"Roadblock" and Other Cyclists Revolt at LAPD Ticketing for Bike Riding Without a License

Ticket to Ride: Fighting over a $3 license, midnight riders claim harassment

A A A Comments (12) By Devin Browne Wednesday, Dec 17 2008

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Cyclists in the audience nodded in solidarity. At least 100 delegates of the bike lobby were present, and they knew their talking points. Others who followed Roadblock to the microphone brought typed notes and an earnestness that was somewhat new to a community known for its outlaw spirit. And yet, in the middle of a report from the Department of Transportation, Roadblock couldn’t help yelling out: “They’re talking like they’ve never spoken to a cyclist before in their life!” (As it turned out, the comment was directed at Senior Bicycle Coordinator Michelle Mowery, who is not only a cyclist but a former semi-professional racer, and the owner of no less than 11 bikes. Of the outburst, she said later, “I have more miles on my legs than they do.”)

The council denied Roadblock’s request for rebuttal, but his pleas did not go unheard. Both council members LaBonge and Bill Rosendahl asked Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger if the LAPD might suspend enforcement of the code until “the confusion is cleared up.”

Paysinger politely declined: “I would hesitate to give you an answer right now, as we have not finished our research.”

Cyclists in the crowd hissed at this but still seemed optimistic that their protest had been noted. (One of the bikers even high-fived Councilman Rosendahl in the hallway on his way out.) On the matter of bike licenses, however, there was little agreement about whether to continue ignoring the law. One young cyclist who had earlier recommended to the council that the code be “taken out back, shot and put out of its misery,” to wide applause, remained steadfastly opposed to any “license-gathering missions.”

“We shouldn’t be claiming that a law is invalid and defunct while at the same time scrambling to comply with it.”

Another cyclist, carrying a copy of J. Harry Wray’s Pedal Power, also declined an invitation to purchase a license at Central Station. “I’m never getting a license,” he said later in an e-mail, and then added, “Rebel for life!”

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Mike G 02/01/2009 1:21:00 AM

I think Road Block deserves his 15 minutes of fame for getting mandatory bike registration suspended in LA City. Please print a picture of him in a follow-up article wearing his banana-penis suit. Yesterday was Saul Alinsky's 100th birthday, so it is even more appropriate to discuss this some more.
Browne 12/27/2008 8:18:00 AM

Brett Griffith never mind I forgot the author's last name was Browne...oops, but I thought I had posted something crazy earlier...
Browne Molyneux 12/27/2008 8:16:00 AM

Brett Griffith what are you talking about? I simply asked where was the "f*ck the BRU" comment came from. Did they do something in regards to this particular incident? I'm confused and I'm also confused at your very long response to my question.
Brett Griffith 12/24/2008 1:29:00 AM

At least Browne didn't go so far as to paint cyclists as moustached reds but her tone is hardly even subtly biased. In addition to addressing points of the argument she is certain to make this more visualized narrative--*gasp* a skull tshirt rather than a tailored suit from some upscale store at neiman marcus. If we're going to paint pictures of one sort, a response of equal disingenuity is appropriate. Browne is sometimes pseudo-sympathetic, but largely misses what is, I believe, at the heart of the argument from the cycling advocates she is critical of. Many of her attacks are ad hominem and straw man attacks regarding their position. Such cyclists would prefer to go through legitimate means, with respect to getting a bike license, but are left unable to do so. The cyclist is left in a catch-22--the cyclist may not ride without a license but cannot get one. The history behind the motivations for the license are irrelevant compared to this user-end dilemma. Browne's article does everything it can to distract from this important point. Whether a station is swamped with more serious reports is, though difficult on the behalf of the officers and staff, irrelevant in a legal sense. This speaks more about priority, funding, and only reiterates that a cycling license--legitimacy--remains hard to get. She paints the community as one largely of dereliction but has yet to meet or mention the CPA's, attorneys, doctors and graduate-degree holding participants who are, though less sensational in terms of appearance and news-headlines, have made positive contributions. She also fails to note that the costumes and ride-titles are tongue-in-cheek spectacle that has done at least something for cycling advocacy on a non-existent budget. The group is more intelligent and irreverent than she gives it credit for.
Browne 12/23/2008 5:34:00 AM

Where did the fuck the BRU comment come from, the reason. Browne Molyneux
Dorothy Le 12/20/2008 9:47:00 PM

Good article. Let's get this law repealed.
trickmilla 12/20/2008 3:20:00 AM

The DOT was full of excuses that day. Giving every possible reason they could to drag their asses. The point that really got people enraged and got us asking (unsuccessfully) for a chance to respond to the D.O.T. was when they started making every manner of excuse about why a simple paint marking can't be laid down to indicate to drivers and riders what the proper bike position is. Among their many concerns with painting "sharrows" was with liability. What should be considered a liability is that, while every road in the city is legally ridable by bikes, most major streets are dangerous, in decrepit shape, and traveled by drivers that are totally ignorant of the law in regard to bikes. Instead of real progress toward safer more efficient roads, all we get from the D.O.T. is a bunch of windbag excuses. DOT's motto toward improving bike infrastructure is clear: "Yes We Can't".
Todd Allan 12/19/2008 11:04:00 PM

Now this is news and I am outraged. As a parent who miraculously has convinced his junior in high school son to ride his bike to school (3 mile each way), I am aghast that LA CITY requires licenses for bicycles! What a waste of people's time, for the riders, and the poor, already overworked government employees that must create the paperwork and enforce such this adsurd law. The city ought to be paying bike riders for keeping themselves in better shape, reducing the congestion on our roadways, reducing the wear and tear on our roadways, and keeping our air clean. I appeal to our law makers to keep life simple for people, especially people who are helping save our planet.
DJwheels 12/19/2008 4:48:00 AM

LA Muni Code 26.01 was also never meant to be used as a pretext for clearing a public sidewalk of peaceful citizens. Shame on you, Officer Alvarez! Shame on you LAPD!
Jeff Glass 12/18/2008 11:45:00 PM

LADOT is fucking CLUELESS with a capital C. They calculate success on quantity of vehicles moved when everybody and their mom knows you are supposed to concentrate on quantity of PEOPLE moved. DUMB FUCKS fuck the LADOT and fuck the bus rider's union too!
Rhode Bloch 12/18/2008 11:10:00 AM

I don't give a damn how many miles Mowery got racing in circles on a closed course. I want to know how she gets to work everyday. My comment came after hearing her say something as assinine as "sharrow paint is slippery and dangerous for cyclists." LOL what planet are these people from?? That is some out of touch weekend warrior roadie talk. I'm a commuter not some spandex clad roadie in a bubble. Come out and ride these gritty streets with me Mowery. This is your open invitation to Wolfpack Hustle. True grit.
Umberto Brayj 12/18/2008 6:58:00 AM

This "Rebel For Life!" will not work as an effective strategy, so good luck losers. Those of us who participated in this small action against an unjust law did something, and it has started the wheels of change turning. This is a small petty matter, but it matters to Ridazz, and so we must...