June 3, 2020 /
bikinginla / Comments Off on Bike industry dips toe into racial justice, bike shops looted across US, and lucky Sacramento bike rider just misses crash
Meanwhile, LA’s I. Martin lost $130,000 worth of bikes and gear, a number that could have been higher if they hadn’t sold off much of their inventory while the shop was closed due to the coronavirus; owner Martin Wolff joined with community members to fight off the looters.
June 1, 2020 /
bikinginla / Comments Off on LA/SaMo bike shops looted in aftermath of Floyd protests, some fine bikes on both sides, and more celebs on bikes
The rumors drifted in late Saturday night, carried on the acrid smoke from burning buildings.
By morning, they were confirmed.
On a night when we could smell the smoke from the fires on TV, and social media was filled with looters in LA’s normally sedate and formerly kosher Fairfax District, fears grew that local bike shops may have been among the victims.
Along with anyone who may have left their bikes with them for service.
Because it wasn’t just the shoe stores, computer stores, Whole Foods and Nordstrom that got looted.
It was bike shops like Spokes ‘N Stuff, I. Martin and later, Santa Monica’s REI.
My Sunday with a pair of emailed photos, above and below, that hit like a punch in the gut, revealing the front gates ripped off Spokes ‘N Stuff, with anything of value gone.
He’s had his store on Melrose for 20 years. It stayed open during the pandemic because it was considered an essential business. But, now, he estimates his losses from one night of looting could total $100,000.
“They not only took my bikes, they took customers’ bikes as well,” he said.
The owners of I. Martin could probably cite a similar figure.
I’m told looters broke in through the back door and emptied the bike shop in a matter of minutes.
Although in their case, the shop had been closed since March, so hopefully there were no customer’s bicycles still inside.
Then Sunday afternoon, as people peacefully protested near Santa Monica’s Tongva Park, looters were busting into businesses just a few blocks away.
REI seemed to be saved when some of the legitimate protesters stood in front of the store to turn looters away.
As looting takes place in Santa Monica on Sunday, a couple of protesters put their lives in danger by standing in front of the REI store to stop the ransacking. More info: https://t.co/f5veEdZl6ppic.twitter.com/eqRgBduFCf
Presumably, the store’s bikes went out the door, as well; it’s not clear if REI was open for service or if any bikes belonging to customers were inside.
It’s also not clear when, or if, these stores will reopen.
Just like hundreds of other businesses, owned by major corporations and individual, often immigrant, proprietors through this troubled city.
………
Needless to say, bicycling took a back seat to the protests for many people across the US this weekend.
Apparently forgetting what started the protests to begin with, a Seattle bike cop puts a protester in a chokehold after attempting, and failing, to squeeze by on his right on a sidewalk.
Same thing happens a few blocks later. Bike cop tries to pass a marcher on his right with nowhere near enough room. Marcher inevitably makes contact and the officer puts him in a headlock pic.twitter.com/5aZ4jKweyW
Turns out John Cusack is one of us, too. His bike took a beating from Chicago cops during the protests over the death of George Floyd, even if he didn’t.
And even if you can only hear it on the video.
Cops didn’t like me filming the burning car so they came at me with batons. Hitting my bike. Ahhm herea the audio pic.twitter.com/tfaOoVCw5v
This is who we share the roads with. A Denver driver responds to a protester jumping on the hood of his car by intentionally trying to run him down. Thanks to Robert Leone for the tip.
Cycle chic is reinvented Down Under as CLOB — Chic Lady on a Bike — as “cute” 1950’s inspired bikes fly out the door. Unlike LA, where bikes are flying out of doors and windows that are supposed to be locked.