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Bicyclists, take heed: The Philadelphia Police announced today that officers will be launching the slightly-terrifyingly-named "Central Bicycle Enforcement Initiative" at Rittenhouse Square.
What, if anything, the timing has to do with today's proposal by Councilmembers Jim Kenney and Frank DiCicco for rather draconian bike enforcement laws, I don't know. But there it is.
I received two press releases about the "initiative." One came from the police. It read:
Tomorrow Friday, November 19, 2009, the Central Bicycle Enforcement Initiative will begin at 1:00PM at Rittenhouse Square. Members of the Bicycle Coalition will be on hand to help with the education on bike laws, rules and safety. Hand-out material will be provided.
The other came from the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. It was a little more involved.
While the police make the event out to be a friendly get-together between the two groups, the Bicycle Coalition's press release suggests that the Coalition got involved only after 9th District Police Captain Dennis Wilson informed them that he was already planning a crackdown.
(You may remember Captain Wilson, by the way, from just over a year ago, when the City Paper reported that his officers had somewhat inexplicably raided a houseful of activists and detained them. Charges were never pressed.)
Here's the slightly-abbreviated dilly, according to the Bike Coalition (read the full press release, including bicycle violations and how much they cost, here):
The Bicycle Coalition's Education Department sat down with Captain Wilson from the Philadelphia Police 9th District today (November 19, 2009). This meeting confirmed that Police intend to begin an enforcement and education campaign beginning tomorrow, November 20, 2009. The campaign will focus on egregious actions of motorists and cyclists in the Center City area.
Bicycle police officers from the 9th, 6th and Center City Districts will be on the streets enforcing the rules of the road in Center City. In addition to other violations, the Police will be stopping bicyclists riding on the sidewalk, not stopping at red lights or stop signs and riding the wrong way in the road. The Police Department will also have vehicle units out on Spruce and Pine Streets ticketing motorists who are driving in, or illegally double parking in the bike lane or driving aggressively.
. . .
In response to this enforcement campaign, the Bicycle Coalition will have Bicycle Ambassadors out on the streets helping to educate bicyclists who may not know the rules of the road and provide tips for riding in traffic.
. . .
Please be advised that this is not a warning period and tickets will be issued. Safety education coupled with enforcement, applied equitably to all road users, is the first step to improve safety for all.
. . .
[...] response seemed out of proportion. While it has led to a mostly healthy debate over road safety, a stepped-up enforcement effort against bicycle scofflaws seems to many like a case of misplaced priorities, considering how many [...]
[...] response seemed out of proportion. While it has led to a mostly healthy debate over road safety, a stepped-up enforcement effort against bicycle scofflaws seems to many like a case of misplaced priorities, considering how many [...]
[...] response seemed out of proportion. While it has led to a mostly healthy debate over road safety, a stepped-up enforcement effort against bicycle scofflaws seems to many like a case of misplaced priorities, considering how many [...]
[...] in collisions with cyclists on Philadelphia streets precipitated an uproar in the local press, a crackdown on cyclists by the police and a new round of proposed legislation to fight the perceived scourge of scofflaw [...]
[...] in collisions with cyclists on Philadelphia streets precipitated an uproar in the local press, a crackdown on cyclists by the police and a new round of proposed legislation to fight the perceived scourge of scofflaw [...]
[...] in collisions with cyclists on Philadelphia streets precipitated an uproar in the local press, a crackdown on cyclists by the police and a new round of proposed legislation to fight the perceived scourge of scofflaw [...]
Why is this bad? Breaking the law on your bike isn't just dangerous for you, it's dangerous for all the other bikers and the pedestrians, because you anger drivers and do unexpected things like ride on the sidewalk. If you believe the laws are unfair, go ahead and break them, and take your ticket to court like a good civil disobedient. Otherwise if you want to operate a vehicle, motorized or leg powered, you have to follow the rules. I don't get why that's some awful injustice.
Riding up 22nd Street this morning there was a police car parked in the left hand lane pointed south (22nd St runs north) and an officer was talking with a biker and seemed to be filling out a report/ticket. Could this be a symptom of the Initiative?
I hope this "Initiative" continues and the push is directed at sidewalk riders. Why would anyone object to that? And to piggy back on another commenter yesterday in this overall thread; I don't care WHY you are riding on the sidewalk, if you are doing it, it's illegal, so stop rationalizing it. BTW, NY State Law calls for confiscation of bikes if caught riding on the sidewalk: § 19-176 - Bicycles operation on sidewalks prohibited Bicycles ridden on sidewalks may be confiscated and riders may be subject to legal sanctions. See also N.Y.C. Traffic Rules and Regulations §4-07 (c). If they can do it, why can't we be content to pay only a fine?
Is this a one day event?
will this be a one-day enforcement?
It makes me happy to know that I can feel free to commit heinous crimes now, knowing that the police will be tied up with bikers. Loot and pillage, motherfuckers! It's a free for all!!!
Hey Isaiah - you might want to check this group out - it's been spontaneously organized and in less than 48 hours has about ~350 participating - and made the evening news
enforce the laws already in place. also, please read "A Letter to Philadelphia City Councilman Frank DiCicco" @ http://mattkosoy.com/index.php?id=18
I do not support bicycles on sidewalks. I am an avid cyclist. I would like you all to see my comments in the other post about this as well: http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2009/11/20/does-the-proposed-council-law-target-fixed-gear-bikes/#comment-202897 http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2009/11/20/does-the-proposed-council-law-target-fixed-gear-bikes/#comment-202912 I do ride a fixed gear (and also a hand brake) but many riders can stop their bike riding fixed without a hand brake within 15ft, as the law expresses the brake should do.
Enforcement is fine. Augmenting fines, forced registration and confiscation is crazy. I follow the laws as it is, but god forbid I get my bike taken away - i cycle 10 miles each way to work daily.
"Central Bicycle Enforcement Initiative" Does that mean downtown? Great, yet more rules and laws which are enforced only in certain areas of the city.
If I have to obey all the laws, and get a license plate, I should then be able to take up entire lanes AND be able to ride on 676, etc. Right? Please... I am NOT opposed to enforcement of the sidewalk law. I enforce that now with elbows. If you are too scared to ride on the street, you shouldn't be riding. BUT, many of the sidewalk violators are BMXicans, and since a good number aren't legal, does anyone really expect that without proper documentation they are going to get licenses? They ride bikes because they don't have the docs to get drivers licenses for crying out loud... I'm not against all the proposed laws, but some just scream fascist police-state and are an obvious pick on the little guy to make money scheme. Like our cops have nothing better to do? Or it will be enforced in part by the outsourced PPA? We have easily the worst transit system in the country, the economy is shit, and now people who were going to find alternatives to paying for gas or dealing with SEPTA are getting attacked? Ugh.
You should always keep in mind the rules and regulations of the road when your riding your bicycles for your safety.
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