EnigManiac

Personally, I've never been pulled over by a cop while biking, but then I stop at all red or amber lights and don't operate recklessly or unsafely. It sets a bad example for my son and endangers me unnecessarily. I have no problem with cops nailing cyclists who openly run red lights, like I see all the time, or ticketing the ones riding on the sidewalk or going the wrong way, etc. I encourage them to. But the fact is, they don't do it enough...certainly not enough to discourage the many many idiots I see riding like that.

That is just irritating, however, next to their reluctance to target motorists who pass, drive, stop and park in bike lanes or people that don't use their rear-view and right-hand mirrors before suddenly changing lanes and almost creaming me every afternoon on my ride home or who refuse to allow me the meter of space as they pass or the wack-jobs who make left turns right in front of me as if I don't exist and won't smash right into their hood.

And when the cops 'hassle' us, they still don't take one issue, one valid complaint seriously. Their ears are closed and their tongues are wagging. They have the nerve to start checking everyone for safety features as if we were doing something wrong and were endangering the public. Why couldn't they offer a friendly escort and allow us the full right lane? Wouldn't that have been a more suitable response than acting like storm-troopers (no, not the nazi kind...the Imperial kind)? Why couldn't they say they will look into our complaints and take it back to their superiors? We would have thanked them and continued peacefully and unobtrusively on our way.

What did we do that was so worth them freaking out about anyway? We slowed down a few cars well after rush-hour in areas that were already slow or where hardly anyone was. We didn't endanger anyone. The cops should have recognized that. No, they had to show they were stern and strict tough-guys. Well, guess what...no-one was impressed. You have to show respect to earn respect. We showed respect when they arrived, but that respect was NOT returned. Were we supposed to kiss their kevlar-coated butts when they started getting big and scary with us? Cower like dogs who peed on the rug? I don't think so. They need to be reminded that they serve the people NOT control and order them about. They need a serious lesson in professional conduct, dealing with the public and showing courtesy, fairness and respect. Save the tough stuff for the criminals.

slagjumper

Email the Mayor of Toronto here:
mayor_miller@toronto.ca

slagjumper

Since I was really planning a trip to Toronto I just sent this in. I'll let you all know if I get a response.

Date: Tue May 31 13:14:54 CDT 2005
To: mayor_miller@toronto.ca
Subject: Police and bicyclists.

Our familly is planning a trip to Toronto. We where going to stay at a hotel and explore the city on bicycles. But then a friend who lives in Toronto phoned and mentioned that she saw several police officers harassing bicyclists last week. My wife is very upset and wants to go somewhere else. Can you explain what is going on? This incident took place on May 27, last week. Of particular concern is a report that a motorcycle officer was incessantly revving his engine as if to irritate the bicyclists. We had thought that Canada would be more bike friendly than the US and we were very disappointed to hear about this.

randya

You are of course absolutely correct. The cops in Portland do the same thing on Critical Mass here. Instead of viewing their behavior as harassment, they try and twist it around to make it like everything they are doing is only for the cyclists' safety.

EnigManiac

Slagjumper, that is beautiful! Believe me, you'll get a response. After the monumental over-reaction by the media during the SARS scare a few years ago, our biggest industry; tourism, has yet to rebound fully. The last thing the Mayor's office wants, particularly during Bike Week, is a bad rap or a unfriendly reputation. After all, we're known as Toronto the Good. Keep me posted!

I received acknowledgement this afternoon for my letter advising the issues will be brought to the attention of the Mayor and the Chairman of the Bike Committee. Let's see what happens.

Trek Al

What is the point of this critical mass? Seems like all you accomplish is to piss the general motoring public and the police off at you.

Al

nycm'er

If someone gets pissed off at a 3 minute delay while already stuck in traffic once a month on a Friday night, something else is wrong. Cars threaten me daily without any recourse- threaten, not delay. Critical Mass is a method that puts cyclists in control of cars, by achieving a "critical mass" in number. All this on the streets that we are just as entitled to, but rarely protected by police when an accident or other law is broken which endangers cyclists lives. Cars are not afraid of endangering one cyclist, they are however much tamer when there is 300 or 500 or 1000 bikes using the roadway as guaranteed by the Constitution. The to me, that is the point, to every any other rider there may be another point.