Critical Mass Panic Goes National! Politics Police, & Propoganda
Bicycles are taking over! They are getting in the way of cars! Cyclists are scaring pedestrians! It is a United Nations conspiracy! A blight on our beautiful and efficient roadways! They are killing themselves!
A small sampling of fear-mongering and slander against Critical Mass can be found at these links.
http://thevillager.com/villager_392/talkingpoint2.html
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_387/anticritical.html
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_16390626?source=most_emailed&nclick_check=1
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_16487931
It probably just an effect of the election season. The bike-hate has been flying in the media the last few months, both on the local and national levels. It seems pretty clear that the Tea Party and the GOP have sought to use bicycles as another spectre of terror that threatens us somehow, to divide the people from each other and distract us from what really matters.
And what really matters?
Well, having a right to safely ride our bikes in the streets, first of all. Secondly, what matters is that we have fun as a community, to celebrate a vision of the world where everyone is more free. And why not act locally?
If you read my last post, you know I have gotten somewhat involved in some shady dealings with politicians and police officers here in Brooklyn, in hopes of somehow achieving safer streets and fewer deaths. Now, I am tempted to scoff audibly at the notion of dealing with agents of a system I have little faith or trust in, but hey, you gotta sell out sometime. Who has the money?
The din of propaganda has become as natural the sound of automobiles in the streets. Likewise, the shock of being threatened daily on the streets and tragedy of cyclist and pedestrian lives lost to automobiles on a weekly basis has dulled into the natural rhythm of the city. Our safety and our lives are compromised, through carelessness, or increasingly, malice. The media will not blame cars or police. It will blame the victims.
But we are not victims yet, and we will assert our rights to stay that way.
CYCLISTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
WHEREAS, cyclists have the right to ride the streets of our communities and this right is formally articulated in the California Vehicle Code; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are considered to be the “indicator species” of a healthy community; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are both environmental and traffic congestion solutions; and
WHEREAS, cyclists are, first and foremost, people - with all of the rights and privileges that come from being members of this great society; and
NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE CYCLING COMMUNITY, do hereby claim the following rights:
1) Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear.
2) Cyclists have the right to equal access to our public streets and to sufficient and significant road space.
3) Cyclists have the right to the full support of educated law enforcement.
4) Cyclists have the right to the full support of our judicial system and the right to expect that those who endanger, injure or kill cyclists be dealt with to the full extent of the law.
5) Cyclists have the right to routine accommodations in all roadway projects and improvements.
6) Cyclists have the right to urban and roadway planning, development and design that enable and support safe cycling.
7) Cyclists have the right to traffic signals, signage and maintenance standards that enable and support safe cycling.
8) Cyclists have the right to be actively engaged as a constituent group in the organization and administration of our communities.
9) Cyclists have the right to full access for themselves and their bicycles on all mass transit with no limitations.
10) Cyclists have the right to end-of-trip amenities that include safe and secure opportunities to park their bicycles.
11) Cyclists have the right to be secure in their persons and property, and be free from unreasonable search and seizure, as guaranteed by the 4th Amendment.
12) Cyclists have the right to peaceably assemble in the public space, as guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.
And further, we claim and assert these rights by taking to the streets and riding our bicycles, all in an expression of our inalienable right to ride!
First Friday, Nov. A lovely night as always, marred by a sole road-raging passenger whose passage into the gridlocked Time's Square was briefly delayed by the dirty dozen. A stop was made by Think! Coffee to honor Jasmine Herron.
Another hero of mine
And another:
A modest proposal.. Back to the Future: Cops on Bikes now!
NYPD traffic fail
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