Mayor Duffy, is this the way to begin "Bike Week?=Too Many Police in Rochester

Too Many Police in Rochester
by Jason Olshefsky at 7:00 pm (add a comment)
http://jayceland.com/
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Bike Week
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bike-to-Work_Day
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Mayor Duffy, is this the way to begin "Bike Week?=or=Officer Killjoy wasn’t just a power-hungry egomaniac awarded a badge by Mayor “More Cops For More Problems”

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I must add my two cents to this very important issue, especially with the beginning of Bicycle Week tomorrow, AND, in light of the BP oil spill.

Last May 28, I was hit while riding my bicycle by a woman in her car. I now have a fractured L-1 vertebrae. Coupled with my amputated feet, I am in pain much of the time. BUT, when I was involved in the motor vehicle incident:

1) The police said "Maybe you had been drinking beers before the accident."
Answer: No. They did no test for this. Where the hell did they come up with this idea? I had not had a beer in at least 6 days before the accident. I am NOT a big drinker. Light social drinking only.

2) It took the Rochester Police Department THREE MONTHS to give me a police report after I had to go all the way to Chief Moore and other high ranking people.

So with the much anticipated Bicycle Week beginning tomorrow, I ask our city government to know that Bike Riders have rights too!

And, can't we all just get off of oil now?
~Harry Davis

Now, Jay......
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from...
http://jayceland.com/

This evening I was biking on my “tall bike” through The Lilac Festival today when I came to the South/Highland intersection. Police had stopped traffic to permit the pedestrians to cross. Once the people had completely cleared the intersection, I slowly rolled through next to the barrier blocking Highland before the cops released vehicular traffic. One of the cops said, “do you know I can give you a ticket for that?” I just smiled and he repeated his question so I just said, “yeah” and rode away. [Admittedly, I made a terrible mistake: I should have stopped and answered him with, "am I being charged with a crime or am I free to go?"]

What the hell was that all about? He said nothing to the pedestrians who cut through the road, jaywalking outside the crosswalk. But once again I get to have a negative experience with the police. By riding a bike, I not only have to be responsible for a motorist hitting me [let's be real here: if I were killed by a car, you'd hear a lot of, "well, he was taking chances riding that tall bike"] I also have to deal with being hassled by the cops (just like last time).

If Officer Killjoy wasn’t just a power-hungry egomaniac awarded a badge by Mayor “More Cops For More Problems”, he would have actually stopped me and given me a ticket — after all, that’s his job. Along with all the jaywalkers. But he was out to ensure I “knew my place” — that he was the Authority Figure. I tell you what, pig: how about you ticket the myriad of SUV’s that get a tax discount for being a commercial vehicle, but that exceed the 3-ton gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) on most residential streets, and I’ll start caring that you have anything to do with enforcing the law.

Why not? Here’s a thought: BP Oil.

Someone riding a bike says, “we don’t need oil.” It’s a statement that although the oil companies could go bankrupt and the economy could go to hell, people will be okay. Illegally using a commercial SUV as a commuter car is a statement of faith in infinite oil and in a vibrant and ever-growing economy. Guess which activity attracts more police attention? See, it’s only through ensuring people are terrified of something (in this case, gas shortages) that they stay in line and obey cops. After all, it depends on what you think is important: a viable future for America, or an easily controlled populace.

http://jayceland.com/

http://jayceland.com/blog/archive/2010/05/15/too-many-police-in-rochester/