Another successful ride without police violence. Attendance estimates hover around the low 200s.
11 articles
No arrests as cyclists hold rally downtown by Jason Bell from Winnipeg Free Press
A few riders were slapped with traffic tickets but that was about as combative as things got between Winnipeg police and cyclists yesterday afternoon during another Critical Mass rally in the downtown core.
More than 150 cyclists took part in the rally, which began at Central Park and then wound through the downtown, Broadway, the Exchange District, Waterfront Drive, St. Boniface and finally The Forks.
The convoy lasted 75 minutes.
About 10 members of the Winnipeg Police Service were present at the rally, riding on mountain bicycles among the participants, while several cruiser cars stayed close behind.
“Our officers’ role was to ensure our commitment to a peaceful escort and to focus on the safety of the participants so on one was injured,” said police spokeswoman Const. Jacqueline Chaput.
While there were no arrests or altercations, Chaput said many participants ignored the rules of the road.
Chaput said police observed many Critical Mass participants spread across multiple lanes of traffic, preventing motorists and pedestrians from proceeding and causing traffic snarls.
Some riders blatantly ran red lights.
“We’re disappointed in the actions of some of the participants in the ride,” Chaput said. “Overall, it was a peaceful ride, but there was outright disregard for the law and a lack of respect for other motorists and pedestrians.”
A number of traffic notices were issued to individuals prior to and after the event, she said.
The rally was just half the size of one held earlier this month, following heightened media attention to the event after scuffles broke out between police officials and cyclists during two rallies in May.
The event is part of an international Critical Mass movement dedicated to promoting alternatives to motor vehicle use, and has occurred in Winnipeg since the late 1990s.
Critical Mass ride rolls along smoothly by Joyanne Pursaga from Winnipeg Sun
A bike ride that sparked arrests and allegations in May wheeled in another peaceful journey yesterday.
Critical Mass aims to promote bicycles as an alternate form of transportation. It began in San Francisco in 1992 and has spread to several cities.
Rides generally happen on the last Friday of each month.
Cyclist Ken Gerrard said it’s a chance for cyclists to claim their rightful place on city streets.
“It’s so hostile out there for us,” said Gerrard. “You wouldn’t believe it. It’s a terrifying environment.”
But previous rides triggered conflict with police.
Rides on May 3 and May 26 sparked allegations of police violence.
On May 26, for example, seven cyclists were arrested, while several others received traffic tickets.
Yesterday, about 150 Critical Mass cyclists gathered at Central Park. The ride began at 5 p.m., looping through downtown, St. Boniface and Market Square before ending in The Forks’ skating pavilion just over an hour later.
“I think the last (June) ride was a test to see if people were intimidated by the cops. But I think this one proved that wrong,” said rider Kelly McKinnon of the peaceful trek.
The June ride drew more than 300 Critical Mass riders, some with emergency numbers scribbled across their arms in case they were arrested.
Police noted several traffic violations that night but didn’t hand out tickets.
This time, cyclists stopped at several lights and yielded to buses.
STILL BROKE LAW
But police said the riders still broke the law.
“They did stop for some red lights, and that’s a positive step,” said police spokeswoman Const. Jacqueline Chaput.
“But they also stopped traffic on their own to let other cyclists go through red lights.”
Police doled out several tickets before and after the event, as it was deemed unsafe to do so during the ride, said Chaput.
But most riders felt it was a success.
“Having a lot of people makes it safe on the route,” said Ken Gerrard. “We’ve achieved critical mass, I would say.”
But Alex Wright, who was arrested on both May rides, said the thinning numbers pose a concern.
“I worry once the numbers dwindle more, the police may decide to clamp down again,” said Wright.
Critical Mass riders block ambulance by Bruce Owen from Winnipeg Free Press
AN ambulance rushing a critically ill patient to hospital was delayed up to two minutes Friday because of a Critical Mass bicycle protest, police and ambulance officials said yesterday.
