Mother Of Teen In Citi Bike Video Speaks Out: 'No One Bothered To Ask Him What Happened'

[BlueLucy]

Time stamped receipts and more... There are people here on DU that called this young man a liar and a thief.



The impact of all of this on a 17-year-old Black boy in America
“I can’t say that all of this is not affecting me,” Michael said.

“At first, I felt supported. It was like I went through this thing, people saw the video of it, and they were supporting me,” he said.

But all that changed when Marino put his statement out in the media.

“When those receipts got released, everything flipped,” Michael said. “People started calling me a ‘thief,’ a ‘thug,’ and a ‘Black man.’

“It’s definitely having an effect on me,” he continued. “It’s just like, ‘wow. This is crazy.’”

Michael added: “She did something wrong, and she basically got rewarded for it. She’s made over $100,000 on a GoFundMe. She got all the white conservatives on her side. Everyone who was on my side has just kind of stayed silent.”



https://newsone.com/4592993/sarah-jane-comrie-update-citi-bike-teens-mother-speaks-out/

[BlueLucy]

2. They are immigrants, they're scared. They say so

Are you saying his receipts are fake? That's the hill you want to die on? The black kid receipts are fake?

[BlueLucy]

8. His family are immigrants. They don't know the system here and are scared

also, she is the one who put those young men's life in jeopardy.

[LisaL]

16. Maybe somebody should explain to him and his friends that

they don't own the rental bikes once they returned them, if he can't figure it out on his own.
Other people are free to rent the bikes once the bikes are returned.
They don't get to hog the bikes for free for their future rides.
Somebody should also explain to them that physically preventing a woman from leaving when she wants to leave could be considered kidnapping.
She could have pressed charges.
I still don't know why she didn't.

[IbogaProject]

126. That was an electric vehicle which is car jacking

They are trying to cover up the scam he attempted.

[live love laugh]

130. How could they carjack when it's not a car?

IbogaProject (1,830 posts)
126. That was an electric vehicle which is car jacking They are trying to cover up the scam he attempted.

[IbogaProject]

262. Trying to over take a driver of a motorized vehicle

I'm exaggerating but that is what this group of 5 teenagers, the one kid was 17, were doing. They were loitering waiting for a victim. I wonder how many times pushing their way on or just hogging ready to rent bikes it took for their scam to work?

[live love laugh]

127. What grounds did she have for pressing charges?

16. Maybe somebody should explain to him and his friends that they don't own the rental bikes once they returned them, if he can't figure it out on his own. Other people are free to rent the bikes once the bikes are returned. They don't get to hog the bikes for free for their future rides. Somebody should also explain to them that physically preventing a woman from leaving when she wants to leave could be considered kidnapping. She could have pressed charges. I still don't know why she didn't.

[IbogaProject]

297. Yep

And the fact there are no willing attorneys ready to take this on contingency says that this is at least a complicated story if not outright fake story. I hope attorney Ben Crump faces discipline for posting this video on twitter with out having been retained or really knowing the story.

[obamanut2012]

31. Omg she is the one who has gotten death threara

She did not put him in any danger. Lol

[BlueLucy]

41. You do know police shoot and kill black men don't you?

She was screaming at the top of her lungs HELP, HELP, MY FETUS. Yes, she could have gotten those young men killed.

[treestar]

67. If you think like that it follows that

no one, not even a black person, can stop a black man from committing a crime against them? That's how you want it to be?

[Solomon]

42. Bwaahaa!! You believe that?! Who the fuck has been giving her death threats?!

You've been living here in America and seen the constant police harassment of black people based on complaints from white people and you really believe she didn't put those boys at risk?

You all jumped to the wrong fucking conclusion based upon the lawyer producing a "receipt" and now you can't back away from the position you took to the point where you won't even admit that what she did put those kids in danger.

He was in possession of the bike and there were plenty of other bikes there.

[LisaL]

44. Her lawyer provided a receipt showing she was a legal owner of the bike.

His receipt proves the same thing. He returned the bike five minutes before she rented it.
Once you return a rental bike, you are not in a possession of it. It's not yours.
You are not paying for it. You are not entitled to it.
It's free for other people to rent.

[Ace Rothstein]

62. He put himself at risk with his anti-social behavior.

[Solomon]

66. Ha ha! You guys are hilarious. What antisocial behavior did he exhibit?

He was reserved and polite in the video. He had the demeanor of an adult. She was being a privileged brat.

[treestar]

68. then he'd have backed off

and gone to rent another bike.

[live love laugh]

180. Why didn't she back off. She was aggressive.

… she walked up to him and said can I please have this bike? He said no I'm about to take it back out. She then told him I'm pregnant can you help a pregnant woman out. Michael said I'm sorry ma'am I've ridden this bike all the way from the Bronx and I need this bike to get home … that's when Sarah moved closer, leaned over him and scanned the QR code with their phone even as he had his hands on the handlebars.

Her attorney made a point that no individuals were touching and claimed as she backed up from the docking station, a group of five people approached her and claimed the bike was theirs -- painting a picture of her being surrounded and them being thieves.

He had his hands on the bike. She pushed her way onto the bike and attempted to remove it from the docking station. …That's when the boys started recording because she started making a scene. But during the back and forth the bike redocks. He enters it back into his account she sees this. How does she respond ? She snatches his phone out of his hand, the only actual attempted theft featured in the video.

Asking if she could use the bike acknowledges that it was in his possession that he was standing with it. Her leaning across scanning it anyway is an entitled move.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17946536

[treestar]

226. You're bringing in claims as to things not recorded on the video.

How do we believe that?

[Ace Rothstein]

70. Trying to keep a bike that didn't belong to him.

That's some privilege.

[Ms. Toad]

199. I agree she put the boys at risk.

BUT - the boys were also behaving badly.

By their own admission, they were gaming the CitiBike system.

CitiBike raises the rates on bikes after 45 minutes. The boy's receipts show he was in possession of the bike from 5:53 to 7:19, well more than 45 minutes.

Their story is that they stopped and docked periodically to avoid a rate increase. They are not entitled to maintain possession of a bike while docked in order to avoid rate increases.

All of the boys but one were straddling "their" bikes for 5 minutes to prevent anyone else from renting the bikes they no longer had any right to. (According to them, she asked each in turn to check out the bike.) The bike she checked out was the only one not being straddled by one of the boys - he was merely near and holding on to the handlebars.

None of the boys had any right to a docked bike. Period. Had they docked and checked out again immediately, the bike would have been theirs. But they were trying to maximize the amount of time before they docked again.

As to there being plenty of other bikes there - from the boys' description the bikes in question were the less common ebikes (which they often have to search to find). I haven't seen any indication whether the other bikes available were ebikes or regular ones. If they were regular ones, it explains both why the boys were so intent on hanging on to them - and why she didn't just choose another bike.

Bottom line - the boys were behaving badly and insisting on possession of bikes they had no right to possess - but (if their story is accurate), her response was disproportionate and put them at risk.

If her story (as to what happened ahead of the video) - that they approached her to take the bike she had just taken rented and took possession of is accurate - even if it put them in danger, it was appropriate

[yardwork]

255. I disagree that her behavior put them in danger.

This is quite different from someone calling 911 and misreporting a situation.

I think she was scared and tired and frustrated because they were grabbing at her bike, reaching across her, calling her bitch, and filming her. I think she felt swarmed. I don't know how I would react in such a situation. It is easy to criticize her but we weren't there.

[Ms. Toad]

310. In this day and age, a white woman yelling for help

from a group of nearly adult (17 year old) black males puts them in danger. Whether from someone else calling 911 and pulling police into the situation - or crowd members who act to protect the white woman from the "swarm" of black nearly adult teens.

That isn't to say it is never appropriate for her to react as she did. Whether it was appropriate in this situation, from my perspective, depends on what happened before the video started. The two tell very different stories and, in one instance, her reaction (from my perspective) is justified - in another I don't believe it was.

At the moment, I tend to believe the boys were already straddling the bikes and she approached them. She had every right to, because they no longer had a right to possess the bikes. She had every right to rent the bike she did. And they had no right to stop her. But that feels very different to me than her renting a bike and the boys aproaching (swarming) her to prevent her leaving.

[yardwork]

313. I don't see a lot of people rushing to defend white women.

I just don't. For instance, lots of people here on supposedly progressive DU are calling this woman all kinds of names and steadfastly refusing to acknowledge she had any rights at all.

Police brutality is real, systemic racism is real, and too many Black people are killed by police.

I can't think of any recent instances where a Black man has been killed because a woman, white or otherwise, called for help. This used to be an excuse for lynching Black men, I'm well aware. But it was always an excuse, a manufactured reason. When is there an instance in real time of a woman being rescued?

In fact, Black women and Black children are frequent targets of police shootings.

Please consider this. Who actually defends women?

[Ms. Toad]

316. Certainly you are not suggesting that racism doesn't exist,

and that black teens (especially older ones) are not disproportionately blamed for disturbances, and killed by police in response to minor incidents.

I just think that the response needs to be proportionate to the offense, especially when the offending party is a member of any group (including black men) which are disproportionately the targets of police or vigilante violence.

It may or may not have been proportionate in this instance, depending on which story (prior to the video starting) is accurate.

[live love laugh]

61. Five black witnesses and video but their word is disregarded

There were FIVE people together all renting bikes. They took pictures. They were witnesses. But the only story that’s been published disregards them and paints them as villains. This TikToker regularly publishes controversial stories like this. Here he offers more information. https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRE7M5BB/

The disinformation campaign launched by her and her attorney has made this young man collateral damage …. framing her as a victim. The … 17 year old … quite frankly acted more like an adult in that video than she did.

One of the questions … was why if he had it [the bike] for so long was it so little -- one said $0.37 and one said zero. Accusers were like if he had it for all this time why does it say no amount? I didn't know that … people who have the membership can ride for up to 45 minutes with no additional cost and the fee only starts after the 45 minutes. So, it's extremely common to ride 45 minutes then redock, take it back out and continue.

