Cop Blocks Bike Lane To Ticket Cyclists For Not Using Lane

This is absolutely a joke. There has to be something some can do to stop such practices by the NYPD. This simply doesn't sound real.

Universal Life Church

ok, i am calling b.s. on this story. 1st do you really think a cop is going to waste his time writing bogus bike tickets? 2nd, why didnt the person post the cops name? 3rd, how come they didnt post a copy of the ticket? sounds to me that this whole article is a bunch of b.s. . provide the proof and i will eat my words.

you are right...no one fails to mention any of these things, and the story is completely bogus...if it was real, you would have been hearing this from a legitimate news source and an official statement from the deputy commissioner of public information office about this matter... everyone may take this particular bicyclist's story side.. but where are the real facts... where is the actual picture of the summons...

better yet... why is that picture of E23rd street and 1st avenue, and not E14th street and 1st Ave....where the summons was issued... hmmmmmmm

ye gothamites are so inured to being pushed around. learn to bang the tennis ball into the other side of the court. what the policeman did was illegal. he broke the law. exercise your citizenship rights to file a complaint against him. a signed complaint must be taken seriously and followed up on in accordance with the law. if this doesn't happen, you have recourse to yet another complaint.

out here in the wild, wild west, i know of a park ranger who got his sorry posterior transferred because his personnel file began to fill up with citizen complaints. it can work for you too.

wat the fuck! wats the next thing cops are gonna be doin hangen out in yur bathroom so when yu use it yu dont piss on the floor by accedent i thought cops where a little burden last time...

oops 4511.55c

So the proper procedure is to ride bmx style over the cop car? Thank God for Ohio's Revised Code 4511.554:

"(C) This section does not require a person operating a bicycle to ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. Conditions that may require riding away from the edge of the roadway include when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it otherwise is unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane."

Sorry NYC is still in dark ages...

I deal with inmates with my prison ministry all the time, how is it cops such as this can get away unscathed. It is not right. Universal Life Church

Also, despite my best efforts I've hit TWO pedestrians on the 8th avenue bike lane in the last three weeks. Pedestrians just don't realize that they are stepping off the curb into the bike lane I don't think.

I had no chance to react either time... just riding and then some guy stepped RIGHT in front of me. Ludicrous. The new green lanes on 8th, 1st, 2nd and Prospect Park West are dangerous if you are riding more than 8mph because the design doesn't make the pedestrians realize that they shouldn't step into the lane.

I prefer to ride on streets with no lane at all. They are safer and more predictable.

They know, they just don't care. I don't understand most New Yorkers in that way. When I cross the street (EVEN if I have a walk sign) I'll look left to make sure no asshat is barreling down on me. I see pedestrians every day do exactly what you described - and while they were jaywalking!! What if it wasn't a bike, but a car. Now you're dead. Congratulations for not following "look both ways before you cross the road."

THIS HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR.

I was riding south on Broadway and about 19th street. I didn't know it but it was a Critical Mass Friday.

A scooter cop jumped in front of me screaming STOP! and I swerved into traffic (which could have killed me... honest.) I slowed down and was looking back at the cop trying to figure out what hell that was about. The same cop did the same thing to another cyclist while I watched. That cyclist swerved into traffic just like I did. While I was watching a cop grabbed my handlebars and pushed me off my bike. My bike fell to the street and when I bent over to pick it up there were suddenly three cops screaming at me.

They gave me a ticket for $175 with NO LAW CITED in the blank on the ticket. When I questioned the officer he told me that unless I shut up I'd spend the night in the Tombs. They made me stand in a little area cordoned off with police tape as they pulled the same stunt on about 30 other cyclists. About 30 minutes after they stopped me they let me go. As I was pulling away the officer told us all that if we went to court the judge would drop the charges, that none of the officers wanted to be doing this and that it was the brass that was telling them to.

When I went to court there were about 100 cyclists there who had been ticketed. One by one the judge dismissed the charges.

