Houston May Start Charging Critical Mass

[Subdude]

 

Critical Mass is free, but Houston police may begin charging riders for escort by Heather Alexander, Houston Chronicle | January 2, 2014

Houston police are considering a plan to charge the Critical Mass bicycle group as safety concerns draw officers away from their regular duties.

The event, which sees thousands of riders take to the streets on the last Friday of every month, has operated in cities across the world for over 20 years. At times it has become a real Drivers vs. Cyclists war, with violence erupting at rides in both Seattle and San Francisco.

Just this past Friday, a disgruntled driver shot video that shows riders racing through the red light at a major intersection in the Heights.

Critical Mass leaders have been working closely with the police to ensure road safety since October. Four officers in two police cars help riders through intersections, with officers driving ahead and behind to clear the path.

Houston police say they are now exploring the possibility of riders footing the bill for those services, as happens now for big funeral processions and for some busy valet parking..

The Houston Police Department said in a statement Thursday that while they continue to work to ensure the safety of motorists and cyclists, "it should be noted that such events do divert police resources from regularly assigned responsibilities. We hope to find a mechanism to ensure that such costs are borne by those generating the workload."

 

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Critical-Mass-riders-ask-for-drivers-to-5108973.php

[Triton]

It won't work. There are just too many people that start riding with the group out of no where. There's going to be no way to enforce it.

[IronTiger]

That's too bad. I heard Critical Mass (at least Houston's) was one of the "nicer" organized bike rides in terms of controlling traffic, as in many other cities there are too many "events" which tend to involve mostly militant jackasses who think the rules of the road don't apply to them.

[little frau]

There's been some very heated postings on KHOU's facebook page since they first ran the story last night.

 

Last I checked earlier today, the cons were way ahead of the pros.  Most folks posting seem to think that CM poses a traffic hazard. 

 

Also that cyclists in general impede movement because they don't ride at motorized vehicle speeds.

 

Then there were a number of yoyos that thought bicycles belong on sidewalks. 

[little frau]

It won't work. There are just too many people that start riding with the group out of no where. There's going to be no way to enforce it.

 

I would think that if they charge CM, it would not be on a per person basis.  One individual would have to pay the fee and collect from everyone else.

 

 

They don't charge every individual car in a funeral procession.

[august948]

There's been some very heated postings on KHOU's facebook page since they first ran the story last night.

 

Last I checked earlier today, the cons were way ahead of the pros.  Most folks posting seem to think that CM poses a traffic hazard. 

 

Also that cyclists in general impede movement because they don't ride at motorized vehicle speeds.

 

Then there were a number of yoyos that thought bicycles belong on sidewalks. 

 

I thought impeding traffic was the point of CM.

 

I have to count myself among the yoyos, for my own personal riding at least.  I won't ride major roads like Westheimer on the street.  Way too dangerous.  Of course, I give pedestrians I meet a wide berth and right-of-way in any case.  I'd rather have to stop my bike to let someone pass at a narrow point in the sidewalk than ride with 45 mph traffic up my ___.

 

In a group ride like CM, I'd ride on the street with everyone else, but alone I'll do what I think is safest.

 

[IronTiger]

I honestly think that bike lanes are death traps, as far too often they're too narrow (my standard is that a golf cart should be able to fit in it, but that's just me), and suspect to cars turning in and out of driveways and streets. A wide 6' sidewalk should do the trick, or just try to get a buddy or two to go with you to increase visibility.

It also depends heavily on the traffic on the road.

[ig2ba]

I honestly think that bike lanes are death traps, as far too often they're too narrow (my standard is that a golf cart should be able to fit in it, but that's just me), and suspect to cars turning in and out of driveways and streets. A wide 6' sidewalk should do the trick, or just try to get a buddy or two to go with you to increase visibility.

It also depends heavily on the traffic on the road.

 

Raised bike lanes. It would make all the difference.

 

Sure it's not for all roads (e.g., Westheimer west of 610), and there's upfront capital cost, but done gradually, street by street, we would eventually have a good system of bike lanes.

[ig2ba]

I thought impeding traffic was the point of CM.

 

I have to count myself among the yoyos, for my own personal riding at least.  I won't ride major roads like Westheimer on the street.  Way too dangerous.  Of course, I give pedestrians I meet a wide berth and right-of-way in any case.  I'd rather have to stop my bike to let someone pass at a narrow point in the sidewalk than ride with 45 mph traffic up my ___.

 

In a group ride like CM, I'd ride on the street with everyone else, but alone I'll do what I think is safest.

