Crackdown, are they or aren't they? Depends on who you ask...

Lets have an acid flashback to about a month and a half ago. The date is September 26th, Critical Mass had just taken to the highway, and that night KVUE released this story (go here for text) about police officers of the APD cracking down on bicycles in the downtown area. Here's the opening text of the story, pretty straightforward:

"Navigating the streets of Downtown Austin can be a challenge on any weekend. After getting a lot of complaints -- police are now cracking down on bicyclists who break the law. "

Of course my favorite line from the story was this one:

Pollard says officers don't discriminate.

Shortly thereafter I started to get reports about the crackdown being in full effect. In the majority of the cases I'd heard about the police officers actaully TOLD the person they pulled over that the cops were actively cracking down on cyclists. Simple enough, right? Cops get complaints about cyclists, cops decide to effect a crackdown in the downtown area, cops start ticketing cyclists extra vigilantly. Welllllllll, now the cops are denying that there's a crackdown at all.

Our good friend (and awesome ride photographer) Adam Robinson took it upon himself to write the APD's Public Information Office, who forwarded his letter on to a district representative of the downtown area command. This is what Adam asked of them:

*Sent:* Thursday, October 30, 2008 10:21 PM
*To:* APD PIO
*Subject:* ticketing cyclists

I am a transportation cyclist, I have many friends who are as well. I have been reading about the recent stepping up of enforcement of traffic violations by cyclists. I have also seen news stories about this issue, I have no doubt that citizens have legitimate complaints about the foolish riding behavior of some cyclists. I however also notice drivers and pedestrians doing foolish, dangerous, and illegal things; and it seems little attention is being paid to this issue by the police department.

If the issue of danger on the streets is to be truly addressed in an affective manner all the people on the road need to be involved. The actions of some officers which I have read about seems to only increase anger between the cycling community and the police, and may encourage reckless behavior. I also feel strongly that harassment of cyclists by drivers is a major issue that is also not being addressed. I feel strongly that there must be a more affective way of addressing these issues.

Thank you,

--
Adam Robinson

Here was the response of the downtown area command representative, completely denying any form of crackdown:

Mr. Robinson,

My name is Officer Martin Limon Jr. and I am one of the district representatives for the downtown area command. I read you e-mail and would like to respond.

First, I'm not sure where you received your information of the Police Department stepping up of enforcement of traffic violations by cyclists. I can tell you that our department in always working on different initiatives to make our city safe. We always receive complaints about people in vehicles (drivers) violating traffic laws in specific areas and we address those issues. When we receive complaints of pedestrian traffic issues we address those and the same goes for cyclist. When Police Officers stop someone for any violation sometimes our contact with that person is looked at as a negative one especially if a citation is written. That contact should not be looked at as negative or harassment and should in no way encourage reckless behavior.

I do agree with you that some drivers as well as pedestrians do not give cyclists the respect they should on our public streets. I know from experience, I was a bike officer for four years in the downtown area. If you or any of your cycling friends feel that they are being harassed by our officers we need to know that so we can correct the situation. One last thing, we all need to follow the city ordinances and traffic laws of this city and state and are responsible for our actions.

Respectfully,

Senior Police Officer
Martin Limon Jr. 1598
512 974-5492

How interesting! While I'm glad that they recognize that traffic problems stem from all manner of people, not just cyclists, the fact that they flat out deny the crackdown that has been talked about not only by the news media but also by the officers on the streets seems somewhat suspect in my mind. If anyone has an internal memo or any form of police communique that references a crackdown on cyclists, PLEASE send it to me! Though I see the words officer Limon has written, empirical evidence as well as the word of the beat cops giving out the tickets prove this letter to be false. Hopefully there's an actual cop document that does the same thing as the cops themselves, that would be something they could not deny.

In a related issue, there has also been an active crackdown on the cyclists of UT, as well as the people who use the campus as a thoroughfare on their daily commute (like yours truly). I know that APD and UTPD oftentimes work hand-in-hand, and this seems to be a textbook example of that working relationship. Unlike the APD's harassment of cyclists, I ACTUALLY have proof of the UTPD crusade against our two-wheeled brethren. Check out this letter sent to me a few weeks ago by a current UT Student. This was sent to them because they happened to register their bike with the UTPD. Here's what the UT cops have to say, and note the date (several days before the KVUE story):

From: Cortez, Samuel D
Date: Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Subject: [bikeut] UTPD Bicycle Safety Promotion
To: "bikeut@utlists.utexas.edu"
Cc: "bicycle@www.utexas.edu"

Attention Bicycle Community:

In an effort to promote bicycle safety on campus and protect cyclist as well as pedestrians, the University Police Department will begin to more closely monitor and enforce bicycle safety regulations starting today 9/24/2008. Please be sure to obey all bicycle regulations when traveling on campus such as making a complete stop at all stop signs, properly signaling before turning, traveling in the correct direction up and down a street, properly yielding right of way to pedestrians, and obeying the speed limit.

The campus speed limit is 15 mph and this applies to, not just motor vehicles, but all vehicles including cyclist. Please remember, as a cyclist you hold the same rights as automobile traffic, but this also means you have the same responsibilities. Obeying traffic signs, properly signaling, etc. are all part of riding your bicycle properly.

For more information on cycling rules and regulations on campus please visit our site at www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/biking

For more information on cycling rules and regulations around the city please visit the City of Austin's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program's website at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/bicycle/pwbicomm.htm

Parking and Transportation Services and well as UTPD thank you for supporting all UT Austin endeavors.

Parking & Transportation Services
The University of Texas at Austin
Phone: 471-7275 (PARK)
Fax: 471-4227
parking@www.utexas.edu

http://www.utexas.edu/parking

Looks like evidence of a crackdown to me. APD? Care to revise your statement or are you gonna stick with the lie?