<![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @petersterncan: For the record, I do drive a straight-axle truck, but only for local runs (not out of shape though!). I also know that while some of those truckers may be out of shape, a suprising percentage carry "alley sweepers" in the sleeper or in an easily accessable compartment of their rigs and would not hesitate to blast a couple of those Critical Mass guys if it came to it.

HUMONGUS

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> FINALLY! A topic that Jalopnik can find no humor in (well except dead racing car drivers). Hey, that's it - KILL THE CYCLISTS - ALL OF 'EM! You can do it, you're sharp-witted!

drauzy

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> it is legal to ride on the sidewalk in florida. but, you can't ride drunk.

skyln95

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I used to commute to work via skateboard. About six miles each way through chicago traffic was enough to wake me up in the morning, that's for sure.

Sometimes, I would choose a route home that had me rolling down one onramp, playing in the rush hour traffic for a little under a mile, and getting off at another offramp. It was a fun little detour.

As wonderful and energizing as riding through the beautiful fresh countryside on a sunny day is, there's nothing quite so much fun as playing in traffic...

Yeah, these guys are fools, I won't deny it. But when our whole society is based on many deeply ingrained layers of criminality, I'm not gonna get too worked up about them. No harm, no foul, as the old saying goes. I would describe their actions as pretty neutral in the bigger picture.

zyodei

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Nice. Sidewalks for us cyclists, huh?

While these Crimanimal Mass folks make their point in a way that doesn't make friends, they didn't slow down traffic. They did, however, probably access a controlled access roadway illegally.

Not all cyclists are jerks. Don't push me off of the roads that I help pay for; sidewalks are a dangerous place to ride because of the bumps at each driveway and drivers who don't look for cyclists before they turn off of main roads.

And you cyclists that make all of us cyclists look bad: knock it off and just obey the rules of the road, mkay?

dygituljunky

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I used to ride everywhere until I jacked up my knee and just never got back to riding. Riding on the sidewalk is illegal in most places but surprisingly few people know that, even cops, so I always rode on the sidewalks when they were empty.

I always stopped at lights and yielded to cars, even if I had the right of way (you hit me, I end up in hospital. I hit you, you end up getting touch-up paint.). I also tried to avoid the major streets as much as possible, because I know for a fact I can't go 35 mph uphill, downhill maybe, so I'd be holding up traffic

@Starlton Heston, Gushing post-mother: Though on 520 from Redmond to Seattle at 5:00 at night it would probably be faster to ride a bike. Depending on the day it might be faster on 405 too.

something_unique_and_descriptive

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> It's that leap from when a person takes something fun and enjoyable and turns into something with a Point, and has to be a dick about it that makes the world just super special. I'm a car nut and an endurance cyclist (I actually ride about 70% as much as I drive in a year). I don't care if people like either of those things as long as I get left alone and don't bug other people doing what they want to do. Why is this hard? Why do people make something as boring as their choice of transportation an item of great controversy worthy of taking some dumb stand? I'm talking to the Critical Mass losers and the GTFO rednecks here today. Just adapt, it's easy.

Fly I-80

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I'm also a cyclist. Except my bike has a motor. And four wheels. And it's enclosed to protect me from the elements. It also has a place for my big gulp, which is actually a 44oz Jack & Coke.

Did I just run someone over? Nah, I'm on the freeway, that's impossible.

TRAMS_AM

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Damn, these guys have got some ball! (Lance Armstrong reference)

joneez

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @LUV_TRUK:

you fail at english comprehension. my statement:

"Unless of course by "road" you meant "freeway". then it's okay."

related to Travis' statement:

"...but cyclists on the roads need to GTFO."

try that again, moron.

doofusgumby

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I think the humorless types could be tested with: "If you don't like my driving, stay off the sidewalk."
They would immediately start frowning and murmuring about how you're not supposed to drive on the sidewalk because it's, you know, dangerous.

NovaloadMissesPolar

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> There are a lot of people here who don't seem to have any sense of humor.
The rest of you are hilarious. I have annoyed my family by reading your witticisms aloud!

NovaloadMissesPolar

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Turkina: Didn't New Orleans do this too? Oh, wait. That was Katrina.
@petersterncan: Yes, a lot of truckers are fat. And almost every one of those fat guys has some serious firepower on board.

NovaloadMissesPolar

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @TheTooth: My apologies for misunderstanding your point of view. I agree that people abandon the moral high ground when they resort to this type of histrionics in order to forcefeed us an idea. I'm not about to make a case for what they deserve because karmic law tends to reward the overdramatic. Its just too bad these characters couldn't come up with a more effective way to express themselves.

