[*BCM*] Longfellow / Cambridge Bike Police

[Jon Ramos]

Speaking of the area near the Longfellow Bridge....
There have been an increasing number of bike police traps in Cambridgelately.  I have noticed that they are spread out along my route at different locations, but they seem to always be at least one cop the intersection of Broadway & Main Street in Cambridge (just before the Longfellow).  I have watched other cyclist get stopped and ticketed a few times, usually when crossing with the pedestrian walk signal when all lights are red.
 
Here is a map of the spot:  (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Broadway+%4042.362770,+-71.084582&daddr=42.361977,-71.082423&hl=en&geocode=12899578198328372370,42.362770,-71.084582%3B6747366231024457007,42.362270,-71.083680&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=17&sll=42.362008,-71.082627&sspn=0.003623,0.006748&ie=UTF8&ll=42.363047,-71.08283&spn=0.014491,0.043302&z=15)
(In my opinion) I think it is good for the police to stop cyclists for blasting through a red light, but I personally think it is safer to cross that particular intersection with the pedestrian signal vs. waiting for the green and battling for a safe spot with the cars.
 
I also think it is ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS that the bike police at that intersection do NOTHING about all of the shuttles, taxis, large trucks, and cars that are parked in the bike lane less than 50 yards east from where the cops are handing out tickets to cyclists.


----- Original Message ----
From: Anne Wolfe <goannego at gmail.com>
To: Boston CM <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 1:48:39 PM
Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Response to Vehicular Assault? (was: Open letter ...)


Stop, prevent injury if possible, treat injuries if needed.  Call the police, ambulances if necessary and take notes on time, location, license plate numbers, witness details.  Video or photograph anything you can (in these days where everyone's cell phone is a camera this is now remarkably easy).  

Just don't retaliate.  Or provoke.  The second either is done, you're on to a losing battle. 


2008/7/30 Jym Dyer <jym at econet.org>

> And how should one behave when say... an aggressive
> motorcycle is trying to bob and weave their way through
> the mass on charles street near the gardens?

=v= I've been wondering about this for a while.  What's the best
way to stop a motorist in the process of committing vehicular
assault?  The car is running, it may have already hit someone,
it may be about to hit someone, what do you do?  The goal is
to stop the assault and, ideally, not be arrested for doing so
(or, if arrested, not convicted).

=v= I've followed a few of these incidents over the years (not
all of them involving Critical Mass), and Seattle's follows an
all too typical pattern:  those who damaged a precious, precious
car are thrown in jail, but the vehicular assaulter isn't even
charged with anything.  Some judges and juries follow the lead
of the cops here, and despite evidence of self-defense (or the
defense of others), are more upset about damage to cars than
bodily harm to bicyclists.

=v= Actually harming the driver is worse, of course.  Trying to
wrestle the keys away would seem to be the most direct approach,
but is arguably assault and battery.  (Getting anywhere near the
driver at all is something like a mortal sin.)

=v= So, what's the right thing to do?  Have Eddie Murphy shove
potatoes up the exhaust pipe?
   <_Jym_>
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-- 
Anne M. Wolfe, LL.M.
Mobile: ( 07805) 456901
"If Happy Fun Ball begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head. Please do not taunt Happy Fun Ball."



      
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