Times is Going to Take A shot at city over bike licenses
Thread started by
daymen at 09.27.08 - 9:56 am
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/bottleneck/2008/09/this-week-in-tr.html
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So, let me get this straight. In L.A., a city that has completely dropped the ball in so many ways when it comes to providing biking facilities, they're making people get licenses? I didn't know this and have now moved several city officials into the top 10 of my call list on Monday morning. I look forward to their explanation for this outrage.
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I'm looking forward to Tuesday's LA Times!
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I wrote to the times writer. If you were at either of the 3 stops, did i miss anything? here's what i wrote:
Mr. Hymon,
I was part of a group of cyclists on September 12, 2008 that started the bike licensing debacle.
We were riding in downtown Los Angeles and were pulled over by the police 3 times in a 10 minute span.
The first stop (Photo attached) was on I believe 2nd street west of the bridge. An officer stopped short in front of us and was very hostile with us. Our friend Don spoke to him about our rights as cyclists. A second officer arrived and told us to leave and obey the laws. We left.
The second stop (photo attached) was I think on 2nd street just East of the bridge by a few blocks. I recall 2, maybe 3 squad cars arriving attempting to look through their law book to find what law(s) we broke. Don read from an L.A. CVC booklet on cyclists rights and we were again allowed to leave.
The third stop, unfortunately I don't have a photo, was I believe at 2nd and Main. 2 of the officers from the 2nd stop again stopped short of us and cited 1 rider for riding through a red light. 5 officers total present. badge numbers:
Janata 19953, 18752 Gutierrez, Barrera 17350, Alvarez 11823, Azarkman 16936
Officer Alvarez told us to disperse and a few cyclists said we have a right to be here, Alvarez threatened to cite us for loitering on the sidewalk and then started asking cyclists if their bikes were licensed. Most of us dispersed at that point and Don (pictured in both photos) received a citation for not having his bike licensed.
Cyclists have been arrriving in droves at the 6th and Wall police station Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am - 8pm licensing our bikes as a result of Officer Alvarez of the LAPD. Word travels fast through the cycling community. Steven Rood took the photos.
barleye09.27.08 - 12:29 pm
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Hey Barleye, thanks for writing. I could be mistaken on this, but I believe PC may have been cited for lack of bike license also.
In any case, here's a shot of the 3rd & Main stop, where the tickets were actually issued:
http://www.midnightridazz.com/viewPhoto.php?galleryId=27842&artistId=508&pgnum=1
There were also two other cruisers present; just out of frame to the right.
mr rollers09.27.08 - 3:15 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!