… the other question was why did she want his bike if there were other bikes available? There's two different types: Michael and his friends had the electric ones he said he looked for 20 minutes before he found the one he had which is why he didn't want to give it up because he was continuing to use it. …He and his friends docked their bikes and … were sitting … he was standing next with his hands on the handlebars and that's when she approached.

… she walked up to him and said can I please have this bike? He said no I'm about to take it back out. She then told him I'm pregnant can you help a pregnant woman out. Michael said I'm sorry ma'am I've ridden this bike all the way from the Bronx and I need this bike to get home … that's when Sarah moved closer, leaned over him and scanned the QR code with their phone even as he had his hands on the handlebars.

Her attorney made a point that no individuals were touching and claimed as she backed up from the docking station, a group of five people approached her and claimed the bike was theirs -- painting a picture of her being surrounded and them being thieves.

He had his hands on the bike. She pushed her way onto the bike and attempted to remove it from the docking station. …That's when the boys started recording because she started making a scene. But during the back and forth the bike redocks. He enters it back into his account she sees this. How does she respond ? She snatches his phone out of his hand, the only actual attempted theft featured in the video.

Asking if she could use the bike acknowledges that it was in his possession that he was standing with it. Her leaning across scanning it anyway is an entitled move.

Instead of owning that or just shutting up they literally hire PR firms to write op eds painting her as the victim and him as the person who victimized her and it worked based on stories like “woman and nurse who's pregnant gets slaughtered by the media” and “left wing cretins are race baiters.

When receipts of the boys and their account were posted, they were questioned. Hers were not -- her word is gospel. when they come back with a counterclaim it is not believed.

Her attorney says … “quite candidly we don't want charges for these individuals my client has no ill will for these individuals in fact she wishes them the best we think this is just a terrible mistake a misunderstanding we don't want the same scrutiny and misery that is applied to my client to go to these young men.”

… what he means to say is we don't want an investigation because that might reveal that their account of things doesn't add up.

This young man has not had a voice. He's had no one standing up for him and letting his side of this be heard. I will say this he and his family are absolutely setting up a go fund me when they do you better believe I will promote it …

[SickOfTheOnePct]

88. His hands on the bike

Him standing by it, are all irrelevant. Once he docked it, it was no longer his to hold - it was up for reservation and she reserved it.

[live love laugh]

99. It's not irrelevant when she snatched his phone away as he attempted to scan to rent.

[treestar]

103. at what point does she "snatch his phone away"

[live love laugh]

105. Watch the video I posted from TikTok

Star Member treestar (81,457 posts)
69. She looked surrounded

and panicked. What, you'd do nothing if that were you?

[treestar]

108. I saw it twice so far

a longer one the second time, and they are taunting her about crying such that it really looks like a set up.

You should watch it objectively.

[live love laugh]

111. Once again you deflect.

[treestar]

118. projection

once again, you're the one not answering an issue and just returning to your once again thing. Apparently you think an issue closed at a point you choose.

[live love laugh]

120. I am not easily distracted like many -- especially those on the other "side" -- are. I stick to one

issue and then I move on IF that issue is resolved. The unresolved issue is your claim that they surrounded the “victim.” You will not admit that’s a lie. Therefore, I will not “move on” as it’s not worth my time to engage with lies.

treestar (81,463 posts)
118. projection

once again, you're the one not answering an issue and just returning to your once again thing. Apparently you think an issue closed at a point you choose.

Star Member treestar (81,463 posts)
69. She looked surrounded and panicked. What, you'd do nothing if that were you?

[brooklynite]

131. They're not villians, but they WERE in the wrong...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17945416

[live love laugh]

135. Were they wrong or is there a loophole in the rental system?

[boston bean]

154. They knew what they were doing. Gaming the system to not have to pay.

They admit this. They ride for 45 mins free. Anything over 45 mins and they are charged.

So they ride for 45 mins or thereabouts and then dock for a bit and then they re-rent for another 45 mins free.

Problem is if someone reserves and rents the bike during their down time, the bike is NO LONGER theirs. It belongs to the person who reserved and rented it.

They were wrong. They lied in the video stating they were renting and paying for that particular bike.

Why, because the bike was the one they were riding prior and it was newer. They didn’t want an old clunker. They themselves state all of this. How are you missing these facts?

[live love laugh]

155. The "system" allows them to do that. It's not illegal.

[boston bean]

157. Did I say it was illegal?

No, they were using the system rules to not have to pay. Ok. Good for them.

Problem is once docked it is NOT their bike any longer.

Stop putting words in my mouth please.

[live love laugh]

158. "Gaming the system" implies illegality.

[boston bean]

161. My words are what they are.

They didn’t want to pay. They wanted to ride for free. fine and dandy. But they were not paying for or renting that bike like they claimed IN THE VIDEO they posted.

Their plan to ride that bike all day for free failed because someone else reserved and rented it.

They had no right to prevent her from leaving with that bike. PERIOD END OF STORY.

[live love laugh]

163. They didn't prevent her from leaving. Period.

boston bean (35,434 posts)
161. My words are what they are.

They didn’t want to pay. They wanted to ride for free. fine and dandy. But they were not paying for or renting that bike like they claimed IN THE VIDEO they posted. Their plan to ride that bike all day for free failed because someone else reserved and rented it. They had no right to prevent her from leaving with that bike. PERIOD END OF STORY.

[boston bean]

165. Yes, they did with what she had rented to ride.

Is this some big game you are playing here. It’s obtuse.

[live love laugh]

175. "Yes they did" what?

[live love laugh]

176. She was always free to leave if she believed she was in danger.

[boston bean]

182. She wanted to LEAVE WITH A BIKE THAT WAS RIGHTFULLY HERS.

She was prevented physically from doing so.

It was on them to retreat as they were in the wrong. As proven over and over and over.

They could have just as easily retreated and rented a different bike.

She was on the bike for Chris sakes.

[live love laugh]

183. Anybody who thinks they are in danger but won't leave if they are free to is crazy.

[boston bean]

185. She had no reason to retreat. She was being bullied and was taking a stand that the bike belonged to

Her. Which in fact it did belong to her.

How she responded to their actions, I believe was understandable.

Considering they were preventing her from taking a bike she had rented. I would have called for some help to, maybe to try to get them off my fucking back ,

[live love laugh]

186. When people are in danger they don't stay there. Was she surrounded and in danger or not?

[boston bean]

190. She needed help to get on about her way.

Goodness I would have also felt threatened, black white brown man or woman doing this. Quite bold action there, claiming you had rented the bike and were paying for it when in fact you were not, to bully this woman off the bike.

Their actions were out of control.

She rented the bike. It was hers to leave with.

[live love laugh]

191. Was she surrounded and in danger or not?

[boston bean]

194. I think she had reason to feel somewhat threatened as she was being prevented from leaving with an

purchased. She was at least threatened that she was not going to be able leave with something she paid for.

Do I think she felt fear for her life, probably not. But having something done to you can create fear n

[live love laugh]

196. You dishonestly conflate two things: the bike and her safety ... ESPECIALLY IF she is pregnant.

To put herself and her “fetus” in alleged danger by being “surrounded” -- when she surrounded herself approaching a group of teens -- is absurd.

Most sane people do not place themselves in or stay in dangerous situations. They leave because ... safety first -- as they say.

[yardwork]

228. Would you hand over a Hertz car you had just rented?

What would you do in this scenario?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217947621

[live love laugh]

229. I wouldn't assault anybody like she did that's for sure.

[yardwork]

231. She didn't assault anybody.

Arguably, they assaulted her by placing their hands on the bike she was assigned, not to mention surrounding and intimidating her.

How is she at fault?

[live love laugh]

232. Wrong.

Last edited Fri May 26, 2023, 04:29 PM - Edit history (1)

If you look at the video played on the news, the woman is aggressively invading the teen’s personal space. Standing right up on him, she repeatedly touches his arm. He keeps his hands on the handlebars. She then snatches his phone all the while screaming “help” and then mentions a fetus.

She is not surrounded. The other teens are sitting on either side on bikes at docking stations. Another stranger walks up, and she feigns tears. Receipts cannot account for the interruptive behavior. He could not re-rent the bike in time due to the assault.

Nobody with good intentions, or who is fearful for themselves or a fetus walks up to someone clearly already in possession of an item, invades their personal space, assaults THEM touching THEM and snatching their property.

I don’t care what kind of receipt she had. He was already on the bike in the process of renting the bike. He was interrupted and assaulted in the process.

In a world where police respond to and respect all, she should’ve been arrested.

[yardwork]

233. Please link the video you've seen because I didn't see any of that.

She was assigned a specific bike. He had no right to the bike at that point. I see a young man aggressively trying to claim property that had been assigned to somebody else.

How do you know her tears were feigned? How do you know how a person, who is tired and pregnant, should respond to a startling event?

[live love laugh]

234. I just googled and rewatched several videos again and again.

I never have a problem admitting when I am wrong. I am not arguing for the sake of arguing. I just stated exactly what I saw on the video. What do you see?

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-hospital-worker-yells-at-young-black-men-over-alleged-stolen-citi-bike-viral-video/4337081/

[yardwork]

237. I see a woman sitting on a bike.

I see a young man invading her space, with his hands on the bike. I hear her say "get off me!" He moves in closer. His arm is across her belly, grabbing at the bike. She says "You're hurting my fetus."

I see the video jump several times. I see her swatting his arm away. I see other young men surrounding her. It's not clear what's happening with the cell phone because the video has been edited and there are gaps.

I see her put her head in her hand and sob, seemingly in frustration. After another jump cut, she gets off. I hear another young man call her "bitch."

The voiceover reporting is outrageously biased. The reporter states that "we don't know what happened before..." but numerous voiceovers make strongly biased statements assuming fault on the part of the woman.