My outrage comes from the cost of all this. There were 20+ cops out that night, then the court costs and everyone's time. This is the government serving no one's interest.

I hope all you guys who think this kind of thing is great are happy about paying for it.

Critical Mass has been fighting this for years. They got a near-$1 million judgment from NYC last week. Maybe the cops will start lightening up tonight for Halloween. If not, we're ready for them.

A trick I use is stare at the person or person in the vehicle that might not notice you have the right of way. They are much less likely to walk out in front of you or take a turn if you get their attention that way. Of course this doesn't work for the iphone handlers or the oblivious, but most people seem to be paying attention.

Land of the free, eh?

My fellow bikers -

A good biker rides with respect to the conditions. In NYC every single day, the conditions are "lots of fucking clueless pedestrians". You should expect 'em, as regular as the sunrise. To get angry about the inevitable is pretty fucking stupid, no matter who had the light in their favor.

If you bike at all in NYC and can't learn to anticipate and avoid the countless cars, tourists, peds, rollerbladers, joggers, cops, potholes, manholes, taxi doors, and delivery trucks which block your path, then you aren't good enough to ride here. Please trade in your bike, arrogance, and right-of-way blather for a metrocard.

I agree with your basic attitude, but the new "protected lanes" create a whole new level of conflict. Bikes are vehicles, Bicyclists sandwiched into the pedestrian space (plus salmoning bicyclists, just add double parked cars)--on the LEFT hand of 1st Ave, it's all nutty as hell.

I ride First Avenue every day. Yes, it sucks, but it's still new and no one is used to it yet. What Sketto says still applies.

It's really just a bicycle version of what we all learned it in high school Driver Ed. Anticipate, then respond. Assume that the pedestrian with one foot off the curb is going to walk in the bike lane without looking. Don't get angry. Keep a speed that allows you to slow down and not crash into someone. There is nothing we can do that's a better ambassador for better cycling in NYC than that attitude.

As for the cops, give them some lip but not too much. There's no point is getting pushed around or locked up over something so stupid unless it's an organized demonstration. Take the ticket. Tell the cop you'll see him in court, and that you hope that day is as miserable for him as today is for you. Tell him to have a nice day, and then talk to a lawyer.

For a little context, listen to this episode of "This American Life". An ex-NYC cop talks about bogus arrests and quotas for "Stop and Frisks".

Don't the NYC police that there's enough real crime out there to go around. No need to drum up new business in this way.

I was one of the bikers the cop let go. By the time I arrived on the scene, the squad car was in the turn lane, but there was a person or two standing between the car and the sidewalk, so the bike lane was still blocked. Half a block back there's an orange and white barrier partially obstructing the lane and a plastic casing which, I imagine, is protecting some wires, going across the remainder of the bike lane. I knew exactly what the cop was doing when he waved me over, so I rode up to him, pointed to the barrier and explained that the bike lane was blocked. He let me and a woman who was riding just in front of me go.

The first avenue bike lane, like all the new north-south bike lanes, is a joke. To have the bike lane pressed up against the sidewalk between pedestrians and parked cars is brainless urban design and much less safe for everyone than, for example, the old second avenue bike lane. The first avenue bike lane is constantly blocked. Constantly. One has to make frequent forays out around the parked cars and into traffic to avoid the myriad of new obstacles. Back before it was illegal to ride on the road, the best way to take 1st ave was to get yourself right behind a pocket of cars (the lights cause the cars to bunch up into pockets) and just haul ass.

After ten years of riding in this city daily, the quality of the riding environment has reached a new low--the new bike lanes have emboldened bad bikers, endangered good bikers and pedestrians, caused a backlash from criminally dangerous drivers, and given cops more reason to push people around.

