By Thomas Bosch Santa Monica
I wish I could have read Helen McRoskey’s childish response (“Hit the road, Critical Mass,” July 25) to Alex Thompson’s letter regarding police action against Critical Mass (“The wheels of injustice turn,” July 21- 22) and simply laugh it off. In fact, I wish I could simply laugh off every threat motorists throw at me on my daily bicycle commute. (McRoskey’s) response to the heavy-handed police action against Santa Monica’s Critical Mass embodies the opinion of every motorist who cannot display common courtesy and respect to their fellow citizens, especially those of us who seek alternative means of travel in hopes of making life better for everyone.
No participant of Critical Mass is out to “terrorize” anyone, and we are not a “gang,” as Helen claims. It saddens me to see anyone slandering their community with such hateful buzz words, especially those who are not the minority, those whose rights are being thoroughly protected by our police force. Just last week, on my recommendation, my girlfriend decided to try biking to work to save time and frustration. When we spoke at the end of the day, she was in tears, swearing she would never ride her bike to work again due to the number of blatant verbal and physical threats to her life made by motorists. This is the reality bike commuters face daily in this city, and all for our collective benefit.
If the city of Santa Monica — named after the patron saint of patience and abuse victims — wishes to support this illegal, immoral and highly depraved behavior on the part of citizens like Helen McRoskey, and continue to bully Critical Mass riders, then I am afraid the ethical and liberal standpoint this city is so famous for has been transformed into nothing more than fascism in favor of the upper class, or “the valued citizens of Santa Monica.”
I challenge McRoskey and all of those who share her viewpoint to try riding a bike through this city just for one day. I guarantee their opinion will change drastically. That is, of course, if they survive.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.