"COPS MAY STRIKE OUT BIKES
By GERSH KUNTZMAN
NY POST, 8/26/04
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August 26, 2004 -- The ""Bike National Convention"" may have just had its tires slashed.
The NYPD yesterday announced a crackdown on a group that promotes monthly mass bike rides and has promised traffic-disrupting events during the GOP convention.
The group, Time's Up, founded the so-called ""critical mass"" rides on the last Friday of each month.
The crackdown was spurred by Time's Up's planned Bike National Convention, timed to coincide with the Republican gala.
On Tuesday, the riders evoked Paul Revere's famous ride, with bicyclists chanting, ""The Republicans are coming!"" along Lexington Avenue.
A police source said that caught the NYPD's attention.
""They've gotten worse,"" the source said. ""They block streets for a mile until the group passes.""
Brandon Neubauer of Time's Up said that the NYPD has until now not bothered the riders, but suddenly wants to ""set a tone"" for the convention.
""They've decided it's emasculating to allow 2,000 bike riders to take over the streets peacefully,"" he said, adding that bike-convention events and Friday's critical mass ride would go on."
Cops May Strike Out Bikes
"it did look a great ride last night - was watching it come up 6th ave and wishing that i'd brought my bike over with me. Saw 2 irate guys jump out of cars on corner of 26th. One of them starting yelling
"" uphold the law - someone's going to get hurt ""
think he was unhappy at the red light jumping thang ;-)
congrats on a great turn-out"
We partook in Critical Mass last night (without getting arrested!) It was a great experience advocating for a cause that we feel so passionate about. It was also VERY FUN. I highly recommend that concerned cyclists participate in these rides in the future.
The biggest mass I've ever seen in NYC and, surprisingly, even some lycra clad roadies were spotted amongst the normal congregation. Riding the streets of NYC amongst thousands of other cyclist without having to worry about traffic is exceedingly liberating.
"I think we should express ourselves to the Mayor that the mere fact that 5,000 cyclists decide to ride through NYC should not be seen as exceptional or requiring a ""crack down"" by Police. Motorists do this every day."
