cop body-slams cyclist

[Boise Birder]

I see some of the situations that have occurred recently - Seattle critical mass ride, in Portland, a biker holding on for dear life to windshield wiper, and now New York.

First, on New York - several versions of the video are out there. The longer versions seem to convince me the policeman overreacted. What he did was criminal - he should be in jail, and not a cop.

Second, I have many close friends who are policeman, who have risked their lives to save others. They work hard, are paid little and take lots of abuse. Yes, there are bad apples, but in my neck of the woods, they str some of the most hard working, empathetic people I know and they see some of the worst S___ anyone could see and deal with, and on a daily basis.

Ok, beyond that, Critical Mass isn't my style. I think more Gahndi and Mother Theresa.

Critical Manners are my type of bicyclists!

[rij73]

I absolutely believe you We have talked about it...perhaps my point relating to the inherent difficulty of density was lost in my reach back to 1987.

If we come, will you take us riding (the Critical Manners way)?

I know what you mean about the crowds... No way around that I'm afraid. But, absolutely we can go for a ride! I'm all about safe riding in the city. There are some lovely rides to be had along the river, through the parks, and across the Brooklyn Bridge. I do it all on a road bike.

[OakLeaf]

Hate to... (apologize in advance for the alliteration) burst your bubble, BoiseBirder but Gandhi was more the Critical Mass type. Nonviolent does NOT mean nonconfrontational! And there were plenty of people who purported to agree with his goals but found his methods (and MLK's) just plain "rude."

Not meaning to suggest that cyclists' rights are anywhere near racial equality or national self-determination in importance! But food for thought nevertheless. "Civil disobedience" isn't the same as "civil behavior."

[Mr. Bloom]

Hate to... (apologize in advance for the alliteration) burst your bubble, BoiseBirder but Gandhi was more the Critical Mass type. Nonviolent does NOT mean nonconfrontational! And there were plenty of people who purported to agree with his goals but found his methods (and MLK's) just plain "rude."

While "Civil Disobedience" may involve the disobedience of laws in non-violent ways, it is at its core "passive" in its aggression.

When Critical Mass encircles a car, verbally assaulting the occupant, this is "active" in its aggression. While Gandhi may have engaged in tactics perceived as "rude", his own standards included principles of:

• not even harboring anger in your heart while resisting
• willingness to SUFFER the anger of the opponent
• voluntarily submiting to arrest and not resisting the confiscation of property
• protecting your own oppressor with your life if necessary

I do not find these principles evident in many Critical Mass events. This was just this week:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...reading27.html

Oakleaf - I respect that you were trying to challenge perspective, but I do believe that:

• Gandhi's "civil disobedience" requires that one be "civil"
• Gandhi & MLK were leaders in being civil; my research doesn't find much of a leader in Critical Mass or its events and its evolved into an anarchist type outreach.

[Eden]

You've posted one of the really early accounts of the Seattle incident. A few cyclists did get out of control, but not until the driver (who was parallel parked, not corked at an intersection) drove into a group of cyclists running one over and driving with another on his windshield. The driver has since admitted to initiating the aggression by revving his engine and claims to have accidentally popped the clutch and driven into the group of cyclists, though most people don't believe that.

The events after this were unfortunate and not excusable (the drivers tires were slashed and he was hit on the head), but have been explained as a reaction caused by the widespread notion that a driver who has injured cyclists, especially a hit and run, is essentially ignored by law enforcement, thus it would be necessary to detain him themselves. I don't think that is a good excuse at all for smacking someone with a U-Lock - you could kill someone doing that and I think the cyclist who hit him and the one who slashed his tires deserved to be arrested. The one thing I don't agree with is the driver has not been charged for assaulting the cyclists. No matter what his treatment was afterwards he should also be held responsible for his actions.

It does just go to illustrate though, how bad the incident with the NY police officer was. Things like that definitely reinforce the perception that the police have a bias against cyclists, are unlikely to help you and may even harm you. If the department does not make an example of the officer relations between them and cyclists will likely suffer.

[mimitabby]

good post Eden.

I can imagine being there and being upset because i just saw that driver run over someone and then attempt to get away! what if there had been broken bones or worse? who's going to pay for that? putting holes in tires seems like a gentle way to slow down a hit and run... but hitting him? breaking out his windows?
sounds like some people forgot... and now they're going to have to pay; and unfortunately the bike haters use all that stuff as ammunition.

[Fujichants]

I am not a fan of critical mass either...I just think it gives cyclists a bad name. As for what the cop did...he was probably trying to make his mark and hence he did that.

[Mr. Bloom]

The driver has since admitted to initiating the aggression by revving his engine and claims to have accidentally popped the clutch and driven into the group of cyclists, though most people don't believe that.

I stand corrected. Thanks for clearing the record on that...my primary points in my two posts are:

• be careful in drawing parallels between the civil disobedience Gandhi/MLK and Critical Mass. Regardless of the oppressor's actions, these guys would have counseled to not fight fire with fire. (although I personally tend toward "fight" not "flight"...but I'm Italian...)
• don't trust everything we see in the media...including this video...as being the whole story.

One other point (quoting Donny & Marie): "One bad apple don't spoil the whole orchard..." I believe there are good people and bad people...there are good cops and bad cops...but I think the bad is the tiny minority.