General Road and Highway Discussion

[danbrotherston]

I love how bike theft is an ever present obstacle to cycling but the pitch forks only come out for non destructive, non violent action against cars.  Really reveals the priorities.

Give me a break; can you argue in good faith with the people you disagree with instead of disingenuous nonsense like this for a change? I've yet to have heard of a coordinated anti-bike crusade going around vandalizing bikes and you can bet I'd pull out my pitchfork if there was.

Many people here are opposed to high speed limits and excessively large vehicles, are concerned about climate change and *also* think that this action is bad. I'm opposed to these people because they poison the well for engagement that I think was actually making real progress.

Bike theft absolutely is co-ordinated and well established. This is why they often find basements full of stolen bikes (usually when investigating other crimes). These people know how to steal bikes, fence bikes, parts, etc, they have distribution channels etc. This isn't a small time operation or petty theft. This is well known to the police.

Now you're saying that if those people were anti-bike instead of just profiteering you'd be all over it?

No, to be generous, we tolerate bike theft, and get angry at is protest because one is normalised and the other is not.

It's clear folks here are mostly opposed to this action. But I also think you are wrong to assume that it poisons the well for engagement. I linked the video before...here it is again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh4G1Gjv7bA&ab_channel=PhilosophyTube

Or more to the point, anyone for whom having their tires deflated "poisons" was already poisoned. Everything in context...they are doing something to a vehicle that is non-destructive and non-violent something most vehicle owners will experience many times through random chance (and more destructively at that)....anyone who experiences this and hates the people who did it so much that they are entirely unwilling to listen to any thing more are not going to be people who are willing to listen to the idea that they should not drive their vehicle in the city because it is the very message that is threatening to them...not the method of sending it.