I take issue with a cultural landscape that blithely accepts total automotive domination and leaves no consequence for the unspoken marginalization of transit-users, cyclists, and pedestrians. When society so often rewards careless driving by attaching social stigmas to non-drivers and failing to impose consequences for poor driving behaviors it just leaves me outraged and incredulous.

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @sinikl: Well put.

TheTooth

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> i have commuted on my bike for the past year. i did a critical mass ride, ONCE, after discovering they are more into pissing people off than demonstrating that bikes are a legit way to travel. they wanted us to pack up in a lane and ride extremely slow (i was in the granny chainring spinning with one leg most of the time, til i fucked off and went home).

critical mass could be great, if it were a mass of cyclists riding at the speeds they typically do (not a crawl) and sharing lanes. that might make people think "hey, there are a lot of those guys, and they are making pretty good time in traffic... maybe i could do that, too." as-is, it's an obstructionist, jerky protest, that i want nothing to do with. they certainly do not speak for me -- i stop at lights (trackstand practice) and try to haul ass and share lanes wherever possible.

sinikl

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> The comments on the linked article are comical. Someone likened this to the Boston Tea Party, where an illegal act was perpetrated to prove how they weren't going to take it anymore. LOL

Did they forget that started a war? A war between bikes and cars is not something I'd want to see... especially not when on my bike.

TheTooth

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Now = Nice in my post above

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @FatBraff:
Now Cal Worthington reference!!

@petersterncan:
and yes, many of the bike punks i know carry two U-locks...one for the bike and one to crack windshields :)

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> In Sydney last Thursday, a guy in a Falcon was stuck behind a group of cyclist on Southern Cross Drive who were training for the Olympdicks.
He got the shits and pulled out in front of them and hit the brakes hard and took off after most of them piled up onto his trunk lid.

He got caught.

[www.smh.com.au]

LandofMinos, is begging congress for more hotpants for GM

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @petersterncan: I understand that mentality, but their methods are going to make things worse for them (and the rest of us that ride). Taking back their share of the road is cool... but you can't do that by taking someone else's share of the road. That will just make drivers belligerent and they will become more dangerous for us all.

Ride on the right and stay out of the way of bigger/faster traffic. It's pretty simple, really... at least in LA. I'm sure rural areas are much harder without hard shoulders and limited road choices.

TheTooth

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Froggmann: You mean the minivan driver who tried to run over some of my friends?

I've ridden on freeways a couple of times in Portland.

It's fun.

DuraAce

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @dynamho: Wow... how that doesn't work for most people, myself included. I've lived in both New York and San Francisco for short stints and using mass transit everywhere was so inconvenient for me. I couldn't wait to move out of those cities to more car-friendly confines. We simply need more highway infrastructure and to spread out our businesses a bit more. There is no reason for downtown LA to be as packed as it is. Most of the businesses are service or information based businesses and don't need to ship product to each other. My current job, for instance, is by LAX, but it could just as easiliy be in Bellflower, Fountain Valley, Torrance, etc...

If we did that, more people could live close to their jobs and the freeways wouldn't be so crowded with people commuting 80 miles a day in order to reach that downtown job. Also, bicycles and other transit would become a viable alternative. I know people here who have tried taking the train, but found it's no faster after all the stops it makes on their route... but if that route was only 5 miles, it would be easy to ride a bike, scooter, bus, train, etc... Not only that, but they could choose to take their scooter/car/bike/motorcycle whenever they wanted and still retain the freedom that affords them.

TheTooth

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @mwoeber: "In my experience the sidewalk is usually the most dangerous place to ride. Cars don't usually check the sidewalk when turning and pedestrians don't keep an eye out for bikes on the sidewalk"

That's been my direct 1st hand experience as well. Every close call I've had so far was when riding on the sidewalk. I stopped riding on the sidewalk almost completely a few years ago.

While many think these Critical Mass guys are assholes, I understand their mentality... basically these are people that ride their bikes day in and day out year round. And they have to deal with clueless and asshole car/truck drivers doing things like cutting them off, going in front of them and then hitting the brakes and people who open their doors into their path.

What they're trying to show is that they're entitled to part of the road too.

