This thorny lawsuit will be paid by the big city on the opposite coast.

New York City agreed on Tuesday to pay a total of $97,000 as part of a settlement with cyclists who say they were harassed during the monthly cycling group-ride, Critical Mass.

One of the five cyclists who filed the lawsuit was seen on video being shoved off his bicycle by a police officer, according to the New York Times blog. Each plaintiff will receive from $500 to $30,000 each plus lawyer fees.

According to the Times, cyclists claimed they were wrongfully detained and arrested during the ride, an event that sends clusters of cyclists into the streets as advocates for nonpolluting forms of transportation.

You can see below the video clip of rider Richard Vazquez being pushed off his bike in Times Square …


For more, read the entire NY Times blog piece.