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Submitted by Rick on Sat, 11/18/2006 - 5:33pm.
[via email] CYCLISTS in OLYMPIA for PEACE in our STREETS (C.O.P.S.) 1708 Hays Ave. NW Olympia, WA 98502 (360)357-3391 grizzlegrazzle@riseup.net FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 17, 2006 Contact: T. Claw (360)357-3391 CRITICAL MASS BIKE PARADE MET WITH RESISTANCE FROM THE OPD Cyclists from Olympia and surrounding areas converged in their monthly ride to support safe, non-motorized transportation. The Halloween Critical Mass was Olympia’s largest in two years, surpassed only by the 2004 election ride. The bike parade was tainted when police harassment ended the ride with unsafe road conditions, multiple citations, and two arrests. The ride left The Evergreen State College at 4:45 p.m. with 75-80 cyclists. There was little or no dangerous or aggravated behavior by cyclists or motorists on the stretch between Evergreen and the intersection of Harrison and Division. The motorists treated the mass of cyclists with respect and a general tone of support. Throughout the ride one or two cyclists would stop at intersections and signal to motorists to slow down and stop, allowing the entire group to get through the intersection safely. In the past, when large rides occurred in Olympia, the Olympia Police Department chose to escort the rides and hold back traffic at intersections for the group’s safety. Those rides were successful, non-violent, and quite fun. At the Halloween Critical Mass, the OPD acted in the contrary. As the group descended the Harrison hill towards downtown, the parade of cyclists picked up approximately 20 additional cyclists and stretched the length of three to four city blocks. The group made one circle around each roundabout, occupying them for less than one minute each, to allow for stragglers to catch up safely and stay as one unified parade as it crossed the 4th Avenue bridge. While passing through the light at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Yashido Street, the light turned red and a bike cop shouted not to run a red light and held his bicycle out in front of the crosswalk. One participant who was badly injured described the incident, “They caused everyone to stop suddenly, turning a perfectly safe situation in to a very dangerous one. I couldn’t stop in time and hit the person in front of me. After a nasty fall I heard one of the policemen say, ‘That’s what you get for trying to run a red light.’ They made absolutely no effort to see if I was okay or apologize for causing my accident.
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Submitted by Sarah on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 7:49am.Well......
Submitted by OlyCop on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 8:46am.First the correct RCW is 46.61.770, in case anyone wants to read the law themselves.
Second the law doesn't really say what is captured above. The author is inferring from the law bullet #2, but the law doesn't say what is printed.
Yes you can ride two abreast, but if you are slower than the flow of traffic, then you must form a single line again and be as close to the right side of the road that is safe, unless a one way street then you can be single file to the left most or right most side of the roadway. So if there is no traffic, two abreast is ok. But as soon as a car going fast than you approaches from the rear, you need to fall back into a single file.
I'm a supporter of bicyclists rights. But I can tell you that MANY bicyclist don't follow the rules/laws either. And they also engage in behavior that is dangerous and reckless at times. I can give countless examples of dangerous behavior, rude behavior, and illegal behavior by bicyclists. So bicyclists can be their worst enemy as far as getting non-bicyclists to listen to their cause.
As for what happened to the patrol car, that will be settled in court now. But whomever chose to slash the tires on that car did more than just make a statement. They potentially increased the risk to the citizens at large by reducing the number of police able to respond to an emergency by at least one for a period of time.
Finally, the author of this article is not being truthful about the cyclists behavior. They were blocking traffic, riding 2+ abreast in violation of 46.61.770, and also using the traffic circles as their own little circular race track, stopping motor vehicle traffic from using the traffic circle.
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy.
Thanks!"You will be
Submitted by Norm on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 10:55am."You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine...."
So true
Submitted by the other will on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 12:24pm.This is RIGHT ON. I've had a bumper sticker slogan in my head for years, which I would never actually use, but also sums this up: I'll share the road when you obey the rules of the road.
I think it is great that Olympia is very bike friendly, and I respect and admire those who use bikes instead of cars. But that doesn't mean bikers shouldn't ride single file or ignore stop signs and traffic lights.
If I Understand
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 2:25pm.The article posted suggests the critical mass crowd felt is was lawful to pass through the red light because they were together. When I follow friends in a car, I'm expected to stop when the light turns red. If I don't stop I'm breaking the law, or worse, causing an accident.
Seems they've lost the support of the police and surely the community. Keep it up folks and you'll end up getting someone hurt or worse.
The credibility and fairness of Olyblog comes into question when posting commentary via e-mail without qualifying the entire statement.
I'm not sure...
Submitted by Rick on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 2:42pm....if you're quite understanding the concept of citizen journalism.
When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow
Hmmm...
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 2:50pm.Why wouldn't you want due
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 2:54pm.At the core of CJ...
Submitted by Rick on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 2:59pm....is the idea that consumers and producers are the same people, and that "reporting the news" is more like a conversation than a lecture. So, if you have a question for T-Claw (the producer of this news), I'm sure he (and everyone else) would be interested in hearing it. So, do you have a question? Or perhaps you'd like to do some reporting on this issue?
When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow
No Question
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 3:14pm.Just wondering why no comment on OlyCop calling T-Claw a liar (not his words, my reading between the lines) and no support for his "news" as you call it. You've just convinced me that what I read on this site is no more helpful to my understanding of the issues than The Olympian's comment section.
As a reader of this forum, which I find to be genuinely helpful and in stark contrast to my views, I'd like to hear truth and opinion, not blatant depression of facts to better support the view of the journalist.
Honestly, you wouldn't be interested in my reporting of these types of events - it wouldn't be a favorable account. I'm afraid I'd end up getting myself banned!
As long as everyone is...
Submitted by Rick on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 3:48pm....trying to get the story straight, we all benefit from having varied and differing perspectives. I know T-Claw, and I trust that he was reporting what his understanding was about the situation. We all gleaned something from OlyCop's contribution. I'm sure we'd also learn from what you had to offer.
As I've said before, there is an objective Truth out there and the more people who report on it, the more different angles on that Truth we get.
The difference with the Olympian comment section is that there is no ethic there to provide even a small bit of the truth -- it is 95% spin and 5% hyperbole.
When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow
Didn't we already go over
Submitted by Norm on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 3:52pm.Didn't we already go over this at length when it actually happend?
"You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine...."
Maybe, but I...
Submitted by Ehver Green on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 6:17pm....travel out of state nearly every week for work, so I often get behind (yes, I have the Internet at customer locations but don't find it to be a productive use of time on their dime!). This afternoon I was catching up and found OlyCop's outing of T-Claw to be interesting, to say the least. I have a very good friend in OPD and heard a very different account of the story. I can be objective and take in both sides - right up until the onsite citizen account writes the story with supported bias. It's going to be an ugly mess the next time Critical Mass rides!
That actually wasn't
Submitted by Norm on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 7:14pm."You will be different, sometimes you'll feel like an outcast, but you'll never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine...."
Thanks, Norm!
Submitted by Ehver Green on Mon, 11/20/2006 - 4:43pm.