Venice Beach Ticket

General
1

I got a ticket today in Venice Beach riding my coker in a “no bike area”.
The cop was a total jerk and said if I dont accept this ticket he would
think up something else to cite me on and take me to jail …
Arrrrrghh!!!

S 102. Bicycle. Every two or three wheeled device upon which a person or
persons may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, a chain or
gears, with such wheels in a tandem or tricycle, except that it shall not
include such a device having solid tires and intended for use only on a
sidewalk by pre-teenage children.

-Chris

2

> I got a ticket today in Venice Beach riding my Coker in a "no bike
> area". The cop was a total jerk and said if I dont accept this ticket he
> would think up something else to cite me on and take me to jail …
> Arrrrrghh!!!

The International Unicycling Federation and Unicycling Society of America
do not have official policy statements on this subject, but I have one to
recommend.

It starts with taking the spirit of the law to heart. If a place doesn’t
want bicycles (or skateboards, inline skates, etc.) passing through, it is
usually because of a perceived safety risk of fast-moving people on wheels
amongst slow-moving pedestrians. On a Coker, or even a 20" wheel, you are
among the fast-moving group.

I have always recommended that when in doubt, follow the rules for
bicycles where you are. This does not mean you must have a white rear
fender with light on it, etc., but it does mean to ride only where
bicycles are allowed. This will make the job of the annoying cop or
security guard more difficult, as they will need something else legitimate
to cite you for, if anything.

Venice Beach is a very cool place, where I’ve had fun showing off on my
unicycle among the skaters. There are plenty of legal places to ride.
Also, there are tons of tourists and other pedestrians around, so safety
has to be a concern for the authorities there.

You can of course let a judge decide on your ticket. Depending on how one
interprets the law, the fact that your cycle has no belt, chain, or gears
can be said to exclude standard unicycles. Or the judge can go with the
spirit of the law, and group unicycles with bicycles. This is where I
think they should be for most intents and purposes anyway.

Good luck, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone jfoss@unicycling.com
www.unicycling.com

“Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night” –
good advice

3

I was thrown out of the University Botanical gardens for Muni-ing on the
grounds. Someone complained and one of the care takers came up to me and
said “No bicycles are allowed. And no unicycles either.” She was pretty
fun about it and I just left. I agree with John on this, but I do think a
ticket is a bit harsh. On the other hand, it it actually mentions that you
were unicycling, I would frame it! jd

-----Original Message----- From: John Foss [mailto:john_foss@asinet.com]
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 9:04 AM To: ‘Chris Carey’;
‘unicycling@winternet.com’ Subject: RE: Venice Beach Ticket

> I got a ticket today in Venice Beach riding my Coker in a "no bike
> area". The cop was a total jerk and said if I dont accept this ticket he
> would think up something else to cite me on and take me to jail …
> Arrrrrghh!!!

The International Unicycling Federation and Unicycling Society of America
do not have official policy statements on this subject, but I have one to
recommend.

It starts with taking the spirit of the law to heart. If a place doesn’t
want bicycles (or skateboards, inline skates, etc.) passing through, it is
usually because of a perceived safety risk of fast-moving people on wheels
amongst slow-moving pedestrians. On a Coker, or even a 20" wheel, you are
among the fast-moving group.

I have always recommended that when in doubt, follow the rules for
bicycles where you are. This does not mean you must have a white rear
fender with light on it, etc., but it does mean to ride only where
bicycles are allowed. This will make the job of the annoying cop or
security guard more difficult, as they will need something else legitimate
to cite you for, if anything.

Venice Beach is a very cool place, where I’ve had fun showing off on my
unicycle among the skaters. There are plenty of legal places to ride.
Also, there are tons of tourists and other pedestrians around, so safety
has to be a concern for the authorities there.

You can of course let a judge decide on your ticket. Depending on how one
interprets the law, the fact that your cycle has no belt, chain, or gears
can be said to exclude standard unicycles. Or the judge can go with the
spirit of the law, and group unicycles with bicycles. This is where I
think they should be for most intents and purposes anyway.

Good luck, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone jfoss@unicycling.com
www.unicycling.com

“Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night” –
good advice

4

Vaguely apropos of this (and perhaps the day, July 4th), I recently put a
bumper sticker on my car that reads “I Unicycle, I Vote”. It is absurdly
red, white and blue and is something of my own attempt at a humorous
response to all the bumper stickers that read, “I Hunt, I Vote”, “I
Fish…”, etc.

It amuses me at least, although I am finding out, not many others.

Raphael Lasar Matawan, NJ

Chris Carey wrote:
>
> I got a ticket today in Venice Beach riding my coker in a "no bike
> area". The cop was a total jerk and said if I dont accept this ticket he
> would think up something else to cite me on and take me to jail …
> Arrrrrghh!!!

5

> Vaguely apropos of this (and perhaps the day, July 4th), I recently put
> a bumper sticker on my car that reads “I Unicycle, I Vote”. It is
> absurdly red, white and blue and is something of my own attempt at a
> humorous response to all the bumper stickers that read, "I Hunt, I
> Vote", “I Fish…”, etc.
>
> It amuses me at least, although I am finding out, not many others.

I think it’s great! But definitely an in-joke for us unicyclists.

Stay on top, John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone jfoss@unicycling.com
www.unicycling.com

“Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night” –
good advice

6

>“I Unicycle, I Vote”.

Cute!

<slightly off topic>

Ironically, “I <blank> and I vote” stickers (which I have seen!!!) make
one look particularly stoooopid here in Australia, because voting is
compulsory!

</slightly off topic