Pushing a bicycle illegal

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.

alan said:

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"

Quoted message said:

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 [censored].

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

questions, a different prosecutor was handling the case.

Idiot/[censored] number 4.

Quoted message said:

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?

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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 [censored] out of their prissy little town.
I had a great day until I read this.
Bill Baka, with one less place to ever ride.

Quoted message said:

For more information:
http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/cyclist-with-multiple-sclerosis.html
http://www.hatebusters.com/article.asp?Article=840&Dept_id=0&NavButton=06
http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/4043971/detail.html

Bill Baka said:

alan said:

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"

Quoted message said:

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 [censored].

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

questions, a different prosecutor was handling the case.

Idiot/[censored] number 4.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

needs to be done?

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

like "A wonderful place to live.", yeah, right.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

hard, like a loaded cruise missile.

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

the [censored] out of their prissy little town.
I had a great day until I read this.
Bill Baka, with one less place to ever ride.

Quoted message said:

For more information:

http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/cyclist-with-multiple-sclerosis.html

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.hatebusters.com/article.asp?Article=840&Dept_id=0&NavButton=06

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/4043971/detail.html

I don't think any comment on that action is necessary but the one
repeated word I read in your response. [censored]! Maybe you can make
it two words..Idiots and [censored]. Makes me want to work harder and
train harder for the MS ride in May.
Maggie.

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 [censored]-heel KC.

Ron

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 01:02:25 GMT, "alan"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

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.

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
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

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

Quoted message said:

I don't think any comment on that action is necessary but the one
repeated word I read in your response. [censored]! Maybe you can make
it two words..Idiots and [censored]. Makes me want to work harder and
train harder for the MS ride in May.
Maggie.

Bill Baka said:

Maggie,

Tired tonight too, too much visiting friends and zero riding for a
week.

Quoted message said:

They keep coming over and picking me up in their cars, but hey,

that's

Quoted message said:

what friends are for, right?
Tired Bill, saying bye now,
Bill Baka

Quoted message said:

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.

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?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Just zis Guy said:

Quoted message said:

Ed Chasteen, a cyclist with multiple sclerosis, was charged with
"pushing a bicycle" in Lawson, Missouri, population 2300, in an

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

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 |
-----------------------------------------------------------

RonSonic said:

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

Quoted message said:

suburb of [censored]-heel KC.

You can find mail, phone, & email for some Lawson city leaders here:

http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/national-news-picks-up-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

Maggie said:

Bill Baka said:

Maggie,

Tired tonight too, too much visiting friends and zero riding for a
week.

Quoted message said:

They keep coming over and picking me up in their cars, but hey,

that's

Quoted message said:

what friends are for, right?
Tired Bill, saying bye now,
Bill Baka

Quoted message said:

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.

Good for you, having fun without the bike. That is one thing I don't
relate to on this group, is that if you don't ride every day, no matter
what you are some kind of lazy schmuck. Friends first, bike somewhere
down the line in importance. I also had way too much food and will be
working a bit harder when it warms up to lose about 5 holiday pounds but
then, I am not training for a race, so big deal. On topic? Never.
Happy days,
Bill Baka

"alan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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/cyclist-with-multiple-sclerosis.html
http://www.hatebusters.com/article.asp?Article=840&Dept_id=0&NavButton=06
http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/4043971/detail.html

--

alan

I suppose that means that there are no bike shops in this town. After all,
you couldn't legally take a bike in or out of the shop.

-Don

In my home town of 25,000 you would hardly see anyone riding bikes.
The traditional downtown business district back then was way laid back.
There's no way I could ever imagine bikes being a nuisance in the
business district. If you were talking about someplace in China or
India I could understand how bikes can get in the way, but Lawson,
Missouri, population 2300 ? I would be curious to know why they banned
bicycles from their business district in the first place.

Kenny

Quoted message said:

RonSonic said:

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

Quoted message said:

suburb of [censored]-heel KC.

You can find mail, phone, & email for some Lawson city leaders here:

http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/national-news-picks-up-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 . . . ).

I don't know if they're so much small midwest town types as outer suburb exurb
yups. Either way, I'l leave out the naughty words.

