Critical Mass Bike Riders Don't Need Permits

A U.S. District judge denied the city's attempt to make riders of Critical Mass, the monthly bike ride to encourage more biking and less driving, have permits. While Judge William Pauley said the issue should be decided in state court, Judge Pauley pointed out that the police "had not required permits for nearly a decade and had even aided the rallies by blocking cross-town intersections and letting cyclists run red lights." In other words, City of New York and NYPD, you can't have it both ways. Gothamist is excited, because this paves the way for what should be a rollicking New Year's Eve Critical Mass Ride - they'll be riding up to Belvedere Castle in Central Park for music, fireworks and more! We wonder if there's a designated biker rule on nights like that.

More about bicycle advocacy from Transportation Alternatives and NY Magazine's end-of-the-year piece on Critical Mass rides.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 24, 2004 10:05 AM

Comments [rss]

mike

Yay, good news!

But I wonder, when will rush hour motor vehicle traffic require a permit?

Captain Midnight

Permits? We ain't got no permits. We don't need no permits. I don't have to show you any stinkin' permits!

Nick

Well, this is tragic. I remember being stuck on one side of town during the CM ride in July...bah!

S.D.

Well, Legally bikes need to follow the same rules as cars. If the police want to "control" this, put Video Camera's in Police cars, video tape people blowing by stop signs/lights and follow the same procedure as giving a CAR owner a ticket.

Why is that so hard for this Administration to figure out? Will they also require "Permits" for MOTOR Cycle Runs for charity?

Geez...

wurse

Another question is will the bike riders actually follow those same traffic laws they're subject to as cars? Or conveniently forget them when they want to go flying down the wrong way of a one way street, hope a curb and cruse down the sidewalk or plow through a crosswalk full of pedestrians.