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Pushing a bicycle illegal
Ed Chasteen, a cyclist with multiple sclerosis, was charged with "pushing a bicycle" in Lawson, Missouri, population 2300, in an area where bicycle travel is prohibited both on the street and the adjacent sidewalks of the business district. Local law forbids even pushing a bike. The area has several "No Bicycles" signs, but Mr. Chasteen assumed they were to prevent riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. His trial was held January 4th. Lawson's mayor, chief of police, and the officer who wrote Chasteen's ticket all testified. Chasteen's attorney asked questions during the trial indicating that Lawson's previous city prosecutor had refused to file the case as unprosecutable. Although the judge refused to allow the questions, a different prosecutor was handling the case. Chasteen's attorney argued that the law is unconstitutionally vague, includes an inappropriate penalty designed for parents of children, and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Parents who permit violations by their children may be charged with a misdemeanor. Local media reports erroneously indicated that Lawson's mayor is against any changes to the "no bicycle zone" law. Lawson City Manager John Tracy indicates that an update to the law is in fact on the agenda for this spring. Lawson is looking at bicycle law in nearby cities as a model, and will work with local bicyclists and bicycle groups, as well as local citizens. Note, however, that at least some local citizens support the bicycle ban. The judge will consider the case and issue a verdict within 10 days. Chasteen's group rides to Lawson about once every 5 weeks. In July, he was entering a restaurant when he met Lawson's Police Chief, who ordered him to remove his bicycle from the street. Mr. Chasteen refused, and the Chief had a waiting officer ticket him for the offense. Mr. Chasteen first encountered the police in May of 2004, when police told a group of cyclist volunteers supporting a local MS ride that they could not ride in Lawson. For more information: http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/cyc...sclerosis.html http://www.hatebusters.com/article.a...0&NavButton=06 http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/...71/detail.html -- alan Anyone who believes in a liberal media has never read the "Daily Oklahoman." |
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#2
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This is so insane. The police chief should be fired for being such a weak
character. It should be a non issue and the judge should tell the city manager that the chief needs to be tuned up. What a god damn mockery of the system. |
#3
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alan wrote:
Ed Chasteen, a cyclist with multiple sclerosis, was charged with "pushing a bicycle" in Lawson, Missouri, population 2300, in an area where bicycle travel is prohibited both on the street and the adjacent sidewalks of the business district. Local law forbids even pushing a bike. Was he supposed to carry it over his head? The area has several "No Bicycles" signs, but Mr. Chasteen assumed they were to prevent riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. His trial was held January 4th. Lawson's mayor, chief of police, and the officer who wrote Chasteen's ticket all testified. The first 3 idiots, err assholes. Chasteen's attorney asked questions during the trial indicating that Lawson's previous city prosecutor had refused to file the case as unprosecutable. One honest man, at least. Although the judge refused to allow the questions, a different prosecutor was handling the case. Idiot/asshole number 4. Chasteen's attorney argued that the law is unconstitutionally vague, includes an inappropriate penalty designed for parents of children, and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. So this town considers riding even for a charity to be illegal? Has anybody informed the governor of the state that some house cleaning needs to be done? Parents who permit violations by their children may be charged with a misdemeanor. I suppose they have a sign at the entrance to town that reads something like "A wonderful place to live.", yeah, right. Local media reports erroneously indicated that Lawson's mayor is against any changes to the "no bicycle zone" law. Lawson City Manager John Tracy indicates that an update to the law is in fact on the agenda for this spring. He is about 50 years behind in his work. Lawson is looking at bicycle law in nearby cities as a model, and will work with local bicyclists and bicycle groups, as well as local citizens. Note, however, that at least some local citizens support the bicycle ban. Ban their damn cars and make them walk, as in speed limits of 5 MPH. Ticket the dumb asses if they run too fast. The judge will consider the case and issue a verdict within 10 days. If he says "Guilty" the state if not the feds should come down on him hard, like a loaded cruise missile. Chasteen's group rides to Lawson about once every 5 weeks. In July, he was entering a restaurant when he met Lawson's Police Chief, who ordered him to remove his bicycle from the street. Mr. Chasteen refused, and the Chief had a waiting officer ticket him for the offense. Sure sounds like a corrupt little "Dukes of Hazzard" town to me. Mr. Chasteen first encountered the police in May of 2004, when police told a group of cyclist volunteers supporting a local MS ride that they could not ride in Lawson. A nice place not too live, shop in, drive through, or sell to. Boycott the assholes out of their prissy little town. I had a great day until I read this. Bill Baka, with one less place to ever ride. For more information: http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/cyc...sclerosis.html http://www.hatebusters.com/article.a...0&NavButton=06 http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/...71/detail.html |