Those officials warn that, in the future, protesters will be charged if they don’t yield to an ambulance or other emergency vehicle with lights and sirens on.
“Obviously, somebody’s life is at risk or we wouldn’t have lights and sirens,” Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Deputy Chief Ken Sim said.
“Some of the cyclists didn’t clear the road in a timely fashion.”
Sim said both motorists and cyclists are required by law to pull over to the right when an ambulance, fire truck or police car rushes by.
In this instance the patient made it to St. Boniface General Hospital despite cyclists holding it up on Tache Avenue, Sim said.
Police spokesperson Const. Jacqueline Chaput said motorists or cyclists caught blocking an emergency vehicle can be charged under the provincial Highway Traffic Act.
She said on Friday officers monitoring the demonstration had to intervene to get the few cyclists out of the way.
“We tried to clear the way as quickly as we could,” she said.
Chaput said she was unaware if anyone had been charged for riding in front of the ambulance.
Sim added the driver of the ambulance has given a statement to police about the incident.
He also said the problem is partly caused by Critical Mass not having a pre-arranged route filed with police.
He said if a route was known, the ambulance could have avoided the demonstration.
In the past, the Critical Mass demonstrations have been sporadic in leadership and planning with a route not being picked until the last minute.
Last Friday, several riders out of about 150 were slapped with traffic tickets for offences like going through red lights.
About 10 police officers riding mountain bikes and others in cruiser cars monitored the event.
The rally was just half the size of one held earlier this month, following heightened media attention to the event after scuffles broke out between police and cyclists during two rallies in May.
Critical Mass is a loosely organized international movement that aims to promote cycling as an alternative to burning up fossil fuels in cars.
In dozens of cities around the world, cyclists gather on the last Friday of every month to ride through downtown streets in what amounts to both a political demonstration and sort of a rave on wheels.
Cyclists slammed by Bob Holliday from Winnipeg Sun
An ambulance carrying a critically ill patient last Friday was delayed by a mass of cyclists staging a protest against automobiles, says an angry senior member of the city’s fire/paramedic service.
The ambulance was en route to St. Boniface General Hospital with a bleeding patient but was forced to work its way through a throng of cyclists at Westbrook Street and Portage Avenue, and again when the driver turned on to Tache Avenue, Winnipeg Fire-Paramedic Service deputy-chief Ken Sim said yesterday.
GRIDLOCK
“They ran into gridlock despite the siren and flashing light, they couldn’t clear the cyclists,” said Sim.
The patient, who suffers from a blood disorder, was originally being taken to Winnipeg International Airport, said Sim.
“The patient began bleeding so the paramedics decided to return to the hospital,” said Sim, who wondered why the cyclists wouldn’t clear the way.
The cyclists, part of a Critical Mass demonstration against the use of cars, disrupted rush-hour traffic by going through red lights and blocking a number of intersections.
Police issued several tickets and could be issuing more, said spokeswoman Const. Jacqueline Chaput.
“Why would they think it’s their prerogative to stop an emergency vehicle. They slowed our ability to get a person to the hospital,” said Sim.
But cyclist Marcel Lennon blamed members of the police bike unit of impeding the ambulance. “The only cyclists who weren’t clearing the way were the police cyclists,” charged Lennon.
Lennon said there are no organizers of a Critical Mass demonstration.
“Everyone knows it’s on the last Friday of the month. It’s just people going for a bike ride,” said Lennon.
Katz vows prosecution if ambulance blocked by Bruce Owen from Winnipeg Free Press
MAYOR Sam Katz vowed yesterday Critical Mass bicycle protesters will be prosecuted if they block another city ambulance rushing to hospital.
“It’s a good thing I wasn’t on that ambulance or one of my loved ones was,” Katz said. “I would have cleared a path.”
Katz said he was livid after reading a Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service report of the incident last Friday. “This was so wrong,” Katz said the of cyclists’ actions. “I was irate. I was shocked. I was disappointed.
