You are hereCritical WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THE COPS?
Critical WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THE COPS?
Update: Thanks y'all! The officer who led the assault was Jason Mistric (#4856), and here's a good video of him telling us that he'll be arresting cyclists for red light violations in the future:
If you'd like to see the full length video, check this shit out. Thanks Luke! Talk about being Johnny-on-the-spot with the camera.
FREE LURCH!
Photo by Allison
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Wow, what a crazy Critical Mass. I guess all the gangsters on the streets got the coppers called on us, because they arrested 2 people for blocking a public passage or something like that (maybe someone who took notes can tell me exactly what it was), whatever it was it was a class B Misdemeanor. WTF?!? Two other people also got ticketed for running a red, and the main cop on the scene was on some major authority trip. Did anyone get his name/number? He took his nametag off early on and never would tell me his name. Lurch and Adam, when y'all get out give me a shout, I want to know what went down.
Beyond that one bad scene the ride went swimmingly. We too some of the normal courses down to the circle, but ended up going a ways South on Lamar before doing the LONG trip from S. Mary up Congress to the capital. We got a bit turned around in Campus but figured out heads from tails and got back on course, buzzing 6th St. again before heading west to pick up the beers. After that it was back up into campus, only to West Campus this time around for a final stop and a quick keg run. After that it was partying until 11 or so when the beer finally ran out. Good times, y'all! If you want to see some pics of the ride, Doug and Jose were on the scene, check 'em out:
http://cycling.frenzied.us/2009-03-27-Critical_Mass/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joseole/
I'll write in more detail about the cop stop and some things that were discussed afterwards, but I'm running late for Frankenbike and need to score some stuff to fix my bikes. I'll see y'all out there!
i rode a lot in sacramento with cm and enjoyed it. things were different though. the cops backed us and sometimes rode with us. we just went to the city council and the main station and did it right. the city approved it and the cops supported us. i rode wi;th you guys a few months back, but you guys are off on some strange trip that you are able to trample on a cops turf. they are just as determined, but better...extremely organized. ...i know that cop. rode with him a bunch of times in the past 3 years. he's one brave s.o.b. and pretty fair most of the time. never a hot head unless some sucker got crazy. cyclo cyclist too i believe.
keep fightn' for cyclists rights but don't push too hard and never run from the cops or risk a felony charge unless your running on foot i think thats a misdemeanor if your up for that stuff. i've seen it first hand. if you run, they can't resist. trust me if you flee you don't want to look behind you and see vin diesel on a bike and you in his sights. you will just be out of breath in the backseat of the car and out a few grand.
good luck guys.
... or is it a bike parade? We've already got Tour de fat.
You don't need a permit or police escort to ride down the street. Why should you need one to ride down the street with 399 of your friends?
Getting a parade permit or the equivalent and having a police escort is like going to the ball with a carriage that turns back into a pumpkin at midnight. If you're trying to make a statement, the statement you're making is that `we're having a parade!' At least without a permit or escort, one of many statements being made (some bad, some good) is `bikes belong'.
Personally, I'd prefer people just obey the law, stop running red lights and stop signs, at least when there's other people waiting. Breaking the `two abreast' law is fine (to me anyways), as it doesn't inconvenience others or have safety implications (real or assumed), but it's the red light running and corking that bothers people. But Courteous Mass was already tried and failed -- but that doesn't mean the idea isn't good.
sounds like ya'll need to start a new ride. A ride with leaders and organization.
Austin critical mass may be getting more people participating but the rides have totaly sucked for about the last year. Critical mass used to be spontaneous and fun you never knew where the ride was gonna go. Now the ride has a route that it takes no matter what. Around the circle, to the capitol, and to the beer thats critical mass now or as I call it critical wait, cause thats all we do.
I've been going on critical mass off and on since 98. The 2009 mass although some of the bigger mass' I've seen they suck compared to critical mass just a few years ago.
The rides have changed, now we have people darting from the middle of the pack, practicly causing bike collisions every time, to "cork" intersections. People in there cars dont want to see some douchbag in his tight pants and matching colored bike sitting right in front on there car telling them to chill out they cant go. I feel that This one act has been causing critical mass a lot of grief. Critical mass has always had some cop involvement for as long as I've been riding on it and this isnt going to change, we are riding down busy streets during rush hour. This new movment to advertise corking has lead to a lot more police involvement and this can be changed.
All these post say the same thing. when did it turn in to a given that critical mass stops to regroup at the capitol? Themed rides? what next we stop at every light and only ride two abreast.
Critical mass has always been a leaderless ride and its time for the people who think they are the leaders to take a step down. Lets bring back the leaderless routeless fun spontaneous critical mass of old. Since most of the people who read this probably wont know what it was like to ride a critical mass of old. IT WAS FUN!!!