Try turning off the sound and watching. Remember she was assigned to this particular bike. She didn't choose it.

Check out my analogy: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217947621

[live love laugh]

238. News reader: "he never touches her"

Video: she repeatedly touches him and snatches his phone.

[yardwork]

246. It's not clear what happened with the phone because the video is edited.

In any case, he was invading her space. She was sitting on a bike she'd been assigned by the rental app. He tried to intimidate her into getting off. He was at fault. He should have rented another bike.

[live love laugh]

249. Where do you see him trying "to intimidate her"?

[yardwork]

251. He had his hands on the bike she was sitting on, that she had rented.

He kept telling her to get off. One of his friends called her a bitch. One of his friends was filming her.

He repeatedly reached across her body, grabbing at the far handlebar. She told him to get off her and he leaned over her, grabbing at the handlebars.

She was surrounded by five young men.

This is the definition of intimidation.

[live love laugh]

260. How did he intimidate her?

He kept telling her to get off.

Telling somebody to get off is not intimidation, it’s a statement.

One of his friends called her a bitch.

This is not him speaking to her then is it? It’s his friend. So you’re lying about intimidation ...

He repeatedly reached across her body, grabbing at the far handlebar.

Him steadily holding the handle bars on video I watched is not “repeatedly reached.” And when is reaching for a handlebar intimidation anyway?

She told him to get off her and he leaned over her, grabbing at the handlebars.

Lie. He didn’t lean over over. He continued to hold the handle bars.

She was surrounded by five young men.

Once again, you can’t tell how HE intimidates her as you claim so you have to grasp at straws to the lie of being “surrounded by five young men.”

This is the definition of intimidation.

Actual definition: intimidating | inˈtimidādiNG |adjective ... having a frightening, overawing, or threatening effect.

What frightening or threatening effect is there by steadily holding onto handle bars on a bicycle when somebody else is intimidating you by trying climbing onto while you are already on it?

[debm55]

309. Don't you think you are a little obsessed with this? maybe give it a rest for awhile. I hope you are

a woman because you come across as very sexist toward the PA.

[live love laugh]

268. Assault is NOT placing one's hands on a bike. L.O.L.

Star Member yardwork (56,666 posts)
231. She didn't assault anybody.

Arguably, they assaulted her by placing their hands on the bike she was assigned, not to mention surrounding and intimidating her. How is she at fault?

[live love laugh]

270. That's a stupid incomparable scenario.

[pinkstarburst]

206. Exactly. I have zero sympathy for this little scam artist

This scam artist was trying to game the system getting a bunch of free rides without paying. Then when an actual paying customer legitimately reserved the bike and paid for it, he and his THUG friends, because that is what you are when five young men surround and intimidate a pregnant woman who is alone, decided to use their male privilege to try to scare and bully her off her bike that she paid for.

The fact that anyone could blame the woman in this instance is disgusting to me. This is about a group of five men who surrounded, bullied, intimidated and put their hands on a pregnant woman. Who had every right to rent the bike she had paid for.

[live love laugh]

214. Where did the teens "put their hands on a pregnant woman"?

The woman inserted herself into a group of teens and people like you are trying to paint her as a victim when she was the aggressor.

This is about a group of five men who surrounded, bullied, intimidated and put their hands on a pregnant woman. Who had every right to rent the bike she had paid for.

[yardwork]

230. She was assigned that bike. She didn't choose it.

There seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding that the woman chose to insert herself onto this bike. It wasn't her choice. She reserved a bike and was assigned it, using an app. She was assigned that specific bike, and if she relinquished it to somebody else while it was on her account, she was liable for $1,000.

Take a look at my thread and tell me what you would do. https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217947621

[live love laugh]

269. Misunderstandings do not justify her assault on a teen.

230. She was assigned that bike. She didn't choose it.

There seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding that the woman chose to insert herself onto this bike. It wasn't her choice. She reserved a bike and was assigned it, using an app. She was assigned that specific bike, and if she relinquished it to somebody else while it was on her account, she was liable for $1,000... Take a look at my thread and tell me what you would do. https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217947621

[yardwork]

272. I disagree that she assaulted anybody.

In fact, I think she was intimidated and bullied. And she didn't film anybody, didn't upload anything to the internet, didn't report anybody. She hasn't done anything wrong.

[live love laugh]

277. "Think" what you want. The video shows otherwise.

Last edited Fri May 26, 2023, 05:15 PM - Edit history (2)

"272. I disagree that she assaulted anybody.

Think” what you want. The video shows what happened. The teen holding handle bars on a bike while his personal space is being invaded, while his phone is being snatched, while your victim is yelling “help” about a “fetus”.... while the teen remains in the same position and is not moving.

In fact, I think she was intimidated and bullied.

First you stated the teen on the bike intimidated her -- the you added 5 guys, now you want to generally say she was bullied (enhance much?) -- because you have no evidence the teen on the bike bullied or initiated her.

And she didn't film anybody, didn't upload anything to the internet, didn't report anybody.

So? What does this have to do with her assaulting a teen?

She hasn't done anything wrong."

Yes she did do something wrong. The video shows her assaulting the teen on the bike and snatching his phone, invading his personal space and yelling.

Continue with your fairy tale by yourself.

[debm55]

283. That's really stretching it, don't you think? It's like you are answering to fit an agenda you have.

IMO

[live love laugh]

295. It's like you are answering to fit an agenda you have.

[debm55]

303. So what's your agenda? Women need to back down to youths? Women need to follow what a young man

tells us? We need to meekly follow the orders of men?

[Lucky Luciano]

243. It's fully legitimate to dock and retake the bike.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Most definitely wrong for him to think he can hold it while it’s docked. Lots of people dock and immediately take itge bike. It’s likely more for keeping track of the bike that the 45 minute rule exists. They could easily see who is gaming such things and charge for it, but they don’t. They just want to keep track of the bike.

He was dead wrong to claim she can’t take it though while docked.

[Ms. Toad]

200. The loophole in the system

allows them to dock and re-rent immediately.

It does NOT entitle them to dock, straddle the bikes for 5 minutes and prevent anyone else from checking them out, and then re-rent.

If they wanted to stop for ice cream and keep the bikes, they should have re-rented immediately - rather than using straddling the bikes to prevent anyone else from renting them while they kept them for free.

[yardwork]

235. That's what makes me wonder...

Originally I wondered if this was a TikTok prank. "Let's see how people react if we claim this is our bike! Wow! She's reacting! Got a good one! Put it on TikTok!"

Now I wonder if they'd figured out how to get all day access to a bike for free, by intimidating people into giving up bikes they'd just rented.

My analogy is a stranger taking a Hertz car:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217947621

Other posters have suggested that these kids just got used to keeping "their" bikes all day and got angry when somebody didn't let them get their way.

Whatever their intentions, the teens were in the wrong.

[Ms. Toad]

240. I suspect the intimidation was just standing on them straddling the bikes

If there were other ebikes available, and I saw people straddling the bikes, I'd grab a different one. So I suspect most people didn't challenge them.

In the article, the teens said sometimes they had to search quite a bit to get an ebike (and another poster familiar with ebikes confirmed the are a small portion of the fleet). So even though it has been reported that there were lots of other bikes, my suspicion is that they were just regular pedal bikes - which is both why the woman approached them, and why they were so determined not to let her have it.

But I do think that once she started screaming that they decided to take advantage of the situation to create a viral video.

[yardwork]

245. My understanding is that the bikes are assigned by the app.

If this is so - and numerous DUers familiar with Citibikes have said it is - then she had no choice of bike. She was assigned a specific bike, and if she'd given it up before it was docked again, then she would be liable for $1,000.

In other words, she didn't choose a bike and walk up to it. She was assigned a bike, and THEY tried to take it away from her.

In the video, and according to her receipt, her bike was docked again during the altercation. At that point she did walk away and rent another bike.

The reporting on this was atrocious. Reporters immediately assumed that she was at fault and did no investigation. I hope she sues for defamation.

I'm inclined to assume the boys were just being kids, but the adult reporters were really at fault here.

[Ms. Toad]

250. It is not assigned by the appl

From the citibike site:

It's so easy.
Unlock it. Pick out a bike, and use the Citi Bike or Lyft app to scan its QR code.
Ride it. Hop on and start cruisin'.
Park it. Find an open space at any docking station. When the lock-in light turns green, you're all set.

https://citibikenyc.com/homepage

So - if there were other ebikes available, she could have started with those. Which is why I'm guessing the ebikes the boys rode in on were the only ones at that site.

[yardwork]

253. Apparently there is also an App, which assigns the bikes in advance.

The assumption is that she used the App and was assigned the bike she was on - but we don't know for sure because the reporting on this is so atrocious.

Even if she did select that bike, she was fully within her right to do so. On what planet does a teenager's summer joy ride take precedence over a pregnant woman's need to rent a bike to get home after work?

Where I grew up, teens were expected to defer to adult, working people. It has nothing to do with race.

I've never seen so many people defend a group of teens' right to bully a woman trying to get home from work.

My goodness.

[Ms. Toad]

311. I haven't heard either of the parties involved claim that she was assigned that bike in advance.

And that makes little sense with the boy's method of gaming the system. If their bikes could be assigned out from under them, they woud have re-rented the bikes immediately instead of lounging over them to prevent anyone else from checking them out.

Everything I can find online indicates that you can't reserve a specific bike in advance. (Reddit users asking that question; answered by other riders with comments like, "I wish", citibike and Lyft app descriptions which indicate that you can locate docked bikes and empty bike parking spaces which say nothing about reserving a bike (specific or otherwise) in advance)

I'm not defending them bullying her. They were wrong, period. But I think a different response from her is warranted depending on whether they were merely hogging bikes and refused to give them up when she approached them vs. she rented a bike and when she tried to leave they swarmed her.