“I would like to think that in a matter of life and death people would abide by the rules of the road and do the right thing.”
The city ambulance was rushing a critically ill patient to hospital and was delayed up to two minutes getting to St. Boniface General Hospital because of the protesters.
A fire department official said the ambulance had gone over the Provencher Bridge and turned south on Tache Avenue towards the hospital when it came up behind a pack of about 150 riders.
Police allege some cyclists intentionally blocked the ambulance and had to be moved out of the way.
Critical Mass riders yesterday disputed that claim, but Katz said the paramedic’s report speaks for itself.
He also said the incident undermines the credibility and integrity of Critical Mass members.
“I can assure you if there’s another life of death situation everything will be enforced,” he said.
Police spokesperson Const. Jacqueline Chaput said motorists or cyclists caught blocking an emergency vehicle can be charged under the provincial Highway Traffic Act.
Critical Mass demonstrations are typically organized at the last minute with riders not telling police of their route.
Friday’s rally was just half the size of one held May 26 in which scuffles broke out between police and cyclists. Police say they intervened when cyclists refused to listen to demands to follow the rules of the road, like stopping at red lights.
Several Critical Mass riders have filed complaints of police excessive use of force with the province’s Law Enforcement Review Agency.
Militant cyclists rile Katz by Ross Romaniuk from Winnipeg Sun
A note to Winnipeg’s militant green-minded cyclists—risking the lives of ambulance patients is almost surely going to kill any progress you make with politicians.
That point was made yesterday by Mayor Sam Katz, who came out swinging after reading in the Sun that many riders in a group of 150 Critical Mass protesters had held up an ambulance while it tried to take a critically ill patient to hospital.
“I’m very angry to hear that,” Katz told the Sun.
“I have to question their thought process when they are supposedly trying to make a point, and yet doing something like that. I mean, you have to separate this. Are these law-abiding citizens, or are they breaking laws and jeopardizing lives? That’s what this really comes down to.”
Frustrated paramedics found their vehicle delayed by the cyclists Friday afternoon during the latest of the loosely organized group’s monthly protest rides—in which Critical Mass supporters pedal en masse, often in an illegal manner, to push their point that bicycles should hold greater rein over public streets.
LOSE CREDIBILITY
The mayor stressed that legal demonstrations are part of Canada’s everyday life, though protesters’ messages lose credibility quickly when they’re sent in a way that endangers others.
“When I read about this, I could not believe it. I just could not believe it,” Katz said of the ambulance’s holdups at two points along the cyclists’ protest route.
“This begs the question, ‘What are you really up to? Do you respect human life?’ That’s a matter of life and death, and everybody should respect an ambulance or fire truck when they’re out there trying to save people.”
Critical Mass riders have largely laid low since word of the ambulance’s delays emerged in the past couple of days.
However, protester Marcel Lennon claimed this week that police officers cycling with the group to monitor the demonstration did more to hamper the ambulance than Critical Mass riders.
Mike Mager of CAA Manitoba said it’s crucial for cyclists and motorists to share the streets responsibly, as the law demands.
“If they’ve got a point to make, doing it by congesting traffic flow is not proper,” Mager said of the cyclists. “It’s somewhat overt and militant. It creates a situation in which motorists are frustrated and angry, and that’s not how they should get their point across.”
Letters to the editor from Winnipeg Sun
Official insulting, wrong
Re: Cyclists slammed (Bob Holliday, Aug. 1). I was a participant in the recent Critical Mass ride. Every cyclist I could see moved as quickly as possible to get out of the way of the ambulance. We were able to remove 200 people from the path of the ambulance in a matter of seconds, and the statement issued by fire-paramedic official Ken Sim that we intentionally held up the progress of the ambulance is insulting and inaccurate.
Matthew Froese
Winnipeg
(Seems like officials always “get it wrong” where Critical Mass is concerned …)
Typically inaccurate
I attended the Critical Mass ride on Friday, July 28. The police and ambulance official’s claim that we didn’t yield is typically inaccurate. As soon as we heard the siren, participants yelled “ambulance” and moved to the sides of the road. The efficiency with which we did so impressed me; it demonstrated how much more flexible bicycles are than cars.
