Letter to CRANK MOB Riders
Thread started by
lacm at 08.23.09 - 3:33 am
I'm not trying to flame you but I wanted to ask if Critical Mass did a
ride tonight through Venice? If so, I thought I'd let you know that I
was driving home because my kid was sick and was stuck at a light for
at least 20 mins because cyclists were refusing to participate in the
traffic laws and just rode through the reds. A guy stood at the front
to physically hold back the cars.
While I'm a big believer in self-expression and have always been
extremely considerate of cyclists and pedestrians, I don't understand
how ignoring the pace of traffic and upsetting/inconveniencing people
does the Critical Mass cause any good. When moving on a bicycle, one
is supposed to observe stop lights - just like cars, or else walk the
bike across the street. I admit, due to being anxious about my child,
I exchanged some pathetic name calling with some of the riders, which
was pointless and childish on my part, and I'm a bit ashamed of my
behaviour. A young man on a bike approached my car and explained his
side very nicely and when I explained what I was upset about, he
agreed - the group should have yielded to the red lights and allowed
the right-of-way-traffic to pass. He invited me to join in sometime
but here's the thing, I really don't wouldn't want to make people
angry like this, especially because, riding through reds, I would be
the one in the wrong. Every single driver was pissed off and I just
don't get the point of that. When I want to spread or encourage a
point of view I believe in, I try and make as many 'friends' as
possible for the issue or cause. Critical Mass made no friends tonight
and that's a real shame.
Hey, I fully support making the statement, don't get me wrong, and I
have seen (and been horrified by) the way drivers can hog the road and
put cyclists in danger and this is something I'm very careful to avoid
when driving. But maybe in the future, you could encourage people to
remember that two wrongs don't make a right, not every driver is a
dick, you know? The woman in the Ford may have a sick kid to get home
to and every moment you hold her up, she's getting more and more
frantic.
If this wasn't the group you're affiliated with, I apologize for
assuming it was. (I realize I'm talking about Saturday night but this
is the only group I'm aware of that does this) I hope you don't take
this the wrong way and send me a nasty email back or anything because
this email is meant only to put my point across politely and
respectfully. Take care on the roads.
Have a lovely day,
Erin.
This email was sent to Facebook group of LA Critical Mass. Though she was referring to the Crank Mob ride on Saturday night, it is a reminder that we must all share the road. A concerned mother rushing home to her sick child should not have to wait through three light cycles. Let's be more considerate out there.
reply
Damn that's a nice email. At least she was cool about it.
Crank Mob was insane. The stabbing, the crashes, the angry MDR people, what a night.
I hope this woman's kid gets better.
urbanpedal08.23.09 - 3:49 am
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wow what a shame. I wish she would have said something to the biker in front of her to stop the bikers and let her go with her son instead of waiting the 20 minutes (really?)
And this definitely applies to every single 50+ ride in LA, not just CRANK MOB.
I'm glad she was so logical and kind with her letter.
richtotheie08.23.09 - 5:49 am
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My response:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for your apology regarding your "childless name calling". Your apology for incorrectly assuming lacm to be responsible for this ride is also accepted. Regarding the anxiety you were feeling for your sick child, perhaps you shouldn't have even been driving in your frame of mind. Every road range incident has its excuse regardless of how bad it is. The fact that some traffic event caused you to explode at some bicyclists only tells me that you were dangerous behind the wheel. Please don't mistake any of my words for feeling concern for your "sick" child. My sole concern in this case is for all the children who were riding their bicycles and being abused by selfishly concerned mothers like yourself.
Sincerely,
indigis
indigis08.23.09 - 11:13 am
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This lady I remember her yes her e-mail was nice but she kept trying to run through everyone while we were riding I had no idea that her kid was sick until she told me while I was corking the other side of the road. I told some other riders to stop the cyclist and when they stopped we let her go and she still did not say thank you but whatever we let her go but that was after she emphasized that she had a sick kid to get home to I hope that her kid feels better. But when she kept on cussing all the riders out a driving through us or alteast trying that did not help the situation until she yelled out to me that she was needing to get home to her sick kid.
louisbianchirider responding to a
comment by richtotheie
08.23.09 - 11:14 am
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She was cussing and frustrated because her kid was home sick.
All of us have mothers, and unless we grew up in really dysfunctional families (and some of us did) our own mothers would have done the same thing if we were kid at home sick.
From her email, it's obvious she is a nice person. She was just upset and concerned at the time because of her sick child. A mother's instinct to protect her children is by far the greatest asset we have as a human society. We should applaud it.
