, fuming. The passenger is disengaged. The driver says "Fuck This" as the engine roars and the car lurches forward through two people. Witnesses from 50 yards away hear screams. Cyclists yell "What the fuck are you doing, you just ran people over". The person dragged under the car is dragged approximately 6 feet before the car tire runs over his leg. One person is either hit and flung to the hood or jumps on the hood and rides with the car the 50 yards with his feet on the hood and his hands holding onto the roof rack. The car appeared to be accelerating as fast as possible towards site B. In this time, the person on the hood bashed the front window with his leg and arm.
Accounts conflict about why the car stopped at Aloha and 15th. The car ended up stopping right over the crosswalk where the tail end of the ride was approaching. The tail end of the ride was composed of approximately 10 riders. Several of the blocking cyclists from Site A sprinted to Site B. One of these cyclists immediately used a pocketknife to slash 3 of the car tires in order to prevent the driver from getting away and then went to pull the driver away from the wheel only to discover that the driver was already out of the car. The driver was saying "I'm so sorry, oh God I'm so sorry". In the time that it took the driver to take a few steps, just a few seconds, a cyclist (who has not been arrested) sprinted up from the rear of the car and hit the driver in the back of the head with a U-lock. A couple cyclists believe they can identify the attacker but don't know who it is. At the time that he was hit, about 8 cyclists were surrounded him and then they yelled at the guy who hit him (that the u-lock guy shouldn't have done that).
Until after the police arrive, the passenger stays seated in the car and remains disengaged from the conflict. After the driver is hit, he staggers to the passenger side of the car, apologizes to the passenger, and rummages through the glove box for insurance papers. Then he wanders up part of the way back up Aloha where the police eventually find him on the sidewalk on the left hand side of the street.
The total time that the car was blocked before the driver drove into the cyclists was approximately 2 minutes.
The total time from the start until the police arrived was approximately 10 minutes.
The driver had his window 1/2 open the entire time. Part of the time he was gesturing with his hand through the open window, part of the time he was yelling.
Nobody in this group saw the driver exit the car, it happened quickly and nobody is sure if he exited on his own or if he was pulled from the car.
Mid-response, the police had a shift change. The officers who responded to Site A left, the officers who responded to Site B stayed, and a new supervising officer came on the scene and made his determination after only talking to the officers at Site B. There were lots of witnesses at Site B and at least 6 pedestrians and local residents that witnessed what happened at Site A. When cyclists talk to the new officer in charge and hear that he only has one half of the story, they disagree and he responds "That isn't how it is getting written up" and he responds rudely to the cyclists. Two cyclists were arrested, held, and released without being charged at this time. The car driver has not been arrested or charged.
Meanwhile one of the officers from Site A gave the girl who had been run over, the first cyclist to have been hit, a courtesy ride to her home where he then took a full statement. She refused paramedic treatment and appears to have only suffered bruises and chipped paint on her bike from being struck by the car. The police have names and contacts of about 6 pedestrians from Site A.
Other notes:
1. The passenger was not pregnant.
2. The car was not totally surrounded, and only had 6 cyclists blocking it.
3. There was only one knife and it was a pocketknife.
4. The cyclists were, so far, only arrested and released on $150 (each) non-refundable bail. The cyclist wielding the u-lock that hit the driver has not been arrested.
5. The car is a stick shift.
6. From these witnesses, it isn't clear who broke the rear window.
From the viewpoint of Site A: An aggressive driver road raged through a group of people.
From the viewpoint of Site B: A bunch of cyclists attacked a car and the driver.
(End of notes. Start of my analysis after reading all of this again.)
Another note and possible discrepancy in the drivers story: Since the car is a stick shift, and he had the presence of mind to do a 3 point turn over a sidewalk and into a hill while yelling at the cyclists, even if he only intended to rev the engine to scare people, how could he have not had his foot on the clutch? In order to rev the engine, the engine has to be running. If the engine is running and the car isn't moving, he has to have his foot on the clutch. If he had turned the car off and didn't have his foot on the clutch when turning the key (most stick shifts made in the last 15 years require your foot on the clutch before allowing the key to turn) then the car would only lurch forward and die, it wouldn't get the speed required to start the car. With that car, if it is a stick shift, I can't see any way for the lurch into the group to be accidental.
Last edited by snyd3282 on Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:35 pm; edited 1 time in total
esra
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:14 am
Joined: 26 Jul 2008Posts: 11
Thanks snyd3282 for writing and posting the info, I wonder if its a good idea to post this on another web sites like CM site or bike blog? We should discuss...
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