If a cop does pull you over, fight it right then and there. Make a huge fuss. Take forever to find your ID. Don't be nice (as others in this forum have mentioned). If you do end up w/ a ticket (they are typically called summons, but they are really tickets... like, here's a summons, but you don't have to go to court if you pay the fine), the only fool-proof way to fight it in court is to point out an error in the ticket. Ironically, if it's an argument about what you did or whether or not you did it, the judge will never take your side. So fight it right then and there on the street, it's your best hope.

Finally... does anyone know the best way to report cars parked in the bike lane? I plan to spend some extra time on my commute over the next few days, calling in all of bike lane obstructions.

bbdog -

I respectfully disagree about increased obstruction. 2nd Avenue was MUCH worse before, in terms of vehicular obstruction.

Go back over the years at nyc.mybikelane.com (where you can report people) and you'll see far more reports of people blocking the old 2nd avenue lane.

RatherBeBiking - All I know is what I experience every day. There may be fewer vehicle obstructions in the new bike lanes, but there are many more pedestrians, delivery carts, random traffic barrier type things, car doors, garbage cans, joggers, manholes, etc with the new bike lane configurations.

When you are traveling at any speed in these bike lanes (even riding slow), you are moving faster than anything on either side. The proximity to pedestrians, who are slow-moving, unpredictable, and actually get hurt when they get hit, is especially concerning.

Moreover, when confronted with any of these new obstacles, one needs to travel way out around the line of parked cars into traffic. Abrupt entry into traffic in this manner is much more dangerous than in the old configuration, where the bike was separate, but still part of traffic, and could establish a spot amongst moving cars gradually to get around obstructions.

I'm not making this up. I'd be happy to ride these lanes with you and show you what I'm experiencing. I've discussed this with a handful of daily 1st ave riders and most share my opinion and concern.

For our peeps who aren't in New York, here is the inside scoop on this story...

For over 5 years now there has been a street war between the macho police and the bikers. Years ago, NYC was an unsafe place to bike with limited bridge access. The bike community rallied together through many lawsuits, arrests and incidents of harassment to help achieve the positive, sustainable changes to the streets that you see in NYC today. Lawsuits are constantly being filed (that the general public is not aware of) to deter the growth of non-polluting transportation. Just last week, the city had to reward almost 1 million dollars to an astounding 83 bicyclists who were unlawfully arrested and ticketed while riding in the city. It seems to be a common occurrence that whenever the bike community is about to win a case we see negative propaganda in the press, this time it really spread. Just hours after the city lost the lawsuit, instead of an apology to the bikers- in an immature act of vengeance the police commissioner announced a new cracked down on cyclists. Sadly, it is still common practice for some in the police department to issue unlawful tickets to bikers, and create propaganda to divide the cycling community.

Here is some history... The police just need to get over the fact that the positive change came from the grassroots direct action movement. Just get over it.

http://times-up.org/index.php?page=hostorical-significance-of-critical-mass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOZ1QQqBtwc

Everyone else blocks the damn bike lane. Why pick on the cops. :p

i think this fight between pedestrians and cyclists is stupid. the important thing is that neither of us are driving and in that common ground we should be united. cyclists, it wouldn't hurt you to stop for two seconds to let a pedestrian pass, you'll make up the time just fine. pedestrians, pay attention, because not everyone else is, and not just cyclists. stupid people drive for a reason, because they're too mentally handicapped to survive without two tons of metal protecting them.

the real enemy is all those prejudiced to the those of the carless lifestyle. those that think because you don't drive you must be too poor to afford a four wheeled fat maker. things like the nypd cracking down on those trying to live healthier, greener, and generally more efficient,is what's putting more people in cars. it shouldn't be such a fight to live better.

As a daily driver in NYC, Manhattan in particular, I would be lying if I said I didn't find cyclists irritating at least. I have no problem sharing the road as long as they follow the same rules I do, it's not to ruin their ride, it's for safety reasons. I have no problem seeing a bicycle rider stopping at a red light, check for pedestrians and cars, and then go. However, as someone who has never ridden a bicycle anywhere in the city, I am unfamiliar with what rules they are supposed to be following. Would anyone care to share? Specifically, if I am on a one way street without a bike lane, and I am going to make a left turn and there is a bicycle trying to go straight, who there has the right of way? I think a part of the problem here, aside from just angry drivers and angry bikers lashing out, is that the rules and information really isn't readily published and available.