Quoted message said:

On the other hand I think they'll listen to reasonable argument
especially if they hear it over & over again both from inside & outside

I don't know that reasonable argument has anything to do with it. I'd go with
scathing contempt for an arrogant and pig-headed policy.

Quoted message said:

They probably DO need to hear it over & over again, though.

Yep.

Ron

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bill Baka wrote:

Good for you, having fun without the bike. That is one thing I don't

Quoted message said:

relate to on this group, is that if you don't ride every day, no

matter

Quoted message said:

what you are some kind of lazy schmuck. Friends first, bike somewhere

Quoted message said:

down the line in importance. I also had way too much food and will be

Quoted message said:

working a bit harder when it warms up to lose about 5 holiday pounds

but

Quoted message said:

then, I am not training for a race, so big deal. On topic? Never.
Happy days,
Bill Baka

I knew there was something I liked about you......you are off topic as
much as I am.
Maggie

"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to
look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely
interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else."

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:19:20 -0800, <[email hidden]>,

Bill Baka said:

That is one thing I don't
relate to on this group, is that if you don't ride every day, no matter
what you are some kind of lazy schmuck. Friends first, bike somewhere
down the line in importance

Saturday afternoon I went to a social gathering of non-cyclists. It
took 80 minutes to get there by public transportation. It's usually a
45 minute bicycle ride.

Sunday I went to a social gathering of cycists. We concluded the
evening with a group ride on ice, fully clothed. In fact, of those
cyclists who normally ride without helmets, they all had them on.
--
zk

Maggie said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bill Baka wrote:

Good for you, having fun without the bike. That is one thing I don't

Quoted message said:

relate to on this group, is that if you don't ride every day, no

matter

Quoted message said:

what you are some kind of lazy schmuck. Friends first, bike somewhere

Quoted message said:

down the line in importance. I also had way too much food and will be

Quoted message said:

working a bit harder when it warms up to lose about 5 holiday pounds

but

Quoted message said:

then, I am not training for a race, so big deal. On topic? Never.
Happy days,
Bill Baka

I knew there was something I liked about you......you are off topic as
much as I am.
Maggie

"One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to
look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely
interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else."

Well, this is a more or less social gathering so we don't have to be on
topic that much. Strictly on topic would be boring compared to some of
the random sub threads that get started.
Cheerio,
Bill Baka

Zoot Katz said:

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:19:20 -0800, <[email hidden]>,

Bill Baka said:

That is one thing I don't
relate to on this group, is that if you don't ride every day, no matter
what you are some kind of lazy schmuck. Friends first, bike somewhere
down the line in importance

Saturday afternoon I went to a social gathering of non-cyclists. It
took 80 minutes to get there by public transportation. It's usually a
45 minute bicycle ride.

Sunday I went to a social gathering of cycists. We concluded the
evening with a group ride on ice, fully clothed. In fact, of those
cyclists who normally ride without helmets, they all had them on.

What can I say to that? Oh, they drove me in their cars and we were
carrying computer stuff and what not back and forth, plus non riding
family members. One of them, only about 30, is in a wheelchair due to MS
or MD. She was the most promising of my friends children and up for a
promotion to running here own branch store when it hit her. Some people
are not fortunate enough to be able to ride, and I would not be so
callous as to ride up on my bike. I know 2 cyclists but they won't ride
anything under 750cc and damn sure won't be caught pedaling. The other
kind is the ones with no drivers license. One of my friends is over 6'8"
tall and has to duck every time he goes through a normal people sized
doorway. At his size a 700 touring bike looks like a toy and he would
have to run about 200 PSI. Gee, some of my friends don't ride, and that
is that.
Dan is actually over 6'10" with shoes on and weighs in at about 400
pounds. I don't know if there even is a bike built for someone his size,
but it would have to be a very stout mountain bike or a 27" x 1 3/8 with
a lot of pressure.
Anyway, as I said, friends first, bikes or not.
I do have a life when I am not stirring things up.
Bill Baka

alan said:

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 judge had taken Ed's case under advisement to study the issues. We
just found out yesterday that the verdict came back "guilty".

