Police Presence Causes More Danger for Everyone
Last night at the Community Bike Ride it was announced that we would have the Tucson Police Department riding with us to ensure safety and additional protection on the road. In response to this news over 200 riders clapped and rang their bells. A friend turned to me and said, “If they are supportive of us I’m all for it.” I shook my head in agreement.
The ride began and we were not even off of the University of Arizona mall before policemen on motorcycles with their lights flashing, drove right up beside riders, commanding through their speakers to “Stay to the right,” and “Move over to the right.” It was shocking and unsettling. An officer on motorcycle revved the engine while passing me and I was so startled I swerved, luckily not into another cyclist. Not only were the officers commanding through their speakers to “Move over to the right,” but they were threatening riders with citations.
The policemen on motorcycle that were riding among the cyclists would actually accelerate and pass cyclists on the left, at speeds three to four times faster than any of the bike riders. There were a couple of tangles in the ride as well and if anyone had fallen from their bike while these policemen were accelerating past them, someone would have gotten killed. I witnessed an incident that came too close for comfort. A rider had to swerve to the left a bit because a rider in front of him had slowed unexpectedly and the policeman that was trying to pass him on motorcycle had to slam on the brakes and go off the path into the dirt! What about 3 feet safe passing distance? Can’t we all just follow the law together?
This is not acceptable.
At one point we were rounded up and ordered onto a bike path, which is really a very popular path around Reid park for all non-motorized traffic and was being used by walkers and joggers at the time who then had to fight their way through 200 cyclists! A policeman on motorcycle pulled up next to me again on that path. This is how our interaction went: I asked him, “Is this a bike path?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “Isn’t it illegal to drive a motorized vehicle on a bike path?” He said, “Not a police vehicle,” I asked him for his card and he pulled away. I realize that the law is on his side, but I feel I have a point. Why is a policeman on motorcycle necessary when we are riding on a bicycle/pedestrian-only path? Was he protecting us from the jogger who was also using the path? That poor guy, we probably ruined his evening exercise. He will probably hate cyclists from now on…
The policemen also kept their emergency lights flashing for the entirety of the ride. People were actually blinded! I had to ride with one hand in the air to block the lights so that I could see where I was going, and I do have a front light on my bike. A cyclist with a nervous condition could have had a stroke.
All together I counted 18 motorcycles and 9 vehicles, including a paddy wagon (with a bike rack on the back…). I’ve been trying to calculate how much gas all these vehicles used in the 2 hours of terrorized riding I shared with them, but it’s proving a little difficult. If anyone else has any estimates please share them with us.
There were also policemen and women on bicycles. This seemed much more appropriate and safe. Again, if the police presence was actually there to be supportive, to protect and serve, it would be a different story. This felt to me like an aggressive way of attempting to end our community bike ride, through intimidation and threatening acts. I know all but two of my friends left the ride early because of the actions of the police officers.
So fellow cyclists, what are we going to do?
If you were cited by the police at the ride last night, or otherwise harassed, please let us know.
-elizabeth
October 24th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Time for a real Critical Mass ride with 1000+. TPD is reckless.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:17 am
This is absolutely absurd! If I shared in that experience, once would be enough! Here you are trying to have a nice organized community bike ride and the police are just badgering you!
I’ve rode in critical mass here in Seattle. I have to admit I loved it but I can see where it can do more harm then good. The community ride sounds much more organized, awareness raising, and law abiding.
Motorized police have a motorized mentality and cannot, and probably do not, understand what we are trying to achieve in these types of rides.
It could be a very good thing to have a police presence there but I feel it must be done with police also on bicycles.