I also agree with richie, we need to apply this consideration to all the rides throughout LA.
sgrant08.23.09 - 11:51 am
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How is it any different to get stuck in car traffic for 20min on a freeway than 20min for a bunch of cyclists? Sure we're technically breaking the law by going through the red light, but the whole traffic light system is not designed for bikers.
braydon08.23.09 - 11:52 am
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Hey now as soon as she told us why she was is suck a huge rush we let her go once we were able to get everyone stopped and then she left again still causing us out but I understand she had a sick kid at home she should have told us sooner would have got her outta there before 20 minutes of waiting. Lesson to everyone learn how to communicate to us that way we can do something to help.
louisbianchirider responding to a
comment by sgrant
08.23.09 - 11:54 am
reply
Louis you did the right thing. And according to the email, you (or whoever talked to her) were polite and nice to her.
So yeah, we need to communicate in a civilized and decent manner.
sgrant08.23.09 - 11:59 am
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Sgrant, actually a mother who causes danger and acts in rage because her snot nosed kid is at home with a sneeze is the one in a dysfunctional relationship. Of course I could be wrong. She probably just received a call from her Labrador Retriver who barked into the phone to rush home and give her choking son the himelich maneouver. Or with her Type O blood she was needed for an emergency blood transfusion. Otherwise, don't excuse this kind of CRAP manipulative EXCUSE. I use it all the time to take cuts in line at the grocery store.
Not really but you get the picture.
indigis responding to a
comment by sgrant
08.23.09 - 12:06 pm
reply
Notice the contadiction here. Here is an observation of the ladies actions from Louis...This lady I remember her yes her e-mail was nice but she kept trying to run through everyone while we were riding
Here is her hypocracy...
...I have seen (and been horrified by) the way drivers can hog the road and
put cyclists in danger and this is something I'm very careful to avoid
when driving. But...
Ridas beware of people who excuse their bad behavior by throwing blame on you.
indigis responding to a
comment by louisbianchirider
08.23.09 - 12:24 pm
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Indigis, you seem to be quite defensive about the situation and are trash talking this woman who you don't even know. She might have acted in rage and screamed or yelled in her car, but if there's a problem person that seems as though they are going to push through the crowd, it's the corkers job to stop the riders and let the car through. Most put their children first before 700 people on bikes illegally blocking their way.
Have some compassion man! If she read your comments, i'm sure it wouldn't smooth out her view of us as a community but rather use your words to generalize negativity from us.
lets keep it kind and on a good note with words of forward motion.
richtotheie08.23.09 - 12:29 pm
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+100 to richie
Also to all the people who were yelling out "stay to the right" trying to keep the group in the right lanes, out of oncoming traffic and "hold your line" on the turns...you people are what makes Crank Mob a really enjoyable group ride to do. Out of 500-700 riders, it is these core people who work really hard to make this ride safe, enjoyable and respectful.
You people don't ever get enough credit because only the negative shit gets brought up. I just want to say "kudos" to you people.
urbanpedal08.23.09 - 12:37 pm
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Thanks sgrant, I did talk to her with nothing but respect when I told her we were blocking the riders she calmed down and then proceeded to go when I gave her a thumbs up so yes that calmed her down I agree with Richie though it is the job of the corkers to make the way avialable for the cars and the riders it makes it easier when the riders will stop that was the problem alot of them ran around the guy that was trying to get them to stop but eventually a couple of riders stopped which really did help. Thanks to everyone that stopped.
louisbianchirider responding to a
comment by sgrant
08.23.09 - 12:38 pm
reply
Thank you Urbanpedal I cant tell you how many times I got cussed out by fellow riders when I pulled up next to them to stay on the right and they just refused to do it and would not go right and gave me the finger but its all good to make sure everyone is staying safe and all.
louisbianchirider responding to a
comment by urbanpedal
08.23.09 - 12:42 pm
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What Richie said and....Craig, you've said and sounds like you do exactly what all of us and our families have taught us not to do. You call it a snot nosed kid...she calls him or her HER child who is home sick. I like you and have had a few cool conversations with you but man....you need to mellow out on your profiling and anger towards life, drivers, etc....
Like you said, you may be wrong...and I may be also....you just sound really aggressive.
barleye responding to a
comment by indigis
08.23.09 - 12:45 pm
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i love these bike rides, but the lady has a point
natefrogg08.23.09 - 1:00 pm
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Lady has a point, but nothing will be done cuz life sucks like that. See most ridazz DGAF about people in cars waiting. It happens and life goes on. Any pleasantries or nice letters won't change a thing. Just like writing an elected official. WAIST OF TIME.
sack or crack you choose responding to a
comment by natefrogg
08.23.09 - 1:04 pm
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(...) "I don't understand how ignoring the pace of traffic and upsetting/inconveniencing people does the Critical Mass cause any good. When moving on a bicycle, one is supposed to observe stop lights - just like cars, or else walk the bike across the street. (...)"