I saw that cop in whole foods, I was taking a shit and he was in the stall next to me vigorously tapping his foot to the floor and trying to get my attention. what a weirdo, and I couldnt even call the cops for fear that he might be the responding ocifer.
fixed gears are like butt holes, every one has one.
Yeah, I HATE the "standard route" shit that's been going on lately, but since there are no "leaders" to guide it elsewhere for some reason it always seems to go that way. Down Guadalupe, round the circle, up congress, stop at the capital, meander. I don't consider myself a leader, I just happen to be too loud for my own good. I like the themes because it's entertaining to see a bunch of people dressed up, but they can be taken or left as you see fit. No one has to dress up or do anything they don't want to. I also dig having a place to go after the rides and party. It's not always planned, in fact this months ride destination wasn't planned at all, it just kinda came together. My main wish would be that the rides be longer and we actually do more RIDING rather than 20-30 minute intervals of riding with 30-45 minute breaks in-between.
I dunno, I've only been riding them for 2 years and though I thought this last Critical Mass ride was kinda odd, I still had a good time. You've definitely got a much longer history with the rides, do you have a suggestion for diverting the ride elsewhere than the circle? Head a different direction from the get-go? Go north? Thanks for letting us know what you think of the state of shit. You're one of few old-timers I know that still rides, and I value your opinion.
need to explain the old Lamar Bridge protest ride that helped get the Pfluger Bridge process unstuck (I was there).
Loop around as many times as you need to to be legal. Ignore those who say that the image of cyclists is always and will always be dirt. When the city council saw people like Tommy Eden and myself (can't remember if Patrick was there) engaged in a legal protest that actually made a legitimate point, they paid some attention. Not enough to get it built right, of course, but a hell of a lot more than has happened lately, with all y'all's energy getting wasted on useless planning and paper-pushing exercises intended to keep you busy and out of the way.
A "CM" ride focused on a north-south bikeway would be a good example. Legally ride through downtown with lots of people, showing how much of a pain it is for both cyclists and motorists if a lot of cyclists are doing it at one time. Loop around if necessary (we did about 10 loops on the Lamar bridge that day). Hold up signs indicating what, exactly, it is that you're after, rather than just looking like a bunch of anarchists.
The theory that there's no middle group out there that can be pissed off by juvenile antics is comforting if you already made up your mind to act a certain way, but it's absolutely 100% false. There are a lot of potentially pro-cyclist drivers out there whose opinions can be and often are swayed by what they see, both pro and con (I used to get positive feedback on many of my commutes to work from drivers who would stop and ask me about routes and stuff).
This arrest concerns me a lot more than running a red violations (for more reasons just than the classification and fine). What will CM do now if it's not going to hold up traffic at lights? Will cyclists running through also be targeted? The alternative would seem to be that CMers do a "slow as you ran ride" ride two-abreast each lane (with left laners volunteering to actually turn left if cops are around) to wait on the next wave stuck at lights.
This will end up obstructing traffic a lot more and will thus be an unintended consequence of enforcing the obstruction laws at CM.
The cop featured was hanging around the bathroom at Whole Foods yesterday when I was waiting on my kids to pee. He gave me the creeps for some reason. Now I know why.
LOBV may be penning a letter today to Acevedo.
Damicoaustin seems to be thinking much the same thing I was just thinking.
Since the man has now threatened to arrest corkers, maybe we could show 'em how they might not like what happens when 400 bikes endeavor to ride as individuals.
They will see CM bikes get spread out to hell and back IF WE OBEY all the traffic signals and stop signs.
If CM were to adopt a two-abreast limit and follow strict traffic signal discipline, all y'all would need to do to snarl things up completely is to queue up the group for a left turn or two, maybe traverse a few 4-way stops and stuff like that.
Think about it. While 20 or 30 riders at a time make it through the light each cycle, (or two-at-a-time at a stop sign) those riders "waiting" could turn around and smile and wave (maybe flash a peace sign) at all the cars stacking up behind them.
Traffic would be totally hosed up in no time. Especially if the Mass doubled back after a quarter mile or so and started going the opposite direction on the given street AND THEN queued up in a similar fashion going THAT WAY TOO.
Just by doing a few legal moves while using one lane at two-abreast (ie STRICTLY LEGAL) -- you could really create a critical problem for enforcement and they'd probably back off from their present position pronto.
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robbo
First, he threatened to arrest people running red lights, not corkers. Which is significantly worse, because it's a common traffic violation that nobody is ever arrested for. The law that the two people were arrested for seems to match corking pretty well and is significantly more serious than simply running a red light.
The police may have discretion to not arrest for a class C misdemeanor, especially traffic offences, but for a class B, they said an arrest is mandated and I don't really have any reason to doubt this.
