Advocacy Alerts

[FURTHER UPDATE 4 Oct 2004: Ed Chasteen writes:

NO COURT TONIGHT!! I just talked to my lawyer. The city wants to work out a solution to our problem that keeps their kids safe and respects the rights of bicycle riders. We have a one-month continuance, during which time some of us will meet with the Lawson City Council to work out a fair and equitable solution. Everything will turn out right.

Ed

It looks like the Ghandian approach (plus a lawyer) is working. The Missouri Bicycle Federation is planning to work closely with Ed, his lawyer, and the Lawson City council to make sure a workable solution is created.]

[UPDATE 4 Oct 2004: The Ride October 2nd was cold (first cold snap of the year!) but went very well without any problems whatsoever. Ed had called ahead and the police had actually cordoned off a small area of a nearby parking lot especially for our bicycle parking.

Ed's court date is today, 4 Oct 2004, at 6PM. Ed is inviting anyone cyclists to join him and pack the court in support of cycling. The Lawson police station is at 4th Street and North Pennsyvania Ave. in Lawson. We don't know exactly where the municipal court will be held, but it is most likely nearby.]

Bicyclists,

Those of us who feel strongly about standing up for bicyclists' rights yet do not like confrontational or law-breaking approaches, may appreciate Ed Chasteen's approach to a troubling situation in Lawson, MO.

A few weeks ago, Ed & a group of about 25 riders were turned away from a restaurant in Lawson, MO, because Lawson decided to ban bicycles from their business district.

Ed has decided to take a Ghandian approach, strictly following the law, supporting the restaurant that the city's stupid law has strongly affected, and yet still making the point that needs to be made.

I hope you will consider coming out Saturday to support Ed.

Ride leaves at 7:30AM, Saturday Oct 2nd, from Biscari Brothers Bicycles, 884 S 291 Hwy, Liberty, MO.

More details below from Ed Chasteen:

We are riding to Lawson this Saturday. We will not break any laws. We will do everything just as we were told we should. We will not ride where we were told not to ride. Read on!

Gandhi Rides to Lawson

For 15 years I've been riding my bicycle to Lawson for breakfast. I prop my bike on the sidewalk just outside the door and step inside Catrick's. Several hundred times I've done this. Several thousand dollars I've spent. Then three weeks ago the Lawson Police Chief met me as I stepped inside. He told me to move my bicycle a block up the street and walk back. I told him that my bicycle is also my wheelchair and I couldn't walk back. He said, “Move your bike. I said no. He called an officer to give me a ticket.

A few days later, my wife and I left for a 10-day trip to Prague and Budapest. I took my electric scooter with me to help me get around. All the time I was gone, I was planning as soon as I returned to ride back to Lawson and park my bike just by the door let them give me another ticket. But while traveling, I remembered Gandhi's words: “In so far as possible, I try to agree with my opponent.

So I decided on another strategy to confront Lawson's prohibition of bicycles in its business district. Even though the law is unwise and maybe illegal, I will obey it. So I am asking all of my bicycle-riding friends to ride with me this Saturday, October 2 to Lawson for breakfast at Catrick's. I will call ahead to tell them we are coming, as they said we should. We will park our bikes in the lot where they said we should. Everyone will walk to Catrick's. Except me! A friend will drive my scooter to Lawson. I will ride my scooter from the parking lot to Catrick's. I will park my scooter where I always parked my bike. When breakfast is over, I will ride my scooter back to my bike. Get on my bike and ride back to Liberty.

The other four small town cafes we regularly visit for breakfast let us park our bikes just outside the door

Join me for a ride to Lawson this Saturday. We leave from Biscari Brothers Bicycles [884 S 291 Hwy, Liberty, MO] at 7:30 AM. We will do everything just as we were told. Catrick's is a great place. Kathy and Rick have always been super nice to us. They want us to come.

permanent link to article: "4 OCT 2004 [EXPIRED, successful]: "Ghandian" protest ride to Lawson; Court date Oct 4th, 2004"
posted by Brent Hugh at 9/28/2004 11:51:00 PM |comment on this article