Being Opressed sucks.

That is sick and not right...

--
benjaug

"Wise men talk because the have something to say, fools talk because
they have to say something."
-- Plato
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I totally empathize with your situation, Owen. Sometimes they seem to
have nothing better to do.

You might try reversing the tactics... since they made you wait, simply
keep your cool, know the laws, and talk to them as long as they want to
stand there talking to you. After a time or two of them having to
justify standing in the park talking to a unicyclist for an hour,
they'll end up having to find someone else to pick on.

I know from your description that you have a lot of online
mental/verbal agility; enough to keep them talking for way over three
hours. By then they should be getting tired of the whole thing.

Your goal is *-not-* TO WIN. Your goal is for them to get tired of the
game and go away.

Good luck!

--
U-Turn

Weep in the dojo... laugh on the battlefield.
'LiveWire Unicycles' (http://www.livewireunicycles.com)
'Strongest Coker Wheel in the World'
(http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albup39)
'29er Tire Study' (http://u-turn.unicyclist.com/29erTireStudy/)
'New York Unicycle Club' (http://www.newyorkunicycle.com)
-- Dave Stockton
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I'd agree with you and sympathize, but THEY are in the right. if you
weren't doing anything against the rules they would not be able to
ticket you. Getting hostile or agressive with authority is not going to
help you or people's perception of unicycling.

When hassled by someone whose authority it is to monitor the area you
are riding the proper response is to be polite, agree with them and
move along.

Regardless of how rude you feel they are being to, YOU are in the wrong
by hassling them back.

Jumping up and down off picnic tables can be destructive to the
property and it is also an inusrance risk in the slim chance that you
might get injured. They have a responsibility to protect the public
interest. You riding on the picnic tables is not in the public's best
interest.

If you feel that the cops/security are not in the right, dont' hassle
them it'll only make your situation worse. Be polite, stop doing
whatever they are asking you not to, and take it up with their
superiors at a later time.

--
ThisGuyIKnow
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Man next time they start hassling you, you should start pretending you
don't speak english, then when they yell at you in french, pretend you
only speak english. Then once pretend to order a pizza from them. If
they survive that keep on feeding them more B.S. and basically keep on
saying stuff that has nothing to do with the subject, that way they
can't really do anything but waste their own time and yours, but at
least then you are in control!

Claiming to be the queen of france is another great way to get their
attention aswell.

--
ntappin
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I feel bad for you getting hassled, and sure believe they have better
things to do.. .but ThisGuyIKnow is right.. by throwing attitude right
back at them, you are only making it worse. You'll catch more flies
with honey than vinegar 😉

--
Racenut
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ThisGuyIKnow said:

I'd agree with you and sympathize, but THEY are in the right. if you
weren't doing anything against the rules they would not be able to
ticket you. Getting hostile or agressive with authority is not going to
help you or people's perception of unicycling.

When hassled by someone whose authority it is to monitor the area you
are riding the proper response is to be polite, agree with them and
move along.

Regardless of how rude you feel they are being to, YOU are in the wrong
by hassling them back.

Jumping up and down off picnic tables can be destructive to the
property and it is also an inusrance risk in the slim chance that you
might get injured. They have a responsibility to protect the public
interest. You riding on the picnic tables is not in the public's best
interest.

If you feel that the cops/security are not in the right, dont' hassle
them it'll only make your situation worse. Be polite, stop doing
whatever they are asking you not to, and take it up with their
superiors at a later time.

excuse me?

They are in the RIGHT?

Oh, so its tottaly right for law ENFORCERS to interpret the law as they
see fit? That's not their job. Leave that to the lawyers. Infact I did
and they have no basis on which to ticket me for "bicycling in a public
place". In the court ruling a unicycle was NOT considered a bicycle.

Furthermore, should I bring up that under that same law it is stated
that: "it is forbidden to circulate by bicycle, skateboard or in-line
skates in a public place except when such activity is performed in an
areau authorized by the town."?

