[UPDATE] Cops Ticketing Cyclists In Central Park For Speeding

This morning's cyclist speed trap in Central Park. (Dave Chomowicz)

[UPDATE BELOW] After a meeting last week with some 300 angry cyclists protesting the NYPD's Central Park red light crackdown, Captain Philip Wishnia conceded that "there’s a possible way of correcting” the policy of strictly applying driving laws to bike riders. But it looks like that correction was not made, because early this morning the NYPD set up a speed trap at the bottom of a hill in Central Park and, using a radar gun, ticketed cyclists for speeding—in the early morning twilight, when the park is closed to traffic and largely used for exercise.

Dave Jordan of the Century Road Club Association tells us that at least six or seven cyclists received speeding tickets this morning for biking over 15 mph (not the actual speed limit), and cyclist Dave Chomowicz, who took this photo, says, "They had a radar gun out. One or two riders in the picture and two of my teammates were ticketed, and some triathletes got tickets. I believe one of the cyclists was going 20 mph. I took the picture at 6:45 this morning and came back to the park for a while, after cars started coming in and the speed trap was gone. Cars were going far in excess of 15 mph. I saw cars going through red lights."

Jordan believes six or seven cyclists were ticketed for speeding, and tells us one was slapped with fines totaling $350. "These are athletes and responsible people," says Jordan. "The people they want are people who are doing this in the middle of the day on the weekends when the park is crowded and you want to do something with your kids and there's some guy f-bombing as he's biking around. The law states that we should yield to pedestrians. To enforce lights that have no purpose when there are no cars in the park just doesn't make sense."

Cyclist Greg Lowdermilk, a disabled Iraq war veteran who works for FEMA, tells us he got hit with a $140 speeding ticket. "The speed limit is actually 25 mph, and I got a ticket for going 25 in a 25," says Lowdermilk. "I know this because I have a computer on my bike. The cops said the speed limit was 15, but on the ticket it said it was 20. It's easy to beat these things but it just becomes a hassle for me. Another guy I rode with was also cited; he was told by one of the cops that at the entrances to the park there are signs saying it's 15. But we couldn't find a single one of those signs.

"There are a lot of cyclists who break the rules in Central Park but the ones who use it for training are the ones suffering. Pedestrians walk right in front of us, they let their dogs run loose without leashes, and then you have cyclists going the wrong way and that makes us all look bad. I told the cops it must really suck to have a job like yours, and one cop said this is the last thing he wants to be doing. I mean, how embarrassing being out there pointing a radar gun at cyclists?"

Another cyclist, Bill Weiss, tells he got a $270 ticket:

My ticket occurred at 6:12, so still in the dark. As I approached the red, I slowed to less than 10 mph and unclipped a foot to see why there were three unmarked cars parked in a lane of the park drive. I thought there was a traffic accident or someone was filming or something. As I moved over to check it out closer, the cops came out from behind their cars and asked me to pull to the side. Rather sneaky, I thought. Technically, I ran my red light (at a child's crawl), so not much I can do. They were firm, but not impolite. They took my license, issued the summons and told me to ride safely in the park.
I attended the precinct meeting last week and witnessed the barbs between cyclists and Captain Wishnia. The cyclists, for the most part, did little to help their plight. I can't help but think this morning's activities was a "thank you" from the precinct's Captain. As a coach, like Dave Jordan, I simply cannot afford to ride in the park anymore. Sad days.

Tomorrow the City Council will introduce legislation that would change the lights in Central Park to flashing yellow, but if you're only allowed to go 15 mph, what's the point of using the park for exercise anyway? Jordan, who is a coach, adds, "I can't go in Central Park for training anymore."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on March 22, 2011 3:46 PM

Comments [rss]

Michael Kaye

How can I get permission to use Dave Chomowicz' photo above in a blog post?

Rick Krupa

Hmmm, NYPD budget cuts and they are focusing on this. "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark". Or in the current situation, something is rotten from Ray Kelly all the way down. I can't believe that anyone who is educated on the current situation would believe this is not ridiculous.

DC

The world has gone mad.

Eric Luke

If I ever get a speeding ticket on my bicycle, I'm framing that shit on my wall.