 

 

I'd go further and say that I won't ride on/along/beside/adjacent to major roads like Westheimer at all unless absolutely necessary. Parallel streets are much safer and with barely any time difference. Little known fact: they also tend to be better shaded because the streets are narrower and live oaks often cover the whole street.

 

Of course, most of my biking is inside the Loop, where there's a mature street grid, so maybe this isn't possible everywhere.

[Purdueenginerd]

I cycle a good bit in the city. I'll ride on westheimer occasionally (normally only inside the loop). My safety protocol is the consume the entire lane. I don't want cars trying to edge by me and clip me. If an automobile wants to pass me, they need to change lanes. In addition, riding in the far right doesnt give me sufficient maneuvering room in the event of debris or accidents infront. I do this for my safety.

 

The other thing I do when riding city streets is use significant amount of hand signals to let cars know where I'm going. I use hand signals to let them know I'm braking, and hand signals to let them know I'm changing lanes. I follow all traffic laws. 

 

That being said, I've never been a huge fan of critical mass. While I'm all for sharing the roads, I'd be a lot more supportive of critical mass if they stopped at traffic lights, did not weave between moving cars, and cut off 2 ton vehicles. That's not a way to spread  your message--- its a way to piss people off and put yourself in danger. I'm stereotyping, because not all CM riders are jerks and ride recklessly. I think its a lot more constructive of a message if CM stayed within the traffic laws. "Share the rode" Implies cars and bikes... not overwhelming cars.

[kylejack]

I would think that if they charge CM, it would not be on a per person basis.  One individual would have to pay the fee and collect from everyone else.

 

 

They don't charge every individual car in a funeral procession.

 

And which individual would be responsible? And what happens when that doesn't happen?

[IronTiger]

And which individual would be responsible? And what happens when that doesn't happen?

[ig2ba]

 

And which individual would be responsible? And what happens when that doesn't happen?

 

 

Then collect revenue by ticketing bicyclists that run red lights. After subtracting court costs, three or four such tickets per police officer should be more than enough to cover their salary for a few hours work. Out of the thousand or so bicyclists who run at least one red light, the police should be able to collect this revenue in no time.

 

The police would be operating completely within the law and as a bonus, most Houstonians would cheer them on.

[kylejack]

Then collect revenue by ticketing bicyclists that run red lights. After subtracting court costs, three or four such tickets per police officer should be more than enough to cover their salary for a few hours work. Out of the thousand or so bicyclists who run at least one red light, the police should be able to collect this revenue in no time.

 

The police would be operating completely within the law and as a bonus, most Houstonians would cheer them on.

 

And if each cyclist demands a jury trial on their ticket? There could be a significant expense in prosecuting cyclists for a ticket with a small fine relative to the cost of the prosecution.

 

San Francisco tried it, but eventually dropped all the charges. Critical Mass continues in San Francisco to this day.

[IronTiger]

The thing ATE what I didn't write in quotes! Anyway, what I said is that the people organizing it (making the Twitter, website, etc.) should be the ones to pay for it.

 

And if each cyclist demands a jury trial on their ticket? There could be a significant expense in prosecuting cyclists for a ticket with a small fine relative to the cost of the prosecution.

 

Maybe temporarily raise the ticket prices for running a red light?

[Ross]

And if each cyclist demands a jury trial on their ticket? There could be a significant expense in prosecuting cyclists for a ticket with a small fine relative to the cost of the prosecution.

 

San Francisco tried it, but eventually dropped all the charges. Critical Mass continues in San Francisco to this day.

 

Arrest them for running the light/stop sign. Take about 8 hours to get them processed. At that point, I don't care if they ask for a jury trial.

 

[Slick Vik]

Arrest them for running the light/stop sign. Take about 8 hours to get them processed. At that point, I don't care if they ask for a jury trial.

Do the same thing to drivers too then.

[kylejack]

Arrest them for running the light/stop sign. Take about 8 hours to get them processed. At that point, I don't care if they ask for a jury trial.

 

 

Then they'll see ya next month!

 

Meanwhile, the City has only written one ticket for motorists violating the Safe Passing law, and only after public pressure.

Edited January 8, 2014 by kylejack

[kylejack]

The thing ATE what I didn't write in quotes! Anyway, what I said is that the people organizing it (making the Twitter, website, etc.) should be the ones to pay for it.

 

 

 

 

Maybe temporarily raise the ticket prices for running a red light?

 

Well, I'm admin on the FB group, and I'm not going to pay. Now what?

 

Passing an ordinance to raise ticket prices would come from the City Council and the Mayor, not the police department. The Mayor views Critical Mass as an exercise of free speech and expression, protected First Amendment rights.

[ig2ba]

Do the same thing to drivers too then.

