The Shoot Out

March 13, 2008

Last night there was a meeting of the Tucson Bicycle Advisory committee (BAC) and I was more impressed
with what went on then some of the cyclists that were there.
I have been involved on and off in this area for a while and to hear the committee take such a positive stand
on trying to help figure out how to make everyone happy was impressive. The BAC is not normally
comprised of racing cyclists and the ShootOut is and they are of two different mind sets. This board
understands the importance of this ride and others like this to the community and the Sheriffs
representatives that were there were also very open on hearing ideas of how to get us to play together nicely.
I especially like the way Eric Post pointed out that we do not always get to see everything that goes on in the
Tour De France races, because cyclist do have to go.
If any of you have race USCF races before, we know what goes on there. And boy, you should see the starts
of the NYC Marathon. It is not a pretty sight.

I am putting in a few links here for you to see video's and news items on this incident and the meeting last
night.

The BAC will be having a Enforcement meeting and need you, the Shoot out riders to come and help.
Nothing can be done with out your participation.

Thank you, Alicia

http://www.ride-strong.com/shootout-bike-crash-caused-by-police-officer-what-was-he-thinking/

A nicely written Document from the Santa Cruz Valley Bicycle Advisory Committee

Links from Tucson Citizens newspapers

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/79232.php

A short segment of the video is available at www.tucsoncitizen.com, go to the "video" section on the right,
click on "bad bike behavior."

KOLD NEWS

http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=8008812

Here is Jennifer Wilson's comments on the meeting last night.

Here is a video story of what some of the riders are saying about what happened on the shootout with the
police car on March 1. The police come to the Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting on March 12 showing a
video of a few cyclists crossing the yellow line on the shootout ride. They took this video the week AFTER the
incident where ALOT of cyclists are claiming that the police car crossed the yellow line and headed straight
toward the pack that was going over 30 mph. The action by the policeman caused a big crash of a large
number of cyclists. The riders were lucky that none of them were hurt worse or even killed.

The timing of this video of the shootout made by the police was very convenient for the police department.
Please, pass this story onto as many people as you can so that the police department's attempt to defer the
incident that happened on March 1, will be relegated by people's voice. If people are made aware of what
alot of cyclists are saying, the police will be forced to investigate the incident.....fairly.

Jennifer

Here is Curtis's Description of March 1st and many other cyclists agree with this EXACTLY!
Erik,

My name is Curtis Gunn and I am a professional cyclist living here in Tucson full time. I was told to contact
you regarding an incident that occurred on the Shootout last Saturday.

Pima Co Sheriff Officer name - W J Walker (William I believe)

Drove his car with lights flashing fully into our lane of traffic heading towards the group of 50+ cyclists going
down Duval Mine Road. The cyclists were traveling at over 30 MPH. I was the second rider in the group and
at the time I and the person in front of me were traveling single file. I cannot say what the group was doing
behind me, but considering our rate of speed I doubt we were more than two abreast.

When I saw the car, I sat up and put my hand straight up in the air to get everyone to stop. Somewhere mid-
pack a wreck occurred involving 5-7 people. As far as I know, there was at least one completely broken
bike, and when I left the scene there was still one person on the ground (Pericles (sp?). Ambulance was
dispatched to the scene.

The officer had his window down. Before he had exited the car, Walter (don't know his last name) said to
the officer "you caused that wreck" and the officer's first words were "good".

Spoke to his Sergeant Scott Morgan on Saturday afternoon.

Was referred to Internal Affairs. Called IA on Monday afternoon. I have officially filed a complaint for his
inappropriate comment and the extremely dangerous manner in which he attempted to pull the group over.

I don't know if there is anything for you to be involved with here, but I was strongly urged to contact you and
relay the story.

Please feel free to call or email if there is anything I can do to be of assistance.

Curtis Gunn
Team Successful Living

And Josh Eakins
This is in reference to the March 1 incident with the Pima C. Sheriff's Deputy. I have sent an email to Mr
Pilger earlier in the week. I have also initiated an internal affairs investigation with the PCSO.