That you don't know the answer to this astonishingly simple issue of traffic precedence is the problem with our streets. Turning traffic is always required to yield. Always. You should learn how to operate your car before you kill someone with it.

That should be common sense. Traffic going straight always takes precedence over traffic trying to turn, whether it's a bike on your right or left or an oncoming car.

It's true that traffic going straight should have the right of way; however, if a car is already in front of a cyclist, I think the cyclist should yield to the car. Otherwise, a driver could be slowing down to turn right, checks all mirrors, has signal on, and a cyclist can emerge quickly out of seemingly nowhere. I've had this happen to me a couple of times while driving, and it can be very very un-nerving.

However, as a cyclist, I've had many drivers pass me quickly on the side and then take a quick turn in front of me without signaling. In this case, when a driver passes a cyclist within some short distance (say one city block or less, depending on speed), the driver should yield to the cyclist. At the very least, cops should enforce the use of turn signals because as others have said before, as a cyclist, I will yield to a turning car if I know they're turning.

Overall, if drivers and cyclists just observe basic traffic rules, slow down, and be more courteous, none of this animosity would exist. But, as we all know, this will never happen since there's always a strong core among drivers & cyclists that are just plain a-holes.

I would say the cyclist has the right of way as would a pedestrian in the cross-walk or a car to the left of you. You should wait until your path is clear before making the turn.

But this is probably the most dangerous situation I encounter as a cyclist, even if there's a bike lane between me and the car turning. I typically slow (in effect: yield) to cars that I think COULD make a turn. If the car has a blinker on, I yield. It's just safer that way for me. And, it causes less anger on the driver's part.

Awesome, thanks for the information guys. That's what I normally do, because what it really boils down to is safety. While I hate when pedestrians jaywalk when I'm driving down the street, realistically, all you can do is yield to them, as opposed to of course, running them over.

Bikes have the right of way if you are turning. Taxis are actually surprisingly good about this.

Lol, lol, youngpoo thinks she is a lawyer.

can you contribute something better to this thread?

didnt think so.

Bike Lanes

You are NOT required to ride in the bike lane.

—34 RCNY 4-12(p)(1) states that bicyclists should ride in usable bike lanes, unless they are preparing to turn, or are avoiding unsafe conditions (including but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, pushcarts, animals, surface hazards).

Q: Isn't this an overstatement of the law? It seems to me that the law says that bikes have to stay in bike lanes.

A: No. If you look at the full text of the statute it clearly grants cyclists the discretion to ride in the bike lane or not, according to whether the cyclist deems it safe. As safe, usable bike lanes are extremely rare in New York City, cyclists are not required to endanger themselves by riding in unsafe bike lanes.

Q: But- but- aren't you saying that cyclists can ride wherever they want whenever they want? That's crazy!

A: No. Cyclists are still required to follow all other applicable traffic laws, such as riding the right way on one-way streets (VTL 1127(a)), and exercising due care (VTL § 1146). They are not, however, required to ride in the bike lane if there is any reason not to.

(http://www.bicycledefensefund....

defendants can try and argue entrapment...maybe, just maybe.

Cops will always aim for the low-hanging fruit. I'll respect campaigns like this when they target deliverymen - who are easily the biggest cyclist-menace on the streets.

+1 on being difficult - I don't care if this jackmo is "just doing his job." Know the law, be ready to quote it back - they barely want to deal with the public as it is.

Funny you should say that about delivery guys. I came thisclose to getting hit by one less than an hour ago while I was crossing the street. He was going the wrong way on a one way.

but think about those times that you may have smoked 5 blunts and havent eaten all day and you order magical deliciousnes and you PRAY that man with your crispy spring rolls has angel wings and dosent give a fuck about red lights

Three blunts is my limit.

