Santa Clara requires permits for public road use

Santa Clara, California, will require a permit for the use of county roads for organized events of 50 or more people.  Obviously, this could have an impact on organized bicycle rides, but the law goes further than that.

From the Morgan-Hill Times:

Street fairs, festivals, block parties, organized athletic or sporting events, and community celebrations fall under the new ordinance and depending on the type of activity, event holders will be required to obtain a special permit and pay a fee. The fee reflects the cost of providing permit review and issuance.

A block party that requires the closure of a county road would cost $98; a "minor special event" of more than 50 people but fewer than 500 and does not require road closure or diversion of traffic will cost $200; an "expressive activity" described by the county as First Amendment protected conduct will also cost $200; and a major special event that requires a road closure with more than 500 people such as a parade will need to be determined by the county.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know the details of any rides in this county.  Perhaps some readers can address the local issue.  My concern is whether this will spill over into other areas of the country, particularly those that have already exhibited an anti-cycling mentality like St. Charles County in Missouri, the city of Ennis in Texas, or benighted Black Hawk in Colorado. 

Worse, though - and this has nothing to do with alternative transportation - is the $200 fee for an "expressive activity" involving protected conduct under the First Amendment.  Yes, you have to pay $200 to exercise your constitutional rights.  Somehow that smacks of the infamous poll taxes and literacy tests used to prevent black Americans from voting back before the Civil Rights Act.  This cannot be allowed to stand.

But don't worry about the permits being used as a means to prohibit bike rides in Santa Clara.  That could never happen, and besides, the League of American Bicyclists would be all over it like they are in St. Charles, Ennis, and Black Hawk...or maybe not.