Obviously the bicyclist did everything humanly possible to get arrested. That said, it's surprising that the police think that the time-specific "do not enter" sign applies to bicyclists. I realize that bicyclists are legally obligated to follow all traffic signs. Still, the reason for the sign is to prevent truck and commuter vehicle traffic from going down residential streets to get from Washington to Broadway. Drivers have the option of using 28/McGrath Highway, which is a far less safe option for bicyclists than taking Tufts Street to Cross Street.

While the bicyclist should have stopped when asked, it seems like the intention of the time-based do not enter signs are to prevent cut-through car traffic at rush hours, not bike traffic. The Somerville Bicycle Committee actually just discussed this issue earlier this month, and will be asking the City to add "Except Bicycles" signage to these signs.

I am not for expansion of police powers, but enforcing the traffic laws for cyclists means enforcing ALL traffic laws for ALL cyclists. You don't like the traffic rule? Work to get it changed for cycles... don't just ignore it.

Blowing off a lights-flashing, siren-on traffic stop on a bicycle is just as much of a red flag to police as someone doing the same in a car, and generally it's their job to assume the worst. If you lead the cops on a wild goose chase, creating hazardous situations for other people, without the cops knowing your motivation for trying so hard to avoid interacting with them, you're going to get arrested.

I know a *lot* of responsible fellow cyclists out there, but there are also lots of d-bags who think that because they're on bicycles, that they can just do whatever they want, and anything that goes wrong is always someone else's fault.

I don't mind seeing an example set.

I have removed a comment from this article due to use of salty language. The gist of the comment was that if the bicyclist had caused an accident police would have a right to arrest the rider, but in this case the police made the arrest because they had nothing better to do. The comment used the F-bomb, so I deleted it.

Yeah it's not so much that I think that I can get away with whatever I want so much as I believe that I shouldn't have to answer to a bunch of policecops who want to suddenly equate cyclists with motor vehicles. I've been riding a bike since I moved here ten years ago and I've never seen this kind of overreach as far as bike laws. I suppose it's a good way to get some money and keep people in line, but I wasn't having it and I don't see how the cops saw my entering of that intersection as some equitable traffic violation. I deserved to be arrested, sure, but maybe if they actually used their brains and said "hey, this probably should only apply to motorists". I just see this as Draconian and petty on their part. I'd love to see half of you cross the traffic @ Washington + Tufts. It's four lanes of impatient commuters and rarely do motorists ever let me through, even when I'm stalling in the middle of the crosswalk. OR better yet, try going up along McGrath, cos motorists would just looooove that right? -Ryoji Uyehara

Also, when they caught up with me they called me an a-hole, they forgot to include that in the report.

Police tell you to stop...you stop...it's really as simple as that...case closed!

The cyclist movement in the 70s and 80s fought for (and won) the right to be treated as equals to motorists. Cyclists wanted to be able to ride on the street, but agreed to obeye all rules of the road as motorists do. A "Do Not Enter" sign, therefore, means the same whether you're driving a car or riding a 10-speed.

This article is sure to create a large debate about who is the bigger nuisance on the road, but at the end of the day, if you want to use the road, then you have to obey the signage.
I can't see how this cyclist seems to think he's above the law. On Friday morning in Cambridge I was coming down a one way street with a cyclist coming against me....not so bad, but it's a tight street (Warren) AND he had his toddler on the back of the bike.

I don't even understand why there is a part-time Do Not Enter sign on that part of (normally two-way) Tufts Street. It is not especially close to the Capuano School.

Hi Ron

I can't answer that question, but I remember when the sign was placed on Myrtle Street (a one-way which is also not especially close to the school) two years ago because residents complained about speeding motorists and trucks using it as a cut-through. There had been a neighborhood petition arguing that a street between Myrtle and Washington should be made one-way in the opposite direction, and instead the city put the time-specific do not enter sign with periodic police enforcement.

The primary reason for the rush hour Do Not Enter sign is to reduce motor vehicle cut-through traffic. Most people would think bicycles were not the reason the signs were put up. A little common sense would say that there was absolutely no reason for the police to enforce the sign against a bicyclist. However, since the police don't seem to be using any common sense in their enforcement, the town will now have to spend a bunch of money to put "except bicycles" signs under all the rush hour restriction signs. How about concentrating your enforcement efforts on violations that actually affect quality of life and safety?

its about time something is done about the way the these bicycles are flying around and not obeying any of the the laws that are enforced on motor vehicles. I have alone had my car damaged by two diffierent bicyclists. If another motor vehicle hit my car they would stop and we would exhcange papers but the bicyclists just keeps going.

I dont like the police trying to enforce too many laws on cyclists, but if they tell you to stop, you need to stop... If they tell you you cant go up a street, you cant go up that street. How do you know their reasoning before hand? There may be something going on that you dont even realize.
That said, bicycles are not cars, they need separate rules and guidelines for safety. Following all the traffic rules as they apply to cars doesnt always make sense for bicycles. Some motor vehicle traffic rules work well for bicycles and some dont, and the biggest problems aren't even addressed.

I've had some run-ins with the police, and every time, the police lied and exaggerated on the police reports. They also piled on lots of charges, whose plausibility ranged from "that might have happened", to "that's not even physically possible".

Those things make sense from their point of view: the police report is often the only evidence against a defendant, and there's no consequences for lying, so to ensure a conviction, the police make the reports as damning as possible. It's also easier to get charges dropped than added, so they fling as much as they can in the hopes that something will stick.

In light of this, and since we only have the police's side of the story, it's not clear that the cyclist even ran. He ignored a dumb law, committed a victimless "crime", and was unlucky or careless enough to do this in front of the cops. Slow news day?

I live on the one-way part of Willow Ave. between Elm and Highland. The bike riders ride the wrong way with impunity. It is a highly dangerous practice on a one-way street, and I would welcome some police surveillance on the street.

Ron Newman will be next! He is the champion wrong-way rider!

I've had run ins with citizens..and every time they lied or exaggerated..for every Dbag cop...out there there are 20 jerk citizens..you know the question authority...law doesn't apply..government assisted...clowns..all in a rush to a warren or Barry speech..keep up the good work somerville..ticket Every one of these nuisance riders..hammer them..the majority will be happy.

Creative Solution
1) Get off of your bicycle at the entrance to the street.
2) Walk past the sign legally as a pedestrian.
3) Get back on your bicycle and continue riding.

License,register and insure...funny how people change when money is involved