 

Uhh, they already do that. What planet have you been living on where a police officer witnesses a driver running a red light and will not pull them over - much less hundreds of drivers?

 

Tu quoque FAIL.

[ig2ba]

And if each cyclist demands a jury trial on their ticket? There could be a significant expense in prosecuting cyclists for a ticket with a small fine relative to the cost of the prosecution.

 

San Francisco tried it, but eventually dropped all the charges. Critical Mass continues in San Francisco to this day.

 

Yet somehow, the judicial system isn't crippled by others demanding a jury trial, including for driving offenses.

 

It probably worked in San Francisco because San Francisco is San Francisco. That city is also much more ... "open" to aggressive panhandling, squatters, public nudity, and public sex than any other major city.

 

Houston is a different kind of city. For whatever reason, Houston seems far less likely to have sports riots or any riots, and the Occupy Wall Street protests were very tame compared to other places in the U.S.

[IronTiger]

The Mayor views Critical Mass as an exercise of free speech and expression, protected First Amendment rights.

Since when did running red lights and breaking other traffic rules become First Amendment rights?

[Slick Vik]

Uhh, they already do that. What planet have you been living on where a police officer witnesses a driver running a red light and will not pull them over - much less hundreds of drivers?

Tu quoque FAIL.

Every driver that runs a red light gets pulled over?

[august948]

Every driver that runs a red light gets pulled over?

 

Try running one in front of a police officer and see what happens.

 

[Subdude]

Cops can and so stop individual bicyclists from running lights (I was pulled over for doing so in Midtown at 5:00 AM).  But the situation is different with a large group like Critical Mass, where it might be in everyone's best interest to chill out and let the bikes run lights.  This week I had to stop while a large funeral procession was escorted through a series of red lights without stopping.  It's the same kind of thing.  The funeral procession, and Critical Mass, want to ride together and it's not the end of the world if the group runs lights to do so.  It's just not worth obsessing about.  

[sevfiv]

I'd like to see what kind of break up (and time for mass up) would happen if all red lights were observed (that had cross-traffic). And also, what happens when you're first in line for red and you have 500 cyclists behind you..

 

I think ours is fine and it is similar to other mass rides. It's once/month, doesn't have posted routes, and of course pisses off drivers who have to wait (the same ones who throw fits at RR crossings, I'm sure).

[IronTiger]

and of course pisses off drivers who have to wait (the same ones who throw fits at RR crossings, I'm sure).

Out of curiosity, do CM riders ever cross light rail or normal railroads, and if so, do they ever run the red light?

[ig2ba]

Cops can and so stop individual bicyclists from running lights (I was pulled over for doing so in Midtown at 5:00 AM).  But the situation is different with a large group like Critical Mass, where it might be in everyone's best interest to chill out and let the bikes run lights.  This week I had to stop while a large funeral procession was escorted through a series of red lights without stopping.  It's the same kind of thing.  The funeral procession, and Critical Mass, want to ride together and it's not the end of the world if the group runs lights to do so.  It's just not worth obsessing about.  

 

CM doesn't occur often enough for most Houstonians to be passionate enough about it that everyone's going to demand that CM be revenue-neutral or positive for the COH. So it's not like it's an emergency that needs to be solved now.

 

That being said, I think the city is making the first move on this. It's not about the revenue so much as having a sanctioned event. Either paying the officers or a permit or something official, if they're going to let hundreds of people control the public streets which really belong to ALL of the general public, not just a few hundred bicyclists.

 

Official sanctioning of the event would go a long way. That's why funeral processions or VIP motorcades are met with resistance on only very rare occasions. I was part of an escort related to work one time, but motorcycle cops didn't think so. One of them tried to crash my car with his motorcycle in the rain. They take it kinda seriously.

[skwatra]

Out of curiosity, do CM riders ever cross light rail or normal railroads, and if so, do they ever run the red light?

 

I've attended twice (2011) and on the second run we rode along Main in midtown and people were just riding on the tracks and jumping back and forth over them. We all had to cross the tracks somehow (we came from 3rd ward and ended up on Washington), but don't remember how. No way its possible we stopped for the light to be green though.

 

At that point I didn't go back. I'm an avid city biker and liked the concept of CM and their intent, but didn't like their methods on that particular route. The first run was a lot better, but that whole route on Main street really turned me off. If they are actively working with the CoH maybe I'll give it another shot.

 

I will say that most of the drivers that were stopped by us either just sat there and viewed the spectacle or cheered us on. I never saw an angry motorist (though there was an angry campus security guard and actually I heard there was a run in with HPD but I was farther up and didn't see it).

 

[little frau]

Funeral processions pay for police escorts.