As for two abreast, the law says you can only go two abreast if you're not slowing traffic. If you're slowing traffic, you have to ride single file. (Either way, it's a stupid, pointless law that strongly discriminates against cyclists with no benefit for anybody else, but hey, it's the law.)
Here's the law, by the way --
Sec. 551.103. Operation on Roadway.
...
(c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
And combined with the `as far right as practiable' law, I'd say that they won't let you have cyclists in every lane -- only the right lane. If it's a one way road, you can also stay far to the left, and if you're about to turn left, you can be in the left lane too. Though it's not clear if on a one way road (or if somebody was turning left) you could have two abreast in the left lane and two abreast in the right lane ...
In any event, I'm not sure that deliberately snarling traffic is going to have any useful benefits. Obeying the red lights (and not corking), especially down town, sounds prudent, but going out of our way to keep going back? It's not going to win us any friends, and perhaps more importantly, it's not likely to be fun for the riders.
Trying to get 400 cyclists to stick to one lane, two-abreast (or especially single file) sounds utterly impossible. But if they don't, that gives the police a legal reason to give tickets and such. But getting them to stop for red lights and go ahead and let red lights break up the mass, and perhaps leave one lane open for cars, that might be doable, and as long as the riders don't go out of their way to cause problems, it ought to be enough to keep the police from targeting them.
Though to put this in perspective, this was *one* cop making a threat, a threat that is 1) counter to established policy and 2) wasn't even followed during that particular incident (as I assume the two tickets given were for red light running, and they weren't arrested.) I doubt this cop has the authority to set policy for the department, and Acevedo has been making changes in the other direction, for example giving tickets for small amounts of pot rather than arresting. I'd say it's way too early to assume that the police are out to get CM or cyclists in general.
The arrest was not for running a red light, correct? The arrest was for "impeding a public passageway" which is not a traffic violation. I've heard of people at protests getting arrested for this while doing actions. Crappy situation. Best of luck.
Correct, though (as was documented in the video) the officer throwing his authority around did say that he'd be arresting for red light violations on bikes. When he'd pulled over a couple of my friends on a different occasion he also told them that they were cracking down and would be taking them to jail if they got caught again. You'd think that in Austin they'd want to put more criminal people in the jails than a couple traffic violators on bikes, but I guess not.
Jason, Your concern is legitimate enough that it's worth contacting APD over. Acevedo has a short history of 'lessening' minor problems (small possessions of marijuana in Austin are ticket-able as of about a year ago). Maybe higher-ups at APD just need to be 'awakened' as to the arresting of red-light runners. Then again, Acevedo is a bit of a traffic nutjob.
Of course this all just goes to make next month's CM even more interesting..
I've seen it happen once, but beyond that, is it anything more than a threat from an annoyed cop?
I tend to doubt they'll actually do it, as it's the sort of thing that's likely to make the police look bad and Acevedo probably knows that (and he should be aware of the history of Critical Mass in Austin with regards to the police.)
The police might find some sympathy if they started arresting CMers for running red lights, but the threat made it sound like it would be done to cyclists in general. If they did that, it would turn out poorly, and the police probably realize that.
But if you cork, you run the risk of a pretty serious charge. Apparently people are rarely arrested for the charge (except for an occasional protester) -- but lots of people arrested for DWI plea bargain down to it. Take that into consideration before you decide to cork. You might also want to consider this motorist's view of corking.
Has anybody heard from/checked on those arrested? [Edit: seems that Lurch is out anyways.]
Maybe we should review "Bike Like U Mean It" at one of the CM afterparties, or even sooner. It's a doc about CM in Austin probably 10 or 12 years ago... They were total fascists back then, and I guess that could return.
edit: I guess it was only seven years ago....
Bike Like You Mean It (2002)
"Bike Like U Mean It, a documentary by Susan Kirr and Rusty Martin about Austin's bike community, will screen at SXSW this year [2002]. Many of Austin's bike activists are featured in this film, so you will see a lot of familiar faces, and it is our attempt to portray the culture and the issues surrounding Austin's bike scene: Critical Mass, Yellow Bike Project, Spinning Wheel Project, and Amy Babich's letters to the Chronicle are all featured, to name a few." (Description by the producers.) Order from the National Film Network.
More from the producers:
The new documentary, "Bike Like U Mean It," by Rusty Martin and Susan Kirr, will have its world premiere at SXSW in March 2002. This film is a portrait of Austin's commuter cyclists, those who ride their bikes as transportation, eschewing cars. Outspoken and iconoclastic, they actively promote not only alternative forms of transportation, but an alternative viewpoint toward cities, urban design, lifestyle, and culture. The film features:
*Critical Mass, a monthly "coincidence" of bicyclists riding through downtown rush hour traffic
*The Yellow Bike Project, a small collective of utopian idealists who are trying to put public bikes on the streets and also educate disadvantaged children about how to work on bikes
*The Spinning Wheel Project, dedicated to biking, peace, and non-violence
*Amy Babich and her years-long letter writing campaign to the Austin Chronicle
*Experts discussing alternative forms of energy, transportation, and urban design
https://www.nationalfilmnetwork.com/store/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=...
