Group Ride to Courthouse

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Support three local cyclists who have been receiving tickets for “impeding traffic” while they were riding legally on the city designated bike route in downtown Duluth. There will be a free breakfast from 7-8 a.m. Sept. 15 at Leif Erickson Statue, followed by a group bike ride to the court house for the three’s first court date.

31 Comments

Ramos

about 15 years ago

Plead not guilty and put that cop on the stand. Read the law to him and ask if he understands it.

drifter

about 15 years ago

I'd suggest going to the site of the ticket, and taking a few pictures of the sign designating fourth street as a bike route, the lack of a bike lane, and any obstructions (gravel, broken glass, potholes, parked cars) in the right hand side of the lane.

The officer that gave you the ticket, if he even shows up to court, will likely present no evidence besides his own testimony.  If you play it cool, the ticket will be dismissed, the officer will look like a fool, and the DPD will refrain from issuing ridiculous citations like this in the future.

On the other hand, if you show up to court with a raucous mob of bikers who tied up traffic from Leif Erickson to the Civic Center. . .

woodtick

about 15 years ago

Drifter has a great point - what the three do not need is a Critical Mass ride (like there was a few weeks ago here which was quite troublesome) which really pisses motorists off - especially as their morning cuppa is just kicking in as they drive to work.

E.

about 15 years ago

I am a cyclist who rides to my job in downtown Duluth year round. Although I sympathize with the cited riders, I am a bit torn. 
I agree that they did nothing illegal, but they were doing something inconsiderate, and that was riding two abreast. I would never ride two wide on a street as they were; legal or not. Single file will still piss off motorists, but at least you are doing "the best you can" to not impede traffic. If they felt "unsafe" in single file (for some reason beyond me) then perhaps they should take an alternate route, even if it isn't as direct. 
You also can't take the nobility of their effort into account because they could just as easily take the food the 8 blocks to the Damiano in wagons on the sidewalk.
The whole "take back the streets" mentality does more harm than good. There are countless situations where someone is allowed to do something within their rights, but it still makes them an asshole. If these riders say this isn't at least partially about that, then they are lying and have zero credibility.
As for the police, I think a dialogue would have been better than a ticket. If you could cite the police officer for having no tact, then he is guilty (an may very well have his own axe to grind). It still doesn't make the cyclists 100% innocent victims though.
Respect for cyclists is as much of a PR issue as a legal one, and this is not good PR.
Better hope the judge doesn't have an axe to grind too, because they will be arguing something very subjective.

E.

P.S. I think that everybody should have to pass a bicycle law test as an adjunct part of the driver's exam.

jen

about 15 years ago

To insert some optimism into this discussion, the City is now performing environmental review and design for the Munger Trail to Lakewalk extension, which is funded for first-phase construction in 2010 or 2011. This will be a paved non-motorized trail and plowed in the winter. One purpose of the trail is to accomodate bicycle commuters from West Duluth year-round; recreational users will also enjoy the connection to the Munger Trail, Spirit Mountain, and Canal Park. Although Duluth was not designed with bicycle traffic in mind, at least some decisions are moving us in the right direction. 

This ticketing incident is idiotic though-- my family is also battling unjust tickets and fines after being pulled over in another state. I think aggresive ticketing/arrests are the unfortunate result of state and city agencies being underfunded and in debt. I'd prefer they hold a bake sale.

Tomasz

about 15 years ago

Stupid cops...imagine that!

adam

about 15 years ago

From my understanding, they were riding two abreast behind the bike with the trailer for visibility/safety.

"Perhaps they should take an alternate route" sounds rather slippery.

But don't take my word for it, the DNT comment forums are going ape-shit.

biker

about 15 years ago

I think we should outlaw bikes and make everyone use cars ALL of the time. It would be illegal to be in public if you weren't in a car.

Paul Lundgren

about 15 years ago

The DNT comment forums are always going ape-shit. No surprise there.