They almost always go the wrong way on one-ways, I think they do it intentionally. Especially infuriating on two way streets when they go the wrong way down the street instead of using a bike lane going the same direction they're traveling.

I think they are probably the number one danger to other cyclists, even before taxis and attractive women.

Sorry about the typos. My droid isn't the best for typing.

Ugh yeah. They will impound the.bike and take u too the station to id you. It happened to someone last month iirc.

soon you will need a license to ride a bike... also, what's stopping they cyclists from stating that they don't have ID??? Do they impound the bike?! ahahahahaha

Yes, they'll impound the bike and hold you until your identity can be ascertained. Since it's likely that you actually do have ID with you that might not take long; they'll find it when they search you prior to your arrest.

And then the cop might decide that you're probably really a nice guy so he won't actually go through with the arrest; he'll write you the citation he would have originally now that he does have your ID, instead of putting you through the system. And then, also, hell might freeze over.

Yes. And they'll take you in too until they can confirm your identity. But first you'll sit in the back of that police car for however long it takes for the cop to fill the car up with people like you so he can maximize his OT.

make sure this one get's the seat with the busted seatbelt, right?

Sure. And then lo and behold what did the cop find under his seat after he was removed from the car and marched into the precinct's holding cell? A bag of weed! To the Tombs with him!

When cops give tickets/summons they are usually friendly. Then when the bike rider gets the ticket they say "thanks officer". This has to stop, you should be as uncooperative as possible, complain, refuse to show ID, froth at the mouth and so on. That way it will take one hour to write a single ticket sparing other cyclist from the same humility. I'm serious, being a complete dick to a cop earns their respect.

riding in the city sucks

nobody respects the bike lane or the bike lane on the wb bridge for that matter

I think i would have just kept going instead of stopping for a dick with a badge

catch me if you can fatass

nobody on two-wheels seems to respect the crosswalk either. but never mind that shit, right?

i'll keep an eye out for "cyclist beatdown" on youtube when the NYPD catches up with your souped-up fixy -- they don't tend to appreciate chases, tough guy. good luck with that!

nobody on two-wheels seems to respect the crosswalk either. but never mind that shit, right?

-yeh nevermind that shit cause when the light is green why are they [and you assface] crossing against it? i am talking about when i have the right of way and assholes dart out in front of me. what if i was a dump truck?

i'll keep an eye out for "cyclist beatdown" on youtube when the NYPD catches up with your souped-up fixy -- they don't tend to appreciate chases, tough guy. good luck with that!

-i don't ride a "fixie" you jackass. your one of those retards that think everyone in wb is from ohio and has a fixed gear living off of parents. or you will call me one of those spandex lance armstrong dudes. wrong again you fucking dullard. go back to Jamaica maaan.

your writing conveys that you are confused and angry and mildly illiterate. so here it is more simply for you:

light red: you stop.

pedestrians cross without being impaled or plowed over.

light green: you go.

you ride responsibly to your destination and everyone is happy.

your weak reasoning that some pedestrians cross when they're not supposed to (which is also irresponsible of them) is no excuse for the legions of cyclists who charge through the crosswalk when they have a red light. good luck with your police chase, see you on youtube.

I guarantee that for every biker running a red light in this city, there are 100 people jaywalking. I guess I don't have a problem with either - as long as people LOOK before crossing. That's the biggest problem is that people in this city don't fucking look before crossing the street - even when they are jaywalking. And any biker hitting someone while running a red light is basically guilty of assault or gross negligence.

you are possibly a retarded adult with internet access and poor reading comprehension skills. i don't understand why you keep replying. go back to watching www.meatspin.com and whatever else it is you do.

good day

if you don't like getting called out on your idiotic comments, stop posting them.

Don't stop. Ride away to the next nearest cop and report the guy for harassment & obstructing the street.

Similar to how people dealt with cop-impersonators in the '70's.

yeah because cops don't cover their own? you forgot about the thin blue line of bullshit?

