Nine Nine Nope
SLC Police arrest cyclist for stopping traffic during weekly 999 ride.
By Benjamin Wood @BjaminWood
A man was arrested Thursday night and cited with disorderly conduct after blocking drivers from entering an intersection filled with "hundreds" of cyclists participating in the weekly 999 bike ride, according to video posted on the r/SaltLakeCity subreddit and confirmed by Salt Lake City Police.
In response to inquiries from City Weekly and other outlets, the Police Department said an off-duty officer was traveling in an SUV when he was stopped from moving at a green light by the man, who had intentionally placed himself in the path of cars to facilitate the passage of cyclists, who vastly outnumbered the number of temporarily impeded drivers.
"Due to the sheer number of cyclists, it would not have been safe for the officer to proceed so the officer remained stopped," the Department stated. "While stopped, other cyclists scratched the officer's SUV as they rode by. Multiple on-duty patrol officers and a patrol supervisor responded to the scene following a 911 call. Officers cited the cyclist who blocked the officer's SUV with disorderly conduct and unlawful use of a roadway by a pedestrian."
Video of the incident shows passers-by booing and questioning the arrest as multiple officers seized and removed the man from his bike. The Police Department statement also notes that the 999 ride has taken place for roughly a decade, frequently generating calls for service around noise, collisions and injuries—although it should be noted that such issues are present with virtually any use of the public streets, and particularly that of car drivers.
"The Salt Lake City Police Department is aware this event can cause significant public disruptions and that it poses numerous safety hazards," the Department stated. "The SLCPD is unable to provide traffic control for this event due to its size, recurrence and the staffing needs of the department. The event is unregistered, and the organizers do not provide the SLCPD with information about the route."
There is only one confirmed death stemming from the 999—a so-called "critical mass" ride that sees cyclists claim the roadway on Thursday nights and follow an impromptu route that varies with each event. That death, in 2018, involved a participant being struck by a train, while car drivers are responsible for dozens of fatalities every year on city streets.
The man's identity was not released by the Police Department. Video of the arrest can be found here.
The 999 has come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks, with outlets like The Salt Lake Tribune questioning whether it should be allowed to take place. It is unclear, however, how the ride could even be banned, as it stems from the collective decisions of individual cyclists to exercise their right to the city's roadways.
About The Author
Benjamin Wood
Lifelong Utahn Benjamin Wood has worn the mantle of City Weekly's news editor since 2021. He studied journalism at Utah State University and previously wrote for The Salt Lake Tribune, the Deseret News and Entertainment Weekly
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