The AJC is reporting that a pedestrian was hit by a car around 6:45a at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Ave and North Highland in Atlanta this morning and has been taken to Grady in “stable condition”.

One would assume that this nasty weather had something to do with it.

Drive/walk carefully out there folks.  It ain’t purdy.

Lots of buzz late yesterday and early this morning about an Atlanta police chase that ended in Oakhurst.

Eyewitnesses in this Oakhurst Message Board thread reported that the chase ended at 4th and Gorden, that Atlanta police were in resident yards with guns drawn, how the driver fled from the scene, and a report that the car was “easily doing 80” down Pharr Road before the chase ended.

The AJC also has some details from the scene and a quote from the Atlanta police.

Over at Fresh Loaf, Andisheh notes and pashaws an AJC article that quotes the APD likening the blue jean bandits’ motivation for stealing $300 jeans to that man in tights, “Robin Hood”.

Ripped from the AJC…

“It’s a fashion statement, and they can sell it,” says C. Dawson, a manager at Urban Fusion, a Castleberry Hill boutique that was hit twice. “If they could steal Benz’s, they’d steal Benz’s.”

Atlanta police say the groups have a gang-like mentality that’s part greed, part Robin Hood. Descriptions of the groups usually mention an older man and several younger people in their teens or early 20s, often wearing unremarkable jeans, white T-shirts and hats or sunglasses. An older man seems to organize the groups, while younger people grab merchandise. At least one woman has been arrested, too.

They wear what they steal, and sell it to their friends and family members at reduced rates, police say. Police say large quantities of stolen merchandise leaves the metro area, but won’t say where it’s going or how it’s getting there.

Andisheh is certainly right to gaffaw.  The ol’ Robin Hood analogy isn’t quite on par.  Though these guys aren’t just stealing for profit, their other motivation isn’t exactly feeding the poor…its all in the name of fashion and image.

Is it just me, or did these heists just become even more pathetic?  And does this mean we won’t see another rash of break-ins until the fall/winter ’08 line comes out?

The article also quotes APD saying that these approximately 36 guys (can you approximate 36?) seem to be operating in three groups around the city.  16 arrests have been made thus far.

A few more folks became familiar with Critical Mass last month after the AJC did a feature story on the monthly congregation of hundreds of cyclists that clog Atlanta intersections to promote bike awareness. Well, apparently this level of publicity didn’t sit well with the APD, because after months of a peaceful coexistence between the police and bikers, this past Friday the cops descended upon the helmeted en masse. Tickets were handed out for those that ran stop signs and red lights.

Shelbinator has the first hand account which includes a video with lots of flashing lights…

Not surprisingly, this monthly event is somewhat controversial, even within the biking community.

Even though those that participate in CM argue that it has nothing to do with showing how cyclists will willingly break traffic laws, many of those opposed see it that way. However, for anyone that’s ever had a car push you into a ditch, you begin to understand the concept (and admittedly built up animosity) behind CM. You nearly break my arm, I break a traffic law once a month to remind you that I exist.

Just another nasty symptom of our car-based infrastructure that treats the bicyclist as an afterthought.

Thanks to David O. for the heads up!