Cop Who Shoved Cyclist Fired by NYPD, Faces 4 Year Sentence

[Ronald Pagan]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Riding more than 2 abreast where you're disrupting the flow of traffic is illegal. Running a red light is illegal. Wilfully preventing in any manner the free passage of a person, vehicle etc in a public place is illegal.

As for the cops protecting the cyclists it's no different in my eyes to Ruutu (cyclists) and his antagonising cheapshots then hiding behind the refs (cops).

They achive nothing except to piss people off. Way to get people to share your POV.

Well they've achieved alot. Critical mass in Vancouver 8 years ago was less that 200 riders. Now it gets up to over 2500 riders partaking. Children, parents, teenagers and elderly people all take part and most people that I talk to say that they are riding their bikes more.

The City has endorsed critical mass and has increased funding for bike transport in each of the past years. In Vancouver, now, almost all Municipal infrastructure money for roads goes to increasing pedestrian and cycling spaces on Vancouver roads. (My friend works for City engineering and he's my source, all of his work is on improving intersections for pedestrians and cyclists and says that that's where most of the money is going). So yeah, I don't think critical mass is the reason for this, but is has something to do with it. Cycling is popular in the city and most drivers I encounter on the ride and very supportive of it.

So I would say you're wrong.

[MelBridgeman]

Vancouver is a great city for cyclists...now get the fata out my way

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by Ronald Pagan

In Vancouver, now, almost all Municipal infrastructure money for roads goes to increasing pedestrian and cycling spaces on Vancouver roads.

Don't believe that for a second. Are you (or your friend) seriously implying that there are millions (?billion) spent on cycling & pedestrian spaces each year whilst resurfacing, new road construction and repair are allocated a minimal part of the budget?

[flylock shox]

Critical mass is now too big for its own good. 300-400 bikes all riding together is great. Problem is, they now get much larger groups than that. I remember being first at a light when they came through going across the intersection. I waited 8 changes of the light until they all got through. Then, since I was in a turning lane, when I could finally move I was stuck behind them for another 15 minutes because there was nowhere to turn off. This was really annoying.

I think, given the popularity of the group, they've got to split it up into several riderships, otherwise they're just creating pissed of motorists. Which helps nothing.

And I bike to work 2-3 times per week on average, and more in good weather. Vancouver is a very friendly bike city. I'm not sure Critical Mass, in its current incarnation, is helping that.

[4X4]

I have absolutely never heard of Critical Mass. Well, not associated with bicycles, anyway. I'm just going to go out on a limb and call them a bunch of losers.
What can they possibly hope to accomplish by ganging up and disrupting society? I mean, why don't all blue cars just start driving down the street together and just run red lights en masse just to promote blue cars?
Sorry, it just sounds like civil disobedience. Like some kind of childish prank that isn't really bad enough to get you in real trouble, but enough to annoy people. YAY! You're being annoying!! And you think you're cool for doing it!! Congrats! Grow up!!