CRITICAL MASS BIKE RIDE

One of New York's most environmentally friendly traditions goes under attack...and still prevails!!!

Last night was the 3rd anniversary of the August 2004 Critical Mass bike ride. Why is this significant? That is when a great worldwide tradition was turned into a political standoff in New York.

Critical Mass is a monthly celebration by cyclists in cities all over the world. On the last Friday of every month at a traditional location known to all, people who want to go on a large community bike ride will meet and ride around the city in celebration. They celebrate their communities, healthy living, cycling. They promote alternatives to gas-powered vehicles and promote safer streets for pedestrians of all kinds.

Here in New York, it had been a tradition that went back for decades. The monthly ride has included people of all 5 boroughs, many visiting guests, famous writers, singers and even sitting mayors have taken part. That is until the summer of 2004, when the Republic National Convention came to town.

Because of all the attention put on the city and the thousands of people in town, the ride grew to over 5,000 at least. It was a glorious ride. It was inspiring, fun, amazing and safe...until the NYPD with a brand new fleet of Vespa scooters attacked the ride at several points, injuring riders and onlookers. More than 200 people were arrested and brought to jail. Arrested for riding their bikes!!!

Since then, the mayor and several high ranking police officials made it their mission to stop this "Criminal activity." Over the next year 700 people were arrested on the rides and arrested for parading without a permit, blocking traffic, disorderly conduct and several other absurd charges. Many have speculated why? The mayor couldn't stand people having fun without permission or city sponsorship, the republican-turned democrat-turned republican mayor was embarrassed at that many people opposing the RNC he brought here, or maybe it was because they needed a reason to justify spending so much money on a fleet of shiny new scooters.

Before august 2004 it was just a nice thing to do on a Friday evening. After, it turned into a political brushfire. Once you tell people they can't do something, especially without cause, it then becomes a act of civil disobedience to defy the unjust order by the city. So, most of the family riders and happy onlookers stopped attending and just the diehards stuck around. All those willing to take a hit to defend their rights ride strong and proud.

After nearly all the arrestees were exonerated by the courts and after a short court battle ruled in favor of the riders, the city still refused to let the ride happen without incident. Arrests still happened...arrests, jail, for bike riding?

Bikes don't block traffic...they are traffic.

Bikes get hit all the time in this city and the drivers barely ever get a ticket. Riders have died by drivers going through red lights, by driving drunk, driving reckless and even by driving on the westside bike path. Only on the most egregious of these crimes do the drivers get criminal charges.

It is time to let the bikers go. Bicycling is the best way to get around the city. For many of us, it is our main source of transportation. It is clean, good exercise and cuts down on pollution and congestion. The city should be promoting more bike rides, make all streets bike friendly, promote bike safety classes and crack down on unsafe drivers who don't consider bikes to have rights of the road. At the very least it should allow bicyclists to ride without getting arrested and their bikes inpounded!

Last night's ride was yet another example of what is great about New York and how many great people there are here, continuing to ride in the face of government sponsored discrimination. Check out some pictures of the city: http://www.flickr.com/photos/82369865@N00/