While it is probable that the MPD over-reacted, There seems to be two points here that are being missed in the pro-con debate on Critmass. First, the entitled and ignorant assumption that riding a bike in traffic is a sane and practical endevour. Talk to any motorcyclist about the joys of riding in the city. Those yellow bumperstickers "start seeing motorcycles!" were not intended as a hipster statement. Second, factor in the reality that the majority of drivers have a hard enough time seeing other cars and motorcycles, let alone a human on a bicycle. Some 16 year old fumbling for a cd on the floor of his 4000lb 87 Caprice or the elderly driver with the beginnings of dementia behind the wheel of a SUV do not add up to an environment were anyone outside the circle of entitled unanware cyclists dipshi* hipsters, wannabe activists or just well-meaning but unlucky people. The road is for cars de facto. Sorry kids, the reality is, sometimes the biggest bully on the playground is gonna knock you

Leave it to the MPLS police department to deal with the threat of road bikers rather than people who break into houses or sell crack to children. Just when you think that no political body can be as stupid as the president something like this happens.

Kol.klink, your leaps of illogic are profound. You proceed, in reverse, from your assumption that the road is unsafe for cyclists to one that they should vacate it, to a third that if they choose not to vacate it they are dipshi* hipsters, and finally that the police will have to forcibly remove them if they don't read the writing on the wall. It's unclear in your final metaphor if the "bully on the playground" is the SUV driver or the police. You might want to work that out, at least for your own clarity.

You are untroubled by the lies of the police department, which clearly misrepresented their reason for attacking the massers... I got an idea, dude: leave the thinking to people whose brains are not screaming with deafening anger.

Your final sentence, "Sorry kids," is so bitter it's hysterical. Let's take your metaphor (hey, you chose it) apart for a second. I imagine you seeing some "kids" getting beaten by someone twice their size and saying this, "Sorry kids, it's reality." Yeah, most people would say you have an obligation to do something about that situation.

Yeah, dude. You are the king cynic. And that's fashionable. Here's a clue: Do something about it.

Olly:While your High school debate club angst is amusing, you do not respond or defend the reality of the information and facts present: The roads are dangerous enough for people driving in cars and riding on motorcycles. The majority of drivers are either simply lacking in thier skills, don't care about paying attention or worse of all, are activly trying to run bikes off the road. Analyzing anger and cynicism might get you praise from your Urban Studies TA at Macalester, but it will not change the fact that the roads are and shall forever be a dangerous place for ALL vehicles, bicycles foremost. Any rider who willingly chooses to ride a bicycle on a city street is either ignorant of physics or has an enviable amount of trust in there fellow man.

What an idiot. For some reason , kol thinks that it's ok for the cops to intentionally create a confrontation, BECAUSE we havent shown that riding bicycles in the city is safe. Dude, the one doesnt connect with the other logically. Dont you see that? It reminds me of the underpants trolls: phase 1: collect underpants, phase 3: PROFITS!
Your argument lacks a "phase 2" just as theirs does.

The roads may be dangerous as you say, but the fact remains that the law requires cyclists to ride on the street, not the sidewalk.

"The roads may be dangerous as you say, but the fact remains that the law requires cyclists to ride on the street, not the sidewalk."

The law also says that bikes will ride as near to the right hand side of the road as possible and will not unreasonably impede traffic. When you are riding three and four abreast and using one hand to finger honking car drivers you are simply fowling your own nests. Keep it up, soon your riding will be limited to bike paths.

"Any rider who willingly chooses to ride a bicycle on a city street is either ignorant of physics or has an enviable amount of trust in there fellow man."

so let's replace "rider" with motorcyclist... Why would any dipsh*t ride a motorcycle when a majority of vehicles are larger than them?

Or... replace "rider" with sports car/coup/anything with two doors.Cause most people around here drive cars larger than that. What dipsh*t is stupid enough to drive a small two person car when the majority of vehicles are larger then them?

Yes... there are risks to riding a bike, just like any other vehicle on the road. The cyclist needs to be aware of those risks... but... Just like when I drive my car I expect other vehicles to conform to basic laws (stop at red, signal turns, etc.) I also keep an eye out for the idiots.

In short your arugument doesn't hold water cause it's too vague. As others have stated, state law states that bikes count as vehicles so just like drivers need to "start seeing motorcyles" they need to start seeing bicycles too. (And vice versa.)

And don't start on the whole "cyclists break the law" argument untill you can stop Minneapolis drivers from running red lights (which I've witnessed both on bike and in car many times), stop them from not coming to a full stop at stop signs, and have them start signalling turns and lane changes, etc. Nobody is innocent or pure when it comes to obeying traffic laws around here.

