End of an Error? LACM / LAPD
Thread started by
Roadblock at 01.31.14 - 6:50 pm
Some people think that the LAPD "take over" of Critical Mass was no bueno. After a few years now LAPD is no longer going to lead the ride from what I've been told... personally, I'm kind of bummed about that. I think that the LAPD leading CM was actually a success... thoughts?
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which was also beautiful when people made their own LACMs!
Roadblock responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
01.31.14 - 9:08 pm
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I think it was ruined before that by getting corralled to a park where you'd watch 15 year old kids drink. The concept that it was a free, leaderless, directionless ride, a force of nature if you will is gone under police control. I remember the spirit of the first LA critical mass of 10 people, some whirly nerd with a mirror on his helmet exclaiming "We're a force to reckoned with!" as we rode around in a parking lot, blocking traffic for a few moments. I also remember riding with 70 people and getting handed a flyer for Midnight Ridazz....Things are slightly different now I suppose but a police escort is no good any way you look at it, it flies against the free nature of riding bikes....
I can't come back because my business(s) take up too much of my time. I'll continue to keep it real in the valley though....
rev106 responding to a
comment by Roadblock
02.1.14 - 8:01 am
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Wow. When will the last LAPDCM happen? I think there are a lot of diff ways to look at this one. We can debate whether or not the pigs leading the charge was a good or bad thing all day long. But for me, I loved it and this ride was huuuge. Very well paced, great routes, and for the most part a lot of fun. I dont care what you call it, it was a great way to spend a friday nite.
tallcans4tallbikes02.1.14 - 11:06 am
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Some of us may not have liked it but it did draw a lot of people on the ride. Probably a lot of them hardly rode before CM so if it got more people on their bikes, it's all good.
mk452402.1.14 - 7:51 pm
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Went on CM last night and it was horrible. I bailed out early. When the PD did it, it was a fun ride. Only did it once so that all I have to go off of.
The big question is why do we even have police officers that we pay so much money to? Now that is a big waste!
sexy02.1.14 - 10:47 pm
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I've posted before on this subject about how much it cost the city of L.A. to do the ride. 50+ motorcycle cops, the helicopter and multiple cruisers...sexy, you're good with working the system...can you see if that's public record?
barleye responding to a
comment by sexy
02.2.14 - 8:19 pm
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All that money wasted on a ride my opinion..Is lacm/lapd the only ride ,a rider has died?
Huey55502.3.14 - 6:36 am
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It's not everyone's cup of tea. Some like it and some don't but if it brought out people to ride who would have been otherwise afraid, then I think it's good. Bicycling in this city shouldn't be limited to large rides done by those who would like to duck under the law to do it.
Let's not forget that for all the good that CycLAvia does, it does cost the city around $200,000 to put on plus additional contributions from sponsors. The cost of having the LAPD on CM was a lot less. We could also say the same for the Tunnel races that only attract a small portion of cyclists in this city but does cost the city money in terms of LAPD sanctioning.
Many think that CycLAvia is a waste of money but to see the number of people participating, I'm glad to see the city put out that much money to sponsor an event that brings in so many participants.
mk4524 responding to a
comment by barleye
02.3.14 - 9:15 pm
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Well CycLavia is a different issue, personally I think it conveys the wrong message. CM has always been rough and rowdy, underground, fringe whatever...police presence is like having a ragin party and your parents show up....lame.
rev106 responding to a
comment by mk4524
02.4.14 - 9:22 am
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But in Los Angeles, is CM the only chance to have a rough and roudy underground fringe?
mk4524 responding to a
comment by rev106
02.4.14 - 9:48 am
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I disagree. The cops showing up to LACM was more like throwing a party when your older brother shows up with tunes and beer. Well maybe not the beer, but ppl who really get it crankin. LAPD made it a humongous event where we actually got a good number of miles in at a healthy pace. Before that it was dawdle around til the People's Ride and then dawdle some more. LAPDCM was the last link to mega rides and the golden era of the Ridazz scene, circa 2007-09.
tallcans4tallbikes02.4.14 - 11:08 am
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What is wrong about the message that CycLAvia conveys? Especially when the city of Los Angeles puts so much money into it.
mk4524 responding to a
comment by rev106
02.4.14 - 4:32 pm
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Mike,
The message that - The ONLY way to get bikes on the street is to shut it down and get exorbitant permits and hire cops to do so...
I do like the success of Ciclavia and how it works. But, I have to admit to myself that this message is getting put across to many people that this is the only way to ride a bike for fun. Of course it's not truth. I'm just explaining for you.
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by mk4524
02.4.14 - 5:51 pm
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Before the LAPD got involved, I also remember getting corralled into a park and watching a bunch of 15 year old drink but I also remember on one of the last rides before LAPD took it was to watch a bunch of kids go around and graffiti places where we had been. All that seemed to do was draw out the ghetto bird once the word got out that there was graffiti.
mk4524 responding to a
comment by rev106
02.4.14 - 11:55 pm
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LACM as a useful tool for change is and has been moot for a long time. If we had a political culture of inclusion built into our tiny advocacy NGO's they would be out at these rides signing people up and organizing the ride to different politically and culturally significant places in LA (along with the background noise of randomness that Critical Mass will always have).
LA has been politically re-taken by a generation of ex-state officials who are as anti-bike as you could imagine - mainly because they missed the last 7 years of culture change in LA while they were making big bucks in Sacramento.
LACM is the best and brightest hope to turn these assholes out of office in the future and to scare them into shape in the interim years.
ubrayj0202.5.14 - 9:07 am
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Whether or not the cops show up, Critical Mass should be serving the goal of showing people a better way forward, of bringing people on bikes together, and to create the feeling of invincibility that large crowds of people bring to each other.
ubrayj0202.5.14 - 9:08 am
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To dinner? What if he doesn't put out?
andres84 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
02.5.14 - 6:31 pm
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Ciclavia tells people that the only place to ride a bike is some cordoned off safe zone. It is not using a bike as transportation, but as a toy. It conveys the wrong message.
That individualistic, pioneering spirit is what I strive for in all things, it cannot be done with a police presence. I don't need to be watched or told what to do for my "safety". Giving into the police to have a bigger ride is un American, I will not curtail my freedoms for some government approved yuppie hand holding.
rev106 responding to a
comment by andres84
02.6.14 - 8:08 am
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Well said Paul. I think ppl can see CicLAvia in many different ways. I see it as a really fun way to have the streets to ourselves for a day. LAPDCM is kind of the same thing. If we still had mega rides like we used to, I probably wouldnt value LAPDCM the way I do. Between 2nd Friday MR, Barchopz, Crank Mob, (and a few others I may be forgetting), we were spoiled there for a couple years with rides that were so large they practically took over the streets. Well we still have the Marathon Crash race, at least.
tallcans4tallbikes responding to a
comment by rev106
02.6.14 - 9:20 am
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This is why you must savor the moment and NEVER take what you have for granted.
rev106 responding to a
comment by tallcans4tallbikes
02.6.14 - 9:43 am
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exactly why I never made it a point to participate in CicLAvia, even when it took place two blocks from my apartment. I do like the idea of closed off streets to promote community but never liked that it felt like the city was saying "THIS is the only way you and your loved ones will be safe on a bike"
further, the routes were always more fun to walk vs. bike, since riding a bike through was a clusterfuck.
KeepinEtNorma responding to a
comment by rev106
02.6.14 - 9:53 am
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Ridazz Roulette!