Though I was happy with how we moved, many of us realized that taking a direct access road to a hospital was ill-considered. While the police can’t seem to grasp that the ride is leaderless by design and the route is chosen on the street, those who attended will certainly remember to avoid such roads in the future.
Ken Gerrard
Winnipeg
(Almost an admission of fallibility there.)
*
Claim streets by force?
Critical Mass claims to promote bicycles as an alternate form of transportation. To reinforce this concept, cyclist Ken Gerrard said last Friday’s ride was another “chance to claim their rightful place on city streets” (Critical mass rides along smoothly, Joyanne Pursaga, July 29). Sounds more like by force.
However, police say that Critical Mass cyclists continue to break the law by stopping traffic and running red lights. Even blocking an ambulance, not once but twice.
The only clear message Critical Mass sends is that it’s OK for cyclists to flout the law and endanger the safety of others. And, of course, whine to the media and anyone else within earshot when arrested.
Al Yakimchuk
Winnipeg
(They are, after all, victims of a car culture.)
A limit to rights
I can’t believe I read this quote from Critical Mass cyclist Marcel Lennon: “The only cyclists who weren’t clearing the way were the police cyclists.”
Does he actually believe this?
Everyone has their right to believe what they want—no one has the right to put others at risk to prove a point.
David Martin
Winnipeg
(How true.)
Push for equal access
Re: Critical Mass
I wonder why no one has asked why there is no leadership among Critical Mass. That’s because the political philosophy of Critical Mass is “anarchism,” going back to the 19th century Russian philosophers Bakunin and Kropotkin. Critical Mass arose throughout North America, as the Sun says, to challenge the “car culture” by suggesting that, as roads are paid for by all citizens, pedestrians and cyclists have equal rights to them.
For those who whine about Critical Mass and defend the “car culture,” might I suggest that they demand that the city provide bicycle paths and sidewalks (where in suburbia are there sidewalks?) throughout the city to allow all citizens equal access to public thoroughfares.
Nick Ternette
Winnipeg
(The militant attitudes of some cyclists are doing the cause more harm than good.)
Pedestrians unite!
It is time that the tired battle of drivers and cyclists come to an end. As the founding member of Pedestrian Rule, I shake my head at the rhetoric being thrown back and forth by cyclists (Critical Mass) and drivers (Critical Gas). Bicycles and vehicles are dangerous. People who operate them should be more aware of the small segment of society that truly chooses a safe and environmentally stable form of transportation. Pedestrians risk their lives on Winnipeg streets, while cyclists and drivers commonly disregard the rules of the road.
Let’s get a grip, Winnipeggers. Stop fighting about your dangerous deeds. Maybe leave the wheels at home tomorrow. The walkin’ ain’t crowded.
Matthew Aitken
Winnipeg
(Yes, let’s get a grip.)
Nick, you slay me!
It’s always nice to see the absurd contradictions of the left in full bloom.
In the opening paragraph of Nick Ternette’s letter of Aug. 3 (Push for equal access), he writes that Critical Mass subscribes to the principles of anarchism. One definition of anarchism I came across states that it is “the theory or doctrine that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable and should be abolished.”
Yet without missing a step, in the next paragraph he asks that “the city provide bicycle paths and sidewalks.”
So what is it? Does he want all forms of government, including civic, abolished?
Or does he just want to keep around the ones that can hopefully fund his pet projects?
Thank you, Mr. Ternette, for the best laugh I’ve had in weeks.
Jay Bruneau
Winnipeg
(What, were you in a coma?)
Enough of this Critical Mess
Re: Militant cyclists rile Katz (Ross Romaniuk, Aug. 2).