Wait, hold on a second...? Only places authorised huh? Where would that
be? Last time I checked we didn't have a bike-path... you know, that
sounds suspiciously as though laws tell us what we CAN do rather than
what we CAN'T.

The rest of the town's by-laws make me sick.

here's an example: "it is forbidden to play frizbee or practise hockey,
baseball, soccer softball, golf or any other ball sport except when
such activity is perdormed in a location authorised by the town"

From reading all these seemingly inoffensive by-laws I get the
impression that they've pretty much got their bases covered and in
theory could sick pretty much anyone they want.

I really don't see how ANY of this is right.

I'm in the wrong for hassling them back? Brother, you can go on nodding
and saying "yessir" when people walk all over you but damn, this is
Canada, I thought we had freedom of expression. Seriously, I don't you
understand the situation, unicycling is WHAT I DO. Taking that away
from me is the same as killing one of my friends.

Oh, just re-read your post. You're arguing that jumping up and down
picnic tables can damage the public property. Granted, it could.

but I don't have much of a choice now do I? Until they show me a place
where I can practise (ie NOT the skatepark... cause I'm NOT considered
a bike there) I have no other options.

--
Murde Mental

"You make love demon style." ~Kristine

Oh here's to my sweet Satan. The one who's little path would make me
sad, whose power is Satan. He'll give those with him 666. There was a
little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan
*-666-UNICYCLE FOR THE ANTI-CHRIST-666-*
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sure jumping up and down on picnic tables on a unicycle will damage it.
but so will sitting on it, little kids playing on it, teenagers
vandalising it, the list goes on and on and on. i think owen was right
in what he did. the key thing to do with the authorities is act like
the biggest smart-[censored]. it really gets them going, if you're lucky they
might even hit you, in which case you can sue and you'll get loads, and
no other cop would ever do you in for unicycling.

--
iridemymuni

The past is in your head, the future's in our hands

~~hold bananas for christ~~
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It all comes down to technicals. if a unicycle is not a bycicle in the
laws eyes, then it depends on what the actual law says. if it says
something like, "It is forbbiden to circulate a bycicle, skateboard,
ect., or a device with wheel(s) to propel oneself, in a public place
except when such activity is preformed in an area authorized by the
town." then you were in the wrong. being polite will get better results
though. When she asks what your doing, you reply riding, she says
that's not allowed in a public park, you say well, it only says
bicycles, skateboards and inlines aren't allowed (if that's the case).
if there's no classification that unicycle fits under that isn't
allowed to ride in the park, then you have every right to be there. If
it says something like the above, then you should say, "sorry I didn't
know" and go away peacfully. unless you know that you're breaking the
law and don't care.

--
rabbithunter018

Never underestimate stupid people in large groups

It is always better to keep your mouth shut and have people question
your intelligence, than to say something stupid and leave them in no
doubt.
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i once got pulled over by a cop on a moterbike cause i was riding
without a helmet, first up he threatened to give me a 75$ fine for
riding on the footpath without a helmet, and a further $45 for crossing
the rode on a unicycle without a helmet. he asked if there was a reason
i didnt have one on. (i then thought to my self, is there an answer i
can give to that question which will reduce the likelyhood of me
getting a fine?). we then ascertained that it is not a bicycle, but in
fact comes under the wheeled recreational vehicle act, i asked him
where i can find and read a copy of this act so i could properly
understand it for the future, he wouldnt tell me. then he rode off.
[censored].

EDIT: oh yeah, a nomral unicycle isnt a bicycle, however a giraffe or
any other unicycle in which power is converted to the wheel via a chain
is a bicycle, how freaking stupid is that.

--
iridemymuni

The past is in your head, the future's in our hands

~~hold bananas for christ~~
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Damn I was just looking up the laws in Ottawa concerning unicycles and
whether or not they refer to unicycles. They do!?!?

“bicycle” includes a tricycle and unicycle but does not
include a motor assisted bicycle; (“bicyclette”)

http://tinyurl.com/1fn

I found it there. I think that it might actualy be a Canadian law, not
just an Ottawa thing.

