Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carnage

Crazed Driver Plows Through Critical Mass in Brazil

(There's a graphic video of the actual attack available here.)

A lot of critics of group bicycle rides, especially Critical Mass, like to claim that they'd like nothing more than to drive through it in their SUVs. Apparently one maniac in Brazil decided to give that a try.

At last Friday's Porto Alegre Critical Mass, the driver of a Black Volkswagen Golf plowed through a group of 130 cyclists. Fifty of them were hit. Two were in critical condition as of Saturday night. Following the assault, the driver of the Golf ditched the weapon and fled on foot from the unmarked car. The police identified Ricardo José Neis as the lead suspect.

The above video shows the aftermath of the attack. The narration has been translated as:

"I am? here at the Critical Mass ride. A car just ran over with the entire critical mass ride. At full speed! A black VW Golf. He hit everybody!! Are you seeing this?!

What a horrible thing... oh my GOD. Someone call the police, call the ambulance

Police! Call the? Police!! The Ambulance!?

Everyone is scared, son.

A car hit the whole, entire Critical Mass ride!! At full speed.

Voice: What's going on?

This is the most horrible thing I've ever seen! I cannot believe"

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Amtrak’s Dithering Means Penn Access Won’t Be Done ‘Til 2030, MTA Says

Boom: The MTA's ambitious Penn Access project is delayed until 2030 at the earliest ... and Amtrak is to blame, says the MTA.

October 28, 2025

From Parking to Park: East Side Lot To Become Public Space

The East Side finally gets back some of its waterfront from cars.

October 28, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: ‘Life After Cars’ With Doug Gordon and Saray Goodyear

Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon of The War on Cars podcast on their new book, opposing views, Turtle Jesus and potential off-ramps towards car-free cities.

October 28, 2025

Vision Zero Cities: How Istanbul Builds Subways Cheap — And What U.S. Cities Can Learn

Istanbul has expanded its subway network by more than 200 miles over the past three decades.

October 28, 2025

Tuesday’s Headines: Amtrak Agonistes Edition

The MTA is blaming the national rail system for delays on the Penn Access project. Plus other news.

October 28, 2025

Ugly Truth: Feds’ Canal Street Raid Pushed Aside NYPD, Safety and Free Speech

President Trump's heavily armed and masked immigration troops are turning American cities into battlegrounds — and eliminating accountability and free speech in the public realm.

October 27, 2025
See all posts