They're not wanted on the side walk... they're not wanted on the road... and there's a complete deficiency when it comes to bike lanes in most cities... and their point is that it's time for cyclists to take back their share of the road.

petersterncan

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Shaman: My point is that, as a society, we have seen fit to allow groups like this to make things inconvenient for us, yet there is very little (if any) repercussions for their actions. I did not say I wanted to destroy their bikes (ok... maybe a tire or two, but that's not exactly a huge inconvenience. We, as bike riders, usually carry spare tubes with us and can change them roadside). I just want to slow down their ride home. I want them to be delayed getting back to their families and making their appointments because they saw no issue with doing that to everyone else on the road that day.

Intolerance? Please. I ride both bicycles and motorcycles. I am rarely in a car these days, so I know exactly what we have to put up with as far as auto drivers not paying attention and changing lanes in front of us. That is a choice I make and in no way does it give me the right to illegally ride where I'm not supposed to and delay everyone else in a lame attempt to force them into my viewpoint. The intolerant people are these ass-hats on their bikes who believe they have the only high ground and should be able to harass people into listening to and/or agreeing with them.

TheTooth

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Ash78: Me too. But then I ask them who's really crazy... the person who drives everywhere, has to have a health club membership to stay fit and is broke due to car and health club costs, or the person who nails the fitness, cost and commuting thing all in one shot by simply riding their bike to work?

Saying that usually gets them thinking. It's even caused a few people to try riding a bike to work.

petersterncan

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @HUMONGUS: Truckers are only tough while they're inside their trucks and moving.

The majority of truckers I've seen are somewhat fat. On the other hand, almost all cyclists I see (myself included) are somewhat to very fit.

The second the truckers stop and step outside, it'll be game over for the truckers.

The truckers might have crowbars... so what. Many regular cyclists have stuff like that on hand too... especially militant ones like you find on Critical Mass rides.

petersterncan

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> LA and other urban areas seriously need to reexamine their transportation infrastructure and devise a sustainable strategy. I commute by bicycle/mass transit and race cars in the weekend. We need to get private automobiles off the road, like we got all the horse and carriages off the road. We're clinging to an antiquated form of transportation that is not sustainable.

dynamho

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @TheTooth: Hurting cyclists may be all well and good when your talking about nicks and scrapes (and they manage just fine on their own), but when it comes to cars and bikes its not a fair fight. I'm not advocating what this handful of fools are doing, but they aren't being violent and their actions aren't without consequence (citation, arrest, whatever).

You're last comment about destroying their bikes is really about your intolerence. They weren't cutting hoses on cars or slashing SUV tires. You speak of inconvenience, but you show no indication of knowing what a cyclist goes through trying to avoid injury on roadways where they share lawful access with assclowns too lazy or prejudiced to look over their shoulder when they merge their two-ton metal chariots into a cyclist's right of way. Bad drivers outnumber rogue cyclists to the point that the numbers aren't even worth comparison.

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Critical Mass aren't these the asshats that beat the hell out of some woman's mini-van a little while ago? But yea, these crapheads need to be taken off the street. As for the question about bicycles on the freeway yes it is illegal. the only exception is if there is no other route for them to take (91 Freeway between OC and Riverside counties, 5 south from San Onofre to Oceanside) within reason. Oh and yes, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk or against the flow of traffic is illegal. They are considered a vehicle, the same as motorcycle the same as aany car and must follow all laws. The reason they are not allowed on the freeway is because they cannot sustain a speed above 45 MPH.

Froggmann

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Shaman: Actually, I would like to see them similarly inconvenienced. Maybe it would send a message to people that inconveniencing others might very well inconvenience you.

If that takes hurting one of them to remind them that cars are bigger and have all the rights to the freeways, then so be it.

If we want a non-violent alternative, maybe people should have just started cutting up their tires and tossing their bikes off the side of the highway. Now it'll take THEM longer to get home after they recover and repair the bikes they shouldn't have had on the freeway in the first place.

TheTooth

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @FatBraff: Cal Worthington hanging out the side of a Cobalt is funny, I can give you that much.

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @LUV_TRUK: We generally try to treat everyone equally around these parts, but cyclists on the roads need to GTFO. Sidewalks, son, sidewalks.
It's not clear that the above editorial comment is aimed specifically at freeways.

dohcspit

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @doofusgumby: Agree.

As someone who commuted by bicycle for several years, following the letter of the law was never a high priority. Staying alive comes first. Sidewalks are usually bad, but sometimes they are the lesser of evils. Freeways OTOH, are pretty much always dumb. Riding in the middle of your lane is legal, and in some circumstances is the right thing to do.

dohcspit

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @doofusgumby:

It clearly says "Freeway" in the title and the bikers are clearly on a closed access highway marked with Interstate Highway signs. That means no pedestrians and no non-motorized vehicles.

