The Long Beach Police Department handed out more than 70 citations and impounded 21 bikes on Oct. 29 during an organized ride, but cyclists are now organizing to voice their opinion about the incident today at the Long Beach City Council meeting.
About 100 cyclists met at the Walter Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach as part of Long Beach’s inaugural Critical Mass bicycle ride, an event that takes place on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world.
The local cyclists were on the road for less than 10 minutes before being stopped by LBPD squad cars and motorcycles. Cyclists were cited for various infractions including running stop signs, having no brakes and having no bicycle registration. Police officers piled confiscated bikes into two trucks before hauling them off to impound.
The incident has stirred doubt among bicyclists about Long Beach’s claim of being the most bike-friendly city in America.
The city issued a statement saying that it must ensure that the rules of the road are followed to protect the community and cyclists.
The Pedal Movement, an advocacy organization that promotes cyclists’ rights, was a supporter and part organizer of the Critical Mass ride. Pedal Movement is now organizing a group of local cyclists to appear before the city council during Tuesday’s meeting to voice their opinion on the matter. The organization is meeting at Lincoln Park at 4:00 p.m. Cyclists are encouraged to wear green to the meeting.
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