Tucson critical mass report: October 26, 2007
I rode the critical mass in Tucson tonight. There were just over 100 people along with another twenty or so cops. The police were considerably more decent than they were on last Tuesday’s ride — no hot headed motorcyclists flying through the group endangering everyone and daring us to challenge their authority. Probably because the Tucson Bike Advisory Council people were present, and the police can’t afford looking bad to those folks.
My friend and assistant Elizabeth was there too, and I will be eager to learn her impressions of the ride.
The bike cops were quiet and kept out of the way, and the motorcyclists were courteous and didn’t race around through the group, which was a nice change. One person was stopped and his identification taken because when a car crossed the double yellow line in front of him he “tapped” it with an open palm. I didn’t see it happen, but according to plenty of witnesses the bike cops really jumped on him for that, and drove him straight into the curb.
I watched the questioning and heard one person ask the police what had happened. I thought the answer was very arrogant: the officer said, “I am telling you what happened: move away and keep riding or you will be arrested.” That kind of thing does not improve relations with the police, I am afraid. Who trains these people? It was a fair question this person asked, and he was not being rude.
Other than that it was just like the Tuesday Night Community rides, except considerably smaller. The police blocked the intersections and we rode on through. It was so choreographed that a person couldn’t have broken a traffic law if they’d tried. And nobody was trying.
The ride ended at the Barrio Brewery on 16th and Euclid and we all had a nice time tipping back some good beer and hanging out.
The near-absence of the motorcycle cops made the whole thing a lot less aggravating than last Tuesday’s ride, I have to say. I don’t really mind the bike cops riding along with us, but there is an ominous undertone: there were cruisers and paddy-wagons nearby just in case, and you feel pretty vulnerable, as if the police are suddenly going to turn on you at some point and arbitrarily start arresting people as soon as you turn down a dark street out of view.
One person, I am told, did turn off down an alley and he was pursued by the police. I would like to know if that is true — anybody know? I did not see it.
I hope to see everyone next Tuesday. I think it is wonderful that we can gather several hundred bike riders for a casual jaunt through town once a week, and I would hate to see the increased police presence destroy that. We are only having fun and letting others see the joy and freedom that comes from leaving the car at home once in a while.
See you all on Tuesday!
–Erik Ryberg