Five Borough Bicycle Club vs. NYPD Trial

The weather's be-a-u-tiful and you'd rather hop on your bike than put your hard-earned money into the pockets of the MTA. These days, though, it's getting more difficult to defend your right to bike. Time's Up!, the people from the Cops Vs. Clowns Bike Ride, is fighting back for cyclists' rights and so can you:

Show your support for nonpolluting transportation by attending this historic court case.

Five Borough Bicycle Club vs. NYPD Trial
Fighting against the city's crackdown on cyclists' rights and group bicycle rides
Tuesday, May 12th at 11 a.m.
United States Court House, 500 Pearl Street, Room 12D

While environmental awareness and bicycle ridership continue to increase in New York City, the road to this success has been a struggle. Over the years we've sen many lawsuits, city regulations and police tactics that have discouraged the growth of nonpolluting transportation. You, the community, however, have constantly rallied back, finding creative ways to keep bicycling on the road and on the rise. Without this public and political concern, we wouldn't have the recent installation of sustainable infrastructure, which includes more than 170 miles of bike lanes citywide.

The Five Borough Bicycle Club with the help of attorney Steve Vaccaro of Debevoise and Plimpton, LLP, is continuing the fight for cyclists' rights with an upcoming court case. Pro bono lawyers and volunteers from the cycling community have put in countless hours of investigation in preparing for it, interviewing more than one hundred people, reviewing thousands of questionable tickets and watching video footage covering years of events. This court case will show that, despite community and political support for cycling and the environment, members of the police department used psychological tactics to break up the community and the growth of nonpolluting transportation. It is clear in numerous forms of evidence that cyclists' constitutional rights were violated through selective enforcement, domestic spying, perjury by some of the highest in command of the police department, unfounded divisionary propaganda and undercover agitation.

Let's put an end to these divisionary tactics for good and work together to continue to create a positive, sustainable city. Time's Up! environmental organization encourages you to attend the upcoming trial and support the Five Borough Bicycle Club and the future growth and safety of biking in New York City.

The trial date is set for Tuesday, May 12th at 11 a.m. at the United States Courthouse. Since the trail schedule may change at the last minute check http://5bbc.org/parade/casefiles.shtml on May 11th for status updates.

What are your cycling horror stories?

Also, and PS, even if unlike Senator Schumer you didn't show up to 3rd Ward's Block Party, you can still get a free bike when you sign up for membership.

[photo via Stephanie Nikolopoulos]