9 Responses to Why is “Bike to Work Day” police escorted?

1. 

   ToddBS on March 11, 2010 at 8:08 pm

   Bicycling is dangerous. Haven’t you heard?

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2. 

   rodney on March 11, 2010 at 9:34 pm

   What about those who DON’T commute or bike at 8am? A police escort would be nice on my ride that day.

   I guess the escort is required for the political fanfare and hoopla.

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3. 

   Steve A on March 11, 2010 at 10:10 pm

   Last year, I visited my local police on bike to work day…

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4. 

   P.M. Summer on March 12, 2010 at 7:18 pm

   THAT’S what’s going on with ChipSeal! He’s getting a police escort when he rides (to jail).

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5. 

   danc on March 12, 2010 at 9:42 pm

   @PM Ouch! Thanks but no thanks on the police escort. Nice to see Chipper is getting help, remember !

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6. 

   Bruce on March 19, 2010 at 8:27 am

   The ride is police escorted because it is a large group of bicyclists that they want to keep together. The police will control the intersections and let the entire group through without having to stop. It is like a parade. It is publicity. Even though that is not how most of us commute on daily basis, the event always raises awareness as it is well covered by the media.

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     Eric on March 19, 2010 at 12:17 pm

     I have a better idea:
     Rather than organize another parade, encourage people to walk and cycle to work and spend the police time enforcing the pedestrian and bicycle laws.
     Set up a “sting” operation like St. Pete does.
     http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25707777/

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       fred_dot_u on March 19, 2010 at 4:56 pm

       I’ll add my vote to that idea, Eric. If the media broadcast that the next pedestrian could be a decoy/stealth/sting operation, more motorists might take this type of law more seriously.

       Of course, such actions would require that law enforcement in general have a true interest, if the sting/stealth operation is to extend to cycling.

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         Eric on March 19, 2010 at 5:45 pm

         There are so many things they could do if they wanted to do it. Spending money on a parade is, to me, at the bottom of the list. Correction: Below the bottom of the list.

         But, after being abused by law enforcement for 40 years, I really don’t think they have cyclists interests in mind. What they have in mind is the path of least resistance — where they can say they are doing something without actually doing something.

         Reply