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# Calling for a compromise on Critical Mass bike rides
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/calling-for-a-compromise-on-critical-mass-bike-rides/
- Published: 2008-09-23T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T01:02:42.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By ROGER SWANSON rcswan-*

THE UNFOLDING SAGA OF SANTA Monica Critical Mass (SMCM) versus the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) continues.

First some background: SMCM is not a formal organization, a legal entity with officers and formal leadership. It is just an ad-hoc group of bike riders, who enjoy getting out of their cars, if they own one, and riding with like minded people. There are over 700 “members”(more correctly, potential participants, who have requested ride information). Many are Santa Monica residents, but many are not. The primary focus is to convince people to get out of their cars and enjoy a night riding around Santa Monica and West Los Angeles.

On Aug. 1, 2008, 14 police officers (in cars, on motorcycles and bikes) and reportedly two undercover cops shadowed SMCM through the streets and issued 14 citations. City Hall spent over $3,000 for police officer overtime. I witnessed one “violation” that was so questionable that it will likely be thrown out by the courts. Many other violations that night are for offenses seldom enforced, except for SMCM riders, or for misinterpretations of the vehicle code.

On Sept. 5, 2008, there were eight police officers and eight citations. In one incident, an officer pulled over a bike rider and allowed a car that ran a red light go free. In another, a rider did not make a complete stop at a stop sign. But when the next 50, or so, riders made complete stops, the officer told them to “not stop” since they were holding up auto traffic. What irony!

SMCM has evolved in the almost two years since I started riding. Warnings about stopping for traffic lights and stop signs, and adhering to all vehicle codes are made at the beginning of all rides. Bikes on streets are governed by the California Vehicle Code, with a few exceptions. It is quite apparent that some SM police officers are misinterpreting the vehicle code. For example, SMPD officers usually indicate that a bike without an operating headlight is “not a correctable violation.” According to the CHP, it is. The difference is a fine of $10 (correctable) versus a fine of $100.

What is disturbing about this is that several bike advocates who help coordinate the rides have been rebuffed by city officials for over a year. Sgt. Horn of the SMPD, in two separate meetings, stressed the need for lawful rides and suggested “take a nice ride on the beach bike path.” You all know that the beach bike path is clogged with pedestrians, who violate the city ordinance knowing full well that SMPD does not enforce the ordinance. It is irresponsible for a public safety officer to suggest that 150 to 200 bike riders use the path at night when they would pose a serious safety risk to pedestrians on the path.

When the city manager asked police Chief Tim Jackman to meet with SMCM advocates in September 2007, Jackman scheduled a meeting. When the advocates arrived, he stepped in for 30 seconds, introduced himself, and returned to his office — skipping the meeting. Capt. Mark Smiley sat in for Jackman and when the advocates suggested that SMCM riders might be receptive to a police escort, as is done for San Francisco Critical Mass, Smiley replied that “I couldn’t do something like that without authorization from the city manager or the chief.” Oh, you mean the chief of police who just skipped the meeting?

On Nov. 13, 2007, over 50 SMCM participants attended a City Council meeting and over 30 advocates spoke in support of SMCM. Many of these same advocates attended numerous LUCE workshops and City Council LUCE review sessions to ensure that Santa Monica continued its support of bike related policies and projects.

Comments made in a recent City Council meeting indicates that some council members still don’t understand that bikes are part of the solution (i.e., reducing traffic and CO2 emissions, while promoting health and recreation), not the problem.

After over a year of SMPD and council behavior leads to some obvious questions: Does SMPD and the council want to work together to solve the growing disconnect? Is it bad faith to agree to a meeting and then duck out? What solution saves taxpayer funds ($3,000 in August 2008) without jeopardizing public safety and vehicle code enforcement?

Reaching some creative compromise with SMCM would illustrate council support for bike riding in Santa Monica. The alternative might be bike advocates flooding the public comment portion of council meetings. That would be a clearly undesirable outcome for all.

Let’s stop wasting taxpayer money on SMPD overtime to chase SMCM, which appears to be like swatting flies with a sledgehammer.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 23, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092308.pdf?ref=smdp.com)