Is Fourth Street really a designated bike route? Because I always take Second or Third, which are much easier to ride on.

edgeways

about 15 years ago

I seriously wonder if those "Designated Bike Route" signs have much meaning, beyond something someone stuck up years past. I've seen some awfully busy streets with little to no shoulder be designated a bike route.  

I don't bike a lot, but am in the camp that wishes for separated (from cars and pedestrians) bike paths. The Munger/Lakewalk connection sounds like a good idea

huitz

about 15 years ago

This is a weird one.  I agree with the sentiment a little bit, but I also agree with E. that a "take back the streets" loud voice will probably not help cyclists.  I tend to bike wherever I feel somewhat safe, sometimes even on heavy traffic city roads.

I think, if I was hauling cargo, though, I would probably flag a slow moving vehicle sign, but I'm not certain of what the law says.

Shane

about 15 years ago

Seems there are a couple of Minnesota statues that may fit the situation, depending upon one's interpretation.  

One is:

169.18, Minnesota Statutes 2007 

Subd. 10. Slow-moving vehicle. Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven 
in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway, or when a specific lane is designated and posted for a specific type of traffic.

Common courtesy would be: Get out of the way and let the cars pass. However, if one is an idealistic college student/recent college graduate who has not found a real job yet and who does not live in the real world, your opinion may differ.

dbrewing

about 15 years ago

Can't ride a bicycle down the street? Did we lose the cold war?

huitz

about 15 years ago

I totally agree, Shane.  Many people who haven't been on public bike "rides" are unaware of the term "car back!", which is a nice euphemism that basically means "let the car by immediately or suffer the consequences."  This job is usually delegated to the rear of the urban-peloton.

I do my fair share of holding up traffic, but it's pretty rare.

To be honest, Duluth sucks when it comes to cycling, but that's coming from a person that's very persnickety about such things.

Brett

about 15 years ago

"However, if one is an idealistic college student/recent college graduate who has not found a real job yet and who does not live in the real world, your opinion may differ." 

-- Give me a break.  It's too bad if you've given up on your ideals.  You don't need to push your pessimism on others.  I dont think it is too much to ask to be able to bike a few blocks without fear of ticketing or getting knocked off your bike.  

These three aren't on some crazy mission to end vehicular travel, just to bike down the street in a safe manner without being hassled.  It's a sad state that we must be in if we get ourselves fired up by someone slightly delaying our schedule because they are choosing to travel by bike.  

Why does there need to be such antagonism over people choosing to travel at their own pace?!? Its not as though they are intentionally holding up traffic with the intent to incite drivers.

We can coexist people!!!  Is it so hard to smile and wave rather than yell and give the middle finger?  A little understanding goes both ways, and it goes a long ways.

msy

about 15 years ago

I am an enthusiastic cyclists and well as an enthusiastic driver. I used to commute to school on my bike and I loved it. Biking is a great way to travel. I believe we would have a healthier population and planet if more people biked for transportation. 

I find myself in complete agreement with E. As a cyclist, I do my best to stay out of the way of traffic. I use turn signals, especially in high-traffic areas. When I drive I do my best to give cyclists plenty of room. 

This story sucks in a lot of ways. It sucks because it points out how biker-unfriendly this town is. It also sucks because if these kids were 2 abreast with trailers, they probably were blocking traffic, and I, as a driver, would have been ticked off, too.

As for critical mass, E. had it right. No one is going to be more sympathetic to the plight of cyclists when they have been held up for 20 minutes due to a rally. That's just antagonizing. 

The reason this is interesting for me is that I spent the first week of August in Chicago and the second week of August in the Twin Cities. In both places I used my bike both for transportation and recreation. Both cities (for the most part) were extremely biker friendly. There were bike maps that showed all the bike routes and bike paths. When I returned to Duluth I became depressed at the lack of the infrastructure for bicyclists. For such a "liberal" or "progressive" town as Duluth is, there is not one street with a bike lane painted on it, as far as I know. Its enough to make me move to a bicycle friendly city. That and I can't find a job in Duluth, but that's another story...