I was sort of present for the incident, I rolled up on the group just after it occurred. Actually, I have a separate
issue stacked on top of the other issue. I can explain this more if you are interested though it has no direct
consequence to the matter at hand.

I know that I have a side to be on, but the actions of the deputy were pre-meditated and malicious. I have
some supporting evidence based on the officer's
comments and the other issue that I had.

I will make all efforts to attend the Wednesday meeting on the 12th. I will also make efforts to have a
contingent of those who actually witnessed the event. It seems to me from what I am hearing that the
sheriff's dept is trying to cast all blame on the bicycles and not citing the officer for wrongdoing, which is the
matter in question.

I really think that the truth needs to be told by those who were there. The sheriff's dept is not telling the truth.
There were about 40 pairs of eyes that saw what happened. People did get injured and personal property
did get destroyed.

Thanks,
Josh Eakins
Team Rhino

And One More From: Garbe, Kurt
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 10:49 AM
Subject: complaint

This complaint is regarding an accident caused by an officer who was attempting to enforce a double-rider
rule for cyclists on a ride called the Shootout, which is held each Saturday morning. There have been some
complaints by motorists that the group is taking up too much of the road and it is difficult for motorists to get
around the group. As a side note, the roads in question are largely unpopulated as the real ride begins
south of Valencia on Mission Road. During a typical Saturday ride, there may be 10-12 cars that pass the
cyclists during the ‘racing’ portion of the ride.

This last Saturday, March 1st, an officer (Wilson or Walker - starts with a ”W” Badge # 817 or 819) was
driving south on S. Nogales Highway, north of Sahuarita Road, at approximately 8:30 am. A large group of
cyclists were traveling north at approximately 35 mph (a very aggressive pace). The group was two cyclists
wide at the front and as wide as four riders at the rear (there were approximately 100 cyclists in this group).
The officer approached from opposite side of the road, turned on his overhead flashers and pulled directly
in front of the oncoming cyclists. As there was no bike lane or even shoulder, the riders at the front had to
brake violently to avoid colliding with the police vehicle. This braking rippled through the group causing a
massive wreck. At least three cyclists were badly injured and required medical attention. The officer’s car
was the only vehicle in sight at the time of the accident. His actions directly caused the accident. He kept
saying, “You have to ride in a double-line,” as if this was some justification for his egregious actions.

While he was radioing for medical assistance, a semi with a trailer approached from the south. The road
was nearly blocked with cyclists on the pavement and off the side of the road. A cyclist passed the slowing
truck and demanded that it stop where the lone officer was. The cyclist complained that the driver of the
truck tried to kill him by running him off the road.   The officer conferred briefly with the driver before waving
him on. The officer responded to the cyclist that he must not ride more than two people wide. The cyclist
responded by yelling, “I WAS ALONE!” He had been dropped from the group.

This officer’s actions indicate a serious anti-cyclist attitude. Rather than protect and serve, he endangered
the lives of every cyclist in the group that day. There are professional cyclist that come to do ‘spring training’
in Tucson each winter. The Shootout is known across the nation as one of the most serious group rides. If
we had baseball gloves, would we be legitimized? The nonprofessional cyclists who participate are largely
a group of professionals: doctors, lawyers, who I am sure you will be hearing from, teachers and more.

ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE SHOOT OUT. This one with injuries and damaged property of the riders.
This happened March 1st, 2008.
See the news report:
http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=7959848&nav=menu86_2

I was able to join a meeting yesterday in Green Valley in which there was a Pima County Sheriffs
representative there. I, we, discussed the incident both admitting that we were not there but he is very sure
what the TV said was what happened, not the cyclists version. Of course, I stood behind the cyclist version
and tried to explain why we would not be in two lanes going down Duval Road, so that the officers’ version
had to be incorrect.
I tried to discuss what alternatives there could be to avoid this type of interaction and his view was that if we
are not 2 abreast we are violating the law. I tried to help him look at this as an event, not just cyclists
cruising down the road and that may be the way we have to go if the shoot out is to remain alive.
The BAC (Bicycle Advisory Committee of Tucson) has been discussing the Shoot Out for a while and are
asking for you (YES YOU) to come to their meeting next Wednesday night, 1. To discuss Saturday March 1st
and 2. To discuss the alternatives.
PLEASE GO, please show you care and want to figure things out. I, Alicia, have another meeting at 6pm but
will be there as soon as mine is over, probably around 7:30pm.

