haha spiritross - are you serious? are you real? i can't tell, cause that drivel is so hillarious and stereotypical of the babbling that weekend warrior tools from yonkers would spew forth. i'm thinking it might be satire, and if so bravo. if not, you're a tool, most of cyclists thinks folks like you are a joke.

boohoo boohoo poor pedestrians. keep your eyes open and cooperate with your fellow pavement users.

this message also goes for bicyclists who clog up faster moving roads, drivers who clog up the passing lane on fully constructed interstate highways, etc.

grove: I don't understand what you your problem is. I'm not saying jaywalking is the best way to get around; quite the opposite, in fact, since as a cyclist I come across clueless jaywalkers all the time. I am merely saying that when I am a pedestrian, if I do choose to walk out into the street at a place other than the crosswalk -- and let's face it, who can honestly say that they never do that? -- I look both ways because I know that there may be bikes coming.

thefacts: I totally hear what you are saying, and thanks for the clarification.

Ya know, I'm an avid bicyclist and we're usually biking the HRP on the weekends. What irritates the crap out of me are the speed demon cyclist, you know, the ones with the little matchy outfits that match their bikes. Last week I CLEARLY signaled I was turning left to cross over to 34th and one of those matchy guys almost ran into to me on the left side. God forbid the tool slowed down or passed us on the right. Of course we cursed the a-hole out but wtf? Why do they feel they have the right to go as fast as possible and not even slow down or watch out for other bikers!

@staryygordon

The Hudson River Park bike lane is clearly marked "Bicyles Only". The PEPs never attempt to enforce that.

@glennQNYC

If you are going to write tickets to traffic scofflaws that would have to apply equally to pedestrians. That would be a big revenue producer as there are plenty more of them than bicycle scofflaws.

Call me Captain Obvious... But how about writing some tickets for those who choose to disobey the rules?

Speaking as a cyclist who does not dismount in that area: the guy who kicked the woman is an asshole and I hope he got caught and arrested.

As a transport bicyclist -- it's how I get from one place to another -- I have given up on the West Side bike path in the summer. It is virtually impassable due to walkers, runners, children (including toddlers), strollers, dogs, what have you. For some reason joggers are particularly addicted to bike paths and I've noticed them running in bike lanes even when a nearby sidewalk or pedestrian pathway is empty. The East Side bike path is equally useless for the same reasons, but not just in the summer -- year-'round.

The Pulaski Bridge walkway is too narrow for both pedestrians and cyclists given current levels of traffic; the speed limit on the bridge needs to be reduced and bike paths painted so that bicyclists can use the roadway. There is plenty of room. In general, cyclists and pedestrians should not be in the same spaces. While some bicyclists understand "on your right", etc., most pedestrians don't, and many of them move unpredictably. I always defer to them under all circumstances even if I have the green light or the right of way and have managed not to hit one in 61 years, in spite of the fact that they often step directly into my path regardless of lights, signs, or traffic conditions.

Riding on the sidewalk is not only dangerous for other people but it's dangerous for the rider as well. Motorists, who often can't see anything smaller than a car even when it's on the road, can't see what's on the sidewalk and may turn at corners or into driveways at high speed without warning and hit cyclists. They hit pedestrians this way all the time.

As far as safety goes, licensing bicyclists will have the same effect as licensing drivers: nil. It's just a scheme for raising money and employing more cops and bureaucrats.

@Chris Lee,

It might be worth contesting the ticket.

http://www.bicycledefensefund.org/bikelaw.html

As for racial profiling, absolutely. I am white but I live in a mostly black neighborhood and there is a *huge* difference in the way bike-related laws are enforced here vs other parts of the city. But when I get stopped, I don't get asked whether I am carrying anything i shouldn't be carrying.

Cyclists never obey traffic rules.

Cyclists in New York City are NOT "green" or help the environment - sorry that distinction goes to the millions that travel the greatest public transportation system in the USA - another vehicle on the road (yes you are a vehicle and have the same laws as cars) causes harm to our Urban Environment.

Cycling in New York City should only be for sport and casual use or messengers - you show me a bike commuter I'll show you an egoistical moron that has no respect for their neighbors and doesn't have the slightest clue about my above statement.

Cyclists in New York City reap what they sow when they get injured.

This is all written by an avid fan of professional cycling and private sport cycling,

I ride on my weekend mornings in Yonkers.

I've always just gone slow and never had any issues over there. I've even seen people stop walking and move over and nicely let me and other bikers by.

I've ridden through this walkway many times and I don't think I've ever seen anyone on a bike dismount. I often avoid it altogether by spending the extra 2 minutes to ride around the block, especially when I know there will be two-way foot and bike traffic. That pass is way too narrow for all of that activity. That said, I'd say most cyclists slow way down and weave their way through it without incident.

i work here, and i have never seen anyone dismount, you know why? because 85% of the guys riding here are delivery people who can't speak english. i haven't seen it be a problem nor have i had any close encounters. this is a non-issue.

I ride fast, when I can. I call out, "on your left or heads up!" Pedestrians ignore me. Cyclists either listen, turn left into me, or jump and freeze, not moving to either side. Hordes of people have iPods and can't hear you.

You're going too fast too close to pedestrians. Any time you have to warn them, it's not good. As for cyclists, they're not supposed to move to either side. "On your left" means to be aware that someone is passing on the left, not a command to move over. Even most cyclists know that unless you're on a fast training ride outside the city, it's rude to shout "on your left." City streets are not for fast riding. You're not a bike messenger.

"FYI 'on your left or heads up!' is a courteous alert. It's not saying 'get out of my way.' I suppose other people use a little dingy bell."

Do you really want, for example, cars alerting you that they're passing. If they're passing you with enough safe distance, there is no need for that sort of alert. Cars honking at you for simply being on the road?

It works both ways. If you're passing a pedestrian on a bike with sufficient space there is no need for that sort of thing. Now, if you feel you have to pass close (perhaps the pedestrian has almost stopped and are in the center of the path) you can ride up slowly and say something like "Excuse me" or some such request. Asking, not telling.

Even if your "friendly alert" doesn't mean "get out of my way" too often it means "don't dare move - I'm coming by a bit too close." Not good.

Bicycle Nazis.

FYI "on your left or heads up!" is a courteous alert. It's not saying "get out of my way." I suppose other people use a little dingy bell.

Personally, I say it mostly when it appears a tourist isn't paying attention to their immediate surroundings.

---------------

"Complain to your local officials about the construction nuisance instead of complaining about bikes."

This is the smartest statement I've read here all night.

What's wrong with people? Just put your heads together and come up with positive solutions for mutual problems. What is there is obviously inadequate. Complain to your local officials about the construction nuisance instead of complaining about bikes.

Road rage is dangerous. I know of a (gentle)man who while crossing Avenue A at 2nd Street with his young daughter told a passing biker to be careful. He was beaten up by this biker and suffered brain damage, who was never caught. It took years of therapy for him to approach normal.