Gothamist: The Recent History of Your Biking Rights

aaron

Tue, 04 Oct 2005 09:08:19 -0500

This isn't THE judy coleman, is it?

mark

Mon, 03 Oct 2005 16:47:30 -0500

requiem video for critical mass: http://nyc.indymedia.org/media/2005/10/58036.mov

CLM

Sun, 02 Oct 2005 13:09:20 -0500

Right now, the City is regularly arresting cyclists who have broken no law and prosecuting them under the theory that any lawful gathering of 7 or more individuals on the streets or sidewalks of the city requires a parade permit. This is in obvious contradiction to the Constitution - and it's also very, very expensive to the taxpayer, since the ongoing campaign involves hundreds of officers in cars, on scooters, and in helicopters - all of whom are earning overtime due to a quirk in the NYPD payroll system - and regularly results in the unscheduled closing of major thoroughfares in the city. There are two ways to prevent the City from continuing to make these unlawful arrests, of which there have been more than 500 over the last year. First, we can win an injunction in court - which is itself a very expensive proposition; it'll take tens of thousands of dollars of legal representation, and that's money no advocacy group has right now, as most are still reeling under the legal costs resulting from the RNC. The other way to stop the city's anti-assembly campaign is to increase political pressure. Right now, City Councilman Vallone is considering launching an inquiry into exactly how much taxpayers are paying to ensure that the city's streets are freed from the cyclist menace. If you are concerned about the City's attempt to repeal the right of free assembly, please take the time to write or call your city councilperson and encourage her to support Vallone's inquiry. You can find your councilman's name and contact information on this site: http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/index.cfm

mark

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:27:17 -0500

great article overall, given the corrections above in the comments.. but the title is a little misleading. i'd love to see a second piece on cyclists' rights after 1991 in nyc.

Ed Ravin

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 16:52:08 -0500

The street protests in 1987 against Mayor Koch's bike ban weren't just Transportation Alternatives members as you imply - bike messengers were the major players there. And, like now, the protests didn't actually have any direct effect - what ended the bike ban was a lawsuit against the city that was decided in the bikers' favor - not because banning bikes was illegal, but because the City had ignored a 30-day notice requirement in the City Charter.

evan

Fri, 30 Sep 2005 14:45:45 -0500

great piece - just one comment: "violent acts of two-wheeled terrorism"? the NYPD is doing a fine job of equating non-violent protest with terrorism -they don't need yr help. the People v. Gray bikers rode their bikes across the bridge. there is nothing violent about that. and i must disagree with yr conclusion - the success of those bikers should indeed encourage others to follow in their path. the courts can help us after we get arrested, but if you're not willing to shake things up a bit -as the gray group did - there will be no changes.