[yardwork]

312. You may be correct, and this goes back to the atrocious reporting.

We really know very little about what actually happened. The video the kids made appears to be edited, as there seem to be numerous jump cuts.

If the kids were hoarding the bikes - which is what the teen says in the absurdly one-sided, biased article I read yesterday, so who knows if it's true, but let's say that it is - to me, it makes their behavior worse.

If I were tired, pregnant, and needed a bike to get home, I would be outraged if a bunch of young men were hoarding all the e-bikes and preventing other riders from using them. Her response seems pretty typical NYC to me.

[Ms. Toad]

317. I'm not justifying their behavior.

I'm just questioning whether the response was proportional to the offense.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

145. Their receipts show that they docked it and she rented it 5 minutes later.

It was her bike. It was on her account. Could it have been handled better on both sides? Yes. But it wasn't his bike.

[live love laugh]

202. Their receipts don't show she snatched his phone

when he tried to rent the bike.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

204. Their receipts don't also show

that they surrounded her and stopped her from taking a bike that she legally rented.

But the receipts DO show that it wasn't his bike on his account like he claimed it was.

[live love laugh]

205. Lie: "they surrounded her and stopped her"

[Cuthbert Allgood]

208. They were all right by her

and one had his hand on the bike (you know, the one she had rented) and wouldn't let her leave with it. Could she have just walked away? Sure. Should she have had to because there were males bullying her from taking the bike she legally rented? No.

[live love laugh]

211. People in danger don't quibble--especially ones that claim

their fetus is being harmed while they wrest away someone else’s property.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

215. Could she have handled it better? Sure. Never argued differently.

So we are going to blame the person with the legal right to the bike (one could almost claim that the bike was her property that someone was trying to "wrest away" from her) for not backing down to the bullies? Interesting.

[live love laugh]

218. "One COULD argue" many untrue things.

215. Could she have handled it better? Sure. Never argued differently.
So we are going to blame the person with the legal right to the bike (one could almost claim that the bike was her property that someone was trying to "wrest away" from her) for not backing down to the bullies? Interesting.

What’s true is she aggressively inserted herself into a group of teens then claimed victim hood.

It’s beyond the bike issue. The aggressiveness continues with escalating lies and attacks on the teens. They did not endanger her. If they did she had legal recourse but she didn’t pursue that. Why?

Why does her lawyer want to “move on” and wish the teens well on her behalf now that money is pouring in?

[inthewind21]

261. LOL

Oh well hell, I guess we should all just walk away if there are teens around who might be trying to get a free ride. Need a cab, better wait, there's some teens over there, they might want it. Need a rental car, nope, better walk away, there's some teens around, they probably just turned it in to avoid the fee and are planning to take it back again. How asinine. It's NYC FFS. You need a cab, you hail a cab and jump in. You need on the subway, you move your ass and get on one. You need a bike, you rent one and ride away. Period! Whining because your norm of avoiding paying for your rental is foiled by a paying customer is BS. Period!

[live love laugh]

264. Oh well I guess we could argue that it's okay if I am physically on a bike, in a cab, if you pay

then you have the right to physical displace me. You don’t. That’s where she is wrong. To physically climb on a bike when somebody is on it is assault. The issue of payment is separate from the physical assault by the hospital “nurse".

[yardwork]

227. This is absolutely ridiculous.

The woman who rented and was assigned a bike did nothing wrong.

How on earth are the kids who harassed her at fault?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

3. His receipts

Prove the woman’s story, not his.

[BlueLucy]

6. His receipts prove this was a dispute over a bike

that got out of control and she choose to get dramatic about it and use her white privilege to maybe get these kids killed. He was called a liar and a thief right here on DU. I think that's unfair to call him that when she is the one who took her badge off so no one would see her name then proceeded to scream as if she was being raped when no one was hurting her.

[LisaL]

9. His receipt proves he returned the bike five minutes before she rented it.

When she rented the bike, bike was not on his account, bike was not his.
He had no right to that bike.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

11. Based on the time stamps

Across all receipts, he’s definitely a liar…would have been a thief if the bike she rented hadn’t been re-docked before he rented it and took it later.

[obamanut2012]

30. Lol none of this happened

Even now, you have to attack the nurse and mske up stuff. Wow.

You were wrong. Period.

[BlueLucy]

36. You are wrong. You called this young man a liar and a thief

You're OK with her screaming, " My fetus, HELP, HELP, HELP." Like a cray cray after putting her badge away. when no one was hurting her. Lol.

[treestar]

69. She looked surrounded

and panicked. What, you'd do nothing if that were you?

[live love laugh]

79. She walked up to THEM and surrounded herself and she was always free to go.

[treestar]

82. so she just rented that bike and

had no right to walk up to it and take it? Because they were standing there?

[live love laugh]

84. SURROUNDED .... it's claimed they surrounded her to threaten or harm. That's a LIE.

[treestar]

86. they were trying to keep her

from riding away.

[live love laugh]

87. Once again they didn't surround her. She walked up to them surrounding HERSELF.

[treestar]

90. so she had no right to go to a bike she rented

because they were standing there.

[live love laugh]

92. You attempt to deflect from the false claim.

[treestar]

97. what false claim?

you're assuming not agreeing with you must mean a false claim?

But you are refusing to explain why a person cannot go to a bike they just rented, get on it and ride away.

does this apply to rental cars too?

[live love laugh]

101. She was not surrounded. She surrounded herself and was always free to unsurround herself.

[treestar]

113. you're just not answering about

how she rented a bike and then is supposed to defer to anyone standing there. I see why you won't answer.

It's a light equivalent to how women should not go here or there because they might be attacked.

So you rent a bike, see some men there, and should know they are claiming it and back away. Well, if you are white. You are not helping the cause of race. You're proving it's OK to be racist, as long as it's the right people.

[live love laugh]

116. I'm proving that you are attempting to do anything but address the issue of being surrounded.

[Crepuscular]

143. ...

She was not free to "un-surround" herself because the teen who wanted the bike grabbed it and re-engaged it into the bike rack, while she was on it. At that point it was her bike, she had a valid rental code and he interfered with her legitimate use of the bike to force it back into the rack. It may have started as a simple dispute but when he took physical action to interfere with her legitimate use of the bike, he crossed a line.

[live love laugh]

144. Which individual prevented her from leaving and unsurrounding herself?

Crepuscular (1,047 posts)
143. ...

She was not free to "un-surround" herself because the teen who wanted the bike grabbed it and re-engaged it into the bike rack, while she was on it. At that point it was her bike, she had a valid rental code and he interfered with her legitimate use of the bike to force it back into the rack. It may have started as a simple dispute but when he took physical action to interfere with her legitimate use of the bike, he crossed a line.

[Crepuscular]

259. ...

The young man who is holding on to her bike in the video and who physically pushed the bike back into the bike rack, while it was rented to her. Are you suggesting that she should have abandoned the bike that she had paid to rent and left it for him to use?

[live love laugh]

267. Lie.

She was not free to "un-surround" herself because the teen who wanted the bike grabbed it and re-engaged it into the bike rack, while she was on it. At that point it was her bike, she had a valid rental code and he interfered with her legitimate use of the bike to force it back into the rack. It may have started as a simple dispute but when he took physical action to interfere with her legitimate use of the bike, he crossed a line.

She was totally free at all times.

[forthemiddle]

280. So was she free to take the bike she rented?

Not was she free to leave, but was she free to leave with the bike she rented?

[debm55]

284. Oh no she couldn't take the bike she rented. She was to walk meekly away and find another bike. Why

is that always the case when women are concerned?

[live love laugh]

294. She was always free to leave even without the bike. Companies resolve disputes all the time.

Worst case scenario the credit card company processes a dispute. She even had video proof.


To suggest that she was not free to leave has seriously criminal implications which are not supported by any evidence other than her allegation. Yet the bullshit narrative of her being “surrounded” and the unspoken dog whistle of that narrative persist here and elsewhere.


As for being surrounded, if you look at the video she was surrounded by some other passersby who stopped as she made a scene. But again the implication is that the teens were surrounding her and preventing her from leaving. Clearly they were not.


There are obvious bugs in the rental system. The fact that they were able to ride and dock repeatedly is a problem that I am sure they will fix right away. The language here “gaming the system” is yet another racially undertones dog whistle alluding to criminality. What teens don’t get into some kind of mischief?


There are also some problems that I read about that involve delays with the uploading of docking resets so that a new rental can be started. It’s very possible that the time of the encounter was during the upload or lag time and there could have been a misunderstanding by both parties.


But, what I cannot imagine even in the worst analogies or scenarios is me being the teen on that bike, or the renter of a car and having somebody physically invade my personal space, hollering, putting their hands on me. That is assault by the individual most here seem to support as the victim.


Bias is bitch.

[obamanut2012]

148. lol SHE RENTED TAHT BIKE

The app told her to use that bike.

[obamanut2012]

146. Nope, I am not wrong, so just stop

[pinkstarburst]

207. He is a scam artist

Who was taking the bike out without paying for it. She was a paying customer. He and his gang of five friends surrounded a pregnant woman who was alone and put their hands on her. They were completely in the wrong and she was right to feel scared and intimidated.

[questionseverything]

50. She is pa not a nurse

[brooklynite]

132. "...to maybe get these kids killed."

How? Unlike a lot of the country, NYC people DON'T carry guns around.

[live love laugh]

160. You must've missed the videos where police kill black people for the most trivial reasons.

[RobinA]

192. I'm Never Allowed

to call the police if a black person committs a crime? Or if an unknown that might be a black person committed a crime? That's just nuts.

[live love laugh]

193. You're allowed to do whatever the you want. Most entitled people do anyway.

[yardwork]

258. I bet you would be quick to call for help if you were afraid.

It's easy to sit at home in our craft rooms and pass judgment on a young woman who treats patients in a psychiatric hospital in a city, who then has to rent a bike to get home.