Yeah, just riding away is one thing, but to then approach another cop and tell him that you just purposely evaded a traffic stop is not likely to turn out well for you.

I just really looked at the picture. That's not 14th and 1st, it's just south of 23rd and 1st. See the Post Luminaria in the background. (I know this because I used to live in PCV right across the street.)

As for cops making up laws and entrapping people, not really a surprise. Look how easy that was for that cop - he barely had to get his lazy ass out of his car. Nothing a cop likes more than an easy ticket.

How lazy-assed can a cop be? What an oaf.

I wonder how many times this happens, and how much tax-dollars are spent defending these dumbass actions.

That's my photo above, and I'm the one who got the ticket. Stupidly I didn't collect the contact information of the other people who were ticketed. By now you may have figured out that you've been ticketed for "riding on the sidewalk" like I was (code 19-176). Contact me at ticketedcyclist at gmail for more info.

So were you riding on the sidewalk? Just because someone's blocking the bike lane doesn't mean you can ride on the sidewalk?

BTW, I sympathize with you. When cops are assigned to give out tickets they don't do it in a manner that most improves public safety, they do it in a manner that will result in them issuing the most tickets in the least time with as little effort as possible.

I was at no time riding on the sidewalk. I was forced out into the street by the cop car parked in the bike lane, but I did at no time ride on to the sidewalk. However I was issued a ticket for "riding on the sidewalk" likely because the cop had no idea how to designate what I was doing (riding in a bike lane) as illegal - perhaps because it isn't.

In addition to requesting a reply from the NYPD press office, maybe the Mayor's office should be notified. If Mayor Bloomberg is all about the "greening" of NYC and more bike lanes, he more than likely would want to know about something like this...

I don't know if anybody's linked to this recently, but I think something might be said for NYC adopting the Idaho "Stop as Yield" laws for bicycles.

It's dangerous for me to have to be grouped with a two-ton car in traffic when I'm more mobile and, in the sprint, faster than a car. I've been able to accelerate out of danger on more than one occasion.

It seems to me that people who are upset about "rude" bicyclists are more interested in the letter of the law than in the spirit of it, which I think ultimately should be to save lives. If it's the difference between you getting your feelings hurt because I had to yell at you to get out of my way while you crossed a crosswalk, or me possibly getting hit by a car, I'm going to yell at you, every time.

I try to be polite, but even the possibility of getting into a little collision with a pedestrian is trumped by the possibility of dying under the wheels of a truck.

That's because they don't have pedestrians in Idaho.

Sorry, but if that pedestrian you're yelling at has the right of way at that crosswalk, you're just an asshole.

If you're going to practice the Idaho Stop, for crying out loud, at least only proceed when pedestrians have finished crossing. I'd love to see the Idaho Stop law in New York, but if you can't comprehend that a pedestrian's right-of-way is more precious than your convenience, I'm afraid it would be abused too much here to even consider.

100% agree with this. I always yield to pedestrians when they have the right of way, but if the light's red and no cars/peds are around, I'm going to keep going.

As a side note, here's an example from last night's commute of what I usually have to deal with:

1. A dude in a convertible turning left in front of me, cutting me off... I yelled "asshole!" and he yelled "fuck you!" - never mind that *I* had the right of way.

2. Me nearly hitting a lady because she was crossing against the light; she was talking on her cell and never once looked up. As I went by her, I said, "that's right - continue your conversation - that's way more important." and she started cussing me out. Never mind that, once again, I had the right of way.

3. A jaywalking pedestrian screaming at me because he was too busy looking at his iPhone to see me coming. Of course, once again, I had the right of way.

There's little to no respect for cyclists in this city, regardless of the respect most of us try to show for pedestrians/car traffic. I'm beginning to wonder what the point is exactly, especially when I read discouraging posts like this.

Any cop who tries that crap on me will a) have a miserable, humiliating experience on the street; and, b) end up as my lawyer's bitch in court.

oooooooh!