Did you even bother to read the article?

LUV_TRUK

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I know I'm going to accidentally run down one of these critical mass kids one of these days. It's like sometimes they can't decide if they want to be a car or a pedestrian, but their right to road must be respected! Regardless, it results in them making illegal moves on narrow streets and biatching up a storm when I almost hit them. Look dude, I don't want to run you down, but you can't run stop signs.

I'm really tired of the intentionally distressed 10-speed and bad haircut as countercultural statement.

/end rant

LUV_TRUK

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> As an avid enthusiast of all things with 2 in-line wheels, I approve of their message but not their method. It's not as though LA traffic was slowed that much by these guys passing through the gridlock, it's just bad form to piss off people who are already crazy from the stress of work and a horrid commute.

That's why these guys should use wheelchairs, crutches, and walkers next time.

my favorite car is a motorcycle

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Jones Foyer: too bad not everyone knows that...

I see way too many bikes on the sidewalk and it is extremely annoying.

Ω ß®ªғғ

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Shaman: No, the thought of Cal Worthington hanging out the side of a Cobalt is funny to me... and only probably remotely humorous to others in SoCal...

Ω ß®ªғғ

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> It is illegal to ride on the sidewalk on a bike, moron.

Jones Foyer

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> LA has sidewalks?

lascauxcaveman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @FatBraff: but feigning to harm them wouldn't have seemed worth mentioning if you didn't think it was somehow entertaining . . .

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Travis, by this statement: "...but cyclists on the roads need to GTFO. Sidewalks, son, sidewalks." I shall know you as an asshat.

see other comments for a more reasoned approach to your asshattery.

see also the CVC (if you're in california) and go take another 25 multiple choice question driver's test, hopefully there will be something on there about sharing the road with other vehicles.

asshat.

Unless of course by "road" you meant "freeway". then it's okay. but of course, HIGHWAYS mostly allow bicycles - see the CVC again for that one.

doofusgumby

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @JB_Finesse: Bad driving is the primary cause for holding up traffic, these guys are just a tiny one-day sideshow. Take your homicidal tendencies to the DMV where we pay people to hand out licenses to anybody and everybody, hence the traffic jams.

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> +1 for riding in the road and not the sidewalk. In my experience the sidewalk is usually the most dangerous place to ride. Cars don't usually check the sidewalk when turning and pedestrians don't keep an eye out for bikes on the sidewalk (which they shouldn't have to). I will also add that while I am all for raising cycling awareness I've always felt that all critical mass does is make everyone in a car how annoying cyclists can be. Freeway or no freeway.

mwoeber

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Yeh...I love riding my bike, and I've done it across the country twice, but the the nuts with Critical Mass piss me off. They just do stupid stuff for effect.

I ride because its fun, it's good for me and girl cyclists never wear underwear (and if they're riding in the front of the pack with me, they're in good shape.)

I cracked up last year when some fat broad in curlers, driving a rusty Olds covered in bondo yelled at me, "Hey! Why don't you go get a job!"

Heck, my all carbon Aegis cost more than three of her cars and I was more likely to get where i was going than she was driving that piece of crap.

In my garage sits my STI. I drive it when I want to go fast. If I just want to go, the bike is great.

Rockhound76

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Turkina: they have old closed on/off ramps on I-89 in burlington, vermont that are great to ride down :) though the cops do not appreciate it

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Rochester closed a useless piece of highway, called the Inner Loop, several times last summer and let the pedestrians/bicyclists/skaters use it. It was pretty cool :D

A couple of my friends want to make the whole Inner Loop deal into a racetrack, but to me... Not enough curves to make it intersting.

Turkina

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Shaman: I was just going off on a tangent about seeing Cal Worthington... the commercials have gotten to me.

I never said I would be entertained if they were hurt whilst pulling this stunt...

Ω ß®ªғғ

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Shaman: They're holding up traffic. If that's not a cause for justifiable homicide, I don't know what is.

JB_Finesse

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> You know, if they really wanted to piss people off, they should have just occupied all the best parking spots at Nordstrom's; make those b*tches have to walk...

franzouse

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @HUMONGUS: @FatBraff: What's up with the hate? Just because you take issue with these fool's sensibilities doesn't make harming them okay. It doesn't justify fantasizing about it or finding it entertaining either. Good job wearing the asshat yourselves.