It’s nice to see that “Slammin’ Sammy Katz,” mayor of Winnipeg, has finally realized that those bicycle riders that call themselves “Critical Mass” are nothing but a Critical Mess. They disrupt the flow of traffic, they get in the way of law-abiding citizens, and claim they do nothing wrong.
I fully support the laying of charges by Winnipeg police against those individuals of this Critical Mess movement who break the law. They have been in the face of Winnipeggers for far too long.
It’s nice to see Slammin’ Sammy say he’s going to do something about this problem. It’s about time.
Robert Stock
Swan River
(Slammin’ Sammy?)
*
MacFarlane misses point
In Critical Mass protesters too critical (Aug, 7), Gordon MacFarlane misses the point concerning the raison d’etre of Critical Mass—namely bicycles are clearly out to challenge the notion that persists in our “car culture” that cars are constitutionally protected from bicycles and pedestrians, mainly because roadways are publically owned by all citizens and because we all pay for them.
Mr. MacFarlane seems to be critical of people who have a vital point, but who express it in a particular fashion and, therefore, alienate people in the process. The fact is, even if they were polite about the way they expressed themselves, bicycles would still be the “enemy” of our “car culture”!
His suggestion that most Canadians are moderate and tolerant and can recognize the validity of a point well made is to miss the point altogether. Those moderate and tolerant Canadians don’t have a political position on any issue—don’t feel strongly enough about anything, and don’t participate in any form of public demonstration! Those who do protest are making a point and see themselves as being both part of the problem and the solution.
Nick Ternette
Winnipeg
(Thou, perhaps, doth protest too much.)
Letters to the editor from Winnipeg Free Press
Autos are an equal culprit
For a broader perspective (Critical Mass riders block ambulance, Aug. 1), reporter Bruce Owen might have reported on the frequency of emergency services delays caused by automobile traffic jams or unyielding motorists.
KYLE GESKE
Winnipeg
*Cyclists cleared roadway
Re: Critical Mass riders block ambulance (Aug. 1).
It absolutely appalled me to read the article admonishing cyclists participating in Critical Mass for not clearing the way for an ambulance.
I was there- while I’m sure neither reporter Bruce Owen nor Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Jacqueline Chaput were -and I can state without hesitation that not only did we clear the roadway promptly, we did so in an exponentially more timely and efficient manner than a street full of cars would have been able to do.
How unfortunate that the image of such a positive movement be tainted by irresponsible, one-sided journalism.
KINNERET SHEETREET
Winnipeg
Critical Mass protesters too critical by Gord MacFarlane from Winnipeg Sun
Over the past few months a group calling itself Critical Mass has been garnering rather a lot of media attention here in the windy city.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been the good kind of media attention.
In spite of the fact Critical Mass has no officially stated message, their acknowledged raison d’etre is to raise awareness about alternative forms of non-motorized transportation. By staging mass bicycle rides on the last Friday of each month the group hopes to promote the use of bikes while also highlighting the safety concerns faced by those on the roads but not in cars.
So far so good.
As someone who has, in the past, relied on a bike as my primary means of transportation, I can most certainly support their goal. Cycling is a healthy, non- polluting way to get from hither to yon and could be, for some people, a realistic way to commute. Furthermore, as anyone who has ever biked in our city will tell you, cycling in Winnipeg is only slightly less dangerous than cycling in Beirut.
Everyone living within the Perimeter Highway knows full well our city is home to most of the worst drivers in the civilized world. Clueless, selfish and dangerous doesn’t begin to do justice to the attitude many Winnipeggers exhibit when they slide behind the wheel. Whether it is the aggressive jock in the pickup truck, the vapid suburbanite in a minivan or some 12-year-old creep in a stolen car, all are united in blissful ignorance or sheer contempt for the rights of others sharing the road. Anyone who regularly drives in this city has to know that the streets of Winnipeg are a frightening place to drive a car, much less ride a bike.
Add to that the appalling state of our city streets and you can easily see the point Critical Mass is striving to make.
