Here are the notes from the meeting with the Portland Police that happened of
April 14, 2005. Please note that I ( Jasun Wurster ) took. This is the 'gist'
of what was talked about. I will provide my 'take' or and feelings in a
seperate post.

- Introductions: CM ( Alex, Elle and Jasun ); Police Chief's office ( Chief
Foxworth and Bill ); Traffic Division ( Head of the Motor Cycle officers Vince
and his boss Bill ); Charlie from the Mayors office; Mark Ginsberg ( Attorney
aka. CM in a suit )

- Future Meeting times. Meetings will happen every month and will most likely
be in the morning

-  CM informed the group about our plans to represent via a monthly rotation
of CM riders

- CM expresses how well the ride was. Police also agreed.

- All would like to see the mass less spread out. We do not know how to do
that but we are working on some ideas such as:

1) Communicating with the police during the ride. Things like the CM riders in
the front communicating with the officers in the front that the mass feels
list turning in a few blocks so that they can radio this direction change to
the other officers. The police stressed that this is in no way them
controlling the mass, simply that it helps the other officers in the mass to
know where the mass is turning.

2) The officers in the back of the mass radioing to the officers in the front
of the mass relaying that some of the CM in the back are requesting that the
front slow down. Again it was expressed that this is not the Police trying to
contoll the mass, they are relaying infromation from other riders to the
riders in the front of the mass.

3) How many lanes can CM take up ... this is an issue that needs some legal
review.

4) Corking ... this is viewed as illegal and should not be performed since CM
does not have a permit. Though it is something that is being reviewed and is
understood why CM employes this to keep the mass together and for saftey.

NOTE: At this point the Police do not condone taking up all the traffic lanes
and corking. Ticketing will most likely happen if they see this happening on
future rides. We are working with the Police to set expectations.

- How do deal with antagonistic individuals of CM. Here is the deal, if you
are an asshole ... you will get a ticket. However, this will *most* likely
happen after a verbal warning. The officers are riding with CM to enforce the
safety of all.

In other words ... do not think the just because the Police are riding and
interacting with CM, the they will turn a blind eye to those constantly
breaking the law. You will get a ticket if you continually break the law.

- How to deal with a larger mass. CM informed the officers that the the mass
rides are going to get larger. All agree that we need to work out a way to
facilitate the larger rides.

- CM stresses that CM is a group of individuals and asked the Police to keep
that in mind for antagonistic riders.

- Suggestion from the Police for CM to distribute information on how to ride
responsibly... especially when in CM.

In other words: how you ride in CM on the last Friday of every month will most
likely a little different than on how you *most* likely every other day of the
week. We are working with the Police to see what is acceptable when CM is
happening. Breaking or bending the law for CM is not going to happen.

Again, corking will not happen anytime soon since it breaks the law. We are
working on other ways to keep the mass together for it is beneficial to both
the Police and CM.

- “Caution as we proceed without optimism”. All are concerned on what will
happen when tickets are issued. For sometime down the road they will,
especially to the more antagonistic riders that repeatedly or blaintly
disregard safety. The officers and CM both agreed that these are individuals
and should be treated as such without any negative connotation toward CM as a
whole.

- The Chief informed that Officers will pass out fliers for each ride and
continue doing outreach. 'Outreach' is what the the officers that are talking
with the group prior to the ride. The reason the officers are doing this is to
talk to the riders and to get a 'feel' for the mass.

In other words: The officers are trying to gauge the overall riders in the
mass. If people are friendly and talking to the officers they will report
this. If people are avoiding the officers and being subversive they will
report this. What the officers observe and experience prior to the ride will
dictate what the report and how the ride will start.

- For the short term Officers will be on perdomiantly on bicycle with a few
motorcycle Officers. CM and the Police agree that it would be effective for
the motorcycle officers to interact with the mass prior to and during the ride
like the bicycle officers.

- The police stress that the Motorcycle Officers are the same as the Bicycle
Officers. Granted their safety gear such as motor cycle helmets can be
intimidating ... but there is a person enforcing the law wearing the helmet.

- Motorcycle officers will be called for when the bicycle officers feel that
they are required.

In other words: if something happens in which a motorized officer is required
... they will be raidowed for.

- Possible cutoff time for the ride. It is very helpful for the officers to
know when CM is over. Having a ending point allows the officers to delienate
when CM has ended.

- Police expressed that other agencies may want to get involved with CM. This
includes ODOT and the Office of Neighborhoods? The reason is that they have
good information to give bicycest as well.

- CM is requesting the past history of tickets and arrest so that we can
benchmark and compare future rides with the past.

- Motorcycle Officers will be used in future rides, as the mass grows.
Liteunent Vince expressed that the Officers on motercycles are specially
trained and the most daily experience with traffic laws. He asked that CM
change their perspective of the Officer on a Motercycle. To this end he will
personally be riding next month on a motercycle and will be talking to the
mass prior to the ride.

- Officer Vince's boss Commander Bill stated that the ultimate goal of the
Police it to have a CM in which police are not involved ... at all. For if the
mass follows the law as a group of individuals going for a bike ride then his
traffic officers can reallocated to other places in which they are needed.

- End of meeting.

by Jasun Wurster from pdxcriticalmass.lists.riseup.net