Just got your new SteamShovel?

"I think they did do this at the RNC critical mass. Can anyone corroborate?"

They've done this a few times at Critical Mass rides in NYC. The first time was the RNC ride. They typically wait until the majority of the group has passed, then they annex a small bit at the end, pull the net (the orange plastic netting used to rope off construction sites) across the street, the wrap up the crowd inside. Doing this, they've managed to pin and arrest a lot of bystanders as well.

In regards to what I said earlier about running from the cops... I'm not saying I would, but I am saying the thought has crossed my mind and it seems like it would be easy. These days though NYC is full of scooter cops. I fully accept that while riding, I often break traffic laws (only stop signs/lights... never one ways) and if I do get stopped, I'd have no problem accepting a ticket. No one to blame but myself and my own impatience.

Once I was discussing running from the NYPD with a former Monster Track winner. His advice was "don't do it, I've lost and you will, too".

CM is a different story. You bring the nets and I bring the sprint. But, that is some good advice.

Did he explain how he lost?

ate it, both times.

edit: maybe it was one wreck and the other was backup. little foggy on details.

I was always told whenever it comes to running from cops. No matter in a car, on a bike, or on foot.

"You can never outrun a Motorola"

Yeah, mine would be ***THS

What a complete bunch of whiney a55 bull5h1t.

In any U.S.A. city i've been in, you can get a ticket for walking against a red. Why do you think just because you're on a bike you're exempt?

FWIW, I have run reds, I accept the potential consequences.

If you want to get political (and you're reasonably <read: barely> smart), I'm really hope you all can find more important things to whine about.

Carl.

Please keep in mind:

"Do not feed the trolls"

But you are free to ride as you like, you just got caught. Pay the fine and back off on your riding style for a while. It happens to all of us or will. If you break the rules and get caught you pay the fine. Did you give them your real name and address?

Tony

I don't remember them netting riders; generally, they reserve the nets for pedestrians, and ram cyclists with motor scooters instead.

I do remember a CM with a net that summer...I forget if it was the RNC one or the one after. But they've probably used it more than a few times.

Yeah you CAN but until enforcement becomes regular on jaywalking, why make such a big deal about cyclists. Obviously if you get caught you get caught and have to accept the consequences. The question people are considering is whether its a) reasonable to hold cyclists to the same laws as cars (its clearly established in the laws that they ARE held, but that doesn't make it reasonable and b) why there is no enforcement on jaywalking but, according to the article, seemingly unfairly weighted enforcement aimed at cyclists (when compared to pedestrians and cars)

deerrf..I twoat i was fuhree tuh ryde muh buhsickle any witcher way i was to done think i oughta....turrrr

when people get upset over traffic laws applied to bike they should consider themselves luckee to have such a carefree existence...likes it's so hard to ride w/out getting hassled, even if you do bend a rule here and there

Ummm, Ok. I'm not sure what I CAN, but this is just a circular way of avoiding the question I posed. Why would you believe that bikes are exempt from the laws of both pedestrians and traffic?

Apparently not. Some people go on thar interweb and exclaim that their freedoms have been violated!

Yes, for the most part. Why would it not be reasonable? Even with the <sarcastic>outrageous</sarcastic> enforcement noted in this article, holding bicycles to the traffic laws designed for cars is really not much more than asking for you to play nice and respect others. It appears to me that you believe that if special code of laws was for some reason made specifically for cyclists, it might actually be open for debate whether or not bicyclists would need to stop for red lights and stop signs? WOW!

From the article: "...Police decided to start on Halsted Street because business owners had complained about too many bicycles on the sidewalks, Chicago Police Sgt. Phil Greco said.". I don't believe any mention was made to a relationship or comparison between pedestrian/cyclist/traffic enforcement in the article. Also, why would you think that the actions described are "seemingly unfair"? I think everyone that the article mentioned got a WARNING, and everyone admitted to breaking a law that they were aware of.


Carl.

First, we're not as far off each other as we're thinking (or so i gather). It seems, if i read you right that you're refering more to the original poster than other people's responses (or perhaps we are referring to completely different resposes) but for clarity,
"you CAN" refered to receiving jaywalking tickets.


For the people who think they can do anything they please, yeah they're morons.

yeah i mean you're refering to the article whereas i'm talking about laws in general.
My point was that yeah, all these laws exist. However, throughout history, there have been laws enacted that haven't made much sense; others are misguided. Slowing at a red light and then going through it when no traffic is present (and therefore not hindered or obstructed), while against the law doesn't really have much to do with playing nice and respecting others. Ultimately, the way i see it, is that the law is there because there is no way to write a law that would allow the behavior i'm describing without it being flagrantly abused. Thus, the policy is that it is generally allowed unless it is abused and you get a ticket. My problem with the policies in the article are that it appears that they are cracking down with no leeway. I don't approve of that. I think its sort of like parking laws. Its technically an illegal parking job if your car goes an inch past the "no parking" sign but people would definately complain if their car was towed or ticketed for that inch.
If the cyclist's behavior doesn't affect traffic, why does it matter? (try to refrain from an "its still against the law response")

My response was indeed to the OP, though it also applies to any of the fanboy followers of this sensationalist post (and the news article to a certain degree).


I do agree. In my opinion, this is not a very good example.

The article does infact suggest that the certain illegal actions which where once not enforced were being abused, hence the local shop owners complaining. This is where I would suggest that cyclists stay of the sidewalk (the shop owners are complaining) and play nice with others (the shop owner as well as pedestrians, who are entitled to use the sidewalk)

This is where we disagree. Running a red light or stop sign has a very high potential to affect traffic, parking does not.
Additionally, people make mistakes. Yes, really, it's true. Someone making a bad judgment call when deciding to run through a stop sign or light can be easily avoided by just not doing it. If you don't heed this advice (I am still not saying you should or should not), it was your decision that put you in this situation, not the cab driver you didn't see or the ticket you are signing.

One thing that I believe you might be forgetting is that laws must be made for the common denominator of the people affected. Although some people may infact have good enough judgement to decide when it is safe to blow through a stop or light, this would be a terrible assumption of motorists/cyclists in general.

My main gripe about this post, however, was the sensationalist title which is taken completely out of context from the article, titled "Bicyclists not free to ride as they please". The article is slightly less offensive.

Besides, how can we even still be here discussing this subject with so many more worrying matters happening in this world today; like this


Carl.

I actually agree with most everything you said. and let me say, this
is one of the funniest things i've read in a while.
i especially agree with this, riding on the sidewalk (except kids) is unacceptible in all circumstances.

actually this is what i was saying, but i don't agree with ticketing cyclists whose ONLY poor judgement was doing it in front of a cop.
couldn't agree more.