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> As of reading this I'm going to stop complaining about the trash we have living here in PA... for at least a week!

diskreet

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I'm surprised these guys didn't get run over or shot. Anybody remember the scene from the movie LA Story, when it's "open season on the 405?"

philibuster

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> You aren't allowed to ride your bike, walk, or ride a horse on the highways near me...

with that said, these guys are a-holes.

SRekauqh

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> They were on the 405 during Friday rush hour??? Eh, they were going faster than all of the cars anyway!!!!

Mysterious Utility Bento

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @cyclopticgaze:
If that rainbow flag's any indication, I'd say they've been avoiding the touch of a woman.

Parkington

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> My bicycle commute puts me on a wide sidewalk for a couple hundred yards before dumping back out onto a path but I usually take it because it's safer than the 45 mph traffic on that road and there are almost never any pedestrians. Cycling is allowed on I-90 east of Issaquah near Seattle but that is hardly an urban environment. That section of I-90 heads up a mountain pass over the Cascades, has wide shoulders, and there is no reason a cyclist would impede traffic. This LA stunt seems like a good way to make a dent on the hood of a lady jabbering on her phone while she tries to navigate her Lincoln.

joshman — repeatedly clicking expand all

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I live in Austin and the psycho-cyclists are always complaining that motorists dont "share the road". But these jerks fail to follow the most simple rules of the road, like stopping at stop signs or signalling a turn.

Drujon

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I am already pretty pissed off behind the wheel down here in SoCal... this would have driven me over the edge.

We should have Cal Worthington take his 09 Chevy Kahbolt on the 405 and shot at them with his .45...

Ω ß®ªғғ

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Mazda-Eric-with-1cup-arugula: Everyone at my job thinks I'm nuts just because I don't leave the office for lunch. They figure it's either an environmental thing, a gas expense savings thing, or a food expense savings thing.

All of the above. People are odd.

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Unless they can maintain 65, stay off the highways, please.

bmoredlj

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Should have had a few truckers block the road ahead, jump out of their rigs, and give these "bikers" a sound thrashing. I've heard a cheater bar or lugwrench to the kneecaps tends to spoil pedaling for a while...

HUMONGUS

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @cyclopticgaze: ...eww :P

everyone at my job thinks i'm so environmentally friendly for biking to work each day - don't have the heart to tell them it's how i commute and don't give two-damns if the planet explodes in a week

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Yes, there are signs prohibiting unmotorized vehicles and pedestrians on our freeways.

@Mazda-Eric-with-1cup-arugula: That would have been so ironic the universe might have exploded.

Tomsk

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Actually I've always wanted to take my bike on one of those big ramps, so I'm kinda jealous.

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> All my impressions of Crtical Mass have been that many of them are sanctimonious a-holes. I totally agree with more space for bikes but the faux bike messenger bike punx bullcrap is super played out. Ditto goes for the tall bikes thing. It showed up here in New York maybe 7 or so years ago and any and all contact I have had with those dudes has been negative.

harumph

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Cyclists are quite vulnerable to the poor driving skills that come standard to most DMV-approved motorists. They are especially easy targets for lard-ass road-raging douchebags who give the rest of us hoons a bad name. I tip my hat to this ballsy band of highway bandits even if their intentions are misplaced. Remember more people on bikes mean less cars and trucks clogging the roads for the rest of us.

Shaman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @philibuster: Amen!

Ride on the road. Follow the rules of the road. Leave the sidewalks for the slowpokes who are walking. Shoot these Crimanimal Masshats - they are the ones who give cyclists a bad name. Well, them and all the other idiots who ride on the wrong side, blast through intersections w/o even looking, etc.

Crimanimal Is that even a word?

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Mazda-Eric-with-1cup-arugula: Well hook a brutha up! Just don't make me wax my chest.

But actually I'm a cyclist, too, though not for commuting. I live out in the country with great low traffic roads and scenery.

cyclopticgaze

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Jalops Jalops Jalops. Cycling on sidewalks is ILLEGAL in California. I sure as hell don't support these guys, statement or not (stupidity/recklessness is not a statement). But sidewalks are NOT the answer.

DavinSF

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Sidewalks?
Dude, bikes don't ever belong on sidewalks. If you're going to use your bike for transportation, playing dodge the pedestrians is a sure way to crash. I recently saw a video of some urban unicyclists screwing around in traffic and crowds, not cool.

Bicycles don't belong on freeways either. Just give me roads with decently wide (and debris free) shoulders, or a bike lane/path. If the road is too busy, I won't do any of that "I've got the same rights as cars and so I'll cross lanes to make a left turn" stuff the granola crunchers and look-I-bought-racing-team-spandex... tools like to do. I'll be sure to keep out of the way of the cars if the cars keep away from me.