Below is Ed's own version of the story. Below that, contact info for
Lawson city officials and links to background info.

---

When Law Loses Its Authority

By Ed Chasteen

When civil authority arbitrarily enforces its laws, those laws loose
their claim to justice. When I was allowed for 14 years to ride my
bicycle on Pennsylvania Avenue in Lawson and then one morning was told
by the Chief of Police that it was illegal under a city ordinance on
the books for 34 years, I became a victim of injustice. When the city
prosecutor refused to prosecute the ticket I was given and was fired by
the mayor and city council, justice was denied. When the new city
prosecutor and the judge employed by the city said I was guilty,
injustice was done.

This is the language of Lawson's city ordinances under which I was
given a ticket for "pushing a bicycle" in August 2004:

SECTION 225.020: BICYCLE REGULATIONS

A That no person shall be permitted to push or ride a bicycle on the
sidewalks or streets of Pennsylvania Avenue from fifth Street to the
Santa Fe railway tracks.

B That any bicycles on the streets after the street lights are turned
on in the evening, must be equipped with lights.

C That any parent found guilty of permitting any of the provisions of
this Section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall be fined an amount not less than one dollar
($1.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). Ord. No.
KK169-3,7-7-70

I fist rode my bicycle up Pennsylvania Avenue in the summer of 1990. If
I had been stopped by the police on this ride and told that I was doing
something illegal, I would not have done it again. If I had been told
at anytime over the next few months, I would have stopped and made no
complaint. But when after 14 years I was told, my sense of justice was
offended.

When I was allowed for 14 years to violate a law that had been on the
books for 20 years when I first rode into town, that law lost its moral
and legal authority. When law is enforced arbitrarily, it ceases to be
law and becomes a tool used by those in authority to maintain their
power. If law does not apply all the time to all the people, if it is
not enforced every time its violation is known, then we must cease to
call it law and know it by what it has become.

When I hear that some of my friends in Lawson are verbally abused
because I protest the arbitrary application of law, I am heartsick and
sad. I want to give up. But I cannot quite bring myself to surrender.
If I lose respect for myself, how can I expect others to respect the
notions of justice I hold dear?

The heart of my objection to the charge against me is that the 14-year
failure to enforce the law rendered its eventual enforcement immoral
and unjust. But I also have lesser objections. For one, there are no
railway tracks that cross Pennsylvania Avenue. So it is not possible to
know where bicycles are prohibited. Secondly, the only penalty called
for is that the parent of the offending party be fined.

My 91-year old mother has a second floor walk up in a Corpus Christi,
Texas condo. No elevator. She has a new car. She's never home when I
call her. She holds numerous offices in various lodges and churches.
According to the ordinance I've been found guilty of violating, she is
liable for the $75.00 fine and court costs I have been assessed. She
has a will of iron and could sell ice cubes to Eskimos. I doubt she
would pay the fine.

The amount of money I have been asked to pay is small. Why not pay it
and move on? Against all the troubles and injustice in the world, a
fine for "pushing a bicycle" hardly registers. When I was a boy in
Texas in the 1950s, Kitty Kallen had a hit song called, "Little Things
Mean Alot." She was on to more than she likely knew. Mighty canyons
have their origin in single drops of water. Over time the steady drip
of single drops erode the earth. So do single laws misapplied.

Having said all this and having now talked to my wife and my bike
riding friends, I have decided to pay the $97.50. I will not in the
near future ride to Lawson. More friendly places beckon. What the
mayor and the police chief have won I'm not sure. But they did win. My
hat's off to them.

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Ed's email is hatebuster [at] aol.com

Contact info for Lawson city officials:

John Tracy, City Manager
City of Lawson
PO Box 185
Lawson, MO 64062
Phone: 816-580-3217
Fax: 816-296-4013
Email: lawsoncityclerk [at] aol.com

George Green, Mayor
City of Lawson
PO Box 185
Lawson, MO 64062

More info about the case:

http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/cyclist-with-multiple-sclerosis.html
http://www.mobikefed.org/2005/01/national-news-picks-up-story-on.html
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--Brent
brent [at] brenthugh.com