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NY Police arrest 33 cyclists for running stop lights
In contrast to the tone of the Halloween critical mass in San Francisco, the New York bike ride was very tense and filled with injustice. Earlier this week, the NY Police department tried to get an official injunction, or ban, on the entire ride unless they filed for parade permits and everyone stayed on an approved route.
33 Arrested in Mass Cyclist Demonstration
By THOMAS J. LUECK
Published: October 30, 2004
A day after a federal judge denied the city's request to block a monthly Critical Mass bicycle protest ride in Manhattan, more than 1,000 people took part in the ride last night. When it was over, tensions with the city had hardly subsided, as 33 of the participants were arrested for running red lights and other violations.
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The demonstration, held on the last Friday of every month and intended to promote nonpolluting transportation, has been a focus of criticism by the city since Aug. 27, just before the Republican National Convention, when thousands of riders took part and more than 250 were arrested. A smaller ride on Sept. 24 led to nine arrests.
On Thursday, in a ruling that appeared to buttress the riders' claims of overzealous police enforcement, Judge William H. Pauley III of the Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that the city could not stand in the way of last night's ride although no police permit had been issued for it.
The judge also granted a request by lawyers for the riders that prohibited the police from seizing bicycles as long as the owners were not charged with anything and the unattended bikes did not block traffic.
But last night, after most of the arrests took place along 11th Avenue, 42nd Street and elsewhere in Midtown, the police issued a statement condemning many of the riders for a "breach of faith."
"Whatever the court's expectation, Critical Mass demonstrated a breach of faith that posed unacceptable safety hazards," said Paul J. Browne, deputy police commissioner.
Bill DiPaola, executive director of Time's Up, an environmental group that promotes the monthly ride, responded last night, saying he was surprised by the arrests. "Given the victory in court, we were shocked at the police presence," he said.
Witnesses said that at least four more people were arrested early this morning after about 200 of the cyclists gathered for a post-ride party at the storefront office of Time's Up on Houston Street.
Although the circumstances remained unclear, the witnesses said that a large contingent of police officers suddenly arrived at the storefront, apparently responding to a report of overcrowding.
As it has in the past, the ride began from Union Square, where many of the participants turned out in festive Halloween costumes. They were met immediately by a large contingent of police officers, police vehicles and loudspeakers warning them that arrests would be made if riders violated traffic laws.
The police also distributed fliers indicating a route they had approved for the event leading north from Union Square. But less than 30 minutes after the huge column of participants, which included skaters and bicyclists, set off from Union Square, it appeared to spontaneously break into smaller groups of 10 to 100 or more riders, moving in directions not prescribed by the police.
By THOMAS J. LUECK
Published: October 30, 2004
A day after a federal judge denied the city's request to block a monthly Critical Mass bicycle protest ride in Manhattan, more than 1,000 people took part in the ride last night. When it was over, tensions with the city had hardly subsided, as 33 of the participants were arrested for running red lights and other violations.
Advertisement
The demonstration, held on the last Friday of every month and intended to promote nonpolluting transportation, has been a focus of criticism by the city since Aug. 27, just before the Republican National Convention, when thousands of riders took part and more than 250 were arrested. A smaller ride on Sept. 24 led to nine arrests.
On Thursday, in a ruling that appeared to buttress the riders' claims of overzealous police enforcement, Judge William H. Pauley III of the Federal District Court in Manhattan ruled that the city could not stand in the way of last night's ride although no police permit had been issued for it.
The judge also granted a request by lawyers for the riders that prohibited the police from seizing bicycles as long as the owners were not charged with anything and the unattended bikes did not block traffic.
But last night, after most of the arrests took place along 11th Avenue, 42nd Street and elsewhere in Midtown, the police issued a statement condemning many of the riders for a "breach of faith."
"Whatever the court's expectation, Critical Mass demonstrated a breach of faith that posed unacceptable safety hazards," said Paul J. Browne, deputy police commissioner.
Bill DiPaola, executive director of Time's Up, an environmental group that promotes the monthly ride, responded last night, saying he was surprised by the arrests. "Given the victory in court, we were shocked at the police presence," he said.
Witnesses said that at least four more people were arrested early this morning after about 200 of the cyclists gathered for a post-ride party at the storefront office of Time's Up on Houston Street.
Although the circumstances remained unclear, the witnesses said that a large contingent of police officers suddenly arrived at the storefront, apparently responding to a report of overcrowding.
As it has in the past, the ride began from Union Square, where many of the participants turned out in festive Halloween costumes. They were met immediately by a large contingent of police officers, police vehicles and loudspeakers warning them that arrests would be made if riders violated traffic laws.
The police also distributed fliers indicating a route they had approved for the event leading north from Union Square. But less than 30 minutes after the huge column of participants, which included skaters and bicyclists, set off from Union Square, it appeared to spontaneously break into smaller groups of 10 to 100 or more riders, moving in directions not prescribed by the police.
