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Scofflaw Cyclists, Speeding Drivers Target of NYPD Crackdown
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 22, 2010
Modified Oct 22, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 22, 2010
Modified Oct 22, 2010
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With more cyclists and more bike lanes expanding throughout NYC, the DOT says it's time to send a message to bikers that, unlike drivers who park in bike lanes, they're not above the law. With NYPD honcho Ray Kelly at her side yesterday, controversial pro-bike DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said, "We have been friendly to cyclists. Now it’s time for cyclists to be friendlier to the city." Okay, fine, but just don't ask us if you can borrow any money.
The Times reports that the crackdown will focus on common cycling infractions like running red lights or riding on the sidewalk. And enforcement of a widely disregarded law requiring cyclists to use lights and a bell will presumably be stepped up as well (as it is at Critical Mass rides). The NYPD has issued 26,000 moving violations against cyclists so far this year, compared to 800,000 tickets for drivers. Kelly told reporters yesterday "it’s not always easy" to ticket bike riders. "Bicyclists move along at a very good clip," Kelly said. "Particularly when a police officer is by himself or herself, it’s difficult to do."
Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, tells us, "Everyone agrees that traffic laws must be better enforced, and it is great news that the NYPD is redoubling its efforts to create safer streets. Hopefully, however, the NYPD will be less biased in its enforcement than the New York Times is in its coverage. Scofflaw cyclists, while menacing, cause a tiny fraction of the carnage that reckless motorists do."
Drivers are also included in the ticket blitz, and the DOT is in the midst of a safety campaign to remind drivers that the city's speed limit is 30 m.p.h. The DOT's research shows that two-thirds of New Yorkers don't know what the speed limit is, so the department has produced a television PSA to school them. It's pretty clever!
Speaking of speeding and bike lanes, it's worth noting that before the oh-so-controversial Prospect Park West bike lane was installed, 85 percent of drivers were exceeding the 30 mph speed limit. Now average speeds are down about 25 percent, according to one study. But that doesn't matter to Rantin' Steve Cuozzo over at The Post, who hates bike lanes, pedestrian plazas and rainbows. "Could there be a worse time to make driving harder?" asks He Who Yells at Cloud. "Until Bloomberg steps out of his limo long enough to see how much less hospitable our streets have become for ordinary pedestrians and drivers, count on only more misery."
Tagged
bike lanes
bike riding
cycling
cyclist
dot
janette sadik-khan
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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