[inthewind21]

273. LOL

Now it's gone beyond ridiculous. So, you are implying that if someone snatches your bag, steals your car or snatched the car you just rented and they happen to be black or brown, you won't call the police or make a peep. Cause your not entitled? Riiiiiiiiiiiight! I see you are breathlessly arguing in favor of a kid who was gaming the system and attempting to keep possession of rental bikes without paying for them while at the same time demonizing someone who actually legitimately rented the damn thing. I bet you take issue with corporations and the wealthy cheating don't you? Yet THIS case of cheating, A-OK huh?

And people wonder how the country got where it is right now. No such thing as logic, critical thinking and seeing there are gray areas to everything. It's all got to be black and white and no budging. So everything is an overblown reactionary swing waaaaay to far response. Ever wonder why the same problems persist? And get worse even? Of course you do. For the answer, all one has to do is read the overblown responses to the woman involved in this story.

[live love laugh]

281. You're way off base.

Now it's gone beyond ridiculous. So, you are implying that if someone snatches your bag, steals your car or snatched the car you just rented and they happen to be black or brown, you won't call the police or make a peep. Cause your not entitled? Riiiiiiiiiiiight! I see you are breathlessly arguing in favor of a kid who was gaming the system and attempting to keep possession of rental bikes without paying for them while at the same time demonizing someone who actually legitimately rented the damn thing. I bet you take issue with corporations and the wealthy cheating don't you? Yet THIS case of cheating, A-OK huh?

And people wonder how the country got where it is right now. No such thing as logic, critical thinking and seeing there are gray areas to everything. It's all got to be black and white and no budging. So everything is an overblown reactionary swing waaaaay to far response. Ever wonder why the same problems persist? And get worse even? Of course you do. For the answer, all one has to do is read the overblown responses to the woman involved in this story.
Reply to this post

[Cuthbert Allgood]

140. I don't get that as her reason for taking off the badge.

It's on a lanyard. She's a nurse, so I'm assuming she knows the same thing as teachers (which I am). The lanyard can be used to choke you. Which is why most school ones are breakaway. She may have taken it off as a protective move.

[RobinA]

242. I Wear A Lanyard

for my job and it’s a breakaway. As a female wearing a lanyard in a psychiatric hospital I am very aware of it and generally do take it off if I think there’s a problem. I have had people grab it, but more to get my keys than to strangle me. So far.

[debm55]

288. True, and teachers wear breakaway lanyard.

[yardwork]

256. How do you know why she put her badge away?

She was being filmed and had legitimate reason to protect her identity.

How could she have gotten the kids killed? Have you been to NYC? People yell at one another a lot. "Get off me" is not an unreasonable thing to say when surrounded by a bunch of teens trying to take away a bike she was sitting on, that she had rented.

I bet you would be frightened if this happened to you. I bet you wouldn't like being filmed and then having your reaction ridiculed or worse, being accused of being a racist.

The drama and overreactions are right here.

[inthewind21]

263. No

His receipts show that he returned the bike and she rented it. Is there something terribly difficult about that for you to understand?

[live love laugh]

14. Not true. Watch this TikTok.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRE7RcaU/

[LisaL]

19. His receipt shows he docked the bike at 7:19.

She rented the bike five minutes later at 7:24.
That bike was not his when she rented it.
They physically prevented a woman from leaving on a bike she legally rented on her account. Assault and kidnapping, anyone?

[live love laugh]

22. Did you watch anything other than the women's side of the story?

[LisaL]

26. Do you not see that my post states his receipt proves he returned the bike at 7:19?

That's his own story.
His receipt proves he was not entitled to the bike when Sarah rented it.
She rented the bike five minutes after he returned it.

[obamanut2012]

33. Omg stop you are wrong

[BlueLucy]

46. No. You are wrong and you called this young man a liar and a thief.

She snatched his cellphone out of his hand, isn't she the thief?

[LisaL]

49. The disputed bike is not his and is not on his account

at the time video was taken.
Despite claims to the contrary in the video.
It was not his, it was not on his account, he was not entitled to it.
Him renting it before and then returning it means other people are free to rent it.

[BlueLucy]

54. They are not free to be aggressive assholes and then reverse it and play victim

[LisaL]

56. And he is not entitled to the bike he returned and isn't paying for.

He has no right to stop a legally paying customer from renting the available bike.
If he wants to go on another ride, rent another bike.

[BlueLucy]

59. Do you understand that she played victim and could have gotten him killed?

She was not a victim of anything. She was the aggressor. She grabbed his cellphone, she scanned the bike when he still had his hands on it, she screamed at the top of her lungs as if she was being murdered.

[LisaL]

60. She was prevented from leaving on a bike she legally rented.

Physically prevented from leaving. Do you understand that it could be considered kidnapping? She could press charges.

[BlueLucy]

64. She was not physically prevented from leaving!

She could have gotten off the bike and left at anytime. You are really reaching here calling it kidnapping. All she had to do is get off the bike and leave.

[live love laugh]

152. All she had to do was leave IF she was indeed in danger and surrounded.

She may have been entitled to the bike but to suggest that she was endangered when she could have freely left is bullshit.

[boston bean]

167. All they had to do was take another bike. They had no right to hers.

[live love laugh]

170. It's one thing to make this about bikes ... it crosses the line with the surround bullshit.

[live love laugh]

95. She's not free to be an aggressive liar either.

[boston bean]

159. They lied stating they paid for that bike at that moment in time.

Because they were not paying for it right then. They docked to get another free 45 mins.

Woopsie, once docked others can reserve and rent and that is what happened.

[live love laugh]

162. The time on the receipts and the process involve lags, reset times, etc. The male had

the bike but there is a 2-minute delay to reset/redock the bikes before rental can occur.

There seems to be some overlap of time but that was probably unbeknownst to either of the two when they were arguing.

None of this misunderstanding accounts for the aggressive behavior of the woman.

[boston bean]

164. Um I am paying for something and some one says I can't leave with what I am paying for.

I might hoot and holler and cry due to anger. Many women have reactions such as this.

They were wrong.

It was a simple dispute that has now gotten out of hand due to their posting it on social media.

Caused the woman to be put on leave from her job.

They whole thing is just so fucking ridiculous.

[live love laugh]

173. What's ridiculous is people accusing the guy of carjacking, surrounding, gaming/stealing.

[obamanut2012]

150. OMFG how dare you attack me like this

[Solomon]

4. Knew there was something not quite right with the "she's got a receipt" story by the lawyer.

It all makes sense now, and why she tried to snatch the phone out of his hand.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

7. You might want to

Look at the time stamps on all of the receipts.

He docked the bike, she rented it, and the. He wouldn’t let her take it.

He doesn’t get to just “hold” a bike because he likes it - once he docked it, it wasn’t his anymore, she had every right to rent it (which she did) and ride it away( which he prevented her from doing).

He was definitely in the wrong here.

[LisaL]

10. Exactly.

He returned the bike. It wasn't his bike. Other people are free to rent the bike once he returns the bike.
For whatever reason, he and his friends think they got to hog the bikes even when they are not paying for them.

[BlueLucy]

13. She was the aggressor.

He told her she could not have the bike, he was still using it. She wanted it anyway. She's white so she was going to scream as if she was being RAPED until she got her way.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

15. It wasn't his to use

That’s what you seem to be missing. She had reserved it. If she had let him have it on HER reservation, she would would have been responsible for all charges.

[BlueLucy]

23. She used RACISM to get what she wanted 100%

That's the point you seem to be missing. It's clear as day. A bike dispute turned ugly because she took her badge off, put it in her bag calmly, and proceeded to scream at the top of her lungs.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

25. If I was a woman

Who was being surrounded by a group of young men who refused to let me take a bike that I had reserved and for which I was financially responsible, I’d be screaming too.

The whole thing could have been avoided if he had just let her have the bike that she had reserved - why didn’t he do so?

[BlueLucy]

29. I am a woman.

She approached them. She could have taken any bike, she wanted that one. It was a bike dispute that could have easily been deescalated but she took it to a dark racist place. It was not out of fear, she wasn't scared. We can all see she is not scared. Why take her badge off? Why the dramatic way in which she uses her hands as a bullhorn? Yeah,...no. She didn't have to take it there. Black men have been killed that way.

[LisaL]

32. Once they return the bikes, it's not theirs.

They are not entitled to the bikes.
Why didn't they rent new bikes if they decided to go on other rides? Why were they hogging the bikes they weren't paying for?
And them claiming on video that it's his bike/on his account is clearly false, as he returned it five minutes prior.
It's not his, it's not on his account, other people should be able to rent it.

[BlueLucy]

39. So that makes racism OK?

He had been using the bike all day, as he said. It's not like he and his friends were trying to bully the bike away from a pregnant woman for no reason as was suggested.

[LisaL]

43. How in the world renting an available bike

makes it racism?

[BlueLucy]

52. She used her white privilege to scream for help

putting her badge away first. I'm sorry you can't see that. It's very clear racism to me. VERY CLEAR

[treestar]

77. we can't scream for help if we feel threatened?

OMG! You are carrying it so far! It no longer makes sense.

[pinkstarburst]

236. A pregnant woman surrounded by five men who are purposefully

menacing her and intimidating her is going to feel scared and intimidated and scream for help. I'm sorry you are so confused about that.

These aggressors MADE THE CHOICE to surround her IN A GANG. A pregnant woman alone and isolated. This was not their bike. They had no right to it. They used THEIR MALE PRIVILEGE to try to bully, scare and intimidate her and some people want to write them a free pass because apparently if you have a certain skin color, some people on this site believe you are always in the right, no matter how badly you behave, and the white woman who was surrounded by five men who were harrassing her must be wrong.

Disgusting.

[BlueLucy]

244. I didn't see the same video you did

I didn't see her surrounded by a gang. I saw her as the aggressor snatching a cell phone hollering about her fetus when no one is touching her. You should watch the video. No one is surrounding her.