Unfortunately, like so many others who have a valid point to make, Critical Mass is on the verge of alienating public opinion by the way they choose to make that point. Many involved in the rides seem to be using them to respond in kind for every inconvenience or rude act they have endured. They gleefully seek to incite public anger in the selfish, short-sighted manner of the immature and in doing so make a mockery of their supposed purpose. Flouting traffic laws, clashing with the police and flipping off motorists might make you look like a hero to your own set but to the rest of us, you look like petulant children. More importantly, such behaviour completely overshadows your message and raises questions about the validity of your commitment to the cause. After all, by going out of your way to discredit the messenger you all but ensure the message won’t get a fair hearing.
This type of ill-mannered behaviour is an unfortunate and all too common form of self-indulgence utilized by many who feel they have an axe to grind. Recently, at the opening ceremonies of the Outgames being held in Montreal, the appointed representative of our federal government was shouted down during his welcoming remarks.
The reason for this churlish outburst directed at Public Works Minister Michael Fortier? Apparently those assembled felt the government, in spite of having helped sponsor the games to the tune of about $1.3 million and sending a senior cabinet minister to the opening ceremonies, is intolerant.
In the Outgames 2006 notebook online, Cyd Zeigler Jr. of outsports.com referred to this as “the saddest part of the opening ceremonies” and wondered why the crowd would boo a conservative “who DID come to support the games.” He further noted, “It’s no wonder gay people find little support among the conservatives they boo.”
Therein lies the rub.
People who feel they have a point to make are of course entitled and encouraged to speak their minds. What they are not entitled to do, however, is to castigate those who disagree. Shouting down someone else on the grounds they are intolerant and disrespectful of your viewpoint is so absurd as to bypass irony completely and speak to agenda. Likewise, acting like a selfish, churlish moron to protest that in others obfuscates your message and confuses the masses.
Whether your wish is to promote alternative means of transportation or alternative lifestyles, the attack dog, confrontational style so in vogue these days leaves much to be desired. Along with smacking of hypocrisy it also makes the sad error of ostracizing the average citizen. Most Canadians are moderate, tolerant people who can recognize the validity of a point well made. We don’t much care for gun boat diplomacy, however, and can become defensive when special interest groups train their guns upon us.
Hold your protests, make your points but remember, not being part of the solution — as you see it — doesn’t necessarily make the rest of us part of the problem.
Cyclists upset by tickets based on video by Gabrielle Giroday from Winnipeg Free Press
NATASHA Peterson and her boyfriend Ian La Rue had an unpleasant surprise last weekend when police came knocking on their doors.
Both were handed a mittful of traffic tickets for alleged offences they committed in last month’s Critical Mass bike rally. Peterson got six tickets and La Rue got four.
The evidence? Police videotape footage taken by officers during the downtown rally July 28.
“It seems like a very sneaky thing to do,” said La Rue, 25. “I feel like I’ve been personally targeted.”
“It’s a real eye-opener for me,” said Peterson, 22. “They said they went through the videotapes and issued tickets on how many laws you broke during the ride.
“I’m very skeptical of the police service.”
The tickets are for violations ranging from riding too far away from the curb to not bicycling in single file.
Peterson and La Rue said they were each issued a ticket during the rally for going through a red light and police used their personal information to later show up with more tickets.
Police confirmed the tickets against Peterson, saying tickets can be issued for Highway Traffic Act offences up to six months after the incident.
But Const. Jacqueline Chaput said police would not discuss the use of video cameras to later ticket alleged offenders, saying that would speak to police tactics.
However, she said police said in a news release several weeks ago officers would take “alternate” measures to police Critical Mass rallies.
“During the ride police never commented or contributed on how it was going,” Peterson said. “(The police) didn’t say anything to imply the ride was going badly, and then behind everyone’s backs start showing up at people’s houses’’ to hand out tickets.
Another Critical Mass ride is scheduled for next Friday.
