[*BCM*] Re: [swrannounce] undercovers uncovered by videoanalysts- links

[turtle]

I see a number of things that the NYC Critical Mass community might want
to try, in an effort to help the situation of the antagonistic police. 
They probably won't all will work, but I bet some combination would be
really useful, and many of these may have already been tried:

- Asking the police to sit down to a public discussion about their
concerns, with CM participants, "Bicycle Safety Experts" from
Transportation Alternatives and/or LAB, and maybe some conflict
negotiation folks invited to join them.  This could be hosted by a
bicycle friendly politician or maybe a college or neutralish news
media.

- Making the CM ride into a true anarchy ride, where there is no
seemingly organized group riding together, but rather a large number of
bicyclists riding all over a predertermined area (maybe a 10-block
radius?) seperately, each choosing his or her own start point, route,
and end point.

- Asking the police to write out very specific directions for what they
would like bicyclists to do when riding, and then follow them to the
letter (creatively, of course).  For example, ask ride participants to
ride in single file... for 20 blocks straight.

- Get some mild mannered but popular VIP types - movie stars,
politicians, etc. - to ride with CM and to be "spokesmodels" for
responsible and fun biking.  (Um... those undercover cops don't count!)

- Encourage and sponsor intelligent, responsible, and fun bicycling
advocates to go to law school and become judges, DAs, politicians, and
other influential types to fix problems from the inside.  (I know at
least one very cool CM regular who went to law school, so it's not
impossible!)

- Invest in advocacy groups that seriously know how use PR and marketing
tactics to promote bicycling as a normal, healthy, fun, safe, and
efficient transportation option to the general public.  (Many groups
promote biking as "alternative" and rebellious, but this image hurts
us, physically and socially).

- More fun!  Less seriousness!  More goofy constumes, songs, laughing,
decorated bikes, etc.  (Perhaps used along with the non-organized-group
mass, so as to not provoke more complaints about "parading".)

Phew!  That's a lot.  Hopefully they are at least somewhat useful
suggestions.

-Turtle
May the forks be with you!