The Big E

about 15 years ago

I have not exactly been overwhelmed by Duluth's bike-friendliness either.  About nine years ago, some jerkoff nearly killed my wife on Woodland--she had stopped her bike in the left lane, waiting to make a left turn--when an opening appeared, she started to turn, resulting in some full-lock screeching tires braking from the citizen who'd decided to pass her on the left (ie. on the non-recommended side of the double-yellow line as opposed to using the conveniently located lane to the right of the one she was occupying). [1]  It's nice to know that the city's trying to reduce the incidence of bike-car friction around UMD though.  Oh, wait.

[1] On the other hand, sometime later that year I exchanged pleasantries on Woodland with an individual who was so attached to the right lane that he would not deign to enter the left lane to pass me, yet was terribly disappointed at the pace I was setting.  He doubled back after I turned off on College Avenue, stopped his car and stepped out, loudly offering me the opportunity to engage in fisticuffs.  I called him some more names and kept going.

cjl

about 15 years ago

I don't live in Duluth. I drive, and ride. I notice that many bikers are not following traffic laws. Blowing red lights, riding between cars in 4 lane traffic, even blowing through intersections with 4 - way stop signs. 

Yes, Duluth is not cycle friendly. But I don't see cyclists paying license fees either. Snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, and trailers, all require a license. Heck, I even have to pay a fee to cross country ski. But no-one has required me to purchase a license for my bicycle. 

I'd pay that fee too, if I knew that money would be used to paint bike lanes, install bike racks, bike storage in parking ramps, and most important of all. Education campaigns informing drivers on bicycle safety and rules. 

We're living in a pay to play world, and right now, there's no money coming in from the bicycle crowd. Did you know the the Gitchi-Gami Bicycle Trail up the North Shore is being created with one time general fund money? They have not identified a funding source for maintaining the trail. This can't continue. We need to find a way to fund the infrastructure required to achieve the cyclist utopia.

wildgoose

about 15 years ago

I think their trailer is really cool looking.  

I appreciate their passion and creativity very inspiring.  Cars do suck, people are right about that.  Still, practically speaking I'll probably always ride in one to work at least most of the time, unless they bring back the incline railway or something.  I'd love more mass transit options in this town.  Mass transit communities have a different (better) sense of community than car towns do.  Plus, people are skinnier. 

If they are ordered to pay the fine I think an appeal to some higher authority  would be a lot of fun for them and get even more people thinking about these issues.

The Big E

about 15 years ago

The recent Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment offers some funds  "to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance."  I don't know exactly how the DNR and the Legislature view things, but at first glance it would seem to me like the Gitchi Gami Trail might be a candidate for that status.

huitz

about 15 years ago

cjl, I'm not sure if that is simply hate bait, or you are actually being serious.

The tax on motor vehicles has nothing to do with biking.  Don't even get me started on tire wear, oil and fuel spillage, that has to be cleaned up.  Put the tax burden where it belongs.

Beverly

about 15 years ago

I hope they get a judge who rides a bike to work. All it takes to be sympathetic to the bicyclers is to try it yourself. Not all Duluth drivers are horrible about bikes, but there are enough ignorant people out there to make it scary. Years ago, I rode my bike six miles through the streets of Chicago to college, and I not once had a "raging" incident. Too many Duluth drivers expect the road before them to be empty; they can't take it if something is "in their way."

bb

about 15 years ago

I used to take the alleyways whenever possible around Duluth.

zra

about 15 years ago

Even the Cities are relatively new to bike friendliness...I rode year round when i lived down there and may times I encountered more than a few less than courteous drivers who failed to understand both the ramifications of pedestrian/cyclist encounters as well as the legal penalties for riding on the sidewalk.

A couple of those encounters ended in physical altercations with individuals who looked as though they could stand to spend a few hours a day in the saddle, for health reasons.

Still, by and large the midwest has a long way to go in terms of changing their views of cycle commuters. Fortunately, in the last few years (albeit after my departure) Mpls and St. P. have become models for the rest of the country to follow with regard to the changing attitudes and fair use of otherwise unused city land.

