Across the USA on July 27, cyclists reclaiming the streets in "Critical Mass" rides were met by police harassment.

Although "Critical Mass" bike rides are not a novel occurrence in many localities, July's riders experienced a growing intolerance on the part of the authorities and automobile drivers for this mode of transportation.

On the last Friday of the month, cyclists take to the streets en masse to challenge the car culture that dominates our roadways today. Rides occur throughout the world, including monthly rides in Madison.

Critical Mass rides in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Portland, and Atlanta experienced police harassment including tickets, arrests, pepper spray, blockades, and other threats.

In Milwaukee, the ride was divided by police, and one individual was reportedly arrested and pepper-sprayed. Other minor physical confrontations with police also occurred.

In Minneapolis, a ride in an Uptown neighborhood was ended when police cruisers blocked the group at an intersection. Officers on foot then proceeded to tackle and pepper-spray riders. At one point, an officer was seen to unclip his handgun.

Onlookers decried the police brutality, and several, including one small child, got caught in the pepper-spray cloud the cops created. More accounts may be found here and here.

In Atlanta, two riders were arrested as their Critical Mass ride was nearing its completion. All riders were threatened by officers with the approach on transport vans.

In Portland, a Critical Mass ride commemorating the death of a cyclist hit by an automobile was repeatedly stopped by police, who, while blocking traffic, arrested multiple riders and several others.

Meanwhile, in Urbana, IL, a ride was harassed by motorists, something that is all too familiar in Madison.

www.critical-mass.org