Later in the same article I found this

“bicycle” has its ordinary meaning and does not include a
unicycle or tricycle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 64 (4).

another one,

Motor assisted bicycles, bicycles and tricycles, lights on, etc.

(17) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before
sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due
to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons
and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance
of 150 metres or less, every motor assisted bicycle, bicycle or
tricycle shall carry on the front thereof a lighted lamp displaying a
white or amber light and on the rear thereof a lighted lamp displaying
a red light or a reflector approved by the Ministry, and in addition
there shall be placed on the front forks thereof white reflective
material, and on the rear thereof red reflective material covering a
surface of not less than 250 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres
in width. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (17).

notice they said tricycle but didn't say unicycle meaning that unicycle
isn't included!

--
ntappin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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I've been through the whole "Is it a bicycle?" debate last time around.
That's why I was perticularly fiesty today.

The court ruled that it was NOT a bicycle... more of a recreational
device than a proper mode of transport.

So that's what I mean by "being harrassed". They're not in their rights
to keep stopping me like this.

Oh, and the first time around, trust me, I did my research. I have a
copy of the by-laws next to me, I asked if they could provide me with a
location where I could safely practise my sport (they still haven't
even though I always ask this before they go on to tell me that I can't
"do this here".)

I honestly think that this isn't simply about the unicycling anymore. I
am disgusted at the overregulation of our town and at the way that
teenagers are specifically targeted by the town's private security
system so as to keep the rich and bigotting old "bourgeois class"
happy.

Take for example the "welcome school" that is to say, a school with a
special program for the integration of immigrant teens to our Canadian
society.

These kids get off for lunch at 12:00 sharp... just as two security
vans make their rounds in that sector.

They finish school at 3:15. Again with the security vans. One infront
of the school, and one near the bus-stop.

Thank God I'm not black... they'd be all over my a** then.

Basically, these guys are paid to smite anything out of the ordinary.

Oddly enough I rarely see them do anything about the obvious drug
problems in the town's resident teenagers. Nothing major, but you
catch'em rolling in parks often enough so that you'd think you'd see
them get busted every once and awhile... but naaaaah, they're just
security right? They leave that stuff to the big leaguers.

I forgot where I was going with this so I'll cut it short.

Short-cut.

--
Murde Mental

"You make love demon style." ~Kristine

Oh here's to my sweet Satan. The one who's little path would make me
sad, whose power is Satan. He'll give those with him 666. There was a
little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan
*-666-UNICYCLE FOR THE ANTI-CHRIST-666-*
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ntappin said:

Damn I was just looking up the laws in Ottawa concerning unicycles and
whether or not they refer to unicycles. They do!?!?

“bicycle” includes a tricycle and unicycle but does not
include a motor assisted bicycle; (“bicyclette”)

http://tinyurl.com/1fn

I found it there. I think that it might actualy be a Canadian law, not
just an Ottawa thing.

Later in the same article I found this

“bicycle” has its ordinary meaning and does not include a
unicycle or tricycle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 64 (4).

another one,

Motor assisted bicycles, bicycles and tricycles, lights on, etc.

(17) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before
sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due
to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons
and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance
of 150 metres or less, every motor assisted bicycle, bicycle or
tricycle shall carry on the front thereof a lighted lamp displaying a
white or amber light and on the rear thereof a lighted lamp displaying
a red light or a reflector approved by the Ministry, and in addition
there shall be placed on the front forks thereof white reflective
material, and on the rear thereof red reflective material covering a
surface of not less than 250 millimetres in length and 25 millimetres
in width. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 62 (17).

notice they said tricycle but didn't say unicycle meaning that unicycle
isn't included!

do you really want to ride your unicycle down the highway in the dark
without reflectors or lights on?

--
iridemymuni

The past is in your head, the future's in our hands

~~hold bananas for christ~~
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ThisGuyIKnow said:

I'd agree with you and sympathize, but THEY are in the right. if you
weren't doing anything against the rules they would not be able to
ticket you.

