Many cyclist ride with a mixture of arrogance and stupidity… ignore traffic laws, run stop signs and exceed speed limits on residential streets. They weave in stopped and slowly moving traffic with no regard to their life’s or anyone else …. Search “scofflaw cyclist – arrogance and immunity” on u-tube for examples.  Bike clubs are the worst … they are self-righteous and hostile to anything with 4 wheels. These bozos need to be fined, have their bikes impounded and otherwise held responsible!!!

Drivers on these threads always say they want cyclists to follow all the traffic laws--like they really want a bunch of bikes in front of them at traffic lights, or going under 30 mph on the road. My experience is that every couple of minutes a driver will literally try to run you off the road if you ride in traffic, often accompanied by some kind of shouted threat and lewd gesture just to emphasize the point.

If I have to choose between possibly being fined or possibly being killed, I'll risk the fine.

People who love driving their cars so much must think LA is much better than NY, so they should all move there.

Bicyclists should obey all the traffic laws. If they decide to break them by running lights or traveling the wrong way, then they have NO legal rights. Same goes for pedestrians. If you jaywalk, don't be surprised if a car or bike hits you, because you are at fault.

My commute is straight down 5th ave from 110th st. I'd love to see a cop try and ticket me in that traffic.

I'm a cyclist, I sometimes run red lights (not speeding like a bike messenger, but rather slowly). I would be totally fine with being ticketed. And I'm also for ticketing cycling on the sidewalk, and I know a couple of people who have gotten tickets for that.

I don't know how much the fine for running a red light would be, but it should be definitely much much less than for a car.

Sounds like we need to start the 'good cyclist training class' with the fact that pedestrians have the right of way. :rolleyes:

Now, if they'd just make a PSA on how to merge, that would be so perfect. I mean, who can even get up to 30mph these days?

Traffic pigs sit on their asses instead of doing their jobs so will they really step up to cyclists? Maybe if it's easier for them.

I was at an intersection where 3 traffic pigs were having a good old time chatting with each other instead of seeing several cars block the box and run through traffic lights.

That's nothing. I've actually seen cruisers blocking the box themselves! Two of them bumper to bumper! Nobody who was blocked at the light had the nerve to honk at these jackasses. NYPD enforces laws (when they feel like it), they don't have to obey them.

...and you can still kill someone with your car and walk away without a summons.

I honestly didn't know that bike riders were not allowed to run red lights until I read this post. I see bikers run red lights at least a few times a day. I almost saw somebody miss getting hit by a taxi by literally inches the other day. As far as I see, bikers literally enjoy all the privileges of our road but none of the responsibilities.

NY is a great town for biking. And I love biking...fucking love it.

But I pretty much despise most of my fellow bikers who too often ride like arrogant pricks and cause a well-earned backlash from everyone, a backlash that affects the rest of us who bike the city with a little respect.

Go ahead and bring on the tickets for bikers! Only the douchebags have reason to fear it.

That would be fine if NYPD only gave tickets to people who deserved them. But we all know that's often not the case. Check out old Gothamist stories. How about the guy straddling a bike on a sidewalk, talking to a friend. He was ticketed for "riding" on the sidewalk. And the guy ticketed for talking to a friend in front of his own apartment. Cop ticketed him and told him he "didn't own the sidewalk!" Don't forget the great Pat Pogan, who tackled a cyclist and probably would have gotten away with it, if it hadn't been for that meddling video.

Mark my words, if NYPD does this, they'll screw it up and hit a lot of innocent cyclists, too.

Seconded.

Carry a super soaker filled with eau de skunk.

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."

Hey, Commish. Bike cops might be able to keep up with cyclists. If NYPD actually had any. And if so many of NY's finest weren't out of shape and overweight.

"Bike cops might be able to keep up with cyclists."

Probably not, given the type of clunky, overweight bikes that cops generally ride. Maybe a special fixed-gear unit, like giving the highway guys Hemi-powered Chargers.

I was thinking that when I first read the NYT piece. the nypd are devoting 2000 cops to this detail. not 2000 bike cops. they'll still be in their patrol cars looking out for violations. Or, scooters, don't forget them scooters.

Good. I'm Cyclist, I'm as big a supporter of Bike infrastructure as you'll find, I agree completely that cars cause more harm than bikes, and I still support increased policing of bikers. Why? Because assholes who disregard traffic rules endanger me. When some jackass decides to ride the wrong way in a bike lane that cannot accommodate two way traffic, that puts me in danger. And when some jerk blows through a light and hits/narrowly skirts by a pedestrian, it makes all of us look bad.

Should we be held to the exact same standards as cars? No, there is no reason why a biker shouldn't be able to treat a stop light like a stop sign - coming to a stop, looking both ways, and crossing if it is safe - but flagrant disregard for traffic laws is selfish, endangers others, and hurts the argument for increased bike infrastructure.

I second this. I commute every day by bike, and I would love to see a massive crackdown on both cyclists and drivers.

Cyclists going without lights at night, going the wrong way down one-way streets, buzzing through red lights without looking, riding crazy on sidewalks.

Drivers parked in the bike lane, cutting too close, leaning on the horn when they think the cyclist isn't quick enough, and nearly killing me when they pull out without looking.

It would also be nice to make the bike lane tougher for the pedestrians to hang out in. All the times I've nearly been hit when on my bike are due to the stupidity of pedestrians just walking out in front of me.