#4
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Bill Baka wrote: alan wrote: Ed Chasteen, a cyclist with multiple sclerosis, was charged with "pushing a bicycle" in Lawson, Missouri, population 2300, in an area where bicycle travel is prohibited both on the street and the adjacent sidewalks of the business district. Local law forbids even pushing a bike. Was he supposed to carry it over his head? The area has several "No Bicycles" signs, but Mr. Chasteen assumed they were to prevent riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. His trial was held January 4th. Lawson's mayor, chief of police, and the officer who wrote Chasteen's ticket all testified. The first 3 idiots, err assholes. Chasteen's attorney asked questions during the trial indicating that Lawson's previous city prosecutor had refused to file the case as unprosecutable. One honest man, at least. Although the judge refused to allow the questions, a different prosecutor was handling the case. Idiot/asshole number 4. Chasteen's attorney argued that the law is unconstitutionally vague, includes an inappropriate penalty designed for parents of children, and violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. So this town considers riding even for a charity to be illegal? Has anybody informed the governor of the state that some house cleaning needs to be done? Parents who permit violations by their children may be charged with a misdemeanor. I suppose they have a sign at the entrance to town that reads something like "A wonderful place to live.", yeah, right. Local media reports erroneously indicated that Lawson's mayor is against any changes to the "no bicycle zone" law. Lawson City Manager John Tracy indicates that an update to the law is in fact on the agenda for this spring. He is about 50 years behind in his work. Lawson is looking at bicycle law in nearby cities as a model, and will work with local bicyclists and bicycle groups, as well as local citizens. Note, however, that at least some local citizens support the bicycle ban. Ban their damn cars and make them walk, as in speed limits of 5 MPH. Ticket the dumb asses if they run too fast. The judge will consider the case and issue a verdict within 10 days. If he says "Guilty" the state if not the feds should come down on him hard, like a loaded cruise missile. Chasteen's group rides to Lawson about once every 5 weeks. In July, he was entering a restaurant when he met Lawson's Police Chief, who ordered him to remove his bicycle from the street. Mr. Chasteen refused, and the Chief had a waiting officer ticket him for the offense. Sure sounds like a corrupt little "Dukes of Hazzard" town to me. Mr. Chasteen first encountered the police in May of 2004, when police told a group of cyclist volunteers supporting a local MS ride that they could not ride in Lawson. A nice place not too live, shop in, drive through, or sell to. Boycott the assholes out of their prissy little town. I had a great day until I read this. Bill Baka, with one less place to ever ride. For more information: http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/cyc...sclerosis.html http://www.hatebusters.com/article.a...0&NavButton=06 http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/...71/detail.html I don't think any comment on that action is necessary but the one repeated word I read in your response. ASSHOLES! Maybe you can make it two words..Idiots and Assholes. Makes me want to work harder and train harder for the MS ride in May. Maggie. |
#5
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http://www.northwestmissouri.com/hometowns.asp
http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/25/1434 Start working the media kids. Let 'em know how ya feel about this little goober suburb of ****-heel KC. Ron |
#6
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Maggie,
OK, I overused the 'A' word but I was too tired to write a publishable version of my thoughts. What would be a better word that one can print? Jerks^~? I hope you can interpret my version of math shorthand there. It's the only way to do a raised to the power of infinity with a standard keyboard. Tired tonight too, too much visiting friends and zero riding for a week. They keep coming over and picking me up in their cars, but hey, that's what friends are for, right? Tired Bill, saying bye now, Bill Baka I don't think any comment on that action is necessary but the one repeated word I read in your response. ASSHOLES! Maybe you can make it two words..Idiots and Assholes. Makes me want to work harder and train harder for the MS ride in May. Maggie. |