For more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/30/nyregion...
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"after the huge column of participants, which included skaters and bicyclists, set off from Union Square, it appeared to spontaneously break into smaller groups of 10 to 100 or more riders, moving in directions not prescribed by the police."
the mini mass! it's obvious those massers know their history (maybe with a little help from San Francisco riders experience). The cops don't though. It was after the city's and da mayor's determination to stomp it out, that the Mass here got bigger than ever.
the mini mass! it's obvious those massers know their history (maybe with a little help from San Francisco riders experience). The cops don't though. It was after the city's and da mayor's determination to stomp it out, that the Mass here got bigger than ever.
Funny, I've never seen a car driver arrested for running a stop sign. Were they cycling while black?
and not part of the solution of course.
Ah the good old days!
S.F. Mayor in Minor Auto Accident
No one hurt in Financial District crash
- Torri Minton, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, August 29, 1997
SAN FRANCISCO -- Mayor Willie Brown was involved in a minor auto accident in the Financial District yesterday, about 10 minutes before he was scheduled to appear live on CNN to discuss Proposition 209.
No one was hurt. The mayor made it to the interview, and a subsequent appearance on Nightline, aides said. But the door on the driver's side of Brown's specially equipped Lincoln Town Car limousine was smashed, and the window was shattered, sending chunks of glass all over the driver's seat.
Witnesses said Brown's car crashed into a van just after 4 p.m. when his driver apparently tried to make a left turn from a right lane on California Street onto Battery Street.
"He (the limousine driver) apparently didn't see the van, because he drove right in front of him,'' said Cookie Gambucci, who happened to be driving behind the mayor. "The van attempted to avoid a collision, went over a double-yellow line and braked."
But the mayor's limousine, Gambucci said, "plowed into him."
The limo driver is one of several police officers who drive for the mayor's office. Kandace Bender, the mayor's spokesperson, said police last night were still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
After the collision, Brown got out of the back seat of the Lincoln, talked briefly with the driver of the van, hopped into a black BMW convertible and took off, said a San Francisco man who did not want to be identified. "I could see the straw hat in the backseat,'' the man said. ``Everybody knew it was the mayor, at least on my corner."
Gambucci said she peeked into the mayoral Lincoln -- equipped with flashing headlights, strobe lights and a red and blue light that drops from the ceiling -- and was surprised to hear the mayor's voice. "I asked the mayor if he was OK,'' she said. ``He said, `I'm fine, thank you. Thank you for asking.' '"Witnesses said the light was green at the time of the crash and neither driver seemed to be speeding.
It was apparently the second mayoral limo accident in the past year. Last September, Brown's limousine allegedly hit a pedestrian, who said her knee was bruised.
Chronicle Staff Writer Manny Fernandez contributed to this report.
Ah the good old days!
S.F. Mayor in Minor Auto Accident
No one hurt in Financial District crash
- Torri Minton, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, August 29, 1997
SAN FRANCISCO -- Mayor Willie Brown was involved in a minor auto accident in the Financial District yesterday, about 10 minutes before he was scheduled to appear live on CNN to discuss Proposition 209.
No one was hurt. The mayor made it to the interview, and a subsequent appearance on Nightline, aides said. But the door on the driver's side of Brown's specially equipped Lincoln Town Car limousine was smashed, and the window was shattered, sending chunks of glass all over the driver's seat.
Witnesses said Brown's car crashed into a van just after 4 p.m. when his driver apparently tried to make a left turn from a right lane on California Street onto Battery Street.
"He (the limousine driver) apparently didn't see the van, because he drove right in front of him,'' said Cookie Gambucci, who happened to be driving behind the mayor. "The van attempted to avoid a collision, went over a double-yellow line and braked."
But the mayor's limousine, Gambucci said, "plowed into him."
The limo driver is one of several police officers who drive for the mayor's office. Kandace Bender, the mayor's spokesperson, said police last night were still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
After the collision, Brown got out of the back seat of the Lincoln, talked briefly with the driver of the van, hopped into a black BMW convertible and took off, said a San Francisco man who did not want to be identified. "I could see the straw hat in the backseat,'' the man said. ``Everybody knew it was the mayor, at least on my corner."
Gambucci said she peeked into the mayoral Lincoln -- equipped with flashing headlights, strobe lights and a red and blue light that drops from the ceiling -- and was surprised to hear the mayor's voice. "I asked the mayor if he was OK,'' she said. ``He said, `I'm fine, thank you. Thank you for asking.' '"Witnesses said the light was green at the time of the crash and neither driver seemed to be speeding.
It was apparently the second mayoral limo accident in the past year. Last September, Brown's limousine allegedly hit a pedestrian, who said her knee was bruised.
Chronicle Staff Writer Manny Fernandez contributed to this report.
For more information:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...
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