This was a Critical Mass event, which is why the bicyclists are taking up all of the street as a way to reclaim the streets and protest the lack of safety for riders under usual conditions. It’s not legal, but protests are never useful if they’re fully legal now, are they.

  • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    19 hours ago

    Ah yes, the inevitable “protests should only happen when it’s convenient for everyone and 100% approved by the authorities” comment.

    • Robust Mirror@aussie.zone
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      18 hours ago

      No but how about do this but only in the proper lane? You’re still causing attention/inconvenience, but it’s a lot less likely someone is going to mow you down from behind over driving slowly behind you, versus riding directly into oncoming traffic.

      • WoodScientist@sh.itjust.works
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        17 hours ago

        Use your brain for two seconds. Don’t you think they already tried what you’re suggesting? If you were planning a bike protest, wouldn’t you only go down one side of the lane? Well, it turns out, the people running this already tried that years ago, and they found that blocking both lanes is the only way to do this safely. Otherwise asshole drivers will try to “just slip past” by doing things like taking left turns. Parades take up all lanes on a road for a damn good reason.

        Your idea was already tried and found not to work.

        • Robust Mirror@aussie.zone
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          17 hours ago

          Parades close down the street with barricades/detours and such so cars don’t have the option to dangerously drive at them.

    • Narauko@lemmy.world
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      16 hours ago

      Yeah, but this is a little like protesting against gun violence by juggling loaded handguns and putting everything on the safeties working perfectly. You don’t protest an unsafe amusement park by going on the unsafe rides standing up.

      Point being, most people would probably not want to serve as the example of what not to do. Most rules/regulations are written in blood, but most people aren’t volunteering to be the ink to pen those regulations.