The "sorry kids" comment seems like a variation of the "she was asking for it" mentality of wife beaters, rapists, and their apologists. Now, why a red blooded American would want to apologize for excesses of power brought to bear against their fellow citizens is a question for all of us. Everyone riding a bike and driving a car on our streets is human. Demonizng and stereotyping one group or the other (or both) is easy, and divisive. Most everyone wants to travel safely to where they're going. kol.klink, I'm glad you're thinking about this subject, but disappointed that you are arguing on the side of the bullies.
p.s. mace is a chemical weapon

Hey, City Pages, where is the video with the police orders? I want to see, everyone to see.
I don't do CM, for many reasons, but I know some who do. I have a hunch there is enough blame to go around, if people back away and take a look. On the other hand, I would think in general CM would have been acting similarly to every other month, and I understand the police have been present without serious incident in the past.
But if MPD is training for the Republican Convention (I think quite plausible), then they obviously, at the very least, really do NEED training-- in being PEACE officers.
I hope they will be forthcoming in admitting mistakes.
Then I hope the riders will take some time to see that they played a part in this.

Is a bicycle a dangerous weapon? Is a u-lock? Is an automobile? Is a baton? etc. Who brought the guns to a peaceful protest? According to the law, looks like someone may be guilty of...

Subd. 2. Riot second degree. When three or more persons assembled disturb the public peace by an intentional act or threat of unlawful force or violence to person or property, each participant who is armed with a dangerous weapon or knows that any other participant is armed with a dangerous weapon is guilty of riot second degree and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

Too bad some groups are exempt. Or, good for them, depending. Why would someone need immunity from the laws of the state? And who gives them that immunity?

How can kol, with what I presume is a straight face, tell us that roads are dangerous for cyclists and they should stay off, and then say the reason the roads are dangerous is 16-year-olds fumbling with CDs and old people with dementia. And then blame cyclists? What? Maybe 16-year-olds should get better driver training or not drive downtown, and old people incapable of driving safely shouldn't drive at all.

I am confused... what are the aims of this Critical Mass group? Do they want to grant bicyclists the status of cars on the streets? Can they not be confined to bike lanes or the edge of the road? As a non-city dweller, if bikes were blocking the lane of traffic in front of me, not allowing me to travel in excess of parade speeds, that seems to be detrimental to safety (due to the congestion and erratic driving behavior that it may create). Of course, this is not to mention the infuriation factor that would be created...

jimbobuddy - nice argument... or not. The fact is, what kol.klink says is true. I'm assuming you typed your response from a coffee house on your notebook while taking a break from riding in traffic yourself. Run along now.

StudyingAbroad, I believe the purpose of the group is to bring awareness to bikes as an alternative form of transportation that lacks many of the unfortunate side-effects of cars, both in the, "hey, you should consider biking" manner of speaking, and the "hey, we know it's legal for us to ride, but people need to be aware we're here so it's safer" manner of speaking. I don't always agree with their methods but that's the goal. And they're not advocating that bikes block traffic as a regular thing. It's a tactic used only in this demonstration. Clearly if bike lanes are available, they'll be used.

Although I should also note, that through downtown, if there's any traffic at all, bikers move faster than cars anyways.

According to WCCO, the police were escorting the bicyclists to protect them from traffic.

These guys are trying to make a statement: that the roads don't have to be just for cars, but for anyone who wants to use them. Say what you will about this being a bunch of hipsters going too far, but you have to realize that this is a movement and a demonstration. Nothing ever got changed because someone was very careful to ask politely and stay inside the set boundaries.

Further, this happens once a month, during the evening. Friday nights. There aren't that many people on the road, and if you see a mass of bikes on the road with police cars around them, you're not going to drive into them. You share the road. This is a lesson you should have learned in elementary school.

I have been caught in traffic (on a bus) behind a large group of bicyclists near rush hour. I don't know if it was the same group or not, but they blocked both lanes of Hennepin doing only 10 or 15 miles per hour.

My first thought, whether they were a pleasure riding group or a protest group is that they should all be arrested for obstructing traffic and creating a hazzard.

I support the right to protest, but that does not come with the right to obstruct. Ride in the bike lane with a sign on your back. If obstruction is the method of protest than I agree they all should have been ticketed. I want the police to arrest people who are obstructing traffic.

Let's be honest too. Quite often protest groups like to make things difficult in hopes of provoking a reaction from police. The riders could easily have easily quietly moved aside and moved along with a polite, "yes officer" as most decent citizens would do.

Kol.klink wrote:

>you do not respond or defend the reality of the >information and facts present: The roads are >dangerous enough for people driving in cars and >riding on motorcycles.

I agree that riding on streets is dangerous. In fact, that is a point that many critical massers are trying to make. Thank you for making it for us.

To assure that you are for real and seriously concerned with engaging this issue, I am also going to answer your question with some questions.

What does peril have to do with our right to cycle?

Why might we choose to allow cycling on city streets? Why would this inefficient and dangerous practice be important to a free society?

