Cyclists Ride Through Grocery Stores - WTF?

On the KTLA news at 10:00 tonight they had a report of a bunch of bicyclists who rode their bikes
around *inside* of one of the grocery stores being picketed by striking grocery workers. Some of the
cyclists were arrested, but most were able to ride away. The report stated that there had been
several similar incidents in recent weeks.

WTF was that all about?

--
Proud to be a wreckless driver!

 

In rec.bicycles.misc Scott in Aztln <[email protected]> wrote:
: WTF was that all about?

was this in socal?
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

On 31 Jan 2004 07:14:01 GMT, David Reuteler <[email protected]> wrote:

>In rec.bicycles.misc Scott in Aztln <[email protected]> wrote:
>: WTF was that all about?
>
>was this in socal?

Yes. IIRC, the store was being picketed at the time, although the group of cyclists is not believed
to be related to the strike (i.e. a bunch of strikers didn't just decide to all bring their bicycles
into the store one day).

--
Friends don't let friends shop at Best Buy.

 

"Scott in Aztlán" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On the KTLA news at 10:00 tonight they had a report of a bunch of
bicyclists who
> rode their bikes around *inside* of one of the grocery stores being
picketed by
> striking grocery workers. Some of the cyclists were arrested, but most
were able
> to ride away. The report stated that there had been several similar
incidents in
> recent weeks.
>
> WTF was that all about?

A spinoff of Critical Mass - LA called Critical Mass - Safeway?

 

Scott in Aztln <[email protected]> wrote:
: Yes. IIRC, the store was being picketed at the time, although the group of cyclists is not
: believed to be related to the strike (i.e. a bunch of strikers didn't just decide to all bring
: their bicycles into the store one day).

well, to be honest .. i've always wanted to do something similiar. in my case ride through the mall
of america full bore playing one mean game of meatlocker slalom.

prob'ly just some like minded folk.

a grocery store, tho, doesn't really allow you to get up a good speed. the mall otoh is very nearly
perfect (it's a large wide circle). i also visualize chases with the chunky* bike cops.

* yes, carl. chunky works. pudgy also in what would be more than a pinch.
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

In article <[email protected]>,
Scott in Aztlán <[email protected]> writes:
> On the KTLA news at 10:00 tonight they had a report of a bunch of bicyclists who rode their bikes
> around *inside* of one of the grocery stores being picketed by striking grocery workers. Some of
> the cyclists were arrested, but most were able to ride away. The report stated that there had been
> several similar incidents in recent weeks.
>
> WTF was that all about?

At first I thought they might be euro pro roadies on a training ride and desparately needing Oh
Henry bars (to which, of course, they're perfectly entitled free access, by dint of their esteemed &
elite status.)

But then I realized it's the off season, so they must have just been a bunch of nobodies and freds,
making the pros look bad.

Besides, real euro pros go for nutrition that's scientifically developed in serious laboratories --
not Oh Henry bars.

cheers, Tom

--
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"David Reuteler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Scott in Aztln <[email protected]> wrote:
> : Yes. IIRC, the store was being picketed at the time, although the group
of
> : cyclists is not believed to be related to the strike (i.e. a bunch of
strikers
> : didn't just decide to all bring their bicycles into the store one day).
>
> well, to be honest .. i've always wanted to do something similiar. in my case ride through the
> mall of america full bore playing one mean game of meatlocker slalom.

I did something similar. Not a grocery store - but the summer before last when I'd gotten my new
bike I rode laps in the warehouse where I work [night shift of course]

--
'And then one day you find, Ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run You missed
the starting gun' -pink floyd

 

In article <[email protected]>,
Scott in Aztl?n <[email protected]> wrote:

> On the KTLA news at 10:00 tonight they had a report of a bunch of bicyclists who rode their bikes
> around *inside* of one of the grocery stores being picketed by striking grocery workers. Some of
> the cyclists were arrested, but most were able to ride away. The report stated that there had been
> several similar incidents in recent weeks.
>
> WTF was that all about?

Only in California!

