There is nothing that sexy ladies in tube dresses on bicycles cannot accomplish. Go ahead, prove me wrong.

There is nothing that sexy ladies in tube dresses on bicycles cannot accomplish. Go ahead, prove me wrong.

There is nothing that sexy ladies in tube dresses on bicycles cannot accomplish. Go ahead, prove me wrong.

k... your new comments thing is busted

And there was I, thinking you just really liked that tube top...

There is nothing that impatiently clicking "Post" more than once cannot accomplish. Go ahead, prove me wrong.

That's from the "Sexy Hipsters 1" clip art pack, isn't it?

Nearly: I won't tell you what I typed into "Google image search" to get it.

Funny to get scooped on an interview I was actually a part of. Glad you're staying on top of this Matt.

I have now published more from my talk with John Canda.

It's exciting. Let us know how it unfolds...

no fair bix... the form was posting into a different window that was behind this one

If you really think this is just about bikes then go ahead and keep on operating in your delusional world.

Talking about race is a scarey and difficult thing to do but we need to do it here in Portland and in this country.

There are real race problems in inner North/NE that are perpetrated in both directions. As a resident of the area I can tell you that when young black youths gather in groups of three or more they tend to get louder and more intimidating and act out more. They try to push the envelope but I happen to be a decent sized younger guy so they tend to leave me alone.

By accident I came upon on of those flash mob NE gatherings and it was NOT a pretty sight. The worst actors bringing out the worst in others who normally wouldn't behave that way.

At the same time they have a legitimate right to be pissed that their neighborhood has been run over by hipsters who enjoy "slumming it" to "keep it real".

Again this has nothing to do with Bikes or cyclists. These two woman were just convenient targets and the longer you choose to ignore it in the guise of trying to be PC the worse it is going to get.

The attackers were black. The victims were hipster whites. Let's start there and have an honest discussion about what the hell is happening in inner NE/North
Portland.

Jeremy, I think that's what Jonathan is trying to do, without being inflammatory.

There's a difference between being "politically correct" and allowing racist nutters to write what they like on your bicycle blog, right?

Jeremy,

I agree with you...this is not just about bikes.

I am making a deliberate choice to not talk about race directly because it's nearly impossible to have a constructive electronic dialogue about such a complex and heated issue.

Instead, I'm trying to promote some community building measures (bike patrols) that will, in the end, deal with the racism in an indirect way.

We all have legitimate reasons to be pissed. We can either stay pissed and rant online or we can get involved in our neighborhoods and be part of a solution (or at least try).

Okay fair enough and I wish you well in your endeavor I just hope you get to the heart of the problem.

Crazy ranting racists are never going to show up in person anyway. The thrive like cockroaches in the dark anonymity of the night that is the internet.

Why not start an inperson dialogue that gets directly to the heart of the matter? Crazy fuckers need not apply.

And to be honest hipsters and roving gangs of violent black youth piss me off in equal measures. I hate em all! ;)

Jeez, once again white racial guilt seems to paralyze us. If we are sure the attack had racial overtones, we can't have citizens of whatever color attacking citizens of another color, black on white or white on black. This has to be pursued as a full-on police investigation. I'm sure the black population at large, who are trying to improve their lot overall, don't want behavior like this associated with their community. Let's not forget: plenty of crime is black on black.

I agree with Lee. And think about it this way: It's a lot like rape. You know how rapists use sex but rape isn't about sex, it's about power? One successful rape emboldens the rapist and more rapes result. Similarly, this may appear to be about race but it's really about power. If we let these instigators experience racial intimidation as a successful behavior, we can expect more. Much more.

If we let these instigators experience racial intimidation as a successful behavior, we can expect more. Much more.

Exactly.
Never thought you'd miss the ESWP did ya?