War Protestors on 2 Wheels

San Francisco Bicyclists Express Their Feelings With Pedal Power.

Critical Mass ( a world-wide form of political protest and activism that is characterized by being primarily ANTI-CAR ) by whatever name, in my book, is STILL Critical Mass, and any Bicyclist who thinks this form of protest does the cause of Bicycling, and the image of Bicyclists any good is sadly mistaken.

I learned that in my encounter with the movement at the DNC in Los Angeles, when I almost got arrested when the ride deliberately went astray without warning to its participants.

The people active in this movement have alot of points to make about the value of Bicycling, the rights of Cyclists to the road, and many other related issues, but riding around town disrupting traffic and breaking traffic rules by not riding in a safe manner, risking injury in traffic, and confrontation with, and arrest by police is not the way to get these messages across in a way that helps the cause of Bicycling.

I promised myself not to write about this movement, or add related links to my links column, but this activity in San Francisco came to my attention in an e-mail sent to a list I belong to.

So, one time only, here is a link to Critical-mass.org.

The movement claims not to have an organization, or any leadership, but me thinks they deny this too loudly and too much.
It's a shame that groups such as the LACBC provide links on their websites, and list links in their newsletters.

What follows are links to a series of articles, and message board statements, with photos, and video, that covers actions of a group calling itself BIKES NOT BOMBS since the war started.

This sort of protesting may be ANT-WAR, PRO-PEACE, etc.., but it's NOT GOOD for the cause of BICYCLING.

It apparently all began with this Calling All Bicyclists

Other links:

Bikes Not Bombs each business day! -photos, flyer
Friday March 21, 2003 (flyer, photos and discussion)

Police pulling down Bikers on Market St.
Saturday March 22, 2003 (photos and call for witnesses)

Bicyling for Peace
Saturday March 22, 2003 (photos)

SFPD citing Cyclists
Friday March 21, 2003
(Report from a small group that got pulled over when a huge group
of motorcycles broke up a Bikes Not Bombs group. They were pulled
over for "no headlamp" -- get a Planet Bike $10 light that lasts
100 hours on two N batteries)

It's early for Critical Mass,,, Hooray it's every day!
Friday March 21, 2003

Bikes for Bombs are not the Black Bloc
Saturday March 22, 2003

I love this last one because it shows that these folks don't realize that the public at large, seeing images on TV, and reading news reports in their papers, will not pay attention to such disclaimers. Not enough people to make a difference will even see this piece.