I got a summons for riding on the sidewalk in South Williamsburg while riding down the middle of the road and not once touching the sidewalk

FUCK THE PO-LICE!

Not surprised, only a total dickwad would become a cop in the first place.

As a law-abiding cyclist, I'm pretty thrilled that cops are out writing tickets for scofflaw cyclists.

But, since the NYPD is an organization that sees no problem in breaking the law themselves, this is exactly what I feared.

A fine of $25 can be levied for flirting. This old law specifically prohibits men from turning around on any city street and looking "at a woman in that way." A second conviction for a crime of this magnitude calls for the violating male to be forced to wear a "pair of horse-blinders" wherever and whenever he goes outside for a stroll.

A license must be purchased before hanging clothes on a clothesline.

While riding in an elevator, one must talk to no one, and fold his hands while looking toward the door.

Slippers are not to be worn after 10:00 P.M.

A man can't go outside while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match. (Carmel)

You may not smoke within 100 feet of the entrance to a public building. (New York)

It is illegal for a woman to be on the street wearing "body hugging clothing." (New York)

Citizens may not greet each other by "putting one's thumb to the nose and wiggling the fingers". (New York)

It is illegal for men to go topless in the center of town. (Ocean City)

It is illegal to eat in the street in residential neighborhoods, and the only beverage you can drink on the beach is water in a clear plastic bottle. (Ocean City)

It is illegal to disrobe in a wagon. (Sag Harbor)

If one wishes to bathe in the city limits, they must be clothed in a "suitable bathing suit". (Sag Harbor)

You may only water your lawn if the hose is held in your hand. (Staten Island)

Anyone who defends these scumbag cops by saying they never break any laws themselves is a pompous idiot and a hypocrite.

Some of those are funny, but most of them aren't real.

you've never EVER run a red light, cut off a ped or ridden the wrong way down a street?

you're truly an asset to those who hate cyclists, you prove their point in every way. keep up the good work for everyone else who rides responsibly, they get lumped in with dicks like you.

Have you EVER walked across the street when you had a don't walk sign, or outside a designated crosswalk? Fuckwit?

hell yeah i have. i also run red lights on the regular. i have a part time job doing bike deliveries and have worked as a messenger. people seem to love to complain about stuff not getting to them fast enough, but also to complain about following traffic laws. it's real tough to do both. i check to make sure it's clear and never run reds in front of a cop car.

...i have a part time job doing bike deliveries and have worked as a messenger...

Hahahahaha, I should have known you were a nu-fred.

I can't speak for evidiot, but no, I haven't done any of that. Looks kind of dumb to be waiting for a green light when there's no cross traffic, but on the other hand, I have the full protection of the law behind me if an accident were to happen, something I wouldn't have if I was ignoring them. I don't litter or steal, either. Don't act so surprised that there are actually people out there who obey laws. Just because you don't care doesn't mean others don't.

I'm 99% with you. My only outlaw exception is running a red if after making a full stop I see absolutely no traffic or peds on the street. If there's even a hint of either I stay put. The "clear" scenario usually only ever happens deep in brooklyn at the end of a commute and/or extremely late on a weekday and early on a weekend.

I notice that a lot of the people that run through reds and generally ride like assholes get caught up at a major intersection anyway (14th/Houston/Delancy). At that point, while they're sweating through their jeans attempting to do a trackstand, I roll up behind them nice and fresh. It's not a race folks so chill the fuck out and don't ride like dicks.

Without quotas how else will the NYPD pay for typewriter ink tapes?

The easiest way to get hurt on a bike in NYC is to follow the traffic laws that are written by people who have never ridden in Central Park, let alone Broadway at rush hour. As a cyclist you dont have the protection of a vehicle or the entitlement of a pedestrian so it's you against the city.

It's a war out there, ride like it.

