Bike Bust goes Ballistic. Arts Advocate Activity Adds Alliteration Angle!

This post qualifies as a report on life and culture in Portland because it involves both an arts advocate and a bicycle.

This morning, Jessica Jarratt, the new Executive Director of Portland’s Creative Advocacy Network and a friend of Culture Shock, was commuting by bike to her job in the Pearl District. She pedaled her way right into a sting operation by riding through a red light at the corner of NE Broadway and Flint.

Quite rightfully, Ms. Jarratt was pulled over by the cops. What should have been a routine citation escalated when she was asked to produce an identification card. When she questioned whether she was legally required to carry such, the police officer decided she was causing trouble and slapped the handcuffs on her. She reports that the cuffing was painful and left red marks on her wrist.

Jarratt says that she has no intention of disputing the citation and $240 fine, but she has filed a complaint about the way she was treated. A more complete report of the incident can be found at the Bike Portland blog.

I understand that the police have a tough job and that the underlying goal here is to prevent tragic accidents. I also know that Portland is full of bike riders who routinely flout the rules. But really? Is this the way we want Portland Police to be handling traffic violations? I'll be interested in how this incident plays out over the next few days.

On Facebook, where Ms. Jarratt first reported the incident to friends, she later posted this video of how police in Denmark handle biking violations, suggesting that it might serve as a training video for Portland cops:



Speaking of bikes, Powell’s Books is bringing David Byrne to the Bagdad Theatre on September 30th to talk about his book “Bicycle Diaries.”