Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Monday, November 26, 2012

Jarvis bike lane protester arrested during removal

A protester was arrested and charged Tuesday morning after blocking the removal of the Jarvis St. bike lanes.

Toronto physician Tomislav Svoboda was arrested around 11 a.m. on Jarvis St. near Shuter St.

“As a family and public health physician, I’m concerned about safety,” Svoboda said. “I’m concerned about the lack of public consultation and the very undemocratic process that led to the removal of these lanes, and the waste and misuse of taxpayers’ money.”

Svoboda sat with a bike in the laneway, blocking the truck that was removing the paint. He and other members of the advocacy group Jarvis Emegency Taskforce blocked the lane, but Svoboda was the first to remain in the lane after being peacefully confronted by police.

“This is the only major North American city that’s removing bicycle lanes, which is a national disgrace,” he said.

He was arrested without incident by the 51 Division Street Crime Unit, which operates on bicycles.

Police told the Star Tuesday afternoon that Svoboda was charged with obstructing a peace officer and mischief.

Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Dylan C. Robertson 

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