You know what's strange? I'm a boring cyclist who goes slow enough to let people cross before I carefully pedal through red lights and also think it's a war out there. The stress you're under as a projectile dodging moving and static objects is exhilarating and isolating.

.

I know it's not irregular or a surprise, but the responses to this post are disappointing. Thanks for sharing, T.

Your the a-hole who ran over my running group when we crossed the street WITH the light in central park at 8pm, right?

I'm sick and tired of entitled joggers never following the proper road laws. Never mind that your group was following the rule, other joggers ALWAYS run contraflow in vehicle lanes right in the way of cyclist in proper lane position. I will hold you accountable for all the obnoxious stuff that I associate with your activity. Jerk!*

*Okay, not really calling you a jerk, but just pointing out how you sound when you go on one of your cyclist hating screeds.

Dude, that is where the anger comes from. Being in NYC with my weekly running group. WAITING at a NEAR empty park to cross the road with about 20 people up at the light at about 905th or so. Light changes, we start to cross. Here comes a-hole wanna be Lance Armstrongs who do not even slow down, hit some of the runners occasionally, and screamed at us to "get out of the road" even tho we were with the light. The only time they stopped was when we got a cop posted there once. Front guy yelled "POLICE" and they all slammed on their breaks causing a pile up.

This was not isolated this was EVERY NIGHT.

Like I said, I like biking but the self-entitlment of bikers pisses me off.

where the fuck is 905th?

did the city recently quadruple in size?

I believe that would be in Stamford Heights.

Did you really just copy/paste the same reply you made above? Not only are you a bad troll but you're a lazy one as well.

Are they all Lycranauts? This is behavior I associate with people engaged in athletic activity. In their heads they've set a time to a route that last week they accomplished in 20, 40, 60 whatever minutes, and are trying to beat that time by a minute or two. Having to wait at that light totally effs up their false sense of accomplishment.

This is behavior I associate with athletic activity. There's just something profoundly self involved and entitled about it. It's all about "mememememe" and eff the rest of you. I've had scores of problems with joggers while I'm trying to follow all the rules mixed space. I get why joggers prefer to run in the road and understand why they do it contraflow when in vehicle traffic, but why do they do that in the bike lane which they're not supposed to be in anyway, and when faced with the designated lane user, cyclists, they refuse to yield right of way? Why do joggers run contraflow on mixed use paths? They're not the fastest lane users, bicycles are - and yes, even those of us who follow the 12 mph speed limit for MUP guidelines - but I can't pass them because they're blasting their iPods and can't hear my bell. I can't pass them on the right, of course, because they may sense someone behind them and jump over right when I'm passing. So I try to give as perky and chirpy a "Hello! Exuse me! Sorry, but I need to pass." And how do they respond? They snarl and yell at me.

It doesn't have anything to do with the bicycle. It's the athletic activity. I see above how infuriated you get when you're jogging and people who are pleasantly strolling in the park get in your way. Athletic activity fuels the entitled thought that everyone else is the entitled one while you're being perfectly rational, even though you are the one in a physiologically altered state. It has something to do with maximizing your aerobic and anaerobic heart rate levels or something, it makes you exercisers more miserable and angry than drivers.

And you're the a-hole pedestrian who walks into the bike lane when the don't walk signal is on, right? What's you're point?

Aaaassssshoooooole!

Apes don't read philosophy.

Yes they do, Otto; they just don't understand it.

you are all wrong, this cop is a fiscal genius!

as someone said all the time that will be wasted fighting these tickets...its such an abuse of power.

justice would be to see this cop fired. Of course that wont happen. When there is no accountability, what other choice do people have but to despise the system and thwart it when they can?

And what is the difference between blocking a bike lane to write a biker ticket as opposed to blocking a traffic lane to write a ticket for an auto driver.

Uhhh, the point of the story is that the only reason cyclists left the bike lane at all was because he was blocking it. He caused the "infraction."

It would be like the cop parking in a traffic lane, jumping out of the car, and ticketing everyone stopped behind him for double parking.