Critical Mass: OnQ Story

An irate police officer busts up Pittsburgh's Critical Mass bike ride on Friday March 31, 2006. Originally aired on WQED April 18, 2006.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Pittsburgh
• Critical
• Mass
• police
• bust-up
• WQED

[dylans0331]

Go ride your bike in the f-in woods were you belong eating granola, not bathing, you f-in hippies!

[IdiotControlNow]

You spelled "fun" wrong! And why'd you put the hyphen in? "Fun" is just one syllable. There's no reason to hyphenate it, Silly!

[cityskip]

One more thing. If roads were designed with cyclists in mind - with lanes, signage, some cities even have special traffic lights - then more of an obligation is put on the cyclist to follow the rules. As of now most streets are pretty much the wild west for cyclists - all signage and markings are catered to the car. Roads can be used by multiple transportation modes if designed for them. I do agree that many cyclists are complete jackasses, but then so are many drivers.

[cityskip]

Most drivers don't know the rules of the road when it comes to bicyclists, and get annoyed by their presence. Bicyclists do often disobey traffic laws, but two things (1) If there's a confrontation between and bike and car, who's gonna win? Drivers have a responsibility there, like it or not. (2) Bicyclists often have to be aggressive for their own safety because most of America's streets are designed with only cars in mind. Unfortunately, it's just the reality.

[cyclenut]

@KrosziZ Why is that, do you think you paid for the roads? Humm, where do all those tax dollars I pay go to? Oh yeah, infrastructure, including ROADS..... If you don't like it, stay on the interstate highways. Also, did you know car exhaust kills brain cells, making motorists mentally damaged?

[cyclenut]

Gee, I wonder it those cops invest personal money in the car-culture and then use there public jobs to protect that personal interests? I would love for all those cops to prove me wrong... : ) - it is also OK if only a few do it... Humm.. what does that have to do with it?

[cyclenut]

Funny how the cops only were ticketing cyclists. I watch 99% of motorist run stop signs and 25% run red lights. I have motorists pass through stop signs while I come to a stop, only they are in the on-comming lane as they run it.... Oh I also have police cars do the same thing.. and no, they were not responding... If those police were correct, they would be ticketing motorist for breaking the law, too.. Didn't see that in the video!

[biggieshackleton]

the stupefying thing is that the police

lieutenant says the cyclists were negligent in respecting other vehicles but none of the people cited were cited for motor vehicle violations. THAT MAKES NO SENSE! if the police had valid reason to do what they did, they would have had more than the B.S. charge of "disorderly conduct" to use. the police can use that generic oppression on practically anyone at any time. maybe cops are the first people who need to be educated on cyclists' rights....

[vegetarian19sarah91]

yeah pittsvurgh is not a bike friendly city.

i can't believe they made her roll over on her stomach with that taser in her leg! OUCH!!!

poor lady!! =[

[tehlurker81]

Uh, not to burst your bubble, but Beechwood Blvd in Squirrel Hill, Liberty Blvd in Bloomfield, and the Hot Metal Bridge hardly constitutes "bike lanes all over the city".

[JanusChrist]

Pittsburgh most certainly has bike lanes all over the city.

[JanusChrist]

If you wanna be a slave to working a job you hate to buy shit you don't need the rest of your life, you certainly have that right. My bike makes me feel freer than a car ever could.

[JanusChrist]

I work and I don't waste my money on $4 per gallon gasoline.

[spidermanhandcuffed]

officer eugene "gene" HLAVAC is one big tucan sam snozzed crazy polish nigger