Cyclists ride thru store and parking lot, play music, drink beer, smoke pot

[Liberal_in_LA]

LAPD threatens to arrest cyclists after incident at Ralphs parking lot

September 22, 2010 | 6:13 pm

Los Angeles officials vowed to arrest and prosecute cyclists for incidents like the one Friday night in which hundreds of riders swarmed a Ralphs parking lot and broke out beer and marijuana, with some riding into the store and through the aisles.

Participants would be cited for violating traffic rules that endanger motorists or pedestrians, said Cmdr. Andy Smith. Those who engaged in violence would be immediately arrested.

The warning during a news conference at the downtown LAPD headquarters comes ahead of a mass ride scheduled for Friday and is aimed at protecting the rights not only of cyclists but also of those who share the roads and sidewalks with them.

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Smith said Wednesday that it was important to remind participants in mass bike rides that they must obey the law and respect others' rights. Increasing numbers of cyclists appear to have been ignoring that warning during recent rides, he said.

Last Friday in Venice a group calling itself "crank mob" broke away from the main body of 600-800 riders and swarmed a Ralphs parking lot on Lincoln Boulevard.

During the impromptu party, deejays began playing music as some in the crowd began drinking beer and smoking marijuana, Smith said. About a half dozen broke off and rode into the store.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/lapd-warns-cyclists-against-criminal-behavior-during-mass-rides.html

[DBoon]

1. Somehow I knew this had to be Venice

maybe Hollywood, but most likely Venice

Party on dudes

[The Midway Rebel]

2. Posers on their fixies. eom

[frylock]

4. yep..

get a derailleur, douche bags.

[nebenaube]

3. Police ride cycles through store, drink beer and smoke pot

This is a anti-prop 19 direct action by the police. For background about the group; see: http://criticalmasssucks.com/CriticalMassSucks/So,_what_is_Critical_Mass.html

The book has received only scant attention outside of Minnesota since first being published in June of 2009. But now-retired officer Richard Greelis from the Bloomington Police Department near Minneapolis reveals that local authorities quarreled over who would get to plant informants in political-protest groups, created their own activist organization with an “appropriately provocative name” and laughed about getting paid to participate in a monthly demonstration bike ride known as Critical Mass that encourages alternative transportation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8318697

[frylock]

5. crap. just realized that this is the last friday of the month..

was gonna take the 29er for a peddle to pt loma for some fish and beer, but spanish landing park will be full of these dumbnuts.