Potomac Pedalers Back Roads Century

[Chriscom]

The Back Roads is my favorite local event and I always considered it first-class. This is the third year I’ve signed up for it. We always get these messages and it does sort of vaguely feel like their tone becomes more harsh each time, so I assume it’s getting harder to arrange. In contrast to the message, my experience of the event itself is one that is friendly, very well-supported and in general very nicely low-key considering all the work and logistics involved. I have seen police cruisers but — this is just me — I’ve only seen them stationed at dangerous crossings. Some of the most beautiful rolling hills I’ve ever ridden are in the Back Roads.

One reason I bike it is that I assume it won’t always be there, and I consider this latest note a flare in that direction. Remember Bike DC, anyone?

[sjclaeys]

@consularrider 94089 wrote:

It’s that time of year again and PPTC has sent around their annual annoying reminder that all of us scofflaws can’t be trusted as well as giving incorrect legal and dangerous riding advice. I just about ready to just write off my registration fee and find someplace friendlier to ride that day. I will also not be renewing my PPTC membership (and I have been the leader in their annual Order of the Cast Iron Crotch for three of the last four years – but won’t submit my entry this year). Basta ya! 😡

I completely agree. While littering and public urination should not be condoned, I’ve experienced aggressive drivers during past Back Roads Centuries, let PPTC know about it, and have gotten no response.

[sjclaeys]

@rcannon100 94109 wrote:

The PP listserv is lit up about this as well. If it is the same letter ~ is was posted to the listerv. I must say, I agree with Chris, I would never ever ride on a ride that had that type of tone – and colludes with law enforcement to incorrectly state the law. If they are having those type of problems, they need to organizationally address them. But telling their membership that they have basically agreed with law enforcement that cyclists can be tossed in jail……

I’m a PPTC member but don’t see the listserv on their website.

[KS1G]

The list serve is on google groups (look for “pedalers”) and is unofficial (PPTC does not formally sponsor it).

My take is local law enforcement is responding to their perception of safety concerns and more likely, some vocal comments from folks who don’t want to see any bikes on “their” roads, ever. Let alone 2,100 for one day. So the county sheriff says he’ll doe something about it, PPTC doesn’t want to see the ride canceled, upshot is the “yall be careful out there (and you’re now warned of the chance of zealous enforcement)” email. I don’t think they had a choice in the matter.

I’ve ridden Backroads several times and it is my favorite in this region. One thing I’ve noted in past years is most of the locals and police seem to be OK if not openly friendly for us being there for the day. It is beautiful riding and very low vehicle traffic. In contrast, Civil War and Reston centuries have to deal with less welcoming communities, particularly Reston in western Loudon and Leesburg. Seagull seems to be an exception – the area gets a lot of business from 7,000 riders + their friends/families on what is otherwise an out of season weekend, and they welcome it.

[Geoff]

@jabberwocky 94140 wrote:

There is no legal requirement for a cyclist to carry ID.

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. But I believe that the cops cannot give you a ticket if you don’t have ID, because they can’t be certain who they are giving the ticket to. So they would jail you instead of giving you a ticket.

[sethpo]

@KS1G 94198 wrote:

I’ve ridden Backroads several times and it is my favorite in this region. One thing I’ve noted in past years is most of the locals and police seem to be OK if not openly friendly for us being there for the day. It is beautiful riding and very low vehicle traffic. In contrast, Civil War and Reston centuries have to deal with less welcoming communities, particularly Reston in western Loudon and Leesburg. Seagull seems to be an exception – the area gets a lot of business from 7,000 riders + their friends/families on what is otherwise an out of season weekend, and they welcome it.

Reports like this are why I’m still considering giving it a try.

And FWIW, the Civil War Century had no issues I saw. In fact, there were a few great interactions with locals providing water along the route. Several people had put water and/or ice in their yards with signs instructing cyclists to help themselves. I also stopped at a yard sale and got some water and had a friendly chat with the folks who were curious about the event. #evidencebyanecdote

[jrenaut]

@Geoff 94205 wrote:

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. But I believe that the cops cannot give you a ticket if you don’t have ID, because they can’t be certain who they are giving the ticket to. So they would jail you instead of giving you a ticket.