#7
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Bill Baka wrote: Maggie, Tired tonight too, too much visiting friends and zero riding for a week. They keep coming over and picking me up in their cars, but hey, that's what friends are for, right? Tired Bill, saying bye now, Bill Baka I went to a HS class reunion party last night. We seem to have them once a month since so many of us stayed in the same town where we graduated. There was way too much wine, way too much fun, way, way, way too much food and way to many old pictures of us with strange hair do's and I am hungover. I am hung over and getting ready to pick up my daughter to go to church. AND YOU THINK YOU ARE TIRED? I did meet an old classmate last night who actually rides long distrance. I was able to hold a pretty decent conversation about bike riding. I think it had something to do with the fact that I did not have to figure out how to post, I think I can carry on a fairly intelligent cycling conversation if I am not worried about my posting style. He told me that he posts to usenet occasionally and I was telling him of my experiences with this group. He tells me all usenet groups are the same.....none of them stay on topic. He posts to quite a few and all stray off topic. But he considers that part of the fun. He found the folding bike thread which turned into my me defending how responsible my son was quite amusing. Maggie. |
#8
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The original intent of that law may have been to keep children off the street, thereby keeping them safe. Yet the law expressly forbids even pushing a bicycle in that area. How does that contirbute to safety? Now I could see prohibiting the Ben Hur model strollers (prams to you Brits). They're the ones with the axles that can take your hide off at the ankle much like those rotating knives on Ben's chariot. Regardless, the judge's ruling should be out later this week. The other interesting thing is the statement about changing the law somtime later this year, maybe in the spring. I'd think that with mayor/council form of local government, they could put a repeal on the agenda and repeal it at the next council meeting. That implies that they really want to repeal it. A delay could be interpreted as a wish that those pesky cyclists would simply go away. -- alan Anyone who believes in a liberal media has never read the "Daily Oklahoman." "Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote in message ... Case law in the UK has it that a bicycle when pushed is classed as a burden, so exempt from restrictions on cycling. I guess this is why it was originally written off as unprosecutable, because it is a test case where all public sympathy would be on the side of Mr Chasteen. Guy |
#9
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Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
Ed Chasteen, a cyclist with multiple sclerosis, was charged with "pushing a bicycle" in Lawson, Missouri, population 2300, in an SNIP Case law in the UK has it that a bicycle when pushed is classed as a burden, so exempt from restrictions on cycling. Just a couple of random thoughts. First of all, if he'd been pulling a little red wagon, or one of those folding wire dollies that people sometimes take shopping, would that have been illegal too? Somehow I doubt it. I think the UK has it right, if you ain't riding it, it ain't a bike. Wonder what they'd have said if he'd been carrying it? Second, as the father of a PWMS, I applaud Ed for fighting his illness by riding. Cycling, with its requirements of balance, sensation, and control, is excellent therapy for a horrible illness. Any cop, judge, or mayor who would impede him in any way is utterly heartless. And all those other words that the rest of you have been using, too. Bill ----------------------------------------------------------- | Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, | | misdiagnosing it and then misapplying the wrong remedies. | | -Groucho Marx | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
#10
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RonSonic wrote: http://www.northwestmissouri.com/hometowns.asp http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/25/1434 Start working the media kids. Let 'em know how ya feel about this little goober suburb of ****-heel KC. You can find mail, phone, & email for some Lawson city leaders he http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/nat...-story-on.html (scroll down to end of article) I would urge people, if you contact them, to keep it civil and persuasive as opposed to abusive, though . . . these small town midwestern types are likely to have a nasty counter-reaction if they feel like out-of-towners-who-say-naughty-words are trying push them around (uh, not that any of us around here are ever abusive or use naughty words . . . ). On the other hand I think they'll listen to reasonable argument especially if they hear it over & over again both from inside & outside .. . . They probably DO need to hear it over & over again, though. --B |
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