Anti-cycling group planning traffic disruption tonight
#2
Erect member since 1953
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Antioch, CA (SF Bay Area)
Posts: 7,000
Bikes: Trek 520 Grando, Roubaix Expert, Motobecane Ti Century Elite turned commuter, Some old French thing gone fixie
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 38 Times
in
21 Posts
Huh?
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
Sounds more like a misguided pro-cycling group.
#5
semifreddo amartuerer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
WhyFi gets it :-)
I disagree that it's "harmless" fun, at least going by past behavior of this group. It is as bad, if not worse than CM, and does not in any way do anything positive for cycling advocacy. All it does is make all cyclists look like a bunch of *******s; hence, anti-cycling.
I disagree that it's "harmless" fun, at least going by past behavior of this group. It is as bad, if not worse than CM, and does not in any way do anything positive for cycling advocacy. All it does is make all cyclists look like a bunch of *******s; hence, anti-cycling.
#6
Erect member since 1953
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Antioch, CA (SF Bay Area)
Posts: 7,000
Bikes: Trek 520 Grando, Roubaix Expert, Motobecane Ti Century Elite turned commuter, Some old French thing gone fixie
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 38 Times
in
21 Posts
WhyFi gets it :-)
I disagree that it's "harmless" fun, at least going by past behavior of this group. It is as bad, if not worse than CM, and does not in any way do anything positive for cycling advocacy. All it does is make all cyclists look like a bunch of *******s; hence, anti-cycling.
I disagree that it's "harmless" fun, at least going by past behavior of this group. It is as bad, if not worse than CM, and does not in any way do anything positive for cycling advocacy. All it does is make all cyclists look like a bunch of *******s; hence, anti-cycling.
#7
always rides with luggage
I got this route sent to me from a co-worker. Love to, but can't. Actually, most of it parallels my commute, which would take most of the fun out of it.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
#8
semifreddo amartuerer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Couldn't agree more. Who are these ass hats to ride on a road clearly made for cars? What ever made them think they had a right to even one lane of a multi lane road? And trying to have fun in public is just plain wrong. They are probably the reason the world is scheduled to end on Saturday.
Don't try to paint me as anti-bike as you appear to be doing. You couldn't be more wrong and your attempt to make a joke out of it is completely misguided.
This group is consistently unruly, breaking all kinds of traffic and other laws repeatedly, with no apparent attempts from their leadership (if there is any) to keep anyone in line. This is not advocacy; not cycling advocacy anyway. It's advocating anarchy at best; and maybe that's what they're out to do being "half political party and half street party" but it's not cycling advocacy. The genreral public who see these folks see nothing but a bunch of lawbreaking *******s; that view then gets transferred to any other cyclists they see.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
Couldn't agree more. Who are these ass hats to ride on a road clearly made for cars? What ever made them think they had a right to even one lane of a multi lane road? And trying to have fun in public is just plain wrong. They are probably the reason the world is scheduled to end on Saturday.
#10
semifreddo amartuerer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Do you really not see the difference? Do you adhere to the "there's no such thing as bad publicity," axiom? This would be analogous to a bunch of automobile drivers holding regular, unsanctioned parades. How does clogging traffic and pissing people off, while showing a level of disregard that borders on contempt, further the efforts of cycling advocacy?
#11
phony collective progress
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Hoosey
Posts: 2,973
Bikes: https://velospace.org/user/36663
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
God I'd hate to go through life determining the political ramifications of every last thing I do. I'd sure miss being able to just do things because I want to and because it'd be fun.
Anti-cycling group? Claiming lack of rules or leadership? Worse than Critical Mass, a ride which sets out intentionally to disrupt traffic? You may need to recalibrate your hyperbolometer, there.
Sounds like traffic.
Anti-cycling group? Claiming lack of rules or leadership? Worse than Critical Mass, a ride which sets out intentionally to disrupt traffic? You may need to recalibrate your hyperbolometer, there.