[inthewind21]

279. I present

THE very reason the Me Too movement died a silent death. Overblown, over-reactions irrational failure and outright refusal to see the see whole picture. About EVERYTHING! To the point no one listens anymore to legitimate issues. Congratulations!

[SickOfTheOnePct]

40. She had reserved that bike - why couldn't he take a different one?

Would you be willing to be financially responsible for the bike in this case?

[treestar]

76. she'd have to pay for their ride

the racist is you. A person, due to the color of her skin, is wrong and always will be. This is not a good case for you to take up the cause of black people. They are not always right - they are human also.

Plus you are exaggerating and accusing unknown police of what they are going to do. You do realize it's rare for a cop to shoot somebody? You are assuming they will always kill any black person they are called to deal with. That's exaggerated.

[treestar]

74. if it had been a white guy

then it could be the same.

You are telling me that you cannot be objective - if there is a nonwhite person to a dispute, they have to be right on that alone.

[Ms. Toad]

203. I don't believe she "reserved it"

My understanding is that she approached the other boys straddling the bikes and asked each in turn to let her have their bikes. Then she came to the final bike, with no one straddling it, and checked it out on the spot. (In other words she didn't make a reservation and then go look for the bike she had reserved - she selected it and rented it on the spot as the only one the boys weren't straddling.)

The boys has no right to them (straddling or not), since they had docked and not re-rented them. So, as to the bike she was in the right. But she did rent it on the spot while he was standing next to it and had his hands on the handlebars.

[LisaL]

18. He returned it five minutes before she rented it.

He doesn't get to use the bike he is no longer renting for free.
What makes him think he is entitled to a rental bike he is not paying for?
He is certainly free to rent other bikes if he decides to go for another ride. He is not entitled to the bike he returned.

[treestar]

78. True, and aren't they all identical?

When I've seen them in the cities, they appeared to be.

Seems like a set up as some have suggested.

[Lucky Luciano]

93. Some are less beaten up than others.

I usually look for the “good” ones.

[sl8]

166. "... 20 minutes before they found the highly coveted but hard-to-find new e-bikes."

According to this article, this was a hard-to-find ebike. Maybe that's the reason everyone wanted this bike and not the other bikes there.

https://newsone.com/4592993/sarah-jane-comrie-update-citi-bike-teens-mother-speaks-out/

"Michael said that day they walked around the Bronx for 20 minutes before they found the highly coveted but hard-to-find new e-bikes."

[questionseverything]

21. He wasn't still using it because he didn't want to pay

He is holding it unethically while waiting for it to reset I guess

[treestar]

73. white person always in the wrong

right?

[BlackSkimmer]

156. No, he had docked the bike.

Perhaps you have never used Citibike, but once it's docked it's available for rent. End of.

And no one brought up rape. Except you.

Please stop.

[Solomon]

24. Look I know and others are very invested in your position. But she knew he had been using the bike

and intended to keep using the bike. There were plenty of other bikes there. She decided to bowguard the kid who was standing next to and holding the bike, because the others were sitting on their bikes. That's why she tried to snatch his phone. When I first saw the video, I didn't understand why she did that but it makes sense now.

[LisaL]

28. There were plenty of other bikes there?

Then why were he and his friends hogging the bikes they returned as if those bikes were still theirs?
Once you return the bike, it's not yours. Computer shows its free for other people to rent it.
He returned the bike five minutes before she rented it.
It wasn't his bike, it wasn't on his account when she legally rented it.
He certainly was free to rent another bike after he returned the previous bike.

[questionseverything]

37. He won't give his name so basically you are believing a narrative that

Could of been written by anyone

It’s a shame the whole bike program can be high jacked by teenagers with nothing productive to do who then keep working people from using them

He turns the bike in to avoid paying but continues to unethically control the bike

He could of used any bike too

[LisaL]

38. Exactly.

He returned the bike, it's not his. He shouldn't be preventing other people from renting it.
He wants to go on another ride, he can rent another available bike.

[Solomon]

48. I believe it because I saw her trying to bowguard the bike and snatch his phone away.

He had possession of the bike. She tried to take it. You're so invested in your position that you have the nerve to call them "teenagers with nothing productive to do"... ,etc.

[LisaL]

55. He returned the bike five minutes prior.

I am curious as to how long do you think he is entitled to the "possession' of the bike after he returns it and is not paying for it?

[Solomon]

80. You keep saying he returned it. The point is, the woman knew full well he hadn't "returned" it.

She knew he intended to use it again. He docked it to reset the clock. He was in possession of the bike for whatever reason. Just because you and your friends think he was "unethically" holding the bike doesn't give her the right to snatch it away and start screaming like he did something to her. Complain to the bike authorities about people "unethically" as you and your friend put it, using the bikes. But you don't assault the one using the bike. And to be sure, those kids aren't the only ones using the bikes that way. The whole point to becoming a member is to take advantage of systems like that.

This is not the proof you guys are always looking for that whites are always wrongfully accused of racism or white privilege. Get over it!

These are kids doing what kids do. And like I said, I'm pretty sure adults are members and do it as well. These kids did nothing to HER! She confronted them. Yet the narrative is a bunch of black guys surrounding her.

You jumped on the wrong story. Just get over it already.

[treestar]

85. if she had just rented it

why does she have no right to take it?

That doesn't make sense.

[Solomon]

139. Because she tried to rent it knowing full well he intended to rent it as well.

That's what doesn't make sense. They did nothing to HER. She walked up to them, asked and they explained what they were doing. She didn't like it so took it upon herself to cause the confrontation. Then she put on an act. When the video showed she was acting the ass, she hired a lawyer and a PR firm and you guys fall for this shit like a ton of rocks.

If I see someone park without putting money in a meter and I want to park there, do I have the right to push their car out of the space or assault them because I go up and put money in the meter?

You guys just don't get that they did nothing to HER. She caused the situation herself and has only herself to blame for it.

[obamanut2012]

151. You have no fucking idea how these bikes are rented lol just stop

IT WAS HER BIKE SHE RENTED IT AND TEH APP TOLD HER TO GO USE THAT BIKE

[Solomon]

181. Lol. Yelling makes you right.

[inthewind21]

285. Let me get this straight

You are arguing the case for "everyone in NYC leave the bike I returned alone, I know, it's available for rent but not really because I intend to take it for another free ride." That's what your arguing for? So, do you argue for corporations who game the system too? Or is this a "special" case?

[inthewind21]

290. Kids doing what kids do huh

So, do your kids regularly cheat the system then cry when they don't get what they didn't pay for? Do you expect the paying public to just leave your cheating kids alone when they want what others have actually paid for because after all, they are just kids doing what kids do? Wow.

[questionseverything]

57. His sister said he road bikes for over 4 hours that day with a group of friends

That’s nothing productive to do in my book, sorry

In my hood by 17 (actually way earlier) you should have a part time job

Btw they road electric bikes so not even getting exercise

[BlueLucy]

63. Does that justify her racism?

[questionseverything]

72. I don't think she's being racist

I wonder if the woman was black and the young men were white if you would be so invested?

[treestar]

81. +1 or if they were both white

it's like every incident involving any black person has to be racism - black person must get what they want, or they are a victim of racism. That's not going to work.

[questionseverything]

47. About the "plenty of other bikes there"

She wanted the electric bike since she had just finished a 12 hour shift and is pregnant

[obamanut2012]

34. Lol she is totally in the right

The receipts prove it.

Just stop.

[LexVegas]

20. He is a liar. Quibbling is the same as lying. nt

[IronLionZion]

27. Video for context

Link to tweet

This is weaponizing white entitlement to pretend to be a victim.

[obamanut2012]

35. Stop it! She is 100% in the right

This is disinformation.

[IronLionZion]

45. 100% weaponizing whiteness to scream for help

I've rented bikeshares. There are ways to dispute charges in the apps without pretending to be attacked.

[LisaL]

51. She legally rented the bike, then is physically prevented from leaving

by a group of males. I don't think she is pretending.

[IronLionZion]

58. We can respectfully disagree here.

I've been in similar situations here in DC, one of the blackest cities in America. Sure it's frustrating when someone steals a bikeshare I've paid for but it is easily resolved in the app without screaming like this. She was free to leave at any time.

[treestar]

94. not everyone knows all you know

and you're in a different city so how do you assume how it worked there?

And people should be able to do this? Oh, it's annoying but perfectly OK, the victim should just suck it up. Even if small, that's unjust.

[IronLionZion]

102. I have to calculate the risk of a person being unjustly shot

I'm a POC urban liberal who has called police on young black men committing crimes. My calculation is whether they are physically hurting someone else? And then are they financially hurting someone and how much?

When someone steals my bikeshare, I get a full refund plus a credit. It costs me nothing. But screaming bloody murder could get a person killed for the wrong reasons.

[treestar]

107. could get someone killed?

you're close to claiming black men should get away with crimes because calling the police might kill them. You do realize not every black man is killed by police when encountered? What about the incarcerated ones? How did they get there without being killed by police.

And the Karen privilege always seems to result in her getting fired - here she was suspended. NO one notices that. If racism is so bad then why does that ever happen? Isn't that reassuring? No one wants a racist working for them. And you don't need much else than skin color to have it believed.

[IronLionZion]

114. It's not great. Our system has many fatal flaws.

a person's life can change permanently in a split second.

[inthewind21]

291. And

hers did.

[karynnj]

172. She was free to leave and not take the bike, but she needed a bike

When the youth forced the bike to dock, it ended her responsibility. The receipt showed BOTH that she started a ride with that bike and ended a ride almost immediately.

However, it sounds as though the kids were claiming all the ebikes available. I do not know the length of time required to reset an account to let you take another ride. The system is designed to give people up to 45 minutes for a point to point ride at which they can pay if they want to continue riding. It sounds what the kids were doing is docking whenever they approached the 45 minute limit. From the comments, it sounds like they then stayed by the bikes until the system allowed them to check it out again. They possibly had had those same bikes for hours.