If cycling on city streets is too dangerous, as you contend that it is, are we doing enough to assure that it is safe? Does the right to cycle actually exist if it is too dangerous to cycle on city streets?

What reasons, besides hipsterism, might compel a person to cycle on the street? Why might they think they have a right to do so?

Peace, kol., peace.

Hey Mr. Klink:

Bicyclists are citizens who pay for the roads with their taxes, every bit as much as car drivers do, even though they use a lot less of the road and cause a lot less wear on it.

Bicyclists use roads to get from their homes to their work. They ride because bicycles pollute less, destroy the environment less, use fewer resources, make less noise and cause less problems than cars. They do it so they won't have to sacrifice any more of their children in oil wars.

Bike predate cars in this country. The first American roads were built for bikes. Bikes and roads go together perfectly, in the absence of blind, clumsy car drivers running them over. Blaming bikers for being hit by cars is no less ignorant and cruel than blaming rape victims for being pretty.

Bicyclists want to use the roads they pay for. They are citizens, like you. First-class citizens of the road. They are doctors, bakers, cops, senior citizens and children. In Minneapolis they have to be pretty brave, obviously, because of attitudes like yours and the MPD's. But they are not some clique -- they are people trying to tread lightly on the earth before it fucking dies.

And they are not going away.

Yo, Nordeaster, I've seen a bus intentionally hit a car. That driver did not use her turn signal; she slammed broadside into a little car with no provocation and no need; didn't stop, ordince says if a bus hits you, you suck, you wrong bastard. I imagined her lauging like a 200 lb twelve year old. Viva Le Revolution. I vote for Fidel. I vote against you carbon sucking bussers. I drive a truck; ride a bicycle; deliver your goods for 9 miles per gallon and sweat to get food to the fridge.

Let's be honest. It's not difficult at all to make a big man out of a little man, by showing him a smaller person, then preaching hate and fear. The police are tools. Always have been. Sure, I wanne be the best screwdriver in the garage, too. Who doesn't?I mean, I wanna be an 8 inch regular with a translucent yellow grip. The kind used for BIG screws and prying open paint cans. YEAH! But also, who is wielding that tool? Nordeaster, I sincerely hope that someday soon you feel the full weight of what today you've only glimpsed, yet celebrated. I hope someone knocks your ass off the sidewalk for walking too slow. I hope that you get fired for answering the phone on the 4th ring, when it's corporate policy to answer on the third. I have so many hopes for you, Nordeaster, you couldn't imagine. I hope your shoe comes untied without notice, and everyone you encounter that afternoon regards you like a retard. Or perhaps it's your zipper down. I hope that every time you deeply care about something, another person with only a passing interest comes along and with almost no thought, FUCKS YOU OVER ROYALLY, almost accidently, with an offhand comment. Because you brilliantly think 1/2 step ahead of the bottom 10th percentile of the average third year high school senior. Take your lukewarm McDonalds coffee breath and kiss your wife/cousin good morning before yoru busy day at the office (WalMart) begins.

Between now and the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, anyone in the Twin Cities engaged in either peaceful protest or deliberate civil disobedience needs to beware ambushes and agents provocateur. Last Friday was the opening gambit in a campaign to preemptively discredit the protest movement that will be growing in this region over the next year.

First of all, lets get the facts straight. The first two people arrested - the two people who began the altercation with the police - were lone bicyclists. They were not at all affiliated with Critical Mass. Of course, after the intitial altercation, people with Critical Mass DID join in the action, but it should be clear that Critical Mass was and always has been a peaceful protest until these two ignorant ass holes decided to step in and play "hero". I am not advocating the actions taken by members of the group after these two started trouble. But it would be a shame for this fact to go overlooked as Critical Mass should not have a bad name in the eyes of our fellow citizens.

Second, I don't beleive Kol.klink could be more ignorant of the issues at hand. Bikes do not create pollution. Bikes do not need gasoline, therefore they do not support our reliance on foreign goods. (I won't even get into the war side of that issue.) Bikes foster a healthy lifestyle. (We all know too many Minnesotans are unhealthily overweight.) Bikes make it easier for more people to travel on one road at the same time, cutting down on congestion. Ever been to Holland? Look up the info for yourself. In big cities like Den Haag, there are more bikes on the road than cars during rush hour. Sure, they have their own bike lanes there, but that's because their government has been wonderful at thinking ahead and not submitting to greed. In Minneapolis, the law states that bikes CAN NOT ride on the sidewalk. It is illegal. Bikes MUST be on the roads. Safe or not. Just as I, a single female, MUST find a way to get to work each day, safe or not. If, on my way to work, I get mugged or raped by a man with weapons stronger than my own and muscles stronger than my own, am I a dipshit for going to work? For being a female? For not having bigger muscles/ carrying a gun everywhere I go? Please, spare me. I would not be at all surprised if Kol.klink is an SUV driving, overweight, sexist man from the suburbs.

