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Critical Mass: Peaceful Cyclists to Reclaim City Streets
http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/123368/
Critical Mass: Peaceful Cyclists to Reclaim City Streets (This is a press release from TIME'S UP! TIME'S UP! does not lead or organize Critical Mass, though many of its volunteers participate in, care about, and work to make it a positive event.) * Thousands of Peaceful Cyclists to Reclaim New York City Streets Friday Evening in Monthly "Critical Mass" Ride * Despite Hundreds of Arrests at August Ride, Bike Riders Continue Time-Honored Tradition NEW YORK (September 22, 2004) -- Manhattan's car-clogged streets will be reclaimed by thousands of cyclists this Friday in the boro's first Critical Mass since 264 cyclists were arrested on the August 27 ride. Over 5,000 people participated in the August ride, New York City's largest Critical Mass ever. Cyclists, rollerbladers and skateboarders will gather at 7:00 p.m. in Union Square on Friday, Sept. 24, for their monthly group ride through the city to promote environmentally-sustainable transportation and to raise awareness about cyclists' rights. Friday's Critical Mass comes just days after the Manhattan D.A.'s office began releasing hundreds of bikes confiscated during the Republican National Convention. Held for over three weeks, the bikes of those arrested during the convention were considered "arrest evidence" and warehoused in an NYPD facility in Brooklyn. As of Tuesday, over 200 bikes were still being held at the impound facility. "The NYPD and city officials are absurdly trying to criminalize large bicycle rides, while they should instead be promoting bicycle riding to alleviate the massive amount of car traffic and pollution in the city," said Matthew Roth, a regular Critical Mass participant and volunteer with Time's Up!, an environmental advocacy organization. "If the police want to crack down on large, vehicular masses that block the streets, they should arrest drivers coming out of the Lincoln Tunnel every weekday morning. The city is choking on cars, not bikes, and Mayor Bloomberg needs to have some rational policies in place that reflect reality," Mr. Roth said. He noted that Mayor Bloomberg had at first encouraged New Yorkers to ride bikes to reduce traffic during the convention, then later the mayor defended mass arrests of cyclists. "This is a beautiful community event that people look to as a positive reclamation of public space, not a criminal activity that requires an invasive police crackdown," said Leah Rorvig, another Critical Mass participant and Time's Up! volunteer. Prior to August's Critical Mass, the NYPD had maintained a minimal presence at the monthly rides. In fact, in previous months police scooters had escorted the ride without interfering. "New Yorkers have to deal with toxic levels of air and noise pollution every day. For the city to criminalize an event that promotes an environmentally sound form of transportation is tragic," Ms. Rorvig said. Started in San Francisco in 1992, Critical Mass rides now take place monthly in almost 400 cities on six continents. Critical Mass is an organic and self-sustaining event with no leaders and no central organization. In every city that has a Critical Mass ride, some local residents simply picked a date, time, and location for the ride and publicized it, and thus the ride was born. WHAT: Critical Mass WHEN: Ride participants will be available for comment at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 24, 2004. The ride begins at 7:00 p.m. WHE Press should meet on the stairs at Union Square North. The ride begins at Union Square North and follows a route determined by the riders as they go. See Also: http://www.criticalmassrides.info/ http://www.critical-mass.org/ |
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