City of Vancouver Search Help On-Line Reporting | Career Opportunities | Community Policing | Contacts | Organization | Media | FAQs | Site Map Back to VPD HOME Public Affairs Media Section Public Affairs Section HOME Media Releases Media Spokespersons Freedom of Information Requests Search Media Contact Us Critical Mass 2009-07-29 Inspector Rick McKenna Emergency and Operational Planning Section Statement Regarding Critical Mass Whenever there is a public gathering in the city the police are expected to perform some important functions, such as informing the public of the timing and location of the event and ensuring that everyone involved is safe. But this Friday evening, despite our best efforts, we are very concerned about the safety, timing and location of the Critical Mass bicycle ride. By now we�re all familiar with the concentration of bicycle riders who gather in the afternoon during the last Friday of each month. During the winter months the ride is barely noticeable, but during the summer it can swell to thousands of riders, covering more than eight city blocks and lasting for hours. Originally designed as a protest over the lack of bike lanes it has now morphed into a major celebration. Unfortunately, it has also morphed into a source of major conflict between riders and drivers. Last month we saw an increase in the violence that has occasionally marred the ride. The violence has come from both sides. This time a driver was arrested for assault and a bicyclist was injured. Riders are often guilty of mischief and tactics that exacerbate the conflict. We are concerned by the number of riders who flaunt their illegal behaviour by ignoring rules of the road and bicycle safety bylaws. Riders routinely block intersections to allow bicycles to move through red lights and occupy oncoming lanes. We are also concerned by the alcohol and drugs consumed on the ride. Impaired bicyclists are a safety threat to themselves and other riders. VPD Public Affairs & Marketing Unit http://vancouver.ca/Media_wac/media.exe 1 of 2 04/09/09 10:59 AM

Vancouver Police Department Media Release, July 29, 2009 - Critical Mass

Download PDF Report

Upload
this-magazine
View
214
Download
1

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Citation preview

City of Vancouver Search

Help

Back to VPD HOME

Public Affairs MediaSection

Public Affairs SectionHOME

Media Releases

Media Spokespersons

Freedom ofInformation Requests

Search Media

Critical Mass

2009-07-29

Inspector Rick McKennaEmergency and Operational Planning Section Statement Regarding Critical Mass

Whenever there is a public gathering in the city the police areexpected to perform some important functions, such as informingthe public of the timing and location of the event and ensuring thateveryone involved is safe. But this Friday evening, despite our best efforts, we are veryconcerned about the safety, timing and location of the Critical Massbicycle ride. By now we�re all familiar with the concentration of bicycle riderswho gather in the afternoon during the last Friday of each month.During the winter months the ride is barely noticeable, but duringthe summer it can swell to thousands of riders, covering more thaneight city blocks and lasting for hours. Originally designed as a protest over the lack of bike lanes it hasnow morphed into a major celebration. Unfortunately, it has alsomorphed into a source of major conflict between riders anddrivers. Last month we saw an increase in the violence that hasoccasionally marred the ride. The violence has come from bothsides. This time a driver was arrested for assault and a bicyclistwas injured. Riders are often guilty of mischief and tactics thatexacerbate the conflict. We are concerned by the number of riders who flaunt their illegalbehaviour by ignoring rules of the road and bicycle safety bylaws.Riders routinely block intersections to allow bicycles to movethrough red lights and occupy oncoming lanes. We are alsoconcerned by the alcohol and drugs consumed on the ride.Impaired bicyclists are a safety threat to themselves and otherriders.

VPD Public Affairs & Marketing Unit http://vancouver.ca/Media_wac/media.exe

1 of 2 04/09/09 10:59 AM

Page 2: Vancouver Police Department Media Release, July 29, 2009 - Critical Mass

We would like to be able to inform our citizens of the ride�s routeto minimize or at least reduce potential conflicts and frustrations,but the ride organizers have not shared that with us. Despite this lack of crucial information, we have taken many stepsto ensure the safety of everyone involved. Friday night, we willonce again assign uniformed officers on bicycles and motorcycles tohelp prevent or defuse any violence or criminal behaviour. We hope that the ride organizers will agree to meet with us in thefuture as a regular part of their planning. In the meantime, we are reminding motorists that this Fridayevening they should try to avoid the city core if at all possible. We are urging motorists to remain calm and for riders to remainrespectful of the rules of the road and the safety bylaws. Members of the public ask us why we don�t provide full scaleenforcement, ticketing every rider without a helmet and for everytraffic violation we see. The fact of the matter is that Critical Mass has reached a criticalmass of civil disobedience. Historically when that happens, police shift their focus from strictlaw enforcement to high priority public safety. Strict enforcementwould lead to greater confrontations, escalated incidents ofviolence and further polarity between drivers and riders. None ofus wants that. Friday night promises to be a hot summer night; we respectfullyurge all of the riders and any motorists who must be in thedowntown core to do their bit to lower the temperature.

VPD Public Affairs & Marketing Unit http://vancouver.ca/Media_wac/media.exe

2 of 2 04/09/09 10:59 AM