To say that riding a bike on the road is an entitled and ignorant assumption proves that Kol.klink is not even worthy of this lengthy a response. Ignorant? It's the law. 'Ignorant' is the people who don't realize that they NEED to pay more attention and share the road with bicyclists beacuse it is the law. Place the blame where it is due, Kol.klink. Entitled? Is it 'entitled' to try and do your part to help our failing environment? Is that more 'entitled' than the CEO's that feel they worked hard for their money and now deserve to drive around in an SUV that gets 8 miles to the gallon? I agree with the idea behind your second point, Kol.klink. Drivers do have a hard time seeing motorcycles and bicyclists. That, however, is the driver's responsibility. Yes, bikers need to follow the laws, stay to the right/ in their lanes, and signal, etc. Sure, the smaller vehicles and their riders are the ones who pay the price, but it is not my responsibility as a bicyclist or even as a fellow car-driver to ensure that all the other drivers on the road are paying attention and not "fumbling for a cd", or in your case, trying to pull their head out of their ass.

Finally, please do not assume that the people responding to your comments are angst-ridden high schoolers. Especially if you can't even spell correctly. (There means "over there". Their is possesive.)

You know, it wasn't until this whole fiasco that I had ever heard of Critical Mass. Does anyone here actually think that maybe the people in the back DID provoke the police, just to get some public acknowledgement? It's certainly wouldn't be the first time the press has been used as a free marketing tool, and I doubt it will be the last.

I've accepted that the police in Minneapolis are more than somewhat unhinged. I would also state that a LOT of bikers in Minneapolis are equally unhinged.

First, I want to say that rather than using traffic cameras for red lights/violation of due process, they should be used for situations like THIS. It's the police's word against the bikers. A traffic camera (in an already public venue, so no one's privacy is violated) would help resolve this.

Second, if the Critical Mass bikers are those cyclists who actually respect the law of the road and the basic rights of pedestrians, I have no problem with them. However, I have nearly missed countless accidents myself and witnessed even more near-accidents for other drivers AND pedestrians from local bikers so lost in the arrogance of their two-wheeled frenzy. From seeing a biker run a red light nearly twice a day, to watching them weave out of bike lanes in downtown and screw up other traffic flow because they feel entitled to not wait their turn like the rest of the vehicles on the road, to watching them yell at pedestrians to get out of their way on the bike path on Hiawatha station where pedestrians MUST cross over it (and pedestrians ALWAYS have right of way, even over bikers) - it's clear that there really does need to be a police crackdown on *individual* cyclists. It's great that bikers help the environment, but their disrespect for others on the road with them is creating a problem that these bikers should be held accountable for.

As to the police - I would need to see a video from three or four different angles before passing judgment. The point of Critical Mass is to actually honor traffic law, as a group. Free assembly is under thread in this city in general - take a look at the Ordinance for Public Rallies on the Table - and this two party overreaction means that Critical Mass Cyclists are, with their current methods, further threatening first amendment rights for the entire city.

This should not be that difficult.
I have been a cylclist for over forty years and am fairly certain that I have never pissed off a driver, a fellow rider or a cop.
How do I do this?
1) I hug the right hand side of the road while riding.
2) I ride single file when cycling with friends.
#'s 1 and 2 assure that I do not impede traffic.

Oh, and when a bike path is available (e.g., the West River Road) I use the bike path.

Last night after dark as I was heading home to my Uptown apartment a cyclist, going the wrong way on a one way street, ran a stop sign and cut me off. I barely stopped in time. I should add that he was wearing dark clothing and had no light on his bike. And did I mention the part where he was going a wrong way on a one way street and ran a stop sign? Because he was and he did. Dude did not even PAUSE. This kind of thing happens on a near daily basis where I live, so it's VERY hard for me to sympathize with Critical Mass because I live with the fear that one day I might not stop in time and someone will get hurt. Perhaps they could focus their efforts on educating their fellow cyclists, and engendering good will between cyclists and drivers- instead of acting like the annoying hipster assholes they often come off as.

People riding bicycles on roads in Minnesota ARE traffic, plain and simple. FYI, Minnesota bicycle laws allow for bikes to "ride on the right with traffic; obey all traffic signs and signals..." and it specifies that "bicyclists have all rights/duties of any other vehicle driver." (M.S. 169.222) I'm not sure how the Critical Masses were behaving (I suspect they were characteristically rowdy as usual), but this business about "blocking traffic" sounds suspect, from a legal point of view. As city planning evolves to include more bicycle lanes & paths, drivers are just going to have to get used to the fact that roads in Minnesota are multi-purpose. That is better for the environment and our community. The antics of Critical Mass may seem extreme to some, but 1) so are the antics of the MPD and 2) they serve the purpose of making fair multi-use road issues visible. Contact the Minnesota DOT Sustainable Transportation Initiatives department at (651)297-1664 for a "Pocket Guide to MN Biking," a handy little laminated pamphlet that's solved more than a few arguments for me.