The monthly Critical Mass bike rally promoting environmental sustainability has been a flash point for the Winnipeg Police Service since May, when a scuffle broke out among cyclists and officers, and at least four people were arrested.
City councillor Jenny Gerbasi, who mediated online and face-to-face forums between officers and Critical Mass cyclists, said she was troubled by the continued sour relationship.
“The (police) are making a lot of effort to make life very difficult for people,” she said.
Gerbasi said she was concerned police were being overly “legalistic” in their crackdown on cyclists.
“It’s pretty severe for young university students to get tickets for seven different things,” she said.
Nip Critical Mass lawbreaking in bud by Tom Broadbeck from Winnipeg Sun
Winnipeg police better be careful with how closely they co-operate with the anti-car group Critical Mass, which is scheduled to hit the streets again Friday.
Police brass could end up on the wrong side of a lawsuit.
A group of 100 to 150 cyclists, who call themselves Critical Mass, have been protesting the use of motor vehicles on the last Friday of every month by clogging city streets and obstructing traffic.
In May, the protest turned ugly and several cyclists got into a scuffle with police, prompting criticism that some cyclists were “roughed up” by cops.
Since then, police brass have decided to work with the protesters by escorting them on bikes through city streets.
Trouble is, they’re doing more than just escorting. They’re allowing these bozos to break the law.
There have been conflicting reports on the degree to which some of the cyclists are breaking the law (travelling the wrong way down one-way streets, running red lights, clogging intersections, etc.).
But there’s no question some are violating the Highway Traffic Act — offences most of us would not get away with.
Cops have given out a few tickets but, by and large, police have been told to look the other way.
Which I find very disturbing.
That may be good public relations for police in the short term — avoiding the kind of criticism hurled their way after the May brouhaha.
But it could mean lawsuits down the road if police are deliberately not enforcing the Highway Traffic Act and someone gets seriously injured as a result (or if the next ambulance patient waiting in a Critical Mass gridlock dies).
Escorting this group through city streets, much like cops do for other protests held on foot, is one thing. But failing to enforce the law — which puts the public’s safety at risk — is quite another.
Cyclists have every right to use city streets. And they have every right to promote cycling, including demanding the city do more to facilitate cycling. But they do not have the right to break the law.
Some are anarchists
Not all Critical Mass riders are law-breakers. Indeed, many are law-abiding citizens who go along for the ride to promote cycling.
The trouble is that some of the main Critical Mass organizers are anarchists, as pointed out by Winnipeg’s most prominent protester — Nick Ternette — in an Aug. 3 letter to the editor in The Winnipeg Sun.
(Nick knows his anarchists.)
Which means their objective is to break the law. Police on the street know that. But their directive is to “play ball” with these guys.
The problem is surrendering to lawlessness of any kind tends to encourage more disorder. These guys think they’ve got the cops beat because they can ride through red lights and obstruct traffic and not get ticketed.
So they’ll do more of it. Until someone gets hurt, or worse.
What police should be doing is ticketing everyone who violates the Highway Traffic Act — period — starting this Friday.
They should send out the message that it’s OK to protest peacefully and within the law, but not by breaking the law.
They shouldn’t wait for the lawsuits — or for someone to get seriously hurt.
6 links
July 28 Winnipeg Critical Mass by Tear it Down: An account of police ticketing Critical Mass participants after they left The Forks.
c-mass by rise and sprawl: A picture of the ride heading down Portage Avenue
Critial Mass Winnipeg July 2006 by Sam-bot: A set of 29 photographs from the ride.
Mainstream media and Critical Mass by Tear it Down: How the media fucked up the coverage of the July 28 Critical Mass in Winnipeg.
A note to Winnipeg's lazy yellow-minded journalists by The Rise and Sprawl: Commentary on the fabrication that Critical Mass participants blocked an ambulance.
Ambulance blocked by Critical Mass? Not likely by Tear it Down: A first-person account of the alleged ambulance blocking by cyclists on July 28 at the Winnipeg Critical Mass.
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