That's hogwash. Cops will ticket you for whatever they feel like
ticketing you for. Most of them have little idea of what the laws are
for bicycles, let alone unicycles, and I have tried quoting the vehicle
code to them, and they really don't like that.

--
tholub
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Yeah what I was getting my stuff from was from the Ontario act which of
course means that it doesn't apply to you.

Montreal sounds more messed up than I thought. I am really surprised to
hear about these welcome schools, isn't that basically the same idea as
the schools they forced the natives into so that they could force them
to be just like the white people. I'm all for ESL programs and
integrating new immigrants into our society, but by putting them into a
seperate school is just absurd and there are alot of wonderful people
(including my girlfriend) I would have never met if they had gone to
these kinds of schools. Plus in my experience with immigrant teenagers
I find that they are much more law abiding than locals. Most are used
to much more serious laws on things such as drugs or violence aswell as
much more vicious police forces so even if they were to do something
illegal, they wouldn't be dumb enough to get caught for it. Sounds to
me like a mismanagement of funds on your local higher ups fault. The
security (or is it actual by law officers) is clearly being told to be
there, when really they should be after the locals (probably the local
higher ups kids in my experience)

So are these "security officers" a private company? Are they actual
By-law officers? What are their limits to what they can do?

--
ntappin
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iridemymuni said:

do you really want to ride your unicycle down the highway in the dark
without reflectors or lights on?

Highway refers to any road, an express way is a real highway. I was
confused aswell but they explained this to us at drivers ed last week.

--
ntappin
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Fake a really bad UPD, then get all mad and act like your gonna sue
them, then be like you should have told me not to do this here.

--
sobriquet

- last edited by sobriquet : yesterday at 11:51 pm.-
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ntappin said:

Yeah what I was getting my stuff from was from the Ontario act which of
course means that it doesn't apply to you.

Montreal sounds more messed up than I thought. I am really surprised to
hear about these welcome schools, isn't that basically the same idea as
the schools they forced the natives into so that they could force them
to be just like the white people. I'm all for ESL programs and
integrating new immigrants into our society, but by putting them into a
seperate school is just absurd and there are alot of wonderful people
(including my girlfriend) I would have never met if they had gone to
these kinds of schools. Plus in my experience with immigrant teenagers
I find that they are much more law abiding than locals. Most are used
to much more serious laws on things such as drugs or violence aswell as
much more vicious police forces so even if they were to do something
illegal, they wouldn't be dumb enough to get caught for it. Sounds to
me like a mismanagement of funds on your local higher ups fault. The
security (or is it actual by law officers) is clearly being told to be
there, when really they should be after the locals (probably the local
higher ups kids in my experience)

So are these "security officers" a private company? Are they actual
By-law officers? What are their limits to what they can do?

Well the welcome schools aren't restricted or limited to taking in
recent immigrants but there's usually more of them because of the
emphasis on aquiring language skills which mind you... is not a bad
thing.

Then again, that perticular school is notorious for being involved in
gangs... nothing extremely serious, just your usual "gangster hip-hop
highschool gangs".

--
Murde Mental

"You make love demon style." ~Kristine

Oh here's to my sweet Satan. The one who's little path would make me
sad, whose power is Satan. He'll give those with him 666. There was a
little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan
*-666-UNICYCLE FOR THE ANTI-CHRIST-666-*
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what I hate is how they arnt consistant like how a uni is a bike when Im
not wearing a helmut but it isnt a when Im riding along a road

--
dan de man

tomtrevor said:

how the hell do u get fluro brown??? it would also probably look like
uve dunked the uni in a big pile of [censored]

iridemymuni said:

What colour [censored] do you do tom ? flouro brown [censored]? thats kinda weird

tomtrevor said:

y do u want to know the colour of my [censored]? like that just isn't natural
for someone to think that.

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that has to suck. It is the same way where I live except i know cops so
it helps. one of my friends got her skate board took and got a ticket
for walking down town holding her skate board. cops never do their job
all they want to do is to give you a ticket

--
lucky_8

unicycle for christ
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