By Saul Cohen Santa Monica
I see that Alex Thompson is at it again (“Cops’ chain reaction is bad for our city,” Sept. 18), trying to convince us that his posse of bike-riding hooligans — Santa Monica Critical Mass (or should that be “Criminal Mass?”) — is just a bunch of happy-go-lucky cyclists pedaling from one “epic pillow fight” to another. How absurd!
It seems the core goal of this group is to engage in dangerous and unacceptable behavior and violate traffic laws in an effort to bully, frighten and intimidate the general public. This group also seems to want to take on local law enforcement by engaging in that kind of behavior. Fortunately, for us Santa Monica citizens, it seems the response these hooligans get from our Santa Monica Police is the enforcement of traffic laws and clear directions out of town. Good work from our police.
The majority of bicycle riders that my wife, friends and I encounter, and I know we’re not alone, are the ones who don’t obey traffic laws and are just plain dangerous. They are cyclists who ignore red lights and stop signs and barrel through intersections, endangering their ’selves, pedestrians and drivers. They are the ones who ride rapidly along public sidewalks, brushing back young and elderly pedestrians like a Roger Clemens fastball.
Finally, Mr. Thompson makes the laughable suggestion in his guest column that members of this group should be embraced as young leaders. What nonsense? They, and Mr. Thompson, should be sent packing.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 21, 2007. Read the original PDF.