 

David Reuteler <[email protected]> wrote:

>well, to be honest .. i've always wanted to do something similiar. in my case ride through the mall
>of america full bore playing one mean game of meatlocker slalom.
>
>prob'ly just some like minded folk.
>
>a grocery store, tho, doesn't really allow you to get up a good speed. the mall otoh is very nearly
>perfect (it's a large wide circle). i also visualize chases with the chunky* bike cops.
>
>* yes, carl. chunky works. pudgy also in what would be more than a pinch.

It'd be just like a cycling version of the Blues Brothers chase scene. The escalators could be a lot
of fun (particularly going UP).

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $695 ti frame

 

"Shawn \"Me\" Hearn" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Scott in Aztl?n <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > On the KTLA news at 10:00 tonight they had a report of a bunch of bicyclists who rode their
> > bikes around *inside* of one of the grocery stores being picketed by striking grocery workers.
> > Some of the cyclists were arrested, but most were able to ride away. The report stated that
> > there had been several similar incidents in recent weeks.
> >
> > WTF was that all about?
>
>
> Only in California!

See how mentally challenged 99% of Southern Californians are. 99% of which are born with down
syndrome do to poor air quality with high carbon monoxide content, not to mention the tap water with
traces of arsenic, lead and toxic gases. The stupid ones are mainly from south of the boarder.

 

On 1 Feb 2004 20:51:40 -0800, [email protected] (Eastward
Bound) wrote:

>The stupid ones are mainly from south of the boarder.

Who is this boarder and with whom is he lodging?

Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://chapmancentral.demon.co.uk

 

In rec.bicycles.misc Just zis Guy, you know? <[email protected]> wrote:
:>The stupid ones are mainly from south of the boarder.
:
: Who is this boarder and with whom is he lodging?

just another disgruntled canadian, guy.
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

"David Reuteler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In rec.bicycles.misc Just zis Guy, you know? <[email protected]>
wrote:
> :>The stupid ones are mainly from south of the boarder.
> :
> : Who is this boarder and with whom is he lodging?
>
> just another disgruntled canadian, guy.

I take offence. Us Canucks is very gruntled.

--
'And then one day you find, Ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run You missed
the starting gun' -pink floyd

 

=v= Here's an account of the ride. Apparently Los Angeles
Critical Mass rode by and a breakaway mini-mass went into
the store:

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2004/01/102094.php

Half of the bicyclists, about twenty or so, entered the store in a single file line and proceeded
to ride down various aisles, simultaneously chanting ``Don't shop at Vons, support the strike!''
Employees and customers alike stood dumbfounded as the group, with helmets on and lights blinking,
made their way out of the store and back into the parking lot.

=v= I remember when, in a 1993 East Bay Critical Mass, a similar breakaway mini-mass went through
Safeway. After the ride we gathered in People's Park and discussed the incident, and good ol' PM
opined that there's a time and place for everything: a time to ride in the streets and a time to
ride through Safeway. To everything, turn, turn, turn.

=v= Perhaps the time to ride through Safeway has arrived? <_Jym_>

ObDisclaimer: The above is not an incitement to riot. Provided for entertainment purposes only.

 

On 03 Feb 2004 05:59:36 -0800, Jym Dyer <[email protected]> wrote:

>ObDisclaimer: The above is not an incitement to riot. Provided for entertainment purposes only.

LOL!!

--
Proud to be a wreckless driver!

 

In rec.bicycles.misc Jym Dyer <[email protected]> wrote:
: =v= Perhaps the time to ride through Safeway has arrived? <_Jym_>

if you could please give seven days advanced notice.
--
david reuteler [email protected]

 

"Scott in Aztlán" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On the KTLA news at 10:00 tonight they had a report of a bunch of
bicyclists who
> rode their bikes around *inside* of one of the grocery stores being
picketed by
> striking grocery workers. Some of the cyclists were arrested, but most
were able
> to ride away. The report stated that there had been several similar
incidents in
> recent weeks.
>
> WTF was that all about?

Critical Mass Marketing.

