Critical Mass? just passed 10th

It's true a group of bicyclists was reportedly pounced without any warning as they were legally exercising their right to the road on Market Street earlier. One witness told me that cars were being allowed through but that bicyclists on Market Street were subject to arrest no matter what. Cops wer surrounding wealthy diners and escorting them to their restaurants too. Look at the nakedness of the cocoon of this system, laid bare by peaceful demonstrators simply occupying public space!

There may be zero tolerance in some places (that was close to a mass arrest), but this group got away, as far as we know, unscathed! We even got waved into a circle and ignored by a long line of motorcycle cops around ninth and Market as it was getting on dusk.

We rode for several hours keeping a tight group. On large streets it was "shoulder to shoulder" cuddliness. Skaters and dancers occupied the free space for play before us.

Only when we got near the freeway did cops go ape shit but lemme tell ya,

THAT WAS SO AWESOME!!!

Helicopters lighting things up like a huge disco of chaos as motorcycles ripped in and CHP nazihelmet stormtroopers scrambled to wall off the freeway, bikes not bombs cut in all directions and were followed by helicopters and motorcycles for ten minutes, everywhere we went we'd find another group of 5-10 bikes and then get split up and through evasive action find another group, it was exhilerating and fun and a true testimony to the madness of this system that such expense and chaos was unleashed on a group of bicyclists.

They've got fear of bikes on the freeways for sure. Probably because of how faced they were in 1991 when marchers took over the Bay Bridge. People on the ride kept shouting "WE AREN'T GOING ON THE FREEWAY WE'RE GOING TO THE JAIL!" as they roared through, no matter. And no matter that bikes on the freeways are faster than cars usually are as we demonstrated on Thursday night!!! Most everyone got away and a small group was falsely arrested.

Bikes Not Bombs is gonna keep riding every business day until the war is stopped and if they declare zero tolerance on bikes i guess we'll all have to get cars and THEN THEY'LL BE SORRY!

5:00 PM JUSTIN HERMAN PLAZA
EVERY BUSINESS DAY

for photos and a flyer to invite people check out:

http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/03/1587194.php

Any word on how that worked out? I wanted to join up with any bike groups, but I only saw four or five on market at all (at about nine PM), and people were saying that critical mass has been pretty much arrested.