[*BCM*] Longfellow / Cambridge Bike Police

[James David Morgan]

Agreed about the hypocrisy of these bicycle traps.  Just this morning, at
that very location, I was right behind a rider who was fined for running
the light ahead of me.  With the reputation that Boston motorists have, I
can't help but feel they have much bigger fish to fry.

However, I have to say that last Friday (in the afternoon, following the
police-supported Bike Friday event that I attended) I was told by a cop to
go if I saw a chance through the busy intersection.  It was "the least
they could do" because I was "sparing us all the gas."  He was a really
nice guy, and if I'd had the time, I'd have grabbed his badge number and
commended him (leaving out the law breaking part of course) to his
department.
-- 
James David Morgan
Co-Founder and Designer
The Groundswell Collective
http://www.groundswellcollective.com/
http://blog.groundswellcollective.com/

Jon Ramos wrote:
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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