While I openly question the tactics of Critical Mass and cannot as yet denounce the MPD (I have not seen said footage and am not well informed on the full story), I find many of the posts here intriguing.

The CP story centers around the CM-MPD clash, not the ethics and legality of riding bicycles in traffic. I've known since grade school that biking in traffic is not only legal, it's the LAW. Bringing up sins and stereotypes of individual bikers represents flawed logic; it is this type of frightening thinking (the actions of one = the actions of all) that breeds the kind of intolerance our country continues to choke on.

A daily commuter, I've encountered far more idiot drivers and pedestrians than bicyclists, but I'm pretty sure that's part of life in the city.

I bicycle to work. Before I started doing so, I spent quite a bit of time scoping the available routes to avoid dangerous situations.

I completely avoid riding on roads that are not bike-friendly. Summit Ave. is bike friendly. It has a bike lane. Quiet streets with little car traffic are bike friendly. Believe it or not, University Ave. heading west from downtown St. Paul is bike friendly due to the width of the shoulder / parking lane (it's HUGE).

But there are bike-unfriendly roads such as Washington Ave. in downtown Minneapolis. These are roads where a single biker can add to traffic snarl by forcing car after car to lane change to get around, then passing all those cars at the stop signs just to force the lane changes again. Unless you're one of the very very few people who can ride 35 MPH (prevailing rate of traffic) on this road, you are impeding traffic. You should pick a different road.

Of course, the city should make sure there are reasonable alternatives. There's no doubt that this city has problems with being able to bike where we need to go.

But the traditional means of achieving change are working. There are more bike lanes than there have been in the past. With gas prices the way they are, more people ride their bikes to work, which adds political clout. Employers are starting to build in shower facilities for bicyclists.

Annoying a bunch of drivers downtown is not going to improve the situation. What it's going to do is get a bunch of drivers up in arms with the attitude "get your darned bikes off the road!"

Intentionally impeding cars is not going to gain you sympathy. What it's going to do is result in a ton of 911 calls to police who are FORCED to respond. They can't ignore 911 calls, after all.

The CM folks may think they have the right to be on the road. And they do, as long as they aren't impeding traffic. What percent of the bikers out there can ride in a "car lane" and not impede traffic? I know I can't.

I went for a 4 hour ride out to Scandia the day this went down. No cyclist killer cops, no traffic, no insane motorists, hell I didn't even see single car for almost 30 min on one section. Wish you were there instead of getting beat up by the MPD. I've lived in Mpls for the better part of 15 years, and commuted by bike for most of them. Critical Mass does absolutely nothing good for the cycling community, or raise awareness about cyclists to the general public. I went to one a few years ago and will never go again. It kinda makes sense in bigger cities such as SF,NYC, and numerous large European cites where cycling on a daily basis is like playing Russian Roulette, they actually have something to fight for, but in Minneapolis? C'mon!!! This is one of the best places in the entire country to be a cyclist. Always has been, even before these stupid Critcal Mass events started up here a few years ago. We were doing fine without them. Probably better in some ways. There is way more negative effects of a Critical Mass than anything positive or tangible for the Mpls cycling community. There is always going to be these stupid political ideologues on two wheels, we don't need them, but they are always going to be around weather it be as a "Masser" or some other dumb trend that comes along.

I was there. There were at least 300 bicyclists riding down the road "en masse." I understand making a statement, but cars couldn't functionally cross the street on green not to mention the walkers.

this may have been mentioned already...but just in case it hasn't been...cyclists are required by law to bike on the street. people have been arrested for cycling on the sidewalk.

and if you think cyclists don't belong anywhere near cars...then build us our own separate highways.

critical mass, while it is most often a "critical mess," was initially a response to the catch-22 of cycling in the city: being hassled (and often hit, yes i know plenty who have been) by cars while not being allowed to bike on the sidewalk. it was designed to raise public awareness of the need for bike amenities like bike lanes. it is a shame that so many have decided to turn it into a polemical exercise (no pun intended) but that is no excuse for anyone, police officer or otherwise, to injure and harass the critical mass riders.

As a 57 year old sometimes cynical cyclist in this city, I strongly support those involved in the Critical Mass movement! Amen!

Actually, Joe, the bikes have just as much a right to be on the road as any other driver out there. Regardless of whether they are going 35mph or not. Just as a little old lady (excuse the stereotype) who is not used to downtown rush hour traffic has just as much a legal right to be on the road as all the other drivers.

Pirate W-

You do not have a right to impede traffic, but as long as you hug the curb and ride single file you should have no problems.

From this page http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/getpub.php?type=s&year=current&num=169.222
that everyone keeps saying gives them the right to do critical mass.

