Major bike brands criticise US police for using bikes as riot shields
Stickybotte.com, Posted on: June 6th, 2020
THE POLICE WERE SPOTTED INSTIGATING VIOLENCE MULTIPLE TIMES AGAINST PROTESTERS!! DO NOT LET THIS GO UNSEEN pic.twitter.com/dgLAug4dR1
— eddy | BLACK LIVES MATTER (@EDDIFUL) June 1, 2020
Photo: San Antonio-Photo by Bonnie Arbittier-Rivard Report
Bike brands are now speaking out about how the police have used bikes as offensive and defensive riot shields during disturbances in the US related to the Black Lives Matter protest movement
A number of bikes brands have moved to distance themselves from the way several police forces in the United States have used bikes as an offensive and defensive tactical weapon during clashes with Black Lives Matter protests.
One company, Fuji Bikes, has suspended the sale of bikes to police forces, via its north American distributor, saying it was upset to see how its bikes were being used. It added its bikes were never intended for use in the manner some police forces were using them.
Specialized said it did not have any contracts with police forces, adding it was “horrified” at the way bikes were being used.
Clashes, some of them full blown riots, have been raging for more than a week since the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota, with some bike brands pushing back after seeing their bikes being used by the police.
Many social media users have demanded the brands stop selling the bikes to the police and that any profits raised from sales to date be donated to charity.
A trend in the US has been to deploy groups of police officers on bikes as reaction forces to address street disturbances.
During the recent clashes police have used bikes, often bearing the brand names on frames, as defensive and offensive tactical weapons; much the same way traditional riot shields have always been used in policing.
It means bikes give large groups of officers very fast mobility to move around urban areas and when they arrive at disturbances they then work in a coordinate way, using the bikes as offensive and defensive shields.
Trek’s bikes have been used in a number of ugly clashes; the company producing bikes specifically for policing including a police ebike selling at €4,000.
The company’s president John Bourke has condemned the killing of George Floyd. Though Trek cannot control what police forces use its bike for, some members of the public have called on the company to stop supplying bikes for policing.
Some other brands have issued more direct statements, making it clear it did not sell bikes to police forces and others said it was stopping police force sales.
Fuji Bikes’ north American distributor BikeCo said it had seen its bikes used in the last week for “violent tactics” they were not designed or intended for.
“At this time, we are suspending the sale of Fuji police bikes until a conversation with these departments has occurred and we are confident that real change is being made,” BikeCo said.
It added its bikes had been used “as a weapon” on people who were “vulnerable” and speaking out against the “just treatment of people of colour”. This had “deeply upset” the company.
It said it support diversity and “to have these efforts overshadowed by cases of violence with bicycles is unacceptable”.
Specialized took to social media many times to reply to others who questioned if they sold bikes to police forces; the company saying it did not.
“We have zero active law enforcement contracts. We are horrified at seeing the bicycle being used as a weapon,” Specialized said.
It also issued a statement saying “cycling has a problem with race” and acknowledging that it was part of the problem. As a first step it said it was investing $10 million over the next three years to OutRide, a school and youth programme to encourage cycling.
It added it planned to use more black, indigenous and people of colour in its marketing and other parts of building its profile, saying to this point cycling was “elitist”.
Police on bikes in Seattle also clashed with protestors and the arrest of one woman, which was recorded has received very significant attention on social media.
Those officers were riding Volcanic bikes, with one officer using his bike to block the arrest from an onlooker recording the footage, below.
Like the other bike brands used by police forces, Volcanic has no control over how police officers used its bikes on duty. The company had not made any public comments.
Haro Bikes, which produces BMX and MTBs and often markets itself as a counter culture brand, also sells bikes to police forces. It has made not comment to date. Like other bike brands, it has not control over how its bike are used.