Comments on: Attack on cyclists not an aberration http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/ Portland bicycle news, events, culture and opinion. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:27:40 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Sleepy Brain: Biomorphic Horror » Seeking Solace in Dystopia http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-360689 Sleepy Brain: Biomorphic Horror » Seeking Solace in Dystopia Tue, 10 Apr 2007 02:39:37 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-360689 [...] Right, I’m still leaning towards the leftwing conspiracy view: this is terrible bad news indeed, although God knows the streets of Melbourne could use some drastic measures, as I write this after being attacked and nearly knocked off my bicycle by pissed-up dickheads swinging punches for the third time this year. Can someone please explain why a moving bicycle is such a target for random violence? Why is there so much rage directed at cyclists? At times I can understand the circumstances that lead to road rage, but pedestrian rage? And I’m not talking about the justified rage of a pedestrian railing against a cyclist riding on the footpath, but unprovoked, random attacks at cyclists on the road. It seems nonsensical. Or maybe there’s just a lot of cyclist hate in the press at the moment… [...]

[...] Right, I’m still leaning towards the leftwing conspiracy view: this is terrible bad news indeed, although God knows the streets of Melbourne could use some drastic measures, as I write this after being attacked and nearly knocked off my bicycle by pissed-up dickheads swinging punches for the third time this year. Can someone please explain why a moving bicycle is such a target for random violence? Why is there so much rage directed at cyclists? At times I can understand the circumstances that lead to road rage, but pedestrian rage? And I’m not talking about the justified rage of a pedestrian railing against a cyclist riding on the footpath, but unprovoked, random attacks at cyclists on the road. It seems nonsensical. Or maybe there’s just a lot of cyclist hate in the press at the moment… [...]

]]> By: DK http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-268041 DK Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:47:40 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-268041 I find that the generalizations being made about races involved is alittle old school. But facts are facts, and you see a gathering of persons described here, in these neighborhoods, turn around and save your ass. Whether it's from an awkward shove and stumble, to a butt kickin'. We don't need anymore broken bones over this crap. I find that the generalizations being made about races involved is alittle old school. But facts are facts, and you see a gathering of persons described here, in these neighborhoods, turn around and save your ass. Whether it’s from an awkward shove and stumble, to a butt kickin’. We don’t need anymore broken bones over this crap.

]]> By: trike http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-267474 trike Tue, 06 Feb 2007 02:21:33 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-267474 Lyle in the street i grew up unless i know you and at least one person who could vouch for you. you didnt register as human. this is a mommy and daddy problem and as i said it sounds like a school problem. at any rate its not singles, its groups i would bet its groups with a connection to each other in the school. and since it is directed i would be looking for the person or persons who are fostering this idea of bikers. this could be a teacher or janitor or leader of some clik or b-ball player but i'll betcha a nickel to a doughnut you will find someone with influance to these kids spouting off. My first guess is it would be a current events class or something like it with a teacher who has a hardon about either commuters or the crit mass rides. this sounds like kids with a tiny idea that this bike stuff might be wrong. the cussing and race slures are just because no one tought or teaches americans to curse anymore so we have a limited repitwa. any way my 2 drok JM you may edit as you wish Lyle in the street i grew up unless i know you and at least one person who could vouch for you. you didnt register as human.

this is a mommy and daddy problem and as i said it sounds like a school problem.

at any rate its not singles, its groups i would bet its groups with a connection to each other in the school. and since it is directed i would be looking for the person or persons who are fostering this idea of bikers.

this could be a teacher or janitor or leader of some clik or b-ball player but i’ll betcha a nickel to a doughnut you will find someone with influance to these kids spouting off.

