Comments on: Riding While Black or Just Riding? http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:54:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Kim http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/comment-page-1/#comment-40949 Kim Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:04:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/#comment-40949 Sorry, but where riding on the sidewalks is illegal, don't do it. If you want to be respected by traffic, act as traffic. If you want to be respected as a law-abiding citizen by the cops, abide by the law. If you have to go up onto the sidewalk to avoid being killed, go up and dismount, then walk to where you can return to traffic. Unless there are other, non-black riders doing the same thing and seen by the same cops but getting different treatment, who knows if it's racism or merely enforcement? That information is missing and without it there is no good way to get a fuller perspective of the situation. Sorry, but where riding on the sidewalks is illegal, don't do it. If you want to be respected by traffic, act as traffic. If you want to be respected as a law-abiding citizen by the cops, abide by the law. If you have to go up onto the sidewalk to avoid being killed, go up and dismount, then walk to where you can return to traffic.

Unless there are other, non-black riders doing the same thing and seen by the same cops but getting different treatment, who knows if it's racism or merely enforcement? That information is missing and without it there is no good way to get a fuller perspective of the situation.

]]> By: Eric http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/comment-page-1/#comment-40059 Eric Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:30:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/#comment-40059 It's because there have been a lot of purse snatchings in Brooklyn perpetrated by people riding bikes on sidewalks. The only solution they can come up with is to stop everybody they see riding bikes on the sidewalk. It's because there have been a lot of purse snatchings in Brooklyn perpetrated by people riding bikes on sidewalks. The only solution they can come up with is to stop everybody they see riding bikes on the sidewalk.

]]> By: fred http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/comment-page-1/#comment-40040 fred Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:39:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/#comment-40040 > Maybe we should've worn bike gear: > helmets; knee pads; elbow pads; tight, > non-threatening biker pants. ...helmet w/ a large PBA sticker... > Maybe we should've worn bike gear:
> helmets; knee pads; elbow pads; tight,
> non-threatening biker pants.

...helmet w/ a large PBA sticker...

]]> By: Brandon http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/comment-page-1/#comment-40039 Brandon Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:38:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/#comment-40039 Yeah, what's the deal. I have a fine and summons for hoping on the sidewalk for less than a block in South Williamsburg. Now I have to miss work and go to court. Why mess with the bikes!?!? We're solving our traffic congestion problems! Yeah, what's the deal. I have a fine and summons for hoping on the sidewalk for less than a block in South Williamsburg. Now I have to miss work and go to court. Why mess with the bikes!?!? We're solving our traffic congestion problems!

]]> By: Eric http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/comment-page-1/#comment-40036 Eric Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:31:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/11/08/riding-while-black-or-just-riding/#comment-40036 Stay off the sidewalks at all costs! I think there is some directive behind this. It seems like they are really looking to catch anybody in the act of riding on the sidewalk. You can go the wrong way down a one way street and run lots of red lights, just don't even think of riding the sidewalk. Stay off the sidewalks at all costs! I think there is some directive behind this. It seems like they are really looking to catch anybody in the act of riding on the sidewalk. You can go the wrong way down a one way street and run lots of red lights, just don't even think of riding the sidewalk.

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