... is described here. Ultimately, you risk this sort of charge if you're corking. (No idea if the guys were actually corking, of course.)
I'd say they need to lawyer up if they haven't already, and once the specifics are worked out doing some sort of donation to help out with the legal fees would be appropriate. Once the cops have decided to arrest you for that, I imagine you're not likely to talk them out of it, so it would be a good time to exercise your 5th amendment rights and shut up, but I'll bet there's a lot of room for negotiation with the DA. Definitely time for a lawyer ...
Perhaps the mass should try to avoid that section of Congress. It seems that the majority of arrests and tickets happen in that small area ...
If you ever need a job as a fact-checker/research assistant, let me know. The pay's for shit but the perks are discounts at bike shops and people occasionally buy you beers. Ok I guess that's not a hard sell, but your google-fu is strong and you always come up with the sensible answers.
Another option would be to discuss it beforehand and try to make it an understanding that we OBEY THE LAW from the north side of the bridge until the Capitol. It would be interesting to see the ENTIRE mass stop at red lights, get broken up, really gum up northbound traffic, but not run reds or cork, so as not to draw the ire of the cops. We'll still be a very visible presence, but you're right that the majority of the stops seem to be in that area. Lets not give them the chance. Since we all know to regroup at the Capitol, it's not a big deal to get split up or anything. Who knows, it might be fun.
... but I always like a good beer, and tell me more about these discounts! :)
Getting the mass to do something is like herding cats, but that sounds like a good plan if it can be pulled off. Or if people do insist on running lights, at least suggest that they not cork downtown.
To be fully legal, we'd have to be two abreast (or even one abreast if we're backing up traffic) and in the right lane, but trying to get people to not run red lights and cork would certainly be an interesting beginning.
I can just see the LJ rant now ... `I was trying to go up Congress, and got stuck behind what must have been hundreds of cyclists. Which wouldn't have been a big deal, but they stopped at all the red lights (just to piss me off I guess!), and so it took me 30 minutes to get to Starbucks! We need to get these bikes off the road and onto the sidewalks where they belong!'
True, but I don't think we could pull off the two-abreast, or only in the right lane thing. We could probably stay in the right two lanes and leave one for cars, but even that might be tough, and of course all it takes is a few people at the front to draw the group through reds if they really want to. It seems the cops MAIN issue is corking and red-light running, so if we eliminated that behavior within the cops primary stomping grounds, maybe they'd bugger off and go harass other citizens instead of us.
I'm sure we could organize enough to have a mass in the right lanes, two abreast, and another mass of left turners, totally legally taking lefts, two abreast as well. Then there's only one lane left for cars on a 3 lane avenue. we could get mass "A" and mass "B" zigzagging through downtown independent of one another, yet re-converging at the capitol. this alone could mean an hour of sitting in dowtntown traffic on our bikes, but if that's the point... maybe it could erupt into a spontaneous "take back the streets" type of party on some random block downtown:
http://www.urban75.com/Action/reclaim18.html
how not to:
http://www.urban75.com/Action/reclaim19.html
It may sound stupid, but what if one were to cork the intersection by "accident". If someone is to fall in the middle of a intersection/sidewalk, rendering their bike useless for the moment, what would happen then?
(PS- I like the idea of just holding at stop lights on Congress much more than my idea. Think of the traffic! Regroup at Capitol and all is solved. If they started busting people for riding more than 2 abreast or not being in the far right of a multi lane road, I'll surely take that ticket than red light running or the obstruction of precious car users ticket.)
Taylor
Well, the law says
A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly... if you fall down or have an accident, it's not really intentionally, knowingly or reckless. (Though it might be reckless if you were doing tricks or something like that and then fell.) But if you make yourself fall down, it's intentional ...And even if it didn't have these words, the police really aren't normally into giving people tickets or arresting them for bona-fide accidents, especially when nobody is hurt. But if they see that you `intentionally' had an accident, and then didn't get out of the road quickly when you could have done so, they're not likely to be so considerate.
I think the answer is to actually stop at the lights -- not to attempt to snarl traffic or to make a statement or anything like that, but just to obey the same laws that the cars obey. That's the biggest thing that people bitch at the mass for. Sure, it might snarl traffic worse, but still not nearly as bad as adding 400 cars to the traffic mix would.
The main police officer making the arrests, the guy with the bald head, is named Mistric. I think Jason Mistric. Someone wrote down his badge number.
I asked him why he is the only officer without a name tag, and he answered that it got ripped off - maybe earlier on the scene?