RichC

 

[ng's tactically pruned]

In article <[email protected]>, Jym Dyer <[email protected]> writes:
> =v= Here's an account of the ride. Apparently Los Angeles Critical Mass rode by and a breakaway
> mini-mass went into the store:
>
> http://la.indymedia.org/news/2004/01/102094.php
>
> Half of the bicyclists, about twenty or so, entered the store in a single file line and
> proceeded to ride down various aisles, simultaneously chanting ``Don't shop at Vons, support the
> strike!''

I guess I'm kinda old school, but as I see it, supporting a strike involves not crossing the picket
line (according to the original post the place was being picketed).

It might be okay if the action was discussed beforehand with the union, the union was released from
any legal responsibility for the action, and maybe a donation made to the workers' strike fund. I
think /that/ would be more like supporting the strike.

I dunno if crossing the picket line so demonstratively and casually would do the cause more harm
than good.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

 

In article <[email protected]>, Jym Dyer <[email protected]> says:

> Half of the bicyclists, about twenty or so, entered the store in a single file line and proceeded
> to ride down various aisles, simultaneously chanting ``Don't shop at Vons, support the strike!''
> Employees and customers alike stood dumbfounded as the group, with helmets on and lights
> blinking, made their way out of the store and back into the parking lot.

PLEASE ask them to come protest in Mar Vista! I'd love to see how quickly a spokehead falls on his
ass after I "accidentally" spill a jar of applesauce on the floor (of the grocery stores I *never*
stopped shopping in)!

-Kenny

--
Kenneth R. Crudup Sr. SW Engineer, Scott County Consulting, Los Angeles
H: 3630 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #138, L.A., CA 90034-6809 (310) 391-1898
I: 26601 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302-1959 (818) 444-3685

 

I was there, here's a good account of what happened written by someone on the LA Critical mass list:

Well... another police incident afflicted tonight's mass. I believe this
is the 5th or 6th time that I can remember. Not as bad as the Democratic
National Convention (71 arrests that time) and not as mild as when the
black and white pulls over and asks "who's in charge here?".

We had about 50-60 rides - a pretty good size for a January Mass in
LA. Folks wanted to go by Vons in support of the striking grocery
workers. First stop was the Vons at Sunset/Virgil/Hollywood. Initially we
toured the parking lot, shouting in solidarity, then some cyclists rode
into the store, cruised around and departed without incident.

We worked our way down to Vons at 3rd and Vermont, which appeared somewhat
ready for us - scab workers lined up at the doors. We clogged their
parking lot and hung out, then took off for Pavilions at Melrose and
Vine. The place was relatively deserted. Bikes cruised into the store. I
think more folks went in this time, emboldened by the example at the first
site - some folks who had been hesitant at first tried it this time. (This
cautious scribe waited outside at both sites.) The Pavilions manager
decided to have the doors locked. 4 bicyclists were caught inside, along
with some scab shoppers - hence Mass was able to shut down the store! We
banged on the door, shouted loudly, trying to get our fellow riders
free. Then the LAPD showed up.

Turns out that three of the four trapped riders were able to split the
store via an emergency exit in the back of a stockroom in the back of the
store. The last rider obeyed the manager's shouted order not to enter the
stockroom. By this time another couple police cars showed up - I think a
total of 4 or 5 - daunting, but not overwhelming force. A lone TV camera
showed up. I kept my eyes on the exits in the fence around the parking lot
(glad to see a few pedestrian openings that would make excellent bike exit
points).

The last rider told us that she was released without a ticket - that she
had talked her way out. The bicyclists were still milling around when the
manager, a slender blonde woman, continued to point out and somehow
identify specific bicyclists. Police approached one group of cyclists,
which scattered. Then a group of around 8-10 police officers on foot
approached a bicyclist on foot who had taken up striking worker picket
signs. The police handcuffed the tall, bespectacled cyclist, and
ultimately took him away in a black and white. Those of us remaining took
up a collection for bail for the arrested cyclist. We then departed, some
going to the police station, some out for dinner and drinks, some heading home.