Tucson Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee March 12, 2008 6-8pm Call to audience at beginning of
meeting Held at Himmel Park Library Conference Room Located one block South of Speedway and one
block East of Tucson Blvd.

Please ride safe, let us keep our cool so that we can prove we are the level headed ones.

Now as many of you know we received this email in regards to the size of the Shoot Out and the riders, This
Letter was written by the Pima County Sheriffs Department.

February 1 200
Subject: Bicycle Complaint
Hello Mr. Pilger (a member of the Santa Cruz Valley, Bicycle Advisor Committee),
Today during the day shift there was a complaint involving a large group of bicyclists near
Mission Rd. & Helmet Peak Rd. The group was spread out in the entire southbound traffic
lane creating a traffic hazard. The group numbered roughly seventy-five riders. The
responding deputy caught up with the group at La Canada Rd. & Duval Mine Rd. and
attempted to speak to them. He reported that only about fifteen would stop and acknowledge
him. It was his intent to deliver a verbal warning and work with the group, however most of
them seemed uninterested in this approach.
I hope to speak to you further about this soon.
Thank you,
Nick Copelin, P.C.S.O. (Pima County Sheriffs Office)

02/03/08 1:57am
Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth on the shoot-out issue.

First, I must note 75 cyclists, 1 motorist maybe delayed 1 minute: gee it really tells you who
the system supports. This is not to say that there shouldn't be courtesy on the road, but it
does go both way, and I'll bet the driver then exceeded the speed limit to make up for lost
time. (I would think that even the most rudimentary analysis suggests that this really is such
a small issue that it is only those who are in a fight with a boss/spouse (or just pissed off that
we aren't paying $3.00+ per gallon to go down the road) would think that this is any more of
an inconvenience that say waiting for a traffic light to turn green--it just doesn't cost drivers
any real amount of time, and if it does, well there are lots of those in life. In short I just don't
see where the "foul" occurred to the driver, and many other road users (ie cyclists) are
benefiting.)

Second, the staggered starts will just mean 4, 5, 6 packs for the irate to deal with, so how is
that going to help? Likewise the idea of a "fee" to pay for an escort sounds great, but the
administration of such will not be workable. It is a public road, so how does one stop prevent
people from jumping in along the way (as happens now with people who live S of the U). In
the end the person(s) who take on the responsibility of actually paying the escort will shell
out from their own pockets once and that will certainly be the end of it.

The "solution" has to come through a combined political and public out-reach approach. The
political approach has to involve direct contact and support to those who favor a progressive
cycling agenda in the count/state/country, and through the those supporter actions that
protect and promote our rights to the road.

In my experience with the SO, the main problem area is from 1 mile N of Valencia to the
reservation boundary (or the first cattle grid--Ozzie parlance). That is the only place where
there is significant traffic, a slow enough pace to not have really strung-out the group, and
no PAVED shoulder for the group to move on to. This suggests a structural solution, ie pave
the shoulder so so that the two groups (cycles and cars) can coexist.

To make the case put forth above, maybe we could have a spotter or 2 out for a couple of
weekend who counts road users to make the case that on Sat AM cyclists are the dominant
users of the road between say 6 am and 10 am. If we are the main user this should carry
significant weight in a democracy, providing for safe use by all should be a major goal of the
governmental (ie the peoples' collective institution) agencies responsible for transportation.

I just saw that in 2007 in Australia that the cycling milage (well actually "kilometerage" here)
increased by 200% over 2006. The gas price is shortly going to provide cyclist with a great
advantage in the political debate. We need set the stage to make use of that upcoming
advantage by courting the pols now.

The Shoot Out is one of the greatest constructs of the S Az cycling community. In my opinion
it is far greater than any other single cycling related activity in the community, and it would
be a tragic and debilitating lose. We must not let a few irate motorist (is that redundant?) or
a few uncontrolled cyclist destroy it.