If there were other SIMILAR bikes available, this could work without harming the system or other potential riders. Here, it sounds like they were "claiming" 5 bikes (I do not know if all of them were ebikes) that were NOT CHECKED OUT BY THE SYSTEM. Note this is bike SHARE. There are alternatives, more expensive, where you rent a specific bike for a specified period of time.

My conjecture is that after talking to the boys and having none of them agree to letting her take the bike they were on, but which was not checked out in the system, in frustration, she scanned the bike the boy was not on, but claiming, and checked it out. EITHER she or the boy could have backed down. The boy could have then checked out a different bike when his app allowed him to. This is actually how the system is supposed to work. I assume that the reason neither backed down is because both wanted an ebike and this was the only one left.

Now assume that everyone is white or everyone is black, who should have the ebike?
- The pregnant woman who might have been too tired to take a conventional bike AND who had an account able to check out that bike at the moment she did or a teenager who had turned in that bike and wanted to take it out again when his app reset? I would bet that if you eliminate race, it makes the answer much simpler.

[treestar]

91. white women cannot ever scream for help?

because of their skin color?

[Solomon]

53. Bwaahaa!! The video is disinformation!!!

[treestar]

89. very bad attempt to set that up

they should have gotten a better example.

[Jedi Guy]

65. As a friend of mine is fond of saying, "Jesus Christ bananas."

This whole situation is just fucking wild. The incident breaks, there's a huge rush to judgment, people initially vilify and demonize the woman, and then... whoops, now the facts are coming out. Turns out the kid and his friends were in the wrong here, and the receipts released by both sides prove that pretty conclusively.

The fucking wild part is that a bunch of the people who initially vilified Comrie have doubled down and continue to do so, despite all evidence to the contrary. They're so invested in this narrative that she must be the villain and the kids must be the victims because of their respective ethnicities. It's just stock characters straight out of the Central Casting department in their heads, and no amount of evidence or nuance is going to dislodge that perception. It just has to be that way, because if it isn't, a central pillar of their worldview shivers alarmingly.

It's frankly terrifying that this is where we're at in America today. The rush to judgment without any actual facts in hand is the first problem. The unwillingness to admit that one was wrong is the second problem. The willful denial of reality and fact in order to cling to a preconceived notion and narrative is the third problem. The three combine into this toxic soup that is by no means a good omen for where we're headed as a nation and a society.

Insofar as where Michael is coming from... well, kid, you made a mistake. You thought the bike was yours when it wasn't. You then accosted someone else without justification because you had a mistaken notion of ownership. The smart thing to do would be to admit you misunderstood how the rental situation with those bikes worked and apologize. We shall see if that course of action is forthcoming, I suppose.

But goddamn, this entire situation is a microcosm of a lot of things that are wrong with 21st-century American society. From a sociological perspective, it'd be fascinating if it weren't so damn worrisome.

[treestar]

100. +1 good post

[Jedi Guy]

271. Thanks :) N/T

[Sympthsical]

124. "a central pillar of their worldview shivers alarmingly"

Nailed it in one. This is an ideological posture. And when reality starts displacing an ideological posture, a very common reaction is to double down and will reality away either via incredibly tortured logic or an abject refusal to engage with the facts at all.

At least it's kind of interesting to watch in real time.

Edit: That was a really well-written post, btw. Always love good use of language.

[Jedi Guy]

274. It'd be a lot more interesting to watch if it weren't so fundamentally unsettling.

It's one thing to look at the facts and disagree about what they mean. At least in that scenario both sides are grounded in a shared, accepted reality.

It's something else altogether to willfully ignore inconvenient facts and/or introduce "alternative facts" to serve one's own narrative agenda. People just seem flatly unable to say, "Ah shit, I jumped to conclusions and she isn't awful like I thought she was. Those kids were out of line." Nope. Once the lines are drawn in the sand, it's ride or die.

That's fucking wild to me, on several different levels. The Trumpers cling to a fantasy version of reality that supports their biases and preconceived notions. We shit on them for it, and rightfully so. But then people on the left do the exact same thing, just in support of a different set of biases and a different narrative agenda, and continue to strut and preen about how they're nothing at all like those dumb ol' Trumpers.

Absolutely fucking wild. We're doomed as a society, I fear. The crotch rot was already there, and then social media came along and turned it into galloping crotch rot.

[inthewind21]

292. Bravo

[ruet]

306. ...

[live love laugh]

179. It was wrong of Comrie to walk up and grab the bike BEFORE scanning the code and steal his phone

so he couldn’t scan.

[Jedi Guy]

275. You've had this explained to you multiple times in this thread by other people.

I do not delude myself into thinking that I possess some mystical power that'll allow me to nudge you across your mental line in the sand.

If you choose to reject objective reality and substitute your own, so be it.

[live love laugh]

278. Likewise.

[gulliver]

189. Good post

Knee-jerk "Karen cancellers" are a drag on the progressive cause imo. There's nothing worse for a cause than unpersuasive, self-elected rage-aholics taking it on themselves to speak for that cause.

[Jedi Guy]

276. Yup, 100% agree.

The blatant virtue-signaling and outrage-mongering is a massive turnoff to reasonable people, and the doubling down when in the wrong is just incredibly distasteful. All taken together, not the least bit helpful to any sort of cause the people involved claim to cherish or support.

[BlueLucy]

75. reverse racism does not exist.

[treestar]

83. it sure does and you are an example

this girl is white, so she's wrong and furthermore, since the other person was black, it's racism.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

96. True

It’s just plain racism

[Sympthsical]

98. Y'all get started early

Tagged in at 5am and already all of this.

It's funny. This morning at the gym I was doing a circuit. There's typically not too many people there that early, a core of four or five of us with randoms now and then. A woman I wasn't familiar with was also there. I was about halfway through using the pec deck and realized my ear buds were still in my backpack. I wandered over to retrieve them, stopped to get some water, then had a quick chat with a guy I see most mornings. By the time I got back to the machine area, the woman was using the machine.

I wasn't done, but the only way you'd know anyone was using the machine was my towel on the floor kind of behind it. I hadn't started sweating yet, so there was no obvious indication I'd been there. She must not have noticed or thought I was done.

Anyway, this story came to mind. For a split second I thought, "I should bust out my phone and go accuse her of stealing my machine." She was white and female, so I figured social media would be with me.

Of course, that's not what happened, because I'm a functioning, socially-adjusted adult. I just grabbed my towel and answered my phone, because MY MOTHER DOES NOT UNDERSTAND TIME ZONES.

What a world this could be, if people on social media would have told me in the moment that I should bully the woman to get my way. I could've been done 30 seconds earlier.

[BlueLucy]

106. " She was white and female, so I figured social media would be with me."

Yea because white females are discriminated against far more than black males.

[Sympthsical]

109. On social media?

I'd say it's a pretty near thing at this point.

The difference is, I approve of neither.

But some people have made it abundantly clear that racism is a situational thing. Sometimes it's not only acceptable, but desirable.

Which is weird, but here we are apparently.

[BlueLucy]

112. You think white people are discriminated against more than blacks on social media? really?

Wow!

[treestar]

115. you are unwilling to even consider the question

as long as you take the black person's side, you are right? WOW!

If the black person is always right, you are not more objective than the people you accuse.

[Sympthsical]

119. Swap the races around in this situation

Show me the exact same video, except with a black woman surrounded by a group of white teenaged males making their demands as she cried.

All facts of the situation and words exchanged remain the same.

Now. You tell me. What would the reaction have been on social media?

What would your reaction be?

I don't need the actual answers, nor do I expect any, because we both know how it'd play out. I'm just illustrating, racism is absolutely in play in all of this.

[BlueLucy]

122. The black women would have never gotten over $100,000 in gofundme.

That's for sure. I'm really bummed. I love DU and the people here but this has really opened my eyes on how people here feel about this subject and I'm just hurt about it. Bummed.

[Sympthsical]

128. Or it could, perhaps, be a learning experience

Snap judgements based on race are not great things, no matter who is doing them.

That would be a good lesson for social media in general.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

134. A bit more

As I just donated to her

[BlueLucy]

137. That gives me an idea.. look for my new thread. nt

[treestar]

110. they are always fired

she was suspended. Everyone cheers that the Karen is fired on all such stories that come up on DU. If the Karen gets fired, then she is paying for it.

[BlueLucy]

117. Yes because

cell phones have exposed what POC get exposed to by white folks everyday.

[dawg]

121. The view from rural Georgia ...

I don't know how the bike rental thing is supposed to work, so I have no idea who is technically in the right here. But that woman was acting like an asshole.

[live love laugh]

125. Thank you! It's so obvious.

[brooklynite]

129. The view from NYC...

I DO know how Citibike works and I explained it (and why the woman was in the right) in the other thread that cited the same article.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17945416

[obamanut2012]

153. It was her bike, she rented it

[BlueLucy]

136. There is no such thing as reverse racism. nt

[SickOfTheOnePct]

138. I agree

She’s a victim of racism.

Not by the young men in the video but by all of the people who assumed , without any facts whatsoever, that she was in the wrong simply because she’s white.

[RAB910]

142. Agreed, this poor woman was assumed to be guilty just because of the color of her skin

[BannonsLiver]

168. +1

[Solomon]

149. Lol. You guys kill me.

She did what she did fully knowing that in a dispute between a black boy and a white woman, who would be supported. Let's see, where have I seen this before.

And when the video showed her being an ass, she hired a lawyer and a PR firm, and voila, she's now the victim of a heinous crime perpetrated by a gang of black thugs who surrounded her and stole something for on her when they were minding their own business.

[boston bean]

169. She should have been supported. It was her rental.

But nope, they upload this to social media and she was made the villain.

They were bullying her so they could ride a newer bike.