Technically yes, we're supposed to stop at lights. However for every law there is always an exception and a justified reason to break that law. How great would it be to have turnabouts in more intersections in LA, and ALL traffic can move through at a constant rate.
braydon08.23.09 - 1:08 pm
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20 minutes? really? It would be much worse to let the ride get broken up at whatever light
robin swabin08.23.09 - 1:47 pm
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Thank you barleye for that observation.
I am guilty of anger and throwing around too much hate at drivers. I want you to know that I really really care about every Rida. When I see close mindedness and selfishness used as an excuse to infringe on your rights and your safety I feel provoked to come to the defense of the community.
It always shames me and shows me the higher path to take when I read words like yours and riches ( and RBs so often).
Thanks for that. Keep up that energy.
indigis responding to a
comment by barleye
08.23.09 - 2:58 pm
reply
Indigis = Magneto
---------------------------------------------------
Bearded Guy = Bald Guy Xavier
RB = Cyclops
Richie = Ice Man (dude is just too cool, am I right?)
point? we all want ridazz to be safe. some are more lenient towards our machine driving/wielding brethren.
-Dexter- responding to a
comment by indigis
08.23.09 - 3:21 pm
reply
@Indigis, your last response to barleye wasn't what i expected. I bow to you for being able to critique yourself and accept others opinions so well. It's something i wish myself and everyone else could do better at. We've had good small talks too, and i really hope we get to have more! See you on the road big guy!
richtotheie08.23.09 - 3:39 pm
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Well gentlemen, this has certainly turned into the politeness thread.
braydon08.23.09 - 4:21 pm
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I saw quite a bit of dumb corking. Saw ridazz in the wrong position and corking traffic that didn't need to be corked. This is pretty much why I stopped corking. Not too excited about being associated with these clueless fucks. Also it's not that hard to give drivers an escape route, such as doing a u-turn or letting them make a right. Drivers need to step it up a notch too. They need to realize that they aren't going to get through the street they want to go and find an alternate route. Far better than trying to power through a hoard of bikers.
User108.23.09 - 10:10 pm
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+1 for indigis for being rad and humble and chill.
But! What if it had been a bunch of cars causing a delay and blocking intersections?
I'm just curious about that one. I've been stuck in traffic with my vagina in very bad need of a box of tampons from Rite Aid (Thinking, "Fuck, I shoulda ridden my bike.") and I certainly didn't cuss out other drivers (But I was sort of silently cussing out the bikes for clipping so cheerfully along).
HappyLand responding to a
comment by indigis
08.23.09 - 10:26 pm
reply
i think you needing a box of tampons is a bit different than a sick child.
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by HappyLand
08.23.09 - 11:04 pm
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I think it's healthy to value others as being more important than yourself. Works well for both parties in my experience.
Ah! Like you guys even care. There's no use though. I just can't help expressing myself.
Joe Borfo08.23.09 - 11:22 pm
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"But! What if it had been a bunch of cars causing a delay and blocking intersections? "
Exactly.
See one of the great things about biking is that you'll pretty much get where you need to go in a very predictable amount of time, assuming you can change a flat tire quickly and don't keep your bike in good working condition.
In a car, the time it takes to get someplace is highly erratic. Especially in Los Angeles' shitty ass traffic congestion and limited parking.
Honestly our occasional bike traffic disturbance is nothing compared to real motorized vehicle congestion.
braydon responding to a
comment by HappyLand
08.24.09 - 12:51 am
reply
so you trying to start some shyst wit crank mobb i wonder what will the poeplr will decide
chunkylover0908.25.09 - 4:33 pm
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Just gotta ask, is the the 2nd or 3rd complaint about the same night of Crank Mob?
thegodofthor08.25.09 - 4:46 pm
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This is the 2nd complaint. The first one was the angry husband of a pedestrian. He wasn't so nice in his complaint.
hockeyjockey08.25.09 - 4:53 pm
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well count the guy getting stabbed as the 3rd?
Jakuta responding to a
comment by thegodofthor
08.25.09 - 7:58 pm
reply
Ah how I miss the drama of rollin' with the MOB.
Only drama I had of any significance was arguing with the audio shop guy over why he wouldn't sell me the 600W amp without installation at the shop.
bentstrider08.25.09 - 8:06 pm
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y response:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for your apology regarding your "childless name calling". Your apology for incorrectly assuming lacm to be responsible for this ride is also accepted. Regarding the anxiety you were feeling for your sick child, perhaps you shouldn't have even been driving in your frame of mind. Every road range incident has its excuse regardless of how bad it is. The fact that some traffic event caused you to explode at some bicyclists only tells me that you were dangerous behind the wheel. Please don't mistake any of my words for feeling concern for your "sick" child. My sole concern in this case is for all the children who were riding their bicycles and being abused by selfishly concerned mothers like yourself.
Sincerely,
indigis
Seems like this should go over to the "bullshit entitlement" thread
blackout_blacklung08.25.09 - 10:14 pm
reply
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