I'm from San Francisco and have ridden critical mass a few times. This past Friday was my first critical mass in New York. I also received my first ticket from riding critical mass. I was riding on 5th ave near 21 st. with about 30 other riders. We were splitting up because the cops were doing what they do best out on this coast it seems, and I was told to stop my bike. There was no bike lane, but I was riding to the right of the road and not blocking traffic. I was, however, towards the back of the group, which it seems is reason enough to ticket someone. I was told firmly to stop my bike by a guy who I'm guessing drank too much beer and read too few books in high school. (didn't to too well with the ladies I presume as well based on his manhandling of a female rider I was with) Anyways I tell him I'm pulling over to the sidewalk. I do this and get off my bike, I ask him what i did, he says something dumb and rude I can't remember, but i end up with a ticket for what? operating a bicycle on the sidewalk.
Later in the night I'm riding somewhere nearby, i don't know the city at all, i'm almost given another ticket. A scooter cop and his scooter cop buddy pick me out of a crowd of 20 riders and say "yeah that one, get that one" and they pull me over. I ask starsky what I've done wrong and, after exchanging devious smiles with his would-be hutch, tells me "your being a fucking retard that's what you're doin"
Is that what my ticket would've said? being a fucking retard without a permit? Anyways I tell the dude that I already got a ticket for no reason and I tell him my story and show him my ticket. He reminds me that I'm a "fucking retard" and when I ask him why he grabbed me since I wasn't doing anything he says "you were at the end of the group, you were the easiest to nab." After a bit he says I can walk my bike away in five minutes. All the while I'm looking at his sticker on the side of his scooter...
"courtesy, compassion & professionalism"

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