(c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast
and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway,
shall ride within a single lane.

I think the people in Critical Mass have their hearts in the right place, just not their brains. They should spend more time teaching people how cars and bikes can coexist on the rodes, and lobbying law makers to add more bike lanes / paths. As is, Minneapolis is one of the best cities in the country for bicyclists.

And as far as the statements that these bicyclists pay for these rodes just as much as the people in cars. Not really. Bicyclists are allowed on roads as an after thought to cars. Those roads were build with money collected via gas taxes, and other taxes on automobiles. Unless you are willing to start paying an extra tax on owning your bike, don't claim you pay the same taxes for them as people in cars.

Argue all you want about the legalities and rationalities of critical mass.
All my friends do critical mass.
All my friends are douchebags.

"I find many of the posts here intriguing...The CP story centers around the CM-MPD clash, not the ethics and legality of riding bicycles in traffic...Bringing up sins and stereotypes of individual bikers represents flawed logic; it is this type of frightening thinking (the actions of one = the actions of all) that breeds the kind of intolerance our country continues to choke on...
A daily commuter, I've encountered far more idiot drivers and pedestrians than bicyclists, but I'm pretty sure that's part of life in the city.

Posted by: Michael at September 4, 2007 4:27 PM"

Forgive my edits.
I trust you understand it is for brevity, not to undermine your intent.
You make a good point- that many of us have missed the point.
I guess that I missed the point because I have encountered so many cyclists who want all of the benfits of cycling (e.g., we all tend to rol through stop signs and lights, don't we?) with so few of the responsibilities (e.g., do not impede traffic).
If the cops over-reacted, I guess it is an over-reaction that many can identify with. These few people (call them the Bad Spandex-Crowd) do have a tendency to ruin a great sport for the larger group, and it is annoying.

You are wrong about the tax issue. City streets are funded by property taxes not gas taxes.

"Impede traffic" isn't defined in any laws I can find...what I DO find, however:

Minnesota Statute:
169.222 Subd. 4(3)(c)
"Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane."

Minneapolis City Ordinance:
"PB9-53. Impeding traffic. No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with the law. (Code 1960, As Amend., § 1042.030)"

The former fails to define "normal and reasonable" (and nothing in the state statutes sets a bottom limit on speed except for 169.14 Subd 8, which only applies to highways and requires minimum speed signage - and even then it's just prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable/prudent and not automatically illegal) and the latter specifically allows for reduced speed when necessary for safe operation. As someone else pointed out, not a lot of cyclists can safely go 30 MPH consistently.

As for biking on sidewalks, from Minneapolis City Ordinances:

"490.140. Riding on sidewalk.No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district or upon any sidewalk where prohibited by appropriate signage. (91-Or-065, §§ 6, 7, 4-12-91) "

That's all.

Please hear me out & don't get PO'ed; probably should be a new topic.
I have said that I don't do CM; purposely disobeying laws that mostly have to do with safety and courtesy, doesn't seem to me to PROMOTE safety and courtesy.
I would like to see a more "Ghandi-like" protest; to expose a poor law by OBEYING it!
Here is my example: No bikes allowed on Nicollet Mall! I picture a 'mass' of bikers all dutifully, lawfully, even courteously, walking their bikes- TONS of them- on the sidewalks of Nicollet Mall just as lunch begins for downtown workers; or maybe during the Farmers Market. A beautiful mess created by strict adherence to a stupid law.

I support alternative modes of transportation (that is alternative to single person gas guzzling cars), bicycles included. I hadn't heard of Critical Mass, so congratulations on getting publicity (so thank the MPD for that!)

I am a veteran of many different types of protests, and keeping the protests legal. #1) get a parade permit if your actions need to block traffic. #2) If you don't get a parade permit, and you block traffic, you are likely to get either run over or arrested.

It doesn't matter if it is a large group of people walking, biking, horseback riding, skating........ if you intend to block traffic, get a permit.

Critical Mass, just the name says it intends some sort of trouble.

And, many protests do end in a few arrests. Ask the Honeywell Protesters who went to jail in their 70s for what they believe in.

While bikes have the same rights on the road as cars, and I commend you for drawing attention to that fact, that includes the same responsibilities. Don't block traffic. Stop at red lights. Use turn signals (your arms, silly!) lights help no matter what time of day, but at night lights are critical. Don't expect you can be seen. And, wear a helmet and bright clothes.

I'm waiting for the police response on this. I have found the police to be doing their best to do their jobs in the best way possible.

If one biker was blocking traffic, and the police pulled him aside, but others started attacking the police, it becomes a mob scene and the police have to react.

signed,
skeptical of both sides

Hey CP, these are the Internets. Where's the video?

Rob,

The video is in DVD-R format and I'm trying to figure how to convert it to an internet post. Hopefully by the end of the day. Apologies for my technological incompetence.

