NYC Cyclist Ticketed For Riding on Sidewalk; Passerby Arrested For Cracking Joke
 

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...list_bikes.php


"New York City's War on Bikes results in some collateral damage in this new
clip shared byNYC the Blog, which shows a Brooklyn cyclist pulling up to a
friend's apartment, but riding from the street onto the sidewalk as he
approaches the building. Even those "few seconds" were illegal, especially
in this strict climate for riders, so the NYPD pulls him over. As a few
neighborhood guys walk by, they tease the cyclist about his silly crime. One
police officer takes issue with the banter and that's when things get
ridiculous. (Updated below.)

"Riding on the sidewalk, huh?" a guy walking by laughs. "You a grown man,
you know that's against the law," adds another man. "Mind your own
business," the cop shouts back, and the smart-ass makes his first mistake,
countering with, "I wasn't even talking to you!" From there it's on, and
pretty embarrassing for both sides, but mainly the professionals.

Friends of the ticketed cyclist are filming the entire thing from a balcony.

The rest really should be watched in the video above, but as the passerby
becomes more flabbergasted at the aggressive attitude of the cop in
sunglasses, it spirals into a full-blown situation in which five officers,
flanked eventually by two cop cars and one NYPD van, arrest a guy for having
a big mouth -- basically for being annoying -- and then getting outraged."

NYC Cyclist Ticketed For Riding on Sidewalk; Passerby ArrestedFor Cracking Joke
 

On 4/19/2011 6:31 PM, ATP wrote:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...list_bikes.php


"New York City's War on Bikes results in some collateral damage in this new
clip shared byNYC the Blog, which shows a Brooklyn cyclist pulling up to a
friend's apartment, but riding from the street onto the sidewalk as he
approaches the building. Even those "few seconds" were illegal, especially
in this strict climate for riders, so the NYPD pulls him over. As a few
neighborhood guys walk by, they tease the cyclist about his silly crime. One
police officer takes issue with the banter and that's when things get
ridiculous. (Updated below.)

Enforcing the law when the letter is violated but not the spirit is
counter-productive to society.

"Riding on the sidewalk, huh?" a guy walking by laughs. "You a grown man,
you know that's against the law," adds another man. "Mind your own
business," the cop shouts back, and the smart-ass makes his first mistake,
countering with, "I wasn't even talking to you!" From there it's on, and
pretty embarrassing for both sides, but mainly the professionals.

Friends of the ticketed cyclist are filming the entire thing from a balcony.

Surprised they were not also arrested.

The rest really should be watched in the video above, but as the passerby
becomes more flabbergasted at the aggressive attitude of the cop in
sunglasses, it spirals into a full-blown situation in which five officers,
flanked eventually by two cop cars and one NYPD van, arrest a guy for having
a big mouth -- basically for being annoying -- and then getting outraged."

The police need to be reminded that they are here to serve and protect,
not be petty tyrants. All police departments need a citizens review
board with the power to discipline, including suspension and termination.

--
Tºm Shermªn - 42.435731,-83.985007
I am a vehicular cyclist.

NYC Cyclist Ticketed For Riding on Sidewalk; Passerby Arrested For Cracking Joke
 

"Tºm ShermªnT °_°" " wrote in
message ...
On 4/19/2011 6:31 PM, ATP wrote:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...list_bikes.php


"New York City's War on Bikes results in some collateral damage in this
new
clip shared byNYC the Blog, which shows a Brooklyn cyclist pulling up to
a
friend's apartment, but riding from the street onto the sidewalk as he
approaches the building. Even those "few seconds" were illegal,
especially
in this strict climate for riders, so the NYPD pulls him over. As a few
neighborhood guys walk by, they tease the cyclist about his silly crime.
One
police officer takes issue with the banter and that's when things get
ridiculous. (Updated below.)

Enforcing the law when the letter is violated but not the spirit is
counter-productive to society.

"Riding on the sidewalk, huh?" a guy walking by laughs. "You a grown man,
you know that's against the law," adds another man. "Mind your own
business," the cop shouts back, and the smart-ass makes his first
mistake,
countering with, "I wasn't even talking to you!" From there it's on, and
pretty embarrassing for both sides, but mainly the professionals.

Friends of the ticketed cyclist are filming the entire thing from a
balcony.

Surprised they were not also arrested.

The rest really should be watched in the video above, but as the passerby
becomes more flabbergasted at the aggressive attitude of the cop in
sunglasses, it spirals into a full-blown situation in which five
officers,
flanked eventually by two cop cars and one NYPD van, arrest a guy for
having
a big mouth -- basically for being annoying -- and then getting
outraged."

The police need to be reminded that they are here to serve and protect,
not be petty tyrants. All police departments need a citizens review board
with the power to discipline, including suspension and termination.

--
Tºm Shermªn - 42.435731,-83.985007
I am a vehicular cyclist.

At least they didn't pull the guy off his bike, beat the hell out of him and
then arrest him. Just imagine what the police were getting away with before
videocameras became so widespread.