Seattle Critical Mass Incident

A quick mention of an incident last Friday up in Seattle that is beginning to hit the national wires.

Seattle, Wash. - A group of Seattle Critical Mass riders were involved in the assault of a driver that put the man in the hospital and caused $1,500 in damage to the vehicle.

The incident on Capitol Hill has led to a reopening of the car versus bicycle debate, with some - including one of the nation's largest bicycling clubs - calling for the contentious Seattle Critical Mass program to be disbanded.

Two of the riders have been charged in the attack, and police are searching for a third man who is alleged to have struck the victim in the head with a bike lock.

While it will take some time for the issue to fully develop and play out, online forums and blogs are already deeply embroiled in the debate.

Some supporters of the Critical Mass dispute the police version of the events, saying that the driver initiated the attack. Their opponents contend that this is evidence that Critical Mass is mere hooliganism.

Link to more media coverage

Mexican Bike Race Hits a Snag

From the department of amusing yet horrific trivia: a Mexican bike race met with tragedy recently after the front runners were hit by a driver who was asleep or on drugs, or both. Police were on the scene immediately, and apprehended the suspect. One racer was killed, and ten others were injured.

The SA thread that sparked discussion over the event quickly and happily devolved into an argument between motorists irritated with slow-moving assholes who clog up traffic, and bicyclists irritated with dangerously vapid drivers of two ton death machines.

The one thing all agreed with is that the image is absolutely awesome.

If you are a driver or a bicyclist, please add your thoughts on the issue in the comment section below.