Around 70 bicycle activists were arrested last night while riding through downtown Los Angeles. The group, members of critical mass, were detained for over three hours on the corner of 18th and Flower, handcuffed packed into vans and taken to jail. Riot cops surrounded the activists, refusing to allow the press or the D2K legal team to speak to those detained. They pulled out their batons and even rubber pellet guns while police took pictures of the activists and the crowd. The Critical mass bike ride began at about 5:45 in the afternoon with nearly 250 riders. They were followed by police for 45 minutes before they were cornered and arrested. The police had no explanation as to what the cyclists were charged with. Bystanders and media were also taken into custody, including a journalist from the Independent Media Center. Bail for the cyclists has been set at $20,000 each.

We go now to a montage of the critical mass protest.

Tape:

• Sounds Of The Critical Mass Bicycle Protest.

Hours before bicycle activists were being arrested for protesting excessive car use, another group of public transportation advocates marched to Staples Center. The Bus Riders Union of Los Angeles is demanding that Gore implement a civil rights consent decree that would provide 1000 more buses to serve low-income residents of Los Angeles.

We now hear some of the sounds from that rally and march yesterday afternoon.

Tape:

• Sounds Of The Bus Riders Union Protest.

Guest:

• Eric Mann, a longtime labor and community activist and a key organizer of the Bus Rider’s Union of Los Angeles.