POLICE @ the Mass « Critical Mass in Austria

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POLICE @ the Mass

(4 posts) (3 voices)

Started 3 years ago by inoperable
Latest reply from js

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inoperable
Member

I heard the police sometimes read this forum and that if we have issues with them we should list them here.

1st. i understand they want to show their presence and power and be at all the Mass rides. This is the same all over the world and we were lucky to ride without the as often as we did. HOWEVER, I feel like lately they have been going alittle too far with the ridealongs.

Last month the presence of the police was felt and seen very heavily as they seemed to think they were a part of the Mass. Until they get onto BICYCLES, I see them as absolutely no part of the ride. I was very annoyed when they kept pushing their police cars into the mass ride. This is 1 annoying for riders, but 2 VERY dangerous. I'm sure they think they know how to handle their machines and would never come close to hitting a bicyclist but the fact is they almost ran over my girlfriend! There have been studies done that show staying as a Mass and not allowing cars into the mass is the safest way to ride. This includes Police cars, SUVs, Hybrids, etc. Even the motorcycle police can get abit rowdy in the summer rides, but I'd rather have the Motorcycle Rowdies rather than the Auto Rowdies.

My request is that the Police stay in the back of the ride or in the front if they must, but PLEASE don't ride IN the Mass. It is dangerous for us all!

-RR

Posted 3 years ago #
inoperable
Member

I would like to add that there have been some rides, I cant remember which exactly, where the police have done a really good job. They blocked major intersections for us (nice but not necessary) and managed to keep a low profile during the ride, I guess by staying in the front or back of the ride. I get the feeling those rides are with police who have a understanding of what CM is. Maybe its the newcomers who don't understand it who are the more obtrusive police.

-RR

Posted 3 years ago #
Symlink
Member

Ich finde die Polizei nicht direkt notwendig (es gab vor einigen Monaten bis 1, 2 Jahren einige CMs, die tlw. ganz ohne Polizei und dennoch sehr entspannt abgelaufen sind). Aber gut, sie meinen es halt tun zu muessen, es ist ihr Job.

Am Beginn der CM ist es halt schwierig fuer die Polizei. Erstens wissen sie nicht, wohin es geht, zweitens finden es manche CM-Riders auch komisch bis seltsam, so quasi von der Polizei angeleitet zu werden, nur unter Polizeischutz durch die Stadt fahren zu koennen. Da wird dann tlw. doch wieder ueberholt - und die Polizeiautos finden sich ev. auch "unverschuldet" mehr oder weniger mitten in der CM wieder.

Positiv am Polizeieinsatz seh ich eine gewisse Autoritaet manchen Autofahrer/innen gegenueber, die ohne vorhandenes Blaulicht ev. ungut werden wuerden. Allerdings auch etwas skeptisch - denn wenn die sich nur durch das Blaulicht vom Ungutsein abhalten lassen, ist's auch nicht ganz das, was ich will.

Ja, CM ist schwierig (fallt mir nur wieder ein: "wir sind fuer mehr Radwege".. hm).

Sorry for not writing in English, but mine is too bad for writing all that in English. I hope the English speaking guy(s;) understand(s).

Gruss,
S.

Posted 3 years ago #
js
Member

November CM was my first one as I've just moved here, and from what I've read on the website I assume I'm not going to be very popular with my two cents:
I have to say that I was rather astonished to see how some of the riders made quite a sport from obstructing the police vehicles, even when there were three lanes available. I found the officers pretty relaxed and friendly, they were just trying to do their job as good as they could, which probably isn't too easy for them given the fact that they don't know where the ride is going. The way some people behaved isn't going to help very much building an image of a critical but nonetheless respectful mass (at times I felt more like being part of a critical mess, although the whole idea is great and I never felt as happy riding a bike through a city as I did during those two hours on that cold and ghastly November afternoon).
I'm convinced that an approach a wee bit more pragmatic wouldn't do us any harm. "Reclaiming the streets" probably isn't endangered by police as long as they don't try to keep a lane open for cars.

It's off topic, but while I'm at it: I really don't see repeatedly yelling "ääää, mitfaaaan" at non participating riders helping the cause.

Posted 3 years ago #

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