[*BCM*] Massbike To Blaim For Biker Harrasment

[contraelolvido at riseup.net]

"Just taking the class will increase my awareness of bicycles on the
roadways. I believe I will be more inclined to take enforcement actions
now than I was in the past." - police officer, Homewood, Ill.

"I will make an effort to do more enforcement towards bikers who disregard
traffic devices and towards motorists who exhibit dangerous behavior
towards bikers." - police officer - Ann Arbor, Mich.

Today, biking through cambridge I was pulled over by two cops. They called
me over and asked who I was, where I was going. This surprised me as ID is
only needed when driving a car, not when walking or biking. Freedom of
movement is a right, not a privilege. And yet, there they were asking for
my papers. Not wanting to get arrested, I obliged. I was told that I was
getting a ticket for not having a headlight.

Now, cambridge cops never used to harrass bicyclists, and yet at least
three of my freinds also recieved tickets tonight in central? Through my
discussions with the cops, and some online research, I put 2 and 2
together and realized that only after Massbike's awarness trainings did
the coppers start to harrass bicyclists.

There aren't many laws that relate to bikes, yet. Looking at a petition in
the state house (http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01411.htm)
massbike wants to make it that all bicyclists have to be willing to show
ID. The proposition wants to regulate bicycles, just as cars were.

The same liberal strategy of creating laws to regulate every aspect of
life is sickening and disgusting. I challenge Dorie Clark to show one
statistic that more enforcement of laws, or more laws in general, keeps
anyone safer.  In almost every law enforcment area, from drug use to
liqour, as society has moved from individual discretion to legal
enforcement, incident rates have risen.

What Massbike doesn't understand, is that bike's aren't cars. They don't
pose nearly the threat to others, nor even to the rider. If I want to ride
down a quiet well light street at night without having a light, I should
be able to. If I get hurt, it's my fault.

Instead, Massbike wants to increase ticketing and harrasment of bikers,
increases fines (and of course, to whom do you think this money goes...
more  Massbike trainings of course). So while middle-class liberals sit
back in their comfy homes and legislate away at my life, taking the money
of honest, safe bike riders so their coalition can feel important, real
cops, in real cities, give real people (who can't afford it) real trouble.

This precisely is why no one is running to join massbike or any other
liberal group for that matter. Instead of thinking that you know what's
best for everyone, and claiming to speak for all bicylcists, get over
yourself. Hundreds of people show up for critical mass out of their own
free initiative to, by their own effort, make bicylcing safer in boston.
How many people show up for Mass Bike meetings?

I request Dori Clark (or another massbike member) to explain the following:
1) Why they believe that taking money from bikers is a good idea?
2) Where the money goes.
3) Whether or not they will compensate people hurt by their stupid laws.

Hope to generate some discussion, sorry for this being excessively long.