The weaponisation of bicycles...is it a big deal?

[fat and old]

So Fuji has pulled the supply of bicycles to some Police forces in America, and Trek is expected to. Because the Police used them as "weapons".

Why are cycle manufacturers holding themselves to a different standard than that of the car manufacturers that supply the same Police forces?

Is it as simple as extrapolating the behaviour of everyday drivers vs everyday riders into a corporate identity? I ride a bike therefore I care. I manufacture a bike therefore I care?

[eldavo]

Free spot in the media they wouldn't get that level of impressions of their brand otherwise.

Trek marketing caught out being asked why they didn't come up with it, so are taking consolation second place of "ditto".

Remembering none of this is new, so should measure genuine sentiment against their actions between the original #icantbreathe to now.

[biker jk]

I think the makers of "Boris" bikes, Pashley Cycles, will be praised as their bikes were used as weapons by the protesters (against the police horses).

[Gee]

I think the makers of "Boris" bikes, Pashley Cycles, will be praised as their bikes were used as weapons by the protesters (against the police horses).

Or thought of poorly as they were used to aid cruelty to animals

[biker jk]

I think the makers of "Boris" bikes, Pashley Cycles, will be praised as their bikes were used as weapons by the protesters (against the police horses).

Or thought of poorly as they were used to aid cruelty to animals

But the horses were fascists.

[find_bruce]

People are strong enough to lift a Boris bike?

[biker jk]

People are strong enough to lift a Boris bike?

Don't know because they were propelled on their wheels so their hefty weight served to cause more damage.

[familyguy]

So Fuji has pulled the supply of bicycles to some Police forces in America, and Trek is expected to. Because the Police used them as "weapons".

Why are cycle manufacturers holding themselves to a different standard than that of the car manufacturers that supply the same Police forces?

Is it as simple as extrapolating the behaviour of everyday drivers vs everyday riders into a corporate identity? I ride a bike therefore I care. I manufacture a bike therefore I care?

Anything can become a weapon when you need one in a hurry. Quite a few loud commenters on the Fuji FB post regarding this saying "I'm selling mine tomorrow!" (almost all white men, I noticed). Trek were a little tone-deaf with their response, but someone out there is always going to supply them with equipment. It's capitalism, after all. I believe the cars are a different matter, given the dollars they're buying them for, anyone who has a contract for supply is unlikely to give that up, even under duress of "we wont buy your cars". Nobody is boycotting the maker of the Bearcat becuase they're a specialised equipment builder.

If you supply items to someone based on an understanding, and that understanding is then adjusted for whatever reason, I suppose you can withdraw and deal wtih the contract/social costs if you want to. That's the market. I personally think Trek will go back, just supplying unbadged bikes. Hillbrick built/supplied bikes for NSWPol for a while, unsure if they still do. They're not branded though, like the Trek and Fuji stuff is.

Jim

[g-boaf]

So Fuji has pulled the supply of bicycles to some Police forces in America, and Trek is expected to. Because the Police used them as "weapons".

Why are cycle manufacturers holding themselves to a different standard than that of the car manufacturers that supply the same Police forces?

Is it as simple as extrapolating the behaviour of everyday drivers vs everyday riders into a corporate identity? I ride a bike therefore I care. I manufacture a bike therefore I care?

Anything can become a weapon when you need one in a hurry. Quite a few loud commenters on the Fuji FB post regarding this saying "I'm selling mine tomorrow!" (almost all white men, I noticed). Trek were a little tone-deaf with their response, but someone out there is always going to supply them with equipment. It's capitalism, after all. I believe the cars are a different matter, given the dollars they're buying them for, anyone who has a contract for supply is unlikely to give that up, even under duress of "we wont buy your cars". Nobody is boycotting the maker of the Bearcat becuase they're a specialised equipment builder.

If you supply items to someone based on an understanding, and that understanding is then adjusted for whatever reason, I suppose you can withdraw and deal wtih the contract/social costs if you want to. That's the market. I personally think Trek will go back, just supplying unbadged bikes. Hillbrick built/supplied bikes for NSWPol for a while, unsure if they still do. They're not branded though, like the Trek and Fuji stuff is.

Jim

It's all getting very stupid.

I'm struggling to see how this is related to advocacy to improve cycling or the safety of cycling. Seems more political or the left-v-right...

[familyguy]

To that end, you're right. And that's getting into the other issue of proper (and more indepth) training.

[fat and old]

It's all getting very stupid.

I'm struggling to see how this is related to advocacy to improve cycling or the safety of cycling. Seems more political or the left-v-right...

Stupid? Maybe. Depending on who you are I guess.

The connection I drew was the seeming ease that the cycle manufacturers had with taking action compared to vehicle manufacturers. The old car vs bikes argument. It seems that Opik has it right with some of his cartoons.

On the political side of this issue? I have no leanings. Everyone is racist to some degree. Some more than others. For me it's what you do to mitigate or restrain yourself that counts. Left or right makes no difference to this. Every single person has some sort of implicit bias towards others.

[g-boaf]

It's all getting very stupid.

I'm struggling to see how this is related to advocacy to improve cycling or the safety of cycling. Seems more political or the left-v-right...

Stupid? Maybe. Depending on who you are I guess.

The connection I drew was the seeming ease that the cycle manufacturers had with taking action compared to vehicle manufacturers. The old car vs bikes argument. It seems that Opik has it right with some of his cartoons.

On the political side of this issue? I have no leanings. Everyone is racist to some degree. Some more than others. For me it's what you do to mitigate or restrain yourself that counts. Left or right makes no difference to this. Every single person has some sort of implicit bias towards others.

When cycling and bikes becomes a battle of the left and right, then it is time to ban cycling totally.

[Peter A]

The weaponisation of bicycles.......

Depends on the calibre of the rider