I Got a Ticket for Running a Stop Sign on my Bike

Seriously. 8:30 in the morning on a Wednesday and I heard the sirens behind me. A squad car with lights flashing pulled me over. 1oth and Nueces. I was dumbstruck. That's when the anger picked up. I was literally shaking.Here's the deal: I like to think of myself as one of the "good" bike riders. I wear a helmet. I have lights. I don't ride on the sidewalk. I don't ride against traffic. I don't even ride on Friday or Saturday evenings because there are too many drunks on the road. Yet I was the one nabbed. There are terrible bicyclists out there. Drivers too. Make your statement with those guys.The cop told me she was doing this for my own good. That she didn't want me to be one of the 26 people who die annually in Austin while riding their bikes. Just then, a guy rode by without wearing a helmet. "How many of them were wearing helmets," I asked as she finished her lecture.From what I can tell, it's a $200 ticket. Bikes are considered motor vehicles, at least when tickets are concerned, so I got docked the full amount. Note that bikes are not considered motor vehicles when making left turns at red lights. Nor in any collision in which vehicular manslaughter may be involved, because it's OK to kill cyclists. But at 8:35 on Wednesday morning, my two wheels and I were a motor vehicle.Look, I know some people will say "well, that's the law." And you're right and I get that. But here's my real beef: The city of Austin has absolutely zero to offer with regards to bike infrastructure. Austin traffic problems don't just start and end with cars. The city ranks 47th in the U.S. in walkability, notably behind Houston, Dallas, Omaha, Phoenix, and Plano(!). Plano, as in Plano, Tx, the suburb of Dallas. The bike score is similar. I don't think Austin even received a public transit score. For someone who places a premium on a community filled with store-fronts, street scenes and high-density living, this is a problem.The solution to this problem is two-fold:

1. Move. This is just one more example in a long-list of instances which show I simply don't fit in to Texas culture. The sooner I can get out, the better it will be for both of us. I'm working on it.
2. Adjust my bike route until the move happens. I purposefully chose this route because it avoids heavy-traffic areas and is also designated a bike lane. Ironically, this "bike-friendly" option consists of 10 stop signs within 11 city blocks. My new route takes me through high-traffic areas, which shouldn't be a problem because I'm considered a "motor vehicle."

In the meantime, I'll do my best to keep my distance from Austin police. This is now the second run-in I've had with them in the past six months. The first was for jaywalking. Yes, jaywalking. Man... where's NYPD when you need them?! Stop and frisk anyone?!?Gotta stay positive though. One day closer to moving, right?By the way, if anyone has any tips on getting out of the ticket, give me a shout.There is no law in Texas that requires bicyclists to wear a helmet, because freedom and states rights and suck it Obama. You and your BIG GOBMENT can stay up there in Yankee-land.