You can find the video(s) on YouTube. And as a complete outsider as far as I can tell the bikers were pretty aggresive with the cops with all the yelling and chanting and resisting. Sure looks like a riot to me. If I were a cop I would feel a little intimidated and need to make a few examples with arrests.

The bikers were deliberately blocking intersections. They deserved to get their asses beat and arrested. If I were there, I'd help the cops.

Critical Mass does absolutely nothing good for cycling. Most all you jerks have a knack for showing a blatant disregard for the rules of the road. The Massers who fuck up traffic in the city deliberately and cry foul when the cops give you a beat down are so full of shit it's coming out of their ears. Everyone is on a bike for their own reasons and there are far more law-abiding cyclists than not, I realize that and respect them, but how is breaking every rule of the road going to bring respect or awareness to your "cause"? This Critical Mass BS is an exercise in total hypocrisy. They want respect on the roads but break just about every rule of the road at the CM gatherings even when riding solo. Most of these Massers blow right though stop lights and stop signs, never make turn signals, ride the wrong way down one way streets, the list goes on and on, and yet want respect from motorists!?!? If I started driving my car the way some of you treat the rules of the road I would expect nothing less than to get smacked around by the cops.

Looking back at the comments on this topic there is far more negative views and criticism of Critical Mass than support, even from your fellow cyclists. I wonder why you have to search far and wide to find any sympathetic posts for the people who got beat up by the cops. The saying "get a clue" might never have rung so true.

IN case it's helpful to anyone reading here, "hugging the curb" on the right side of the road can be very dangerous. If a car decides to make a right hand turn and you're against the curb, you have nowhere to go and will get hit. Likewise if you ride to the extreme right, along a line of parked cars, if someone opens a car door right in front of you could get hit. A safer option is bicycling about 3 feet away from the curb or cars: that way you can make a sudden turn/stop to the right (better than swerving left into traffic). Also that gives room for avoiding sewer grids, rocks or sand, glass, stuff like that.
Bicycling on the sidewalk in MN is legal unless it's a commercial district or otherwise prohibited. However, it's said to be statistically riskier than riding in the street. If you ARE on the sidewalk you must warn pedestrians of your approach and make sure they know you're there before you pass them. Or you could dismount and walk your bike past them.

There seems to be so much talk about biking and where it is or isn't done. I feel the real issue is about the police brutality that happened the evening of August 31st. I witnessed people being slammed into squad cars, bikes being piled (thrown) into a mound and later thrown into trunks of squad cars. Some fell out and they just smashed them into their cars best they could.
I talked to two people that had gotten sprayed in the face with pepper spray. Let's face it, other CM in the twin cities have gone ok. Why now?! Why this one?! Oh come on, it's all about the planning that was going on that weekend against the RNC and the cops wanted to send a clear message that if you come to the RNC in 2008 you are going to see more of the same! They will not be Minnesota Nice. Did it scare anyone? No. And it shouldn't. When are we going to rise up and do something about what is wrong in this country? To be continually feared into submission. Is this the kind of country we want? Police that use any means of power to make sure people have no rights?!

People are like sheep no matter what walk of life they come from, whether it be from the upper crust or the bottom feeders. What Ben just said about rising up and doing something, blah, blah, blah, is the inherent problem with the majority of the mentality of "Massers". They actually believe that a couple hundred cyclists protesting whatever the current protest trend is are going to make a difference in anything worthwhile, or somehow change public opinion. My question is, to qualify as a "Masser" do you have to check your common sense at the door? With the RNC (yuk!) coming here to brainwash us, what the fuck did you think was going to happen at this years' CM? Oh, I see, instead you thought the cops might set up a lemonade stand for you in Loring Park and have an MPD-Critical Mass twist contest. Some of the comments coming from the “Messers” never ceases to amaze me how naive some people are.

I personally don't believe, like "anonymous" does, that people are like sheep. Not all of them. And I wasn't just talking about the CM being the only form of rising up. And yes, maybe I really am naive to think that the cops could have a little more decency than they showed on 8/31/07. Doesn't it bother you at all that they continue to abuse their position? Just look at the man that won a case against them for PTSD after the over zealous arrest they made on him.
Don't you want a better world? Or is it just "ok" because your life is fine?

Unfortunately Ben, The herd mentality applies to even people that consider themselves free thinkers. You can deny it all you want, but some people have it more than others. This is funny stuff, someone should write a ‘How to avoid police brutality’ Idiots guide. A Better world?!?!? Sure, I’m all for it. I’m doing my part and I’m not clogging up traffic in downtown pissing people off as I’m doing my thing either. As far as the “victims” at this last Critical Mass, I’m sure some people did absolutely NOT deserve what they got, but I’ll bet ya that some got exactly what was coming to them. Twenty something with an attitude, say the wrong thing to a cop, spend a night in jail, ahhhhhh that brings back memories.