I'm gonna go for a ride now. This $4/gal gas BS makes me want to bike more often, and save the precious dino juice for the places too far to ride.

Turkina

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Bike on the road, but only if you can maintain 50-75% of the posted speed limit, even uphill. Otherwise you are a hazzard to everyone.

P161911

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @SpeedWagon: critical mass aren't hippies, they are usually like anarchists, they break shit, which is not normal hippie mentality :P

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> critical mass is a cool thing, but i thought it was only inner city rides.. leave it to LA... FUCK!

hmm, either way it's big in Seattle, but they haven't done any douchetastic things like this and most likely won't....

om Bronx de Mowgli

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Don't your onramps have signs that say "motorized traffic only" or something to that effect? I can't recall...might be one of those regional nuances, like saying "the" before the name of the road ;)

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> would it have not been ironic if the guy on roller blades fell completely backwards on his ass, then was run over by that prius coming up behind him?

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> yeah, travis, i'm going along some other posters here. bikes belong on the road, too. with a statement saying bikes should be on sidewalks, i guess you're not a cyclist, or the last time you rode a bike was when you were a wee lad with training wheels, riding up and down the sidewalk on the street you grew up, while your dad chased you.

do i agree with these asshats riding on the freeway to protest? hell no, these guys are stupid. when i ride on the road, though, i treat myself as a vehicle, and that's what i expect from other drivers. i follow the rules of the road like everyone else.

but to say that bikes belong on the sidewalk...i'm sorry travis, you're wrong.

tr

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @philibuster: well said indeed! although, sometimes the sidewalk is hard to avoid, as it can be tempting to hop up there when avoiding traffic, or when a city bus almost knocks you off the road. that is another thing - taxi cabs & city buses need to make peace with bicyclists, no joke!

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Doesn't CA specifically prohibit bikes and pedestrians from it's expressways? New York does. Horses, too. It's like a big fuck-you to the Amish and hippies.

I mean, I get the point of the demonstration, but that's DANGEROUS, if not also illegal.

Paul Y. can't think of a better, shorter handle

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Sorry about this, guys; it was payback from my showing up to ride at the X-Games halfpipe session with an International CXT.

ViergangFuchs

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @philibuster: Well said.

andy

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @philibuster: radicals. not radials, because radials wouldn't put on stunts.

philibuster

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Bikes belong on roads and designated bike paths. If you ride a bike on the sidewalk, you can get a ticket. If it's a designated multi-use sidewalk, then that's legit.

Bikes share the road with cars. Bikers should ride on the right, unless they're turning soon. Also, bikers should signal with their left hand. And drivers should learn what the signals mean.

Who do you think you are, Travis? Are you the DOT? I mean, this is some stupid stunt put on by radials, but the majority of bikers don't hold up traffic. Please don't confuse me with them.

philibuster

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @cyclopticgaze: hey, i'm 26, cycle everywhere i go, and get laid a lot :P ok well, maybe not a lot, but on a regular basis...

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @Rick Astley: I like some of what critical mass does, frankly stunts like the guy on the giant bike are funny. they also do huge city-wide scavenger hunts in certain places, which are fun.

i'm a cyclist as well (hence my icon) and even though i am all for disturbing the peace critial mass does NOT think their protests out well. case in point - once they closed off a main intersection in center city philadelphia to the point where an ambulance couldn't get by. imagine dying because you couldnt get to the hospital in time since some douchebags were causing gridlock

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I'm surprised no one was shot. I mean, it is open season on LA freeways right now.

evoCS is possibly NSFW

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> @SpeedWagon: I like the cut of your jib.

tenbeers

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I bicycle everywhere I go. I'm also 40 years old and have never know the touch of a woman.

/not really
//I'm 28
///and lonely, so lonely

cyclopticgaze

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Umm- Bikes are allowed to ride on roads, no problem. They certainly shouldn't be on sidewalks. Don't be ignorant. Highways are another matter.

nick2ny

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I can haz deathwish?

Tomsk

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> I'm a cyclist, but these Critical Mass douchebags don't represent me.

Rick Astley

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Osama bin Laden blocked my SUV :(

lascauxcaveman

]]> <![CDATA[Maniac Cyclists Take To The L.A. Freeway To Protest, Or Something]]> Get a job you hippies! Preferably one that involves finding new oil deposits.

SpeedWagon - Now in Classic view!

]]>