I run the 400m in 52 seconds, the mile in 4:50 seconds, not world class for sure, but a whole lot faster than that short woman.

Yea probably faster than her... but to be honest she would jump in her car and try to follow you lol... or ride the stolen bike after you lol.. Not vouching for the police for sure on this one though...

thats theft.. cops are immune to traffic laws for the most part but not theft. That is a direct violation of our civil rights.

I really doubt that it's theft. The bikes were probably parked in violation of the law, and the officers were probably authorized to remove them. Unless the officers took them home, it wouldn't be theft.

That said, NYC is clearly anti-cyclist, and cyclists will continue to be subjected to discrimination until they help elect a pro-cyclist administration.

I don't know if it qualifies as theft, you're right. But if selectively damaging and carting away private property is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment (that's the one regarding "unreasonable search[es] and seizure[s]," well, it's awfully close.


Addenda: While Mayor Bloomberg's proposal for a green New York (known by the unpronounceable acronym PlaNYC (http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/home/home.shtml)) is gaining steam — Governor Spitzer came out in support of congestion pricing yesterday! — here's an interesting note. NOT ONCE in his long speech to roll out this eco-friendly initiative did Bloomberg use the one word that unites us all: bicycle.

AS much as I hate to say it, the CM before the RNC in 04 was probably one of the greatest foot-shootings ever. Though there was a perceived short term, immediate need to get out in the streets, how much more would it have benefited the long-term relationship of even just CM and the NYPD if the ride had been pushed back a week so as to not coincide? To say nothing of the wider relationship between cyclists generally and the city... people forget now that Bloomberg was, before the RNC, pretty pro-bike and had actually bought a bike to use for commuting during the averted transit strike during the early part of his first term and was encouraging people to do the same. Even with the post-RNC hostility towards CM the city's committed to striping all kinds of new bike lanes and building new facilities (like the approach to the Manhattan Bridge that's in the works.) I wonder now, was that August 04 CM a short-sighted thumb in the Mayor's eye that turned us into a fixed target for all the actions of protesters during the RNC who've now gone home?

Laika: I think you're right that the tension began then, but also remember that the protesters did absolutely nothing! This is what's getting lost in the mist. The Republican mayor wanted to put on a good show for the party faithful (even if he was not really among them). The word was out to clampdown on any "terrorist threats." The so-called terror alert went to orange, I recall. CM was the only group at the time with cojones, and all the protests got built around CM. Hundreds were arrested, corralled into piers on the West Side, held till the convention was over — and never charged.
It's amazing how the blame for this tension is laid at the feet of CM and Bloomberg gets a free pass.

Laika: I think you're right that the tension began then, but also remember that the protesters did absolutely nothing! This is what's getting lost in the mist. The Republican mayor wanted to put on a good show for the party faithful (even if he was not really among them). The word was out to clampdown on any "terrorist threats." The so-called terror alert went to orange, I recall. CM was the only group at the time with cojones, and all the protests got built around CM. Hundreds were arrested, corralled into piers on the West Side, held till the convention was over — and never charged.
It's amazing how the blame for this tension is laid at the feet of CM and Bloomberg gets a free pass.
I hate to say it but that CM went out of its way to be deliberately provocative.* Personally, I don't think CM has or should have had much to do with Presidential politics and I didn't see much reason for CM to make a point of getting as near MSG as possible. I think a lot of the tension that night also came from their being a lot of "outsiders" who were there not for CM but for the RNC. And I could be wrong but there were a lot of groups already planning to march & protest, from the BlackBloc kiddies to the Pink Slippers to the Grannies, and on and on. CM just had the dual misfortune of being the test-case for the NYPD (CM actually happened just before the convention actually started) and of being a stationary target after everyone else went home.

*In fairness to CM, though, police went out of their way to fragment and break up the ride. Since most everyone knows the average CM rider isn't a threat to anything more than a bowl of vegan stir-fry, the best thing to do, for both sides, would have been to keep the ride tight, move it quickly through the streets, let them have their afterparty downtown & only arrest actual troublemakers. instead, CM got the full treatment, complete with agents provocateurs, helicopters, riot gear, the works. There was a little too much testosterone on both sides, if you ask me.

I don't know if it qualifies as theft, you're right. But if selectively damaging and carting away private property is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment (that's the one regarding "unreasonable search[es] and seizure[s]," well, it's awfully close.


Addenda: While Mayor Bloomberg's proposal for a green New York (known by the unpronounceable acronym PlaNYC (http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/home/home.shtml)) is gaining steam — Governor Spitzer came out in support of congestion pricing yesterday! — here's an interesting note. NOT ONCE in his long speech to roll out this eco-friendly initiative did Bloomberg use the one word that unites us all: bicycle.Yeah, by weird coincidence, I just read yesterday about PlaNYC, Bloomberg's plan to make NYC more sustainable, which among other things, addresses Transportation (http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/plan/transportation.shtml).

If I were a NYC cyclist, I would be working through my local advocacy group to ask the mayor's office how the bike sweep is in keeping with item Number 9 on the Transportation Plan (promote cycling), and why they are taking that approach instead of providing ample and secure bicycle racks.

I hate to say it but that CM went out of its way to be deliberately provocative.* Personally, I don't think CM has or should have had much to do with Presidential politics and I didn't see much reason for CM to make a point of getting as near MSG as possible. I think a lot of the tension that night also came from their being a lot of "outsiders" who were there not for CM but for the RNC. And I could be wrong but there were a lot of groups already planning to march & protest, from the BlackBloc kiddies to the Pink Slippers to the Grannies, and on and on. CM just had the dual misfortune of being the test-case for the NYPD (CM actually happened just before the convention actually started) and of being a stationary target after everyone else went home.

