<div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Please gather around in a circle and listen to my tale.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>But before I start I will preface this true story with these few statements:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>- I am a bicycle commuter, not a messenger, but I carry a messenger bag with my work clothes every day. </FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>My sympathy to all you bicycle messengers for having to put up
with the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>Boston</st1:place></st1:City> police department.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>- I sometimes say more than I should, I realize this but I believe my point is still valid.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I will recount my story truthfully, I will not hold back all of the stupid things that I did say just to make me look like a victim.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So in other words don’t read this if you don’t want to read curse words.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></o:p> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p></o:p> </div> <div
class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Today, like any other day, I am following my normal bike route which dumps me into <st1:Street><st1:address>Purchase Street</st1:address></st1:Street> in downtown <st1:City><st1:place>Boston</st1:place></st1:City> near south station.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As many of you surely know that area is under construction, and loaded with both pedestrian & vehicular traffic.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The roads are full of gravel and potholes on the right side, but nonetheless I endure and ride as close to the construction cones as feasible plowing through the gravel (street sweeping in <st1:City><st1:place>Boston</st1:place></st1:City> is another discussion).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I don’t mind the gravel because today I am riding my new mountain bike as opposed to my normal commuter bike – besides the point.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN>As I approach the intersection that will let me cross <st1:Street><st1:address>Congress Street</st1:address></st1:Street> I pass (on the right) several cars that are waiting in traffic.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The light turns green and I prepare to pedal through, when a disgruntled guy in blue Chevy pickup decides that I have no right to be on the street, let alone passing him… So naturally he yells something at me that I couldn’t quite make out, and when I look over he glares at me with his window down.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I glare back, and continue to pedal through.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So the guy peels out in his truck spewing up gravel into my face (which didn’t really hurt physically) but it was clearly intentional.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also jerked his truck to the right faking like he was going to side swipe me into the curb.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Fortunately I was on my mtb and I could get onto the other side of the cones onto the unfinished brick sidewalk.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But I wasn’t about to let that shit slide.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I yelled profanities at him essentially calling him a redneck asshole, but I still didn’t want to make a big scene because I know that there is a cop that directs traffic up ahead, and I could just have the police officer talk to this guy so that I would not have to be as involved.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After all the police are public servants, and are here to protect people like me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So this is a good time to mention that today I was wearing my helmet, reflector, and actually obeying all the rules of the road.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I will be honest and admit that I don’t obey ALL the rules ALL the time;
but today I was.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That said… The pickup truck was behind me again still in traffic (yes he peeled out, just to stop again in less than 15 yards).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I pull up to the police officer to let him know about this aggressive driver in the Chevy pickup… pause take a deep breath… I quickly described to him about what happened… pause … deep breath… and his reply was:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“You probably deserved it” followed by “You bike messengers get what you deserve”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“You’re lucky he didn’t run you over”</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I was baffled by this response.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It caught me off guard and I was
already frazzled by what happened with the truck guy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stunned I replied “what?!?!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“How can you assume that I ‘deserved’ that!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This guy nearly runs me down and that’s all you have to say!” Then I said (this is where I get his attention) “Hell of a public servant, you fuckin’ pig!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>THAT WORKED… sort of… He grabs my bag and shit and pushed me up against a street pole and says that he is going to arrest me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I ask “what the fuck for, calling you a ‘bad’ name?”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“you gonna arrest me for speaking my mind!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He replies “for disorderly conduct”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>so I say “give me you name and badge number, so that I can get it right in MY report
of your behavior” He refused to give it to me.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>At this point the guy in the pickup truck sees that I am “talking” to a cop.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He gets out of his car & walks up to us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(I assume he thinks he might be in trouble for his driving) He immediately tells the cop that I was mouthing off to him back at <st1:Street><st1:address>Congress St.</st1:address></st1:Street> (he failed to mention the part where he tries to run me down) </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>The cop says “You are on MY STREETS, you
have to follow MY RULES” so I reply “How did I break ‘your rules’ officer?!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“I came to you with a complaint and you made assumptions about who I am.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’m not a messenger, I am a COMMUTER, I ride past you every god damn day!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>then I shout in his face, “Even if I was a messenger, you still need to serve the public and listen to my complaint about this guy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>HE TRIED TO HIT ME!, so you’re saying that in ‘your rules’ its OK to hit messengers!?”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I sense that this stubborn prick isn’t going to hear me, so I try to walk away.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He then grabs my arm and pushes me up against the pole again and says that if I try to walk away again he’ll knock my teeth in.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Then he said “maybe
I should let this guy (pickup truck guy) do it for him”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I say, “Go ahead… I’m not resisting arrest!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Go ahead hit me; it’ll be like a white Rodney King!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’ll be on the news, and you’ll be fired!” then I say, “Which will be a good thing ‘cause you obviously hate your job, and you don’t care about the public… hell I’ll be doing a public service!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He says, “You think you could do my job? I’m out here every day doing this…”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>he goes on to moan about how difficult his job is and that if I think I could do it better that I should go fill out the papers to become a cop.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But before he could finish his saga, I interrupt him telling him that it was HIS choice to be a cop, and that if he doesn’t like it he should
fuckin quit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(He didn’t like that).</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>A little more arguing occurred, but then it settled down a bit and eventually I told him that I am leaving unless he still wants to arrest me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am sure that he had no real intention of arresting me, because if he did he would have done it by now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I walk away, collect my bike and head further into town.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Still heated, I decide that I really want his name and badge number so that I can file a complaint.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I just couldn’t let go how boldly he assumed that it was the cyclist’s fault and not the motorists fault
whatsoever.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I felt that I needed to make clear to him that we all use the roads, and it is his fuckin job to help keep them safe.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">This time I calmly approach him and ask again for his name & badge number.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He tells me to get lost.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I reply that he has to, (I was pretty sure that he has to) and that if he didn’t that I am sure I could call and find out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He tells me that it is pointless to file a report because they won’t believe me over him.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(yes we have a good public service system… sarcasm)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I say, that I don’t care and that I want it anyway.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He eventually gives it to me, and then he tells me to relax and that he did ME a favor by not arresting me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He obviously didn’t want me to file a report.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So I take this as an opportunity to tell him (more calmly this time) the error of his ways.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Basically I told him that we cyclists need to be able to come to an officer just like anyone else if there is trouble.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I told him that I came to him because the guy in the truck was dangerous and that I needed authority to intervene.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All I got was a slap in the face from the public figure that I was told I should trust.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now who am I supposed to go to next time… I
tell you this, not a fucking cop!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was more physically threatened by the cop than the guy in the truck.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">My question is who is looking out for us?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If not the police then who?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This cop even said that I’m not “really” supposed to be riding on <st1:Street><st1:address>Purchase St.</st1:address></st1:Street>, which is total horseshit because it plainly says which roads (Pike, 93, 95, Rt2, Storrow) cyclists aren’t allowed on.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I find it ironic that a policeman who doesn’t know the rules of the road is directing traffic.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Sorry for chewing everyone’s ear off with this story… </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I realize that not all cops are like this one... b</FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>ut beware of Officer Gonzalez who directs traffic near south station on Purchase St where Summer St intersects (in front of the Dunkin’ Donuts)</FONT></div> <div> </div> <div>- Jon</div><p> 
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