I’m not a lawyer either, but my understanding is that you must provide name and address when they ask, but you are never required to have ID. You have to have a drivers license when you’re driving, but that’s not entirely for identification, it’s for proving you’re legally able to operate the car. That it happens to be the primary form of ID is really a reflection of how much of our lives revolve around cars.

[jabberwocky]

@Geoff 94205 wrote:

I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. But I believe that the cops cannot give you a ticket if you don’t have ID, because they can’t be certain who they are giving the ticket to. So they would jail you instead of giving you a ticket.

What jrenaut said. You can be required to identify yourself (and they can keep you there until they verify your identity) if they catch you doing something against the law, but you don’t actually need to carry an identification card with you.

See:
http://www.knowmyrights.org/knowledgebase/faq/police-encounters/when-do-i-have-to-show-id

[Raymo853]

@jabberwocky 94140 wrote:

There is no legal requirement for a cyclist to carry ID.

That still does not mean a sheriff or police officer may not consider you a vagrant and take you into custody. Yes you would be vindicated via the legal system, but it might cost you a lot of money.

[Rockford10]

I am a lawyer and I play one on tv. I think I know the answer and it’s about what jabberwocky says. All that aside, seriously, if anyone gets arrested or ticketed for causing a car to pass them in the other lane, I will represent you pro-bono. Don’t call me if it’s for public urination or littering though.

[Raymo853]

@sethpo 94112 wrote:

I regularly ride with a PPTC group out of Wootton High School and have the complete opposite experience. The people have been great and super helpful. I suspect that each PPTC ride has a unique culture which isn’t a surprise given the diffused and diverse structure.

I did three or so B/BB rides with PPTC that year and all were similar, when I tired A and C rides, they were much better. I am hopeful things have gotten better. There was a lot of talk in the org about the insane pace on B/BB rides. On one A ride I did, most agreed the A rides were easier than B’s while be tougher, if that makes sense. They pace overall was faster, the competitiveness at times was way more intense and race like but the A’s lacked that whole attack at evey moment BS that plagues so many group rides.

[rcannon100]

* Judge rules unconstitutional NYC Transit’s law requiring straphangers to carry ID
* When do I have to show ID? there is no law requiring citizens to carry identification of any kind.
* Kolender v. Lawson Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352 (1983), is a United States Supreme Court case concerning the constitutionality of laws that allow police to demand that “loiterers” and “wanderers” provide identification. Using the construction of the California appellate court in Solomon, the Court held that the law was unconstitutionally vague because it gave excessive discretion to the police (in the absence of probable cause to arrest) whether to stop and interrogate a suspect or leave him alone.[3] The Court hinted that the California statute compromised the constitutional right to freedom of movement.
* NYCLU Victory Preserves Right to Walk Around Without ID, Take Photos on NYC Subway A federal judge has ruled that a New York City Transit Authority rule requiring people using the city’s transit system to carry ID is unconstitutional.
* Am I Required to Carry an ID? Q: I’ve been told that the law requires everyone to carry some kind of legal ID. Is that true? If so, what kind of ID satisfies that requirement?

A: No, it’s not true. Neither Illinois nor U.S. law requires anyone to have an ID card, let alone carry one at all times. An ID can be required if you want to do certain things, like buy alcohol, but you’re never required to simply carry one with you.

[sethpo]

New plan:

1) Run stop sign (safely)
2) Not have ID
3) Get arrested by idiot sheriff
4) Sue sheriff for various civil rights violations
5) Use proceeds to pay for ticket and buy new bike

[Steve]

@Rockford10 94229 wrote:

Don’t call me if it’s for public urination

Oh c’mon!

[jrenaut]

@sethpo 94241 wrote:

New plan:

1) Run stop sign (safely)
2) Not have ID
3) Get arrested by idiot sheriff
4) Sue sheriff for various civil rights violations
5) Use proceeds to pay for ticket and buy new bike

Again, I am not a lawyer, but I would strongly advise you not to do this.

[Author]

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