Fresh Loaf

The Atlanta Critical Mass ride last month received a lot of attention because city police shadowed the slow-rolling gathering and ticketed cyclists out of the blue. That sucks, yes, but turn your eyes for the moment toward New York City, where police and Massers have never really had a peaceful go of things.

A video recorded during Friday’s Critical Mass in the city shows cycle-riding revelers pedaling through Times Square. Fun and games until a police officer pushes you off a bicycle for no reason.

According to Gawker, who gets the thanks for the video:

City Room reports that the unidentified officer was puts on “modified assignment” while they investigate; the AP says they also took away his badge and gun for now. (He should be fired.) Meanwhile, Gothamist reports that the cyclist was arrested and held in jail while being charged with assault.

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After the last Critical Mass ride in which Atlanta cops cracked down on the cyclists for traveling in a pack and disrupting traffic, velocipede enthusiasts will hold a Courteous Mass tonight at 6:30 p.m. Participants are urged to meet at Woodruff Park like before around 6 p.m.

During Courteous Mass, participating cyclists are expected to follow all rules of the road and stop at traffic lights.

From local blogger and rocket scientist Shelbinator, whose video of the police presence generated more than 123,000 views on CNN’s iReport, come the details:

Courteous Mass Bicycle Ride
Friday, July 11
Meet @ 6:00 PM
Woodruff Park
Leave @ 6:30 PM

This ride is different from Critical Mass in that it will follow a planned route and follow state traffic laws. It is intended to demonstrate support for better bike facilities and safer traffic conditions. It is also a great opportunity for less-experienced cyclists to try riding on the streets, as well as being a fun social event. We urge everyone who believes in a balanced transportation policy to join us.

Courteous Mass Tips:

• Ride no more than two abreast on 4-5 lane roads, taking up only the right lane.
• Ride single file on 2-3 lane roads so as not to interfere with traffic flow.
• Please allow faster cyclists ahead of you so they are not stuck behind slower cyclists during single-file stretches.
• Do not pass stopped cars on the right (unless there is a bike lane).
• And as always, be courteous!

There ya go. Be civil, be safe and remember: Roads are made for all people to access destinations — not just people in cars.

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Blogger Shelby Highsmith (who blogs as Shelbinator) reports yesterday’s Critical Mass group bicycle ride around Atlanta was shadowed by more than a dozen Atlanta Police Department vehicles.

If you were robbed, mugged, or otherwise assaulted or injured in the downtown Atlanta area between 6:45 and 8:00pm on Friday, we bicyclists do apologize for your lack of police protection. You see, we were busy occupying about a dozen motorcycle cops and several police cruisers with our monthly bike ride.

Be sure to check out Shelby’s video.

Atlanta is an under-policed city experiencing a double-digit increase in serious crime. Is following and ticketing bike riders a responsible allocation of the police department’s resources?

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The monthly Critical Mass bike ride takes place this Friday. Starting around 6 p.m., cyclists will gather at Woodruff Park in downtown and pedal where their urges take them. Commenters on the ride’s message board — it doesn’t have any real political or power structure — are requesting the pack makes its way through East Atlanta. For more information or to ask questions of the group, click here to visit its message board.

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