D
Daniel J. Stern
Guest
*Reposted, this time to correct groups*
(Prefatory note to Brent: Yes, I'm aware there are many badly-
behaved motorists. No, I don't think they should get off scot-
free, either. Yes, I'm aware you're vehemently opposed to
bicycle and rider registration. No, I don't buy your
putative reasons for it. Yes, I know you have to respond to
this post. No, I won't get in a pissing contest with you.)
I was walking down Bloor St when I saw a copcycle pull over
a cyclist for running a red light...talk about shock and
awe! I've never seen the likes of this before. The cop
ordered the cyclist to dismount, walk his bike to the corner
and park it, then lectured the guy for a few minutes ("Red
lights mean STOP, whether you're in a car or on a bike or on
your feet! It's the same rules of the road for you as for
everyone else who uses it!"). The guy was arguing that he
bicycles in this area all the time, there were no cars
coming, etc. The cop (surprise...) told the guy he was just
warning him this time rather than writing a ticket, and
eventually let him ride off.
Now, it did my heart a lot of good to see and hear this.
There are way too many badly-behaved bicyclists in Toronto,
as there are in every other city. "Hey, lookit me! I'm a
car! WHUP, now I'm a pedestrian! WHUP! Now I'm neither! Hey,
lookit me riding on the wrong side of the street! After
dark! Without lights or reflectors! Wearing all black! And
if you hit me, it'll be all your fault, neener neener
neener! Whoah, sucks to be you, red lights are only for
cars!" etc.
I'd like to see a lot more of this kind of police activity,
but pragmatic questions pretty much scotch the idea. There's
no law requiring registration of bicycles or carrying an
operator's license -- or, for that matter, any form of
identification at all -- while riding one. Should be, but
isn't. So what if the cop stops someone who hasn't got ID?
What, exactly, can the cop do? And even if s/he succeeds in
writing a ticket, what's to motivate the recipient to pay
it? There'll be no demerit points on his driver's license
(which s/he may not even have). There'll be no increase in
insurance premiums (which s/he's not required to carry).
There'll be no denial of renewed registration (also not
required).
Be nice if cops could/would (they probably can) write
tickets and impound bicycles until the ticket is paid.
-Stern (pedestrian/cyclist/driver)
(Prefatory note to Brent: Yes, I'm aware there are many badly-
behaved motorists. No, I don't think they should get off scot-
free, either. Yes, I'm aware you're vehemently opposed to
bicycle and rider registration. No, I don't buy your
putative reasons for it. Yes, I know you have to respond to
this post. No, I won't get in a pissing contest with you.)
I was walking down Bloor St when I saw a copcycle pull over
a cyclist for running a red light...talk about shock and
awe! I've never seen the likes of this before. The cop
ordered the cyclist to dismount, walk his bike to the corner
and park it, then lectured the guy for a few minutes ("Red
lights mean STOP, whether you're in a car or on a bike or on
your feet! It's the same rules of the road for you as for
everyone else who uses it!"). The guy was arguing that he
bicycles in this area all the time, there were no cars
coming, etc. The cop (surprise...) told the guy he was just
warning him this time rather than writing a ticket, and
eventually let him ride off.
Now, it did my heart a lot of good to see and hear this.
There are way too many badly-behaved bicyclists in Toronto,
as there are in every other city. "Hey, lookit me! I'm a
car! WHUP, now I'm a pedestrian! WHUP! Now I'm neither! Hey,
lookit me riding on the wrong side of the street! After
dark! Without lights or reflectors! Wearing all black! And
if you hit me, it'll be all your fault, neener neener
neener! Whoah, sucks to be you, red lights are only for
cars!" etc.
I'd like to see a lot more of this kind of police activity,
but pragmatic questions pretty much scotch the idea. There's
no law requiring registration of bicycles or carrying an
operator's license -- or, for that matter, any form of
identification at all -- while riding one. Should be, but
isn't. So what if the cop stops someone who hasn't got ID?
What, exactly, can the cop do? And even if s/he succeeds in
writing a ticket, what's to motivate the recipient to pay
it? There'll be no demerit points on his driver's license
(which s/he may not even have). There'll be no increase in
insurance premiums (which s/he's not required to carry).
There'll be no denial of renewed registration (also not
required).
Be nice if cops could/would (they probably can) write
tickets and impound bicycles until the ticket is paid.
-Stern (pedestrian/cyclist/driver)