what should have been a joyous ride through the streets of downtown LA this afternoon turned out for many cyclists into a trip to the county jail as critical mass riders were chased, cordoned off and forced by police into stressful arrestable situations. riding in a group of about 200, cyclists started the ride, exhilarated, peaceful, and lawful with calls for "less cars, more bikes from the mighty bikey people. as always this critical mass ride was a call to make the general public aware of the fact that bikes have a right to use the road as much as cars. after cycling for about 40 mins. the police came behind the riders on motor cycles and began to push us to the side of the road forcing cyclists to take turns. with a turn to the right at grand near the metro we were forced into another right, then a left into a one-way street. with the police motorcade so fast on our backs we were then forced to make another right onto the train tracks where a few of the group pushed on ahead and either rode on to be cordoned in an alley and later arrested, or dispersed and left the pack. others, not wanting to ride the wrong way against an on coming train, were surrounded by police and arrested. i was one of the lucky ones and escaped to cycle back round to the area where cyclists had been arrested on the tracks. cyclists were in plastic cuffs with their backs to the crowd that was developing. i arrived on the scene with another fellow critical mass cyclist and we promptly started telling the media that was assembling what had happened, however after about twenty minutes the police stepped over the road and arrested the other cyclist who was put to the back of the line against the fence of arrestees. with an eye on my continued saftey at this point i left the scene.