OK so that was a let down. I finally convinced my girlfriend to come out to Critical Mass, which was very exciting for me.

We went out to Union Square where there was a pretty thin turn out, but TONS of cops and the pre-requisite demoralizing van announcing that people who ride in the mass will be arrested.

Cops were distributing flyers with this text:

NOTICE TO BICYCLISTS:

THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUIRES YOUR COOPERATION IN COMPLYING WITH THE LAW AND PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM HARM.

IT IS DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL TO RIDE A BICYCLE IN A PROCESSION ON THE PUBLIC STREETS WITHIN NEW YORK CITY, IF A PERMIT FOR THE PROCESSION HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED BY THE NYC POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NO PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A BICYCLE PROCESSION FOR TONIGHT, NOVEMBER 26, 2004.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO RIDE IN A PROCESSION THIS EVENING, YOU WILL BE ARRESTED AND YOUR BICYCLE WILL BE SEIZED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

What is the story with this? Last I heard, the city's injuction against Critical Mass riders was denied and a preliminary injuction barring the City from seizing bicycles without charges was granted.

More info on that
here.

There were cops on many corners around Union Square park with long banners of orange mesh fabric that they were clearly using as nets to surround bikers and arrest them.

Although the majority of bikers had already left Union Square park and dispersed, I saw several girls in riot cuffs (the plastic handcuffs) and their bikes stacked up together on the North East corner of 14th street in front of the Diesel store.

Do four girls count as a procession now?

What is the story with the legal issues??? If anyone has any info, please post.