As to the trio in question, there are specifics regarding distance and lane occupation that I believe the issuing officer was concerned with...it IS illegal to ride a cycle on city sidewalks (same goes for skateboards and motorized scooters)...and the conditions of many of Duluth's paved "bike route" streets, roads and avenues make it difficult at best to adhere to traffic laws without incurring damage to the bikes themselves.

Instead of picking a fight which will most likely turn a molehill into a mountain, these characters should at the very least go to court. They'll still have to pay the fine, but it'll most likely be reduced...and probably get more people to listen, rather than hating on the cause.

the uninformed and opinionated masses in this city are few, but they scream loud enough and cry long enough to make their voices heard, generally because they're not getting anything out of the deal (reverse entitlement?). They still believe that cyclists are akin to godless commies and the almighty auto is the only thing that'll save anyone...so what the cyclists are being forced into is a war of attrition, which never solves anything.

Lobby for fair use. The skateboarders did it, and got themselves a new park. Lobby for bike lanes. Lobby for paths.

lojasmo

about 15 years ago

If I'm not mistaken, they were riding two abreast?

If so, then there would have been clear impediment to traffic.  

Pay it.

zra

about 15 years ago

Two abreast is indeed an impedance to traffic, though I think a simple warning by the issuing officer should have sufficed. 

Were warnings issued prior to ticketing? How many?

lojasmo

about 15 years ago

I don't expect a warning when I am cited for breaking the law.

Hells Bells

about 15 years ago

Good luck to you Greg.  You live your values, and aren't afraid to stand up for them.  If I were still in Duluth I'd gladly ride to the courts with you and help you with the food run.  Thanks for teaching me about my bike.  Get free everyone, get free.

cjl

about 15 years ago

huitz - Hate bait is a waste of time. Especially since good will is often lost in the text if lazy writers like me fail to deliver a concept.

A bicycle can take advantage of existing infrastructure, but we shouldn't forget why the infrastructure is there. Alienating one group only feeds the opposition. I think an annual license fee could give cyclists a voice. A voice in infrastructure improvements, and acquisition. I'm not talking about allot of money. $5 - 10 annually. Maybe that license fee would best be applied as membership dues which could be used enhance bicycle access.

One thing motorized sports are very good at is organizing and dumping cash into resources. The recent mtn bike trail development in Duluth is a great example of what could be done to push bike route development / improvement forward.

I don't live in Duluth, please forgive me if I missed a group currently doing this in Duluth. If there is one. Please let me know, and I'd gladly join in the effort.

The Big E is correct. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment will possibly help support some of these needs. But like the Lessard Commission money, I don't expect to see any of it in the North East part of the state without a fight. 

The DNR is not sure how they'll be able tap into Clean Water money yet. There is a certain amount of details to be worked out yet in this funding area.

In this discussion over bicycles, lets not lose sight of the fact that less fortunate people depend on the service of these three people. I don't know the price of the tickets. But for the price, it's delivered an inexpensive public service message.

chadp

about 15 years ago

cjl-  What would be the fine if one were caught biking without a license?  Does this logically extend to pedestrians since the current sidewalk infrastructure is unfunded by users?  Your idea is intriguing but me thinks undo-able.

huitz

about 15 years ago

Yes, next time I will have to have a license to properly operate an elevator.

That's an extreme example I admit, but the whole -- "I have to share the road with bikes, a horse (which, if you've been paying attention, officers still use, without lights), segways, scooters, etc. and I'm upset about it" -- idea should be out the door.

When it comes to money, I really believe the burden would lay upon people who abuse that infrastructure.  In other words, if there was a scale of a role of responsibility for road care (or for that matter trail care), then I'd say motorists 120, cyclists -20.  You can change that equality with hikers/walkers/etc however you see fit, but it really is common sense.

A biking license or fee, imho, doesn't fix anything.  In fact, it's almost funny.

Perhaps what you are suggesting is that people should have some official training to ride a bike on a road.  Yeah, I don't think so, right now.

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