They're usually high up enough that baseball bats would be tough, but they're an option for some situations. Lasers are nice because they're inexpensive(ish) and can be operated from a vehicle, e.g. just roll up on a bike, blast the sensor, and scram. There are other options, but if you have a high-power laser already and want to strike a blow for freedom, this is one way to do it.

Generally they're mounted high enough you can't hit them with a stick (totally sincere here: I am so curious where the idea that every american has a baseball bat came from. We don't, that's like assuming every canadian has a hockey stick). The best method of physically damaging them is just to loop a chain around them and pull them down then hit them with your standard-issue Size 2 Louisville Slugger. But that takes time and several people, so for a quick & clean takedown laser pointers are fairly effective.