Hundreds of bicyclists flowed down Broadway on Saturday around 7 p.m., stretching for several blocks and chanting “Black Lives Matter,” “No Justice No Peace” and other statements as they rode.
Gretchen Berger took the photos above and below.
Impressive bike ride southbound on Broadway, at least 10 minutes more after this video ends @westsiderag pic.twitter.com/HB5zMhWDzZ
— GrandWaz00 (@GrandWaz00) June 20, 2020
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But they’re all white
Pointing out that all of the riders are white is beside the point.
Racism will continue to exist, even in New York City, if you consider it someone else’s problem, or something other people should protest about.
Not true. All colors, shapes, ages. Unified
The photo shows about a dozen riders. Elsewhere there is likely a dozen Hispanic riders, a dozen Indian riders, a dozen Back riders, a dozen Asian riders.
Breathe deeply.
“a dozen back riders”
Ummm…
1. riding on their backs?;😳
2. riding on each others’ backs??;😳😳
3. riding backwards???😳😳😳
Please remember: Write ONCE; Proofread TWICE !!!
(certified FEWer-than-100-words)
Gee — I hope they stopped at all the
red lights.
Menace to society – bike riders in NYC.
They were not stopping for traffic lights, and hence, causing traffic jam where I was on the sidewalk observing, near bow-tie intersection of B’way, Columbus Ave. and 65th St. At most other intersections, it didn’t really matter ’cause vehicular traffic was sparse.
My son was one of the riders. He is putting himself out there to take a stand. Your comments from the comfort of your judgmental couch are not warranted here. Take your negativity elsewhere or leave the city
My original question still stands:
Did they stop at the red lights?
And…I will leave the city I was born in and lived in my entire life, right here on the UWS, a day after you will.
They stopped at just as many red lights as walking protests do.
I did too, and I am probably older. But who cares? The moment you choose to live in NYC you are a New Yorker. If you want to leave, do so. I won’t. The UWS is the ultimate expression of what America is. I love it and I love this aspect of our neighborhood.
Absolutely right. These are good people looking out for what might make our city better.
How sad and divisive is your comment. Small minded really.
This was a beautiful protest, and perfect for the time. It was far larger than “hundreds” I timed it at 25 minutes, and the average speed of about 10 mph. There were easily 6-8000 people riding. I just wish I had known about it. I’d have been right in the thick of it. Sitting in the Broadway median in the low 100s, we all got so excited and happy to see this, especially taking over the uptown side of the street. The whole point of a protest is disruption. Fabulous way to protest these days. Cover more of the city and keep a little further apart, and move fast, spread the message better. Just wonderful.
the ride started at times square organized by street riders nyc. looked like at least 15K at full strength
their insta account is https://www.instagram.com/streetridersnyc/
where they post the schedule of the bike protests.
The ride did NOT start at Times Square, there is no credible source regarding that. I’m at 70th and Amsterdam and they were coming from north of there. Hundreds and hundreds of them.
As one of the riders, the ride did indeed begin officially in Times Sq.
So pedestrians could not cross the street for 25 minutes because of the street outlaws?
Not true. I walked my mom through it and people slowed and moved over. She was so excited about it too, a good old Abby Hoffman, Friends, type from some time ago. Let’s keep this going! It’s time to yell and be vocal!
See my other post. Agree most were peaceful, but it was not beautiful to gloat at and taunt the drivers stuck at cross streets, and no way were there 6-8000. Somewhere around 3-500.
Facts: 25 minutes, most bikers going about 10 mph, about 5 per second going by. You have been through grade school algebra, so you can figure it out yourself. It’s a trivial calculation and if you had seen it, you would never suggest it was 300 people.
Get your facts straight before you are so quick to criticize. There were 10,000 riders. Duh
Yup, easily. This clearly was about 3 to 4 miles long. It was magnificent!
There were a few hundred, largely peaceful, and almost totally white. But crosstown streets were blocked as drivers could not cross Broadway and I saw the protestors curse at the waiting drivers and give them the middle finger. Sorry, but that does not gain my sympathy. I’m all for peaceful and legal protest but it is time for police to exert some control. As passionate as the protestors may be about their cause, and I don’t disagree, they have no right to continue to obstruct traffic. And no, that is not first amendment protected behavior.
I live on the corner of 68th and B’way and traffic going west was directly below my windows. The first car in line, with his right blinker on, was patiently waiting for the bikers to pass. Some behind him were trying to maneuver around him. At least one just double-parked and went to the cash machine on the corner. Practically no one started honking until they’d waited at least 10 minutes.
I agree.
Author writes “hundreds”, but there were 10,000 riders.
” The whole point of a protest is disruption”.
Ever thought of the people who are not joining these parades?
Maybe they have a life outside of marching
in protest?
Disruption – such a gentle word Ms. Becky.
If it was the other way around, you’d be protesting the protesters.
But that is the whole point. What’s the point of a protest that doesn’t disrupt or catch the attention of anyone? Nothing. Good that people got stuck. Civil disobedience is the most effective way to protest, or have you never heard of a protest before? The UWS has a very long and magnificent history of this, far longer than most of the rest of the city. Be proud that people are making their voices heard.
Yes! I saw them all yesterday going north on 3rd Avenue. As stated, it went on for about 25 minutes. Inspiring to see!!
This BLM protest was huge. Went past by me for 10 or 15 min. Bravo! Let’s keep it up! I’ll be out there with you next time!
Thanks to all the bicyclists supporting Black Lives Matter. In solidarity.
This magnificent, peaceful event wound up on Ninth Avenue and 42nd Street, where cyclists
turned west. It would be great to get an accurate count but from our terrace, watching wave after wave of cyclists, it seemed more like thousands than hundreds! Thanks to all – including the NYPD who kept the route traffic free all the way – for this deeply profound, New York City statement.
Enough already
What’s enough? Equality for a few isn’t equality. What are you tired of?
I watched them on Broadway in the 90s for 20 minutes and computed there were about 10,000. The cross street crossings were not managed well, but otherwise their spacing and speed were good, and most were wearing masks. The end was followed by a police car. Since at the beginning they were going down both the uptown and downtown lanes, there must have been police at the front, as well. They were mostly, but not all, white and shouting Black Lives Matter! I thought it was a great show of support.
I couldn’t agree more!
I was one of the riders that went from Times Square to the end and this experience was one of the best and most impactful in my life. The amount of people, city workers, firemen, MTA bus drivers, random city workers cheering us, people cheering and banging pots from windows, was really inspiring. And I agree with other posters – we’re able to cover more ground, be more visible, and also be safe in terms of distancing and the police through these rides. Black Lives Matter.
When is the next one? I want to join!
For at least decades now, police– under the direction of Mayors such as Giuliani and Bloomberg– have saved more black lives than perhaps anyone else.
See, e.g., The Myth of Systemic Police Racism and other works by the redoubtable Heather Mac Donald.