Bob Ilchik
from Windhoek Namibia (which I hope tends to make my point about the significance of the
SO--it is important to people halfway around the globe!)

Dr. Robert Ilchik
Manager Project Generation
+612 8223 3777 (w)
+61 (0) 431 582 330 (m)

02/02/08 12:53PM
Hey I would be the lead on the Police and do the leg work and take the money and pay the
police etc. One only part would be the insurance. I would be willing to meet with the police
about this.
Greetings from Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona!
Happy Cycling!
Love and Peace always!
Edward "Nippy" Feldhake III

02/01/08 1:50PM
I totally agree with Nippy’s suggestion. The only problem I can see with that is the
administration of it. Who would be responsible for collecting the money and tracking it and
then paying it to whoever is providing the police support on a weekly basis? This is probably
the best idea going because the breaking into the different level of groups you suggested
would inevitably still have groups that take up the whole road instead of staying in dual pace
lines like the cops want. This way we are all in one group and easier to control.

Obviously this is something that is going to get solved overnight. It will probably have to
come about through negotiations with PAG, and the city and county cycling coordinators. DK

02/01/08 12:49AM
Idea, Have cyclist each kick in $ 3 and hire sheriff as escort for the shoot out. At 75 cyclist
that is a bunch of cash. ($225) Two officer one in front of the group and one in back as a
rolling closure with light on. The traffic would pull over and not say a word to the cops that
the cyclist are taking up the whole road. I would being retired do the paper work if I could
keep any small extra cash so that I could buy new tubes to replace my 8 patched ones.
Honest! I really believe it is worth asking the sheriff department. It is cash or overtime for the
officer that is not paid very well and an easy 3 hour job.   Please sign my whole name Nippy!
Edward "Nippy" Feldhake III

01/31/08 10:25am
HOLY SHITE! By DB

01/31/08 10:37 AM
Mr Copelin,
Above is your original email. I was present on that Saturday. As for your
officer, I could see no reason for him to be stopping the group.   We have
been told in the past about the laws and know them. When the group was pulled over there
were no infractions present. If you have a civil complaint then all you have is hearsay. I saw
a car speeding yesterday, I would like to make a complaint!
As for the officer, I though he was somewhat unprofessional. Standing beside his cruiser
screaming and waving fists. I wasn't sure if he was stopping us or wanted to try and beat
somebody up. I have never been approached/stopped about a traffic infraction in such a
manner. There was no apparent reason for the group to be stopped other than to be
screamed at by an angry man. The officer seemed like he needed a vaccation. JE

01/31/08 7:32 AM
I was on the shoot out last weekend and their was about 160 riders starting out on Mission.
36 went up Madera Canyon. NS

01/31/08 7:11 AM
Maybe have two groups one that can make it to the bridge and the others that can not. So if
you are building up to try to make it to the bridge you will just do the slower group until you
build up and then try the faster group. That would cut down on some of the problem but this
last week there were like 75 people that made it past the bridge... So I do not know what you
would do about that . JD

01/30/08 10:21 PM
I like your ideas about staggered starts and such, but they might be hard to
control/administrate.
My thought would be to involve the sherrif's dept and maybe tpd in some way...perhaps
arrange an escort as if the group were a slow-moving, oversized vehicle, ie, a mobile home
being moved on surface streets. A lead car and a tail car would do the trick...those who get
dropped fall out of the escort.
Participating riders would be charged a nominal fee to cover the escort($1-5)...a small price
to pay for safety and I think the public perception of the ride would change dramatically... MB

01/30/08 5:57PM
I tend to agree with the fact something needs to be done. How can we expect motorists to
share the road when we are being arogant assholes? We must learn to co-exist b/c if we
don't...the cyclists will be the biggest losers. YS

01/30/08 4:32PM
People better take this seriously or the Shootout could go away. I leave with the early group
and I forwarded this to Jose. The enforcement will have ramifications to all, and it appears to
me they are starting off very reasonably with their requests. Have thought about this before
given the growth in the south by Sahuarita and Green Valley, and the expanding popularity
of the SO. RH

The Shoot out

AS of 02/01/08

Here is a great website and pages for the Shoot Out
http://www.gstracing.com/blogListing.php