One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Two-Wheel Drama In The LBC: Bicycles Impounded, Critical Mass Riders Cited By Long Beach Police
Photo by melissssaf via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
Photo by melissssaf via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
On the last Friday of every month, hundreds of Earth cities mobilize on two-wheels to celebrate the joy of cycling and gather for pedal rights during organized Critical Mass rides.However, last Friday, police shut down the inaugural Critical Mass ride in Long Beach citing the majority of the riders for a variety of infractions (registering your bike with the city??) and impounding dozens of bicycles.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "Riders thought police were there to help move traffic along, but instead cyclists were cited and their bicycles impounded. About 60 citations were handed out to riders without proper night lighting, for running stop signs or riding unlicensed bicycles, among other violations."
"The action is a big black eye for a city that touts itself as the most bike friendly city in the U.S. 'It appears being bike friendly only applies to a limited part of the city,' said June Kaeswith, one of the organizers" in the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Police Chief Jim McDonnell justifies the activity claiming Critical Mass, "engages in dangerous conduct, violating every rule of the road and endangering the public."
Organizers are taking issue with what they believe is an illegal seizure of property, and ride participants are "organizing to retrieve their bicycles en masse Tuesday from the city warehouse where they were impounded. They also plan to attend the Long Beach City Council meeting Nov. 9 to voice their concerns," reports the Los Angeles Times.
Ronnie Sandlin, a promoter of last Friday's ride (and one of the cited participants), said his group tried unsuccessfully for more than a month to gain a permit for the ride. He also claimed to have attempted to register his bike before the ride only to be told by the city that it had run out of stickers.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
