>> 7:40PM: Reports of police violently pulling cyclists from their bikes on Market. Even shoppers
>> and onlookers are appalled and yelling at police to stop the brutality."
>> 6:55PM: Police: "Anyone riding a bicycle on Market St. will be arrested."
>>
>> Drive all you want, of course. Gotta keep buying oil to Support Our Troops?
> I hope someone sues the police for a six to seven digit figure over that one. Riding bicycles on
> Market Street, where the speed limit is 25 mph, is perfectly legal, and a legitimate use of city
> streets. I've ridden a bike along there, after taking a train to reach San Francisco, and was
> using the bike for transportation, not recreation.
>
> If they need to close the street for some reason, it should be closed to everyone: singling out
> bicycles is every bit as outrageous as singling out cars based on the vehicle's color.
Nothing wrong with using bicycles for transportation, but when they're being used in large numbers
for the purpose of blocking traffic, the police are not only entitled but REQUIRED to arrest the
perps. I'm glad they're finally doing their job.
Here it is in the state Penal Code:
(370.) Section Three Hundred and Seventy. Anything which is injurious to health, or is indecent,
or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property, so as to
interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by an entire community or
neighborhood, or by any considerable number of persons, or unlawfully obstructs the free
passage or use, in the customary manner, of any navigable lake, or river, bay, stream,
canal, or basin, or any public park, square, street, or highway, is a public nuisance.
371. Every person who maintains or commits any public nuisance, the punishment for which is not
otherwise prescribed, or who willfully omits to perform any legal duty relating to the
removal of a public nuisance, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
372. Whenever two or more persons assemble together to do an unlawful act, or do a lawful act in
a violent, boisterous, or tumultuous manner, such assembly is an unlawful assembly.
373. Every person who participates in any rout or unlawful assembly is guilty of a misdemeanor.
374. If a magistrate or officer, having notice of an unlawful or riotous assembly, mentioned in
this Chapter, neglects to proceed to the place of assembly, or as near thereto as he can
with safety, and to exercise the authority with which he is invested for suppressing the
same and arresting the offenders, he is guilty of a misdemeanor.
The next time I see a police officer allowing a Critical Mass ride to go on, I'm going to show him
these, and maybe file a complaint against him.
