Thread.

Bikes have taken on a weird prominence in this city in ways that far surpass them being about active transportation or even climate change. They’re fetishized the way cars once were which is how you know it’s same class & whiteness dominating... https://twitter.com/builtjustice/status/1301357679391121408

They’re used as a morality test to shame others with. But perhaps the most violent and offensive way they are invoked is watching so called progressives discard every mask or pretence of concern for inequity & human rights & human lives over bike thefts.

The most hostile responses I’ve gotten on here have been from bike folks but one in particular saddened me more than angered me. A long time mutual went off using dehumanizing language about pepole who use drugs & law & order stuff because a woman he knew had her bike stolen.

I understand frustration. You really have no idea of my life but trust me I have a grasp of what one feels when far worse wrongs happen and people get away with it. But these are bikes. And we are talking about non violent crimes of desperation. Literally desperation.

I understand desperation and I also understand that most of you have your cause and effect wrong. You think people’s lives fall apart because of ‘bad choices’ - in your opinion. I’m not sharing my life story but I made all the ‘right’ ones & look where I am?

You really have no clue all that holds you in the place you think you earned. Without those things - that family, those people with stable incomes & housing when you don’t have any - it evaporates and you fall. You fall hard and fast. And you get back up and fall and get back up

And fall and sometimes there is no back up - the way is blocked, too many barriers and you’re flashlight is burnt out and...you don’t know people’s trauma past or present. But I promise you it’s worse than a stolen bike. I promise you they lost more than you.

Ok I wasn’t going to include these but since I’ve already been told I should be ashamed my thread and I’ve been beat up enough today thanks. As usual I have receipts

There’s more. But I’m too tired. I’ll do alt text later sorry.