Some people just aren't meant to be cops or have a position of authority, and obviously this guy is one of them. There must have been something about the cyclist that set him off, and he needs to seek counseling for it. Why did he single this one out after letting at least a dozen others go by?

I have been doing some reading on posts about what happened with the cyclist getting body-checked and some of the comments, are scary. Some make me afraid to ride my bike, in the fear that I could be next to be slammed into, only by a car. Here in Chicago the drivers have the mind-set of, You first, after me, and Yes as a matter of fact, I do own the road.

Well as a cyclist I would like to come to that cops defense.... CM has been going on for quite some time, its a good idea 'in theory', but then theory and reality are often worlds apart.
In the video we (or any one else I imagine) could not see what the rider may have done off camera. We dont have any idea why the cop reacted in that way (or what some other rider that may have come along before the tackling dummy) Critical Mess has become quite 'confrontational'.
The idea behind it is to only 'inconvenience' drivers to make them aware of bike riders. Not beat them up or insult them or for that matter break the law. In the last 5 years there has been more and more violence having to do with Critical Mess, riders attacking car drivers, car drivers running down riders.
Because of its very nature (no organization, no leaders) there is no way to insure that participants behave in a sensible fashion, no one to take the blame when things do go wrong. That and its been growing and growing.. its dangerous by very nature (disrupting the flow of traffic, you mix motored vehicles and bikes with no rules, no wonder more people have not been hurt.....)
Well speaking as a cyclist... I think its a bad idea. You see breaking laws is not really that good of an idea to start with, but then to go and rub it in someones face.... Ya Im running these red lights, and theres nothing you can do about it... well its a bad idea. They are not promoting cycling only provoking motorist. Encouraging more bad blood. You see motorist already perceive us as an annoyance, so going and making them angry by blocking up roads once a month, then insulting any poor motorist that happens to get stuck in the mess. Sure that guys gonna LOVE cyclist. The confrontational nature of it just goes against the intended goal (MHO) that and I AM a cyclist, I AM on the road every day (Unlike many of the goofballs that you see sy CM who come out once a month to *beep* people off, get something pierced or tattooed and then go back to their apartment, cave or huble to drink and torture small farm animals or what ever it is 20 somethings do now in off hours.. ) so I do care what motorist think.
The sign says SHARE THE ROAD, that means cyclist too.

Just one example of things getting out of hand, over the last 5 years or so I have noticed that there are more and more of these every year. Last year it was an elderly couple in SF, had their wind shield broken out, and tires flattened.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/promos/wirepicks/story/424949.html

I too am a cyclist, and I obey the laws. which where I live, are the same as for motor vehicle traffic. Nothing is going to change my mind, that there is anything that the cyclist could have said, short of saying he was carrying some kind of explosive device, that justifies that police officers actions. Words are not the same as physical altercations, and if anyone feels that it is justifiable to resort to physical retribution for a verbal attack, then I am going to start carrying my pistol when I ride. j/k

I don't believe in the way the cyclists are trying to make their point either though however, Critical Mass is nothing but a disorganized means to a extremely dangerous mess. The laws should protect all the cyclist like the signs they have put up for injuring a highway worker, because we cyclist have about as much protection as they do when it comes to doing battle with a car or truck.

yeshuas wrote:

I too am a cyclist, and I obey the laws. which where I live, are the same as for motor vehicle traffic. Nothing is going to change my mind, that there is anything that the cyclist could have said, short of saying he was carrying some kind of explosive device, that justifies that police officers actions. Words are not the same as physical altercations, and if anyone feels that it is justifiable to resort to physical retribution for a verbal attack, then I am going to start carrying my pistol when I ride. j/k I don't believe in the way the cyclists are trying to make their point either though however, Critical Mass is nothing but a disorganized means to a extremely dangerous mess. The laws should protect all the cyclist like the signs they have put up for injuring a highway worker, because we cyclist have about as much protection as they do when it comes to doing battle with a car or truck.

Danial, I know you are a cyclist, and Im sorry if it seemed I was saying this to you (more just my exasperation with CM) Of course you should know that I know you better than that . And I agree with you 100% the big danger to cyclist is inattentive drivers, plain and simple. Mom turning to check on baby in back runs over cyclist, girl reaches for water bottle and runs over cyclist, cop dozes off and runs over three cyclist... you see when (the last example was real one from last fall) these people finally do make it into court, 99% of the time, courts or jury's side with the offender because EVERYONE sees themselves in that very same spot. Hell I do too, cant tell you how many times I have been doing dumb thing only to look up and be tearing down the side of the road (back roads that is) and God help anyone who may have been on the side of the road. LOL Im far less worried about a drunk hitting me, and really worried about little Bobbie Sue, who is too busy texting her BFF to notice that Im riding down the side of the road, until she feels the lump-lump of the car rolling over my ANSI certified helmet.. (not that it would hold up to a car.. lol) Ah I could ramble for months on this topic.
Good post Danial.
I just kept seeing that clip on the news, and was getting frustrated, because I know what a cluster chuck CM really is. The newsies were making it seem like the cop just walked up and bashed the dude (and he may have) but I know CM has become very confrontational, so I figured he may have had something inviting to say that goaded that poor officer into doing something that stupid. But ya never know, I wasnt there. Cest la vie.

LOL my rant wasn't directed at you David, sorry, just my exasperation too,
I was going to say cluster something myself

Me takes me foot out of mouth and closes it (-: