You are hereKVUE runs story on increase in cyclist ticketing
KVUE runs story on increase in cyclist ticketing
Last night KVUE ran a story about the perceived increase in cyclist ticketing being mentioned on the BicycleAustin forums, mailing list, and on several local blogs.
Last Sunday I re-posted some information forwarded to me by DougMC about the City's new fine schedule which includes several bicycle-specific fines which are actually set higher than their motorized counterparts, which he also posted in the forums they feature in the story. I called shenanigans on the fact that the city was charging people who may be biking due to financial reasons MORE money than their car-driving brethren. Rather than focus on the inequity in the ticketing system or the fact that the cops are letting us know that they're increasing ticketing on a specific minority segment of the population, they instead chose to mention how many cyclists feel entitled to run reds and stop signs, and how drivers feel outraged at our entitlement. Check out the entire story and the associated video on KVUE's website:
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/062209kvue_cycling_stop_signs-cb.17...
Once again the police tell the cyclists they're pulling over one thing, but the media another. I'm more inclined to believe the people they're giving tickets to. One thing I do know, try to avoid running the stop signs near 46th and Guadalupe. It seems like they're nailing a lot of people in that vicinity. As always, the comments section of the story is an absolute laugh riot. Check it out if you're in need of a few guffaws.
Nobody is really complaining about an `increase in cyclist ticketing'.
Ultimately, *one* person posted that they got a ticket, and that they heard it was part of a crackdown of sorts. And that person wasn't even really complaining. Certainly, the Internet wasn't `lit up by Austin's cycling blogs' over the issue.
Most of the complaining people are doing is about Perry's veto.
Patrick Riley put his foot in his mouth nicely for KVUE, however. He claims (in the comments) that he was taken out of context, and I totally believe that, but people need to be more careful what they say on camera. What he said is a very common sentiment, shared by many cyclists (and motorists, for that matter), but the way he said it (especially with his name like that) is likely to haunt him for a while.
KVUE obviously knew that (even if he didn't realize it), but set him up (or let him set himself up, then used it) because it brings them more viewers/readers. I'm not sure if that's journalism or not, but if it is, it's not a good kind.
Beyond the original poster on BikeAustin forums, another commenter on ATXBS (http://www.atxbs.com/?q=node/1767#comment-1933) mentioned that he and his brother had been ticketed at the same intersection a week prior, and for the same issue (failing to stop at a stop sign).
You're right though that the story is a non-event. Cops have been ticketing for this behavior for some time now, and it doesn't look like it's going to go away any time soon. The real story is why was it such a slow news night that they had to come up with this puff piece? Any news story like this can help create and mold public perception on an issue. Rather than show both sides of it, they seemed to only look for scofflaw cyclists to prove a point, and are doing a disservice to the community through their unbalanced reporting. Not that I expect much better from the news media.
you know, in our country if you break the law, and if and when you get caught, you're going to get ticketed. that's the way our culture works. i have no sympathy for cyclists getting caught and then whining that it's not fair. the answer to that is simple: if you're gonna run stop signs, don't get caught.
on the larger topic: i don't see a problem with requiring us cyclists to have our bikes inspected or having us getting a license, or getting insurance for that matter. i see this as completely giving us more power. what driver is going to tell us we don't belong on the road if we have to do everything they have to do? they can't tell us to get off the road if we have a license, too. cops could not ignore us at all, either. they cannot wave off a car hitting a cyclist like they do now. they'd lose their job and we'd have a major lawsuit on our hands against the city. the way cars win is they have laws and regulations clearly (CLEARLY) on their side. if we really want to win the battle against cars and road rights, then we have to demand the same treatment: license and insurance = same treatment on the road.
also, politically, i could totally see demanding and getting a bigger break for car insurance if i was a registered bike rider; what politician (even rick perry) would argue against people being more responsible for the environment as that is a current political issue. here we are offering a great way to help the environment and we'd like to get some compensation for it. i think kind of like the way a poor country can sell its carbon emissions credit, we should get insurance credit for using our bikes. (personally, i don't give a crap about the enviromental issue that much but if it'll save me money, i'll claim it.)
that's my 2 cents' worth.
Yeah, those are GREAT ideas. That will certainly create a bit of revenue for the police, and I'm sure they'll pile that money into bike related improvements for the city... or cool new police toys.
Plus, when the insurance companies are suddenly responsible for the damage our bikes might do to some douche's Porsche, there may be some "re-imagination" of what a bicycle "could/should be". (Nerf bumpers?) Oh, and you fixters better get a brake on that thang, 'cause Billy down at the inspection station can't do hockey slides (or however you're stopping this week).
Don't drink and cycle, you'll BILL yourself! I know you can get a DUI on your bike right now, but with all the new revenue angles, I'm sure enforcement would increase. Moonlight cruises would be a little different.
The comments about this story on KVUEs site sicken me. Lots of bicycle haters over there, but look over at an article about an injured motorist, and some of those same TROLLS lament how "crazy Austin drivers are", yet they want us to stop with them, and keep up with them ("go the speed limit if you're gonna want equal rights on the road").
Yes, you should tax more, period, 'cause we need some more cameras around here for safety (oops, the cops forget to turn on theirs before a shooting or beatdown?)
Besides, mobility isn't a right-it's a priviledge.
Oh, yeah, fuck the environment-I saved so much money by riding my bike around from my nanny, the gubment, that I'm buyin' a bigger A/C!
Just my bitter two cents'
I know you can get a DUI on your bike right now ... not in Texas. The DUI law specifically says `motor vehicle', which a bicycle is not. Of course, you can still get a PI (public intoxication) or perhaps reckless driving ...