*In fairness to CM, though, police went out of their way to fragment and break up the ride. Since most everyone knows the average CM rider isn't a threat to anything more than a bowl of vegan stir-fry, the best thing to do, for both sides, would have been to keep the ride tight, move it quickly through the streets, let them have their afterparty downtown & only arrest actual troublemakers. instead, CM got the full treatment, complete with agents provocateurs, helicopters, riot gear, the works. There was a little too much testosterone on both sides, if you ask me.Oddly enough, I was in New York visiting friends at the time. I even ran into a classmate on the subway who was in NYC for the protest. She got arrested at the CM. I had made up my mind well in advance that I was going nowhere near the Republican Convention, so I just ignored the whole thing. From the sounds of it, the City way overreacted, so I'm glad I stayed away (although those heavy-handed tactics could be said to have chilled my free speech rights...)

AS much as I hate to say it, the CM before the RNC in 04 was probably one of the greatest foot-shootings ever.I'd have to say I agree. It appears to have severely set cycling advocacy back in NYC, creating nothing but an ongoing pissing match between the City and cyclists.

Fencing the police-stolen bikes=NYPD beer fund, perhaps?

I'm suprised that people still rely on public transit after strikes and 9/11. I wonder how many people use bikes so that they have a way out of the city if the public transit system fails like it has in the past.

I don't know if it qualifies as theft, you're right. But if selectively damaging and carting away private property is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment (that's the one regarding "unreasonable search[es] and seizure[s]," well, it's awfully close.


Addenda: While Mayor Bloomberg's proposal for a green New York (known by the unpronounceable acronym PlaNYC (http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/home/home.shtml)) is gaining steam — Governor Spitzer came out in support of congestion pricing yesterday! — here's an interesting note. NOT ONCE in his long speech to roll out this eco-friendly initiative did Bloomberg use the one word that unites us all: bicycle.

It's amazing, isn't it? I have heard some say that if traffic congestion in NYC continures to decay, New York will go from being "The City That Never Sleeps", to "The City That never Moves". So, do I understand this? He (Bloomberg) wants an eco-friendly, "green" New York, but the bicycle doesn't fit into his plan? Do I have it right? How "in" with the Oil companies is he? (oops, silly me. that just slipped out, sorry.)

On the actions of the NYPD: this should be disturbing to all cyclists, regardless of your politics, or whether or not you support CM. It seems the NYPD seems to be on some kind of ego-driven vendetta against all bicyclists. I have heard of cyclists who are riding legally, and who have nothing to do with CM, getting pulled over, threatened, and harassed. Is this true?

It's amazing, isn't it? I have heard some say that if traffic congestion in NYC continures to decay, New York will go from being "The City That Never Sleeps", to "The City That never Moves". So, do I understand this? He (Bloomberg) wants an eco-friendly, "green" New York, but the bicycle doesn't fit into his plan? Do I have it right? How "in" with the Oil companies is he? (oops, silly me. that just slipped out, sorry.)Well, that's the thing: Bicycles are included in PlaNYC. See my link above. However, he apparently didn't mention bicycles in his speech, and the actions of the NYPD are diametrically opposite of what his plan calls for-- "promoting cycling." It really is time for the City's cyclists to unite and work with the City in its implementation of PlaNYC to effect a sea change in how cyclists are treated by the City.

Citizens have no rights in NYC, first they brain wash you into thinking that the police will protect you, then they outlaw your gun, then they will take your video camera, then your bike, glad I don't live there.

I'm suprised that people still rely on public transit after strikes and 9/11. I wonder how many people use bikes so that they have a way out of the city if the public transit system fails like it has in the past.

Last time I heard, there were supposed to be about 120,000 cyclists in the City. I'm sure that number has grown a bit each time summer rolls around, and each time there's some kind of problem with public transit.

Neighborhoods, like the far East Village and Williamsburg were once considered less than desireable because they were poorly served by public transportation. Now they're some of the hippest, most desireable neighborhoods, in part. because they're an easy bicycle commute to Midtown or Downtown Manhattan.

As I understand it, there was never any conflict between the city and CM until the Republican convention. Before the convention, no conflict, after the convention, conflict.

And who exactly is to blame for that conflict?

CM (or what little shred of it existed at the time) not only allowed it's self to be hijacked, it flopped on it's back with legs spread wide open, welcoming the anarchist in.

Ok, here is another question to ponder. Like most, I was taught that police departments answer and report to elected civilian authorities. (uh, yeah. I know) In small town New England, that's usually an elected board of selectmen. In a large city, it's a Mayor and city council. At the county level, there is an elected Sheriff. (Although in Massachusetts, "County Sheriff" has become synonymous with "Indicted", usually involving RICO laws)

So, the question is simply this: Who is giving the orders to the NYPD?

I also find it interesting that there didn't seem to be a problem in NYC, until the Republican national convention.
No other comment, just that it's interesting.

One of the biggest problems with law infarcement nationwide that I have is this,
If a poor man has his only transportation ($100 bike) stolen, they shrug it off like nothing and crime goes unpunished.
But if the rich guy has his BMW ripped off they actually make an effort to catch the crook.


I know its illegal for me to take the law into my own hands but I fear if I caught some SOB steeling my bike or yours I would probably break his fingers out of a raging temper. GRRRR

Nycycle: Some states allow you to do a citizen's arrest.

LEGALLY taking the law into your own hands.