My first guess is it would be a current events class or something like it with a teacher who has a hardon about either commuters or the crit mass rides. this sounds like kids with a tiny idea that this bike stuff might be wrong. the cussing and race slures are just because no one tought or teaches americans to curse anymore so we have a limited repitwa.

any way my 2 drok JM you may edit as you wish

]]> By: Marc http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-266391 Marc Mon, 05 Feb 2007 03:13:47 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-266391 The comments on rude downtown cyclists were totally irrelevant. The suggestion that kids help organize their neighborhoods against gentrification instead of beating up on people was well-meant, but in some ways really unrealistic. Gentrification is not an excuse to beat up on people. But I do want to echo the idea that lots of white people, with money or not, are moving into NE Portland and displacing people of color for whom NE Portland was the latest refuge in a sequence of displacements stretching back 50 years or so. And the idea that a lot of these white people think they are being really 'progressive' because they are moving to a black neighborhood and 'getting some flavuh' is kind of sickening when rents are going up. The comments on rude downtown cyclists were totally irrelevant.
The suggestion that kids help organize their neighborhoods against gentrification instead of beating up on people was well-meant, but in some ways really unrealistic.
Gentrification is not an excuse to beat up on people. But I do want to echo the idea that lots of white people, with money or not, are moving into NE Portland and displacing people of color for whom NE Portland was the latest refuge in a sequence of displacements stretching back 50 years or so. And the idea that a lot of these white people think they are being really ‘progressive’ because they are moving to a black neighborhood and ‘getting some flavuh’ is kind of sickening when rents are going up.

]]> By: lyle http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-265798 lyle Sun, 04 Feb 2007 16:51:33 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-265798 i don't get the excuse making a lot of people seem to be all too ready to get into here and in other places. racism is racism, period, end of story. i don't care what you look like, how you grew up, i don't care how awful a time you have getting by, i don't care how shitty your education has been, and on and on and on. and to say a certain (minority) group is even partially excused from perpetrating it? wow, pardon me while i throw up. being part of that huge community called humanity means you are respected for behaving responsibly and shamed when you don't. what do you REALLY think about a certain segment of a community when you don't even care as much or get upset when they are either racist, violent or otherwise lacking in decency towards their fellow humans in this messed up world? if the roles were reversed and there was a rash of black people attacked and called overtly racist names driving down 82nd, or in any other predominently 'white' area of the city, we would ALL be rightly enraged and questioning what was wrong with the perpetrator's humanity and decency. my question is, do you really respect them as humans, or are you saying in the back of your mind that you don't expect them to ever behave responsibly, that they're just living up to expectations, and that it's just par for the course? ask yourself that question when you're coming up for any excuse for this behavior in your head, other than that they're racist idiots who need to get a huge dose of reality, however that happens. i don’t get the excuse making a lot of people seem to be all too ready to get into here and in other places.

racism is racism, period, end of story. i don’t care what you look like, how you grew up, i don’t care how awful a time you have getting by, i don’t care how shitty your education has been, and on and on and on.

and to say a certain (minority) group is even partially excused from perpetrating it? wow, pardon me while i throw up.

being part of that huge community called humanity means you are respected for behaving responsibly and shamed when you don’t.

what do you REALLY think about a certain segment of a community when you don’t even care as much or get upset when they are either racist, violent or otherwise lacking in decency towards their fellow humans in this messed up world?

if the roles were reversed and there was a rash of black people attacked and called overtly racist names driving down 82nd, or in any other predominently ‘white’ area of the city, we would ALL be rightly enraged and questioning what was wrong with the perpetrator’s humanity and decency.

my question is, do you really respect them as humans, or are you saying in the back of your mind that you don’t expect them to ever behave responsibly, that they’re just living up to expectations, and that it’s just par for the course?

ask yourself that question when you’re coming up for any excuse for this behavior in your head, other than that they’re racist idiots who need to get a huge dose of reality, however that happens.

