As summer sets in, vacationers are driving out of the city in droves. Many cars sport bike racks for those weekend cyclists who enjoy pedaling down a deserted country lane. For those in the city who commute to work and those who work on two wheels, the past two weeks have been anything but relaxed.
The June 24 Critical Mass ride saw only a handful of police in Union Square, unlike previous rides when squads of helmeted police surrounded the park. As hundreds of cyclists congregated for a rally before the ride, Norman Siegel, a candidate for public advocate who also represents bicyclists in court, kissed a copy of the First Amendment to emphasize the concept of freedom of expression of bike riders.