[Goodheart]

177. Agree

One poster here even accuses her of wanting to have them killed. We should be better than this.

[pinkstarburst]

209. Agreed. It is disgusting that her employer

assumed she was the guilty one just because of the color of her skin (white) without bothering to actually look into what happened and learn the facts. How disgusting that a gang of five men can surround and intimidate a pregnant woman and she can be called the aggressor because they are black and she is white. What has our world come to. And the next time we want to know why we are losing votes in the suburbs? Let's look to incidents like this...

[MarineCombatEngineer]

305. Ya know what blows me away?

It's the assumption that this woman is a racist because the teens that forced her to put the bike back in the docking station are POC, it's really disappointing to see a very few people her on DU claiming that she's a racist because of the color of her skin.

I swear to god, this fucking place sometimes.

[RAB910]

141. That is factually incorrect

rac·ism
noun
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism by an individual, community, or institution against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group

[BannonsLiver]

147. What an absolute pant load.

🙄

The mom is mad because there’s no payday in it for her and her son.

[XanaDUer2]

171. If you're white woman

You can't call for help if you're afraid? Wtf?

[live love laugh]

174. Afraid of what? Walking into a crowd of people and surrounding yourself?

[BlueLucy]

184. She was not afraid to snatch a cell phone from his hand.

Not afraid to scan a bike that was being held onto by a group of teenagers. Not afraid to holler HELP, MY FETUS, HELP, MY FETTUS. when no one was touching her.

[boston bean]

188. Because he had forcefully re docked the bike she was on and was attempting to re-rent the bike on

his app.

[BlueLucy]

197. Still... it shows she is not fearful

Someone who is scared is not going to get aggressive. She was the aggressive one from the beginning.

[Lucky Luciano]

247. She may not be fearful, but she has a right to defend her purchase.

[BlueLucy]

286. She screamed HELP, HELP. MY FETUS....

That's the whole issue here.

[obamanut2012]

304. And? She was swarmed by several strange men who grabbed her and her proeprty and shoved teh bike int

She is pregnant, she was exhausted, and was being literally shoved around, and was being filmed by one fo teh group of random laughing, ye;lling strangers. There is no issue.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

307. ....

286. She screamed HELP, HELP. MY FETUS....
View profile
That's the whole issue here.

That is not the whole issue here, the issue is that these young men intimidated a woman and forced her bike, that she LEGALLY rented back into the docking station.

[XanaDUer2]

314. And? Nt

[Renew Deal]

178. I keep saying it but social media is a big part of the problem here

This is a relatively trivial and completely forgettable dispute. Someone posted it on social media and now it has a permanent impact on their lives.

[Bonx]

187. This incident is proof of one thing

"a man hears what he wants to hear..
And disregards the rest"

[Snooper9]

195. Looks like a bunch of me me me on both sides watching the whole video

Kid was being a dick and she was having a mini-Karen fit...

[LisaM]

198. This whole thread is exhausting me.

First, having almost been clipped by ebikes a number of times and having had to leap out of the way of a few the last time I was in New York, I am no fan. That's a separate issue, but I don't care for the system.

Second, the guys admit that they were purposely riding all over in fewer than 45 minutes shifts to dodge full-day fees and that they have been doing this for some time. They prefer a certain type of bike; when they find them, they try to hog the same bikes all day. But that's not how it works.

Third, a pregnant nurse wants to ride home (and this is what the system is designed for - short one-way trips) and a brouhaha occurs. The guys want the same bike she legit rented. But they gave that bike up. How anyone thinks it's okay to just hang around waiting to ride the same bike for free is beyond me.

As far as taking off her lanyard, that makes sense. She is no longer at work. She shouldn't have it on! Is she supposed to leave it on so that people - usually total strangers - can "report" her? Because people do that. They report what people do on their free time to their employers. It's a horrible thing.

I think it's fine if teenagers want to explore the city during the day. I don't love the freeloading, but apparently the company allows for that to some extent. But being a nurse is a tiring and thankless job and it has to be horrible to just try to get on a bike you rented and have people tell you you can't use it because they are waiting for their free 45 minutes to kick back in. No. She's had a long day and wants to get home and now every time she leaves work she'll have to replay this scenario and look over her shoulder.

Oh, and on top of it, she gets called a Karen. Beautiful.

I don't understand people sometimes. And, I still don't like these bikes.

[live love laugh]

210. She's not a nurse. She aggressively snatched/stole the guy's phone.

She claims to be endangered but inserted herself into the alleged dangerous situation then acted dangerously herself … physically taking something someone else had, snatching their property, climbing over and invading the personal space of someone else.

[Celerity]

223. She is higher than a nurse, she is a physician's assistant/associate, a step below a full doctor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physician_assistant

In the US, PAs may diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and serve as a principal healthcare provider. In many states PAs are required to have a direct agreement with a physician.


https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/physician-assistant/

[dalton99a]

252. Yep, she is a PA

Sarah Jane Comrie, PA

Education

Medical Education: Weill Cornell Medical College, Physician Assistant, 2015
Graduate School: Weill Cornell Medical College, 2015
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University, 2011

Affiliations

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

[LisaM]

266. I apologize for misstating her job title. It's still a tiring job.

We all know what healthcare professionals go through. They have long days. It's pretty thankless work. She has a right to just go home at the end of her shift.

You don't get to keep the same bike all day without paying for it. I don't love the bike rental model, but it exists and she paid for the bike. He was trying to squat on it (for lack of a better term) till he got to ride it again for free. The whole system seems cockeyed.

[Celerity]

296. The PA has the receipts and some are kneejerking to tar and feather her with the whole Karen frame,

which this is not, IMHO, a case of.

I posted this last weekend, so pretty early on in all this:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17933364

[NotVeryImportant]

201. So basically both of the individuals in the incident has receipts that support them

Like I stated previously, this is a glitch in the system.

No one to blame except the technology.

Aside from that, this incident is a racist Rorschach test.

[Zeitghost]

212. No

both receipts show the young man had returned the bike prior to the woman renting it. At that point it was free for anyone to use. He had no right to claiim it if he wasn't paying for it.

[Bonx]

213. No, just the Nurse.

[live love laugh]

216. She's not a nurse.

[LexVegas]

221. She's not a nurse. He's not a victim. nt

[live love laugh]

222. Neither is she a victim.

[Celerity]

254. She is higher than a nurse, she is a physician's assistant/associate, a step below a full doctor

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217946340#post223

[Bonx]

224. NEWSONE isn't a real news source

[Zeitghost]

225. You're correct

She is a PA and deserves to be recognized as such.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

217. It's not a glitch. The male docked the bike.

He wanted to re-rent the same one because it was an eBike and he had docked it to not have to pay a higher rate after his 45 minutes of riding it. Before he re-rented it, she rented it. Which one can do when a bike is docked. She legally rented it; he just really wanted to keep using the same bike.

It's not a technology problem.

[live love laugh]

219. She snatched his phone and scanned to rent while doing so.

[obamanut2012]

241. That is not what happened at all -- that is a lie

She had already rented it when he forced it to redock and then went to rent it. He literally stole it.

[Celerity]

299. +1

[live love laugh]

220. It is for those who only believe one side of the story.

[rictofen]

248. There are some really bad takes that will take about 5 seconds to come back and bite us

"She couldn't be that afraid if she didn't leave!"

The next time a minority says they were afraid of something a white person was doing, yet didn't leave or back down, that's going to be interesting.

[ruet]

308. "that's going to be interesting"

Nah, it won't be.

[debm55]

257. Why does a woman always have to back down or away? It wasn't his bike. She was on her feet for 12

hours and pregnant. According to the sister, she jumped on the back. Really? And what were these kids doing for 12 hours? Poor Michael--he didn't get a woman to back down.

[Jedi Guy]

282. This fucking thread. All these fucking threads. This fucking incident.

I posted this morning and then came back after work, and it's still going like the Energizer Bunny.

I say again, Jesus Christ bananas. What a fuckarow.

[sarisataka]

287. They have been very enlightening

regarding the importance of race, women, evidence, etc.

It also has unveiled quiet a bit of 'obstinate or intolerant devotion to one's own opinions and prejudices'

[ShazzieB]

289. You're right, this is a fucking dumpster fire right here.

Totally ott.

[Jedi Guy]

293. I feel like this incident is a microcosm of American society. It is us as a nation, writ small.

And what this tells me is that we are, as the British might say, proper fucked.

This reveals that our society has become riddled with an alarming number of people who are lost in their own chosen narratives and unable to imagine, even for a moment, that they might be wrong.

We cannot wait for the facts before forming conclusions. When the facts arrive and challenge the conclusions we've made, we're unable to take a step back and admit, "Okay, I got it wrong." Instead, we willfully and joyously close our eyes to that which we would rather not see because it makes us question what we hold dear. We choose a comforting fiction over a challenging reality.

We're done. Last one out, hit the lights.

[inthewind21]

298. It's rather eye opening

To see how many here on DU are more than willing to react/believe/behave exactly as the MAGAS we all like to make so much fun of do. SMH

[Jedi Guy]

315. Yup. The abject hypocrisy of that is just really hard to swallow, honestly.

DUers (and the left in general) regularly give Trumpers a well-deserved ration of shit for their shenanigans, and then turn around and engage in precisely the same shenanigans when it suits them to do so.

In that regard, the ride-or-die "evil white Karen" crowd are no better than the Trumpers, as far as I'm concerned. Giving one's opposite numbers shit for engaging in a behavior and then doing it oneself is hypocrisy, straight up.

Some people seem to have this weird idea that people on the left are automatically virtuous based on their positions and people on the right are automatically villainous based on their positions. The positions and ideology only go so far, though. It's the behavior that one engages in or avoids that really speaks to who one truly is.

If you hold all the "right" views and espouse the "right" ideology, but act like a jackwagon... well, you're a jackwagon. This incident has thrown that into sharp relief.

[Celerity]

300. ...