[Updated] Critical Mass Bicyclist Assaulted by NYPD

I have mixed feelings about Critical Mass - I believe that cyclists should have as much right to take the roads as motorists do and a peaceful, well-orchestrated Critical Mass event is no different than daily rush hour traffic in Copenhagen, Sometimes, however, the behavior of some participants with a tendency to violate traffic laws and antagonize motorists does little to raise the opinion of cyclists in the minds of the general public. I think there are better ways to advocate cycling that do not alienate potential converts. On the other hand, a well-organized, peaceful Critical Mass, with respectful and responsible participants can be a beautiful thing, and can go far to show a city a quieter, safer, and cleaner method of transportation than the hundreds of cars currently clogging the roadways.

That said, simply riding your bicycle as the participant of Critical Mass, legal or not - and it is not illegal, by the way - does not warrant this kind of behavior by police officers:

Why did the officer target this individual, and why was force used? If the cyclist had hit his head, or bent his neck the wrong way, he could have been killed. There must be more to the story, but I can’t imagine any details that would require the use of force, especially of the sort shown in the video. As it stands, this doesn’t look like reasonable force with due cause, it looks like assault.

I’m going to try to find out more about this story, but if anyone knows any more, please get in touch, or leave a comment.

### UPDATE ###

Times-Up.org has released the following statement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Liane Nikitovich – 646.431.5098
Bill DiPaola – 917. 577. 5621

NEW YORK, New York (Friday, July 25, 2008) – An NYPD officer assaulted a bicyclist on Friday night’s Critical Mass bike ride at 46th street and Seventh Avenue, in full view of tourists and spectators in the heart of Times Square. One bystander’s video captured the officer pushing a cyclist off his bicycle, violently propelling the young man onto the curb. This most recent attack follows a pattern of harassment of bike riders on the Critical Mass ride. On March of 2007 Richard Vazques was thrown off his bike by another NYPD officer as he was riding through Times Square.

“Critical Mass is a peaceful, non-violent bicycle ride promoting the use of non-polluting transportation. There is no reason for the police to use such unprovoked violent tactics,” says Critical Mass participant Barbara Ross.

Critical Mass is a monthly celebration of non-polluting transportation, which takes place in hundreds of cities around the world. Critical Mass and other group rides have contributed to the increase in cycling and safer streets.

Click here to view video evidence of NYPD civil rights abuses from past critical mass rides, includes Mr. Vazques being thrown off his bike at .40 seconds.

Bookmark to

• Officer Investigated in Toppling of Cyclist
• More on Critical Mass assault: Rider charged, Cop on desk duty
• Cop who assaulted Critical Mass cyclist named “Worst Person in the World” on MSNBC’s Countdown
• Charges dropped for Critical Mass cyclist assaulted by police
• Hoboken cyclist in NYPD/Critical Mass uproar is back on job