]]> By: SKiDmark http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-265192 SKiDmark Sun, 04 Feb 2007 08:02:06 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-265192 That's funny shawn. I'm pretty sure the majority of Gabe's "gear" and bikes come from Goodwill and bike co-ops. There is a certain "weirdo" factor too, those who roam in packs and single out one person to beat up will also f**k with weirdos too. And Gabe, I say weirdo with reverance and respect. I always wear a flannel over my hoodie and now that I am riding a MTN bike instead of a track bike I think I am likely to be mistaken for a middle-aged homeless guy, and not a hipster. Probably not too far from getting jumped either way... This whole situation is reminding me of a certain Minor Threat song, and a certain Black Flag song. That’s funny shawn. I’m pretty sure the majority of Gabe’s “gear” and bikes come from Goodwill and bike co-ops. There is a certain “weirdo” factor too, those who roam in packs and single out one person to beat up will also f**k with weirdos too. And Gabe, I say weirdo with reverance and respect.

I always wear a flannel over my hoodie and now that I am riding a MTN bike instead of a track bike I think I am likely to be mistaken for a middle-aged homeless guy, and not a hipster. Probably not too far from getting jumped either way…

This whole situation is reminding me of a certain Minor Threat song, and a certain Black Flag song.

]]> By: Rixtir http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-265121 Rixtir Sun, 04 Feb 2007 07:13:23 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-265121 The bikers who have been attacked generally haven't been the spandex-wearing designer gear types. The bikers who have been attacked generally haven’t been the spandex-wearing designer gear types.

]]> By: shawnfestivus http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-264995 shawnfestivus Sun, 04 Feb 2007 05:11:07 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-264995 p.s. designer bikes should also probably be avoided. An old cheap sh!tbox could save more than imagined... p.s. designer bikes should also probably be avoided. An old cheap sh!tbox could save more than imagined…

]]> By: shawnfestivus http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-264988 shawnfestivus Sun, 04 Feb 2007 05:07:14 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-264988 I had a dream about this last night, before finding this... about kids planning a distraction to jack my property on the street, away from home. Being calm helps your vigilance. I'm wondering what some of these victims look like - probably less spandex, designer gear would be a good start, how about punk attire? Lot's of punks are middle-class drop-outs who may realize looking crusty helps mixing with the 'locals'. I've lived in inner city Kansas City for about 6 years, and haven't been harmed, basically because there's no way to disguise the fact that I'm poor too. Disheveled and sloppy may be the universal passport. I had a dream about this last night, before finding this… about kids planning a distraction to jack my property on the street, away from home. Being calm helps your vigilance. I’m wondering what some of these victims look like – probably less spandex, designer gear would be a good start, how about punk attire? Lot’s of punks are middle-class drop-outs who may realize looking crusty helps mixing with the ‘locals’. I’ve lived in inner city Kansas City for about 6 years, and haven’t been harmed, basically because there’s no way to disguise the fact that I’m poor too. Disheveled and sloppy may be the universal passport.

]]> By: Rob http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/comment-page-1/#comment-264184 Rob Sat, 03 Feb 2007 17:04:48 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/01/19/attack-on-cyclists-not-an-aberration/#comment-264184 Living in Lexington ky, (population half that of Portland Ore but percentage of black residents over twice as high...13.5%-6.6%) I can tell you we face many similar problems. It is almost always the liberal types that suffer the abuse from blacks, rough neck whites almost never get attacked. Why? I can personally attest to the fact that the more violently I respond to any semblance of black aggression the more passive the aggressor becomes. These thugs only understand/respect the threat of immediate repercussions....in short, arm yourselves or at least become better at using physical force to protect yourself. Living in Lexington ky, (population half that of Portland Ore but percentage of black residents over twice as high…13.5%-6.6%) I can tell you we face many similar problems. It is almost always the liberal types that suffer the abuse from blacks, rough neck whites almost never get attacked. Why? I can personally attest to the fact that the more violently I respond to any semblance of black aggression the more passive the aggressor becomes. These thugs only understand/respect the threat of immediate repercussions….in short, arm yourselves or at least become better at using physical force to protect yourself.

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