Sounds like traffic.
#12
semifreddo amartuerer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Anti-cycling group? Claiming lack of rules or leadership? Worse than Critical Mass, a ride which sets out intentionally to disrupt traffic? You may need to recalibrate your hyperbolometer, there.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
Based upon previous rides (this is a monthly affair), the organizers know that it's going to snarl traffic despite them saying, "be good!" With that in mind, I think that it's fair to say that any subsequent rides, without additional efforts to address the problem, is intentionally disrupting traffic.
#14
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,007
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
The first time I found out about Bike Party was when they took up all three lanes of 10th Street in downtown SJ. That street can see has speeds of 40mph+ even though the speed limit is 30. The majority of the riders had absolutely zero lights or even reflectors. I managed to squeeze by in one lane as drunk riders swerved around me. I was seriously concerned about hitting someone.
If you live along one of the streets where this party happens, get ready for what is basically a parade at 10 oclock at night
City streets are definitely not the best place to throw a party.
If you live along one of the streets where this party happens, get ready for what is basically a parade at 10 oclock at night
City streets are definitely not the best place to throw a party.
#15
phony collective progress
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: San Hoosey
Posts: 2,973
Bikes: https://velospace.org/user/36663
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Even so, I've heard that they've been cracking down on any excess jackassery of late.
#17
semifreddo amartuerer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
The occasional person riding on the wrong side of an otherwise deserted road, and some people riding awfully fast for the conditions, but overall not something I'd be ashamed to be a part of.
Even so, I've heard that they've been cracking down on any excess jackassery of late.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose (Willow Glen) Ca
Posts: 9,850
Bikes: Kirk Custom JK Special, '84 Team Miyata,(dura ace old school) 80?? SR Semi-Pro 600 Arabesque
Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2341 Post(s)
Liked 2,835 Times
in
1,546 Posts
here is the link to their site. https://www.sjbikeparty.org/
I have not done a ride. I did watch them go through my neighborhood a year plus ago. It was a real mix. Some really well behaved, if loud riders. A lot of kids no lights, no manners, and too much alchohol. A handful of herb devotees. A coupld of really dangerous annoying people on motorized bikes.
watching the site for the last year...the organizers have tried to reduce rowdism.... secret routes, etc.... but there are still stories of excess (firework, beer, weed)
I have thought about going on a ride to check it out......but haven't so far.
I have not done a ride. I did watch them go through my neighborhood a year plus ago. It was a real mix. Some really well behaved, if loud riders. A lot of kids no lights, no manners, and too much alchohol. A handful of herb devotees. A coupld of really dangerous annoying people on motorized bikes.
watching the site for the last year...the organizers have tried to reduce rowdism.... secret routes, etc.... but there are still stories of excess (firework, beer, weed)
I have thought about going on a ride to check it out......but haven't so far.
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 790
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
... If they'd just manage to stop for a red light at a blind corner, or not run every stop sign on the route (while flipping off and yelling obscenities to anyone nearby), I might think differently. But that's not the case. And it's not just a few outliers; it's the bulk of the group...
These rides aren't my style, but I see no reason for folks to be intolerant of them just because they are different from us.
#25
semifreddo amartuerer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: several
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
The behavior of this group is not "like motorists". Like *some* motorists, maybe. But not a semi-organized group of motorists who announce plans to engage in this behavior monthly. This is worlds apart from a rogue motorist who occasionally does a rolling stop at a sign, or maybe even runs a red light every now and then.
I see no reason for folks to be intolerant of them just because they are different from us.
Many negative consequences of this group's actions eventually affect me (and you, and anyone who rides a bike), but few positive ones do. It's already difficult enough to get respect from lawmakers and government agencies, and these guys make it worse. They do not help cycling, and actually harm it. They're like a handgun advocacy group going on a drunken, drugged-up shooting rampage in the name of handgun rights.