The only way Critical Mass is going to gain any respect is if it somehow morphs into an organized crime syndicate model like the Mafia or MS-13. Put the kibosh on your enemies by doing hits and robberies on the bike, and have the bike messengers run the drugs all over town. A bike may not be the quickest getaway vehicle, but it’s more allusive than a car in the right hands. With the drug and hit money you’ll have the power to pay off cops, judges, lawyers, politicians, etc., all the people that are “holding you down”. To make it all look legitimate, open up a SUV customizing shop to outfit soccer moms in Prior Lake with hip hop rims because their silver spoon fed children think it would be “off the chain”.

Critical Mass is a lost cause in Minneapolis, more of a large social club than a legitimate vehicle for getting a point across. There is no denying that it does make a difference in many cities around the world, but Minneapolis is a cycling utopia comparatively, which is probably why it gets the Rodney Dangerfield treatment here….”No Respect!” Sure it works in other cycling utopias like Madison, but you can also walk down State Street buck naked smoking a joint in broad daylight and nobody would give a shit. The eternal optimist in me wants to see Critical Mass do good here, but in its current form it doesn’t work.

Unfortunately Ben, The herd mentality applies to even people that consider themselves free thinkers. You can deny it all you want, but some people have it more than others. This is funny stuff, someone should write a ‘How to avoid police brutality’ Idiots guide. A Better world?!?!? Sure, I’m all for it. I’m doing my part and I’m not clogging up traffic in downtown pissing people off as I’m doing my thing either. As far as the “victims” at this last Critical Mass, I’m sure some people did absolutely NOT deserve what they got, but I’ll bet ya that some got exactly what was coming to them. Twenty something with an attitude, say the wrong thing to a cop, spend a night in jail, ahhhhhh that brings back memories.

The only way Critical Mass is going to gain any respect is if it somehow morphs into an organized crime syndicate model like the Mafia or MS-13. Put the kibosh on your enemies by doing hits and robberies on the bike, and have the bike messengers run the drugs all over town. A bike may not be the quickest getaway vehicle, but it’s more allusive than a car in the right hands. With the drug and hit money you’ll have the power to pay off cops, judges, lawyers, politicians, etc., all the people that are “holding you down”. To make it all look legitimate, open up a SUV customizing shop to outfit soccer moms in Prior Lake with hip hop rims because their silver spoon fed children think it would be “off the chain”.

Critical Mass is a lost cause in Minneapolis, more of a large social club than a legitimate vehicle for getting a point across. There is no denying that it does make a difference in many cities around the world, but Minneapolis is a cycling utopia comparatively, which is probably why it gets the Rodney Dangerfield treatment here….”No Respect!” Sure it works in other cycling utopias like Madison, but you can also walk down State Street buck naked smoking a joint in broad daylight and nobody would give a shit. The eternal optimist in me wants to see Critical Mass do good here, but in its current form it doesn’t work.

you can see the vido on mtn tv ch 16 9:30 pm 9-26-2007 and you are come by paula hare

Critical Massholes SHOULD be ticketed. They are effectively a parade without an event license, with a few anarachists thrown in to make sure everything gets good and confrontational. F*ck critical mass-they do nothing to promote comuting and everything to promote the notion of cyclists as oblivious a**holes who think a bike can/should take up the same amount of space as a car-while going half the speed and following none of the traffic rules.

the viedo will be see on mtn tv 9-26-2007 ch 16 9:30 pm by paula hare

I've drawn up a simple point system. Have fun drivers.

100pts. for taking out whomever brought Critical Mass to this city.

75pts. for the faux hipsters that think they're better than everyone else because they ride a bike and shop at the Wedge.

50pts. to destroy the punks and anarchists. It's not fucking '88 anymore.

25pts. to eliminate the bike messengers. They're almost extinct anyway, let's just speed up the process

Klink, your arguments are disengenuous. As if you're really concerned for the safety of cyclists. I have to agree with those that state what should be obvious: Motorists aren't doing cyclists some kind of favor by sharing the road. Bicycles belong there. Despite how it brings out the he-man aggression in many of us when we're behind the wheel and confronted with cyclists who make us drive differently, when you drive a ton of steel, you've got obligations. Smart off to the "kids" all you want. Some of us aren't kids, aren't afraid of the likes of you, and also drive big powerful cars sometimes. Provoke cyclists if you must, but we're everywhere.

That said, I bike thousands of miles a year in the metro. Critical Mass is ill-conceived and simply asking for trouble. Ride your bike - we all could do it more. Stand up and make a statement - those of us who care should. But the intentional obstruction of traffic by descending on Minneapolis at rush hour is counter-productive in so many ways. I commute 250+ days a year on my bike, but I got caught behind CM once and, unless pissing off even those who would otherwise count themselves among you is somehow your goal, it's a bad idea.