Originally Posted by
kjohnnytarr
Next time you're having a ride, take the initiative and tell them you're planning it, and tell them what sort of treatment would be most convenient. If things do get sloppy on their end, start a civilian review unit. Let them and the press know how bad they're botching the job. Have plenty of cameras on the ride, introduce yourself to the officers before an incident, instead of during of after one, and maybe even have a local official who actually supports bikes along on a ride.
If you can establish a good track record of working with them (ie making them work for you) then they'll back down.
while i admire your desire for an amicable solution i think telling the police your plans to perform a perfectly legal action (group ride, right to peaceably assemble) is like asking permission and is something that is and should be completely unnecessary. The cops have already staked their side in this issue (hell, they even made it a "sides" issue as one of the above posters pointed out.) Keep us posted, and be ready with cameras and paper for badge numbers at critical mass. good luck!