VPD Public Affairs & Marketing Unit
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Critical Mass 2009-07-29
Inspector Rick McKenna Emergency and Operational Planning Section Statement Regarding Critical Mass
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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.
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04/09/09 10:59 AM
VPD Public Affairs & Marketing Unit
http://vancouver.ca/Media_wac/media.exe
We would like to be able to inform our citizens of the ride�s route to 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 steps to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Friday night, we will once again assign uniformed officers on bicycles and motorcycles to help prevent or defuse any violence or criminal behaviour. We hope that the ride organizers will agree to meet with us in the future as a regular part of their planning. In the meantime, we are reminding motorists that this Friday evening they should try to avoid the city core if at all possible. We are urging motorists to remain calm and for riders to remain respectful of the rules of the road and the safety bylaws. Members of the public ask us why we don�t provide full scale enforcement, ticketing every rider without a helmet and for every traffic violation we see. The fact of the matter is that Critical Mass has reached a critical mass of civil disobedience. Historically when that happens, police shift their focus from strict law enforcement to high priority public safety. Strict enforcement would lead to greater confrontations, escalated incidents of violence and further polarity between drivers and riders. None of us wants that. Friday night promises to be a hot summer night; we respectfully urge all of the riders and any motorists who must be in the downtown core to do their bit to lower the temperature.
Š 2009 Vancouver Police Department Contact the Vancouver Police Department Last modified: February 4, 2009
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04/09/09 10:59 AM