A-Infos (en) DAMN: Vancouver Critical Mass Ride Busted

[Jaggi Singh <jaggi@vcn.bc.ca>]

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VANCOUVER CRITICAL MASS RIDE BUSTED

CYCLISTS RECEIVE FINES UP TO $115

VANCOUVER, March 1, 1998 -- Vancouver's regular Critical Mass bike ride
was ended prematurely late Friday afternoon by the Vancouver Police
Department (VPD). About 20 cyclists received traffic tickets for fines up
to $115 each. 

Cyclists gathered as per usual at the Vancouver Art Gallery at 5pm. The
ride took to the streets and weaved its way through the downtown Vancouver
rush hour. It passed by another direct action -- the Free University
teach-in, speak-out and occupation at Simon Fraser University's downtown
campus -- to pick up more riders. 

After doubling back to the downtown core, a police cruiser, 3 motorbikes
and a bicycle cop surrounded the ride and funnelled it into one lane on
Georgia Street near Granville. The ride was then blocked and the police
proceeded to write tickets. 

Participants received fines of $86 for "fail[ing] to ride on the right
side of the roadway." Many others received an additional fine of $29 for
"failure to wear [a] helmet." 

One officer at the scene threatened charges of mischief and to throw
people in jail if the Critical Mass ride continued. Another commented, "I
don't understand why you're doing this, the last time I checked, the roads
were for cars." 

The overwhelming majority of participants vowed not to pay the fines, and
the next Critical Mass ride is slated to proceed as planned on March 27th,
the last Friday of the month. Organizers expect the ride to be bigger than
ever due to the unprecedented actions of the VPD. 

Critical Mass rides in Vancouver have been re-occuring regularly since
April 1997. The last time there was an incident with the VPD was last
August, when two cyclists were arrested for breach of peace when a mass of
cyclists reclaimed the Georgia Viaduct during the Molson Indy car race.
"Road rage" has also been a common occurence, with bicyclists being
attacked by enraged drivers twice in the summer. 

Critical Mass participants remain unapologetic about reclaiming the
streets from cars. One of their favoured slogans is, "We're not blocking
traffic, we are the traffic." 

For more information about Critical Mass rides in Vancouver, phone Matt at
709-9177 or e-mail blackcat@vcn.bc.ca. The next ride on March 27th starts
at 5pm sharp at the Vancouver Art Galley at Georgia and Howe. 

Jaggi Singh
for the Direct Action Media Network (DAMN)
www.tao.ca/earth/damn


	http://www.tao.ca/earth/damn


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