James Mainiero

I got a ticket walking my dog off leash (before 8) on the horse path in front of tavern on the green where there where no signs. I thought it was just a dirt trail for bikes. They stopped their van in front of me and jumped out running at me. My dog was freaked to say the least. They made me wait 15 minutes too.

wkgreen

So bikes get speeding tickets, but in the meantime the death machines that we call cars are good for 40 mph. Go figure.

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

4DRJ69

r u or were u a competitive cyclist or is your gut as fat as your head.
Cycling competition in Central Park goes way past 100 years. and we have had Olympic and professional champions and competitors train and race in Central Park
cyclists have changed their residences so that they are near Central Park for daily training rides
They have rescinded and apologized for recent tickets but not the overall idea. This is extremely important to thousands of cyclists and the economy of the cycling industry.
Lighten up!!!

CyclistNumber6

[UPDATE] - I was one of those ticketed this morning. Police just paid me a personal visit (7:55pm) and provided a personal apology that there has been some mistake over what the officers thought was the speed limit (they thought 15mph) to that of what is outlined in Central Park’s rules which is 25mph. I am excited to report they revoked my ticket...

Leonard Diamond

From the Official Central Park website for those few who think it's ok to ticket cyclists at 15 mph

Bicycle Riding
Offering both hilly and flat terrain, Central Park provides cyclists with varying levels of difficulty. Circling the entire Park, the drives provide three long-distance routes of 6.1 miles, 5.2 miles or 1.7 miles. There are shorter distances if you cross the Park at a number of scenic locations.

The Park is closed to traffic on Monday through Friday, 10am to 3pm and 7pm to 7am the following morning, and weekends from 7pm Friday to 7am Monday. In addition, the East Drive is closed weekday mornings (open only 3pm to 7pm), and the West Drive is closed weekday afternoons (open only 7am to 10am). When the Park is open to traffic a bikers' lane is always available, though we do not recommend using the Drives when they are open to traffic. The Park is officially closed from 1am to 6am.

No permit is required to bike in Central park, however there are several laws and rules that every cyclist must obey:

•Pedestrians have the right of way at all times.
•At crosswalks, cyclists must slow down, yield to pedestrians and then proceed cautiously.
•Cycling is prohibited on all pedestrian pathways.
•Cyclists are required to obey all traffic laws, such as traffic signals, stop signs, and a maximum speed limit of 25 mph, though it is recommended they travel at a speed appropriate to their surroundings.
•The law requires that children under 14 years of age wear a helmet, but it is recommended that all cyclists wear a helmet.
•They must always travel counterclockwise around the park.
•Cyclists must use only the outer half of the recreation lane when the drives are open to cars; when they are closed to cars, cyclists must stay out of the recreation lane which is for runners and walkers only.

Rick Krupa

So, do pedestrians in the recreation lane portion for cyclists receive some type of ticket? no. This is great info. Thanks Leonard.

Dwayne Hoover

And the pigs wonder why we hate them.

nycgrfxartist

FallOut "If you drive a vehicle, you are subject to vehicular laws! Why is that so hard for you and your ilk to understand?
Obey the law and stop whining like a kid on his tricycle. You're not special and you and the cycling zealots deserve no special treatment. "

You are absolutely right, no special treatment, so lets start handing out jay-walking tickets, and tickets to runners in central park who go through the same red lights (yes, legally they are supposed to stop also). love to see how fast you change your tune when you receive one.

cprensky

its truly amazing and rather telling that a story like this will still get comments savaging cyclists with the same tired "get off our roads" language. what planet are people from when they defend the actions of the police that were clearly wrong as stated by the posted law? also, apparently the police are already walking this back after so much blow-back and have recognized that the speed limit is, in fact, 25 mph. now, you may not like cyclist; you may not want them on "your" road, but don't make dumb stuff up and issue admonishment while they are clearly operating within their legally permissible guidelines.

misstorso

And everyone wonders why Americans are fat? Let us ride our damn bicycles!

farleft

This comment is relevant because it's being made by "Miss Torso."

NY_Cyclist

Knowingly ticketing people who have not broken the law is harassment. There is a mechanism in place for reporting officers who abuse their authority - it's even online:

https://www.nyc.gov/html/ccrb/...

I appreciate that officers are just "following orders" but the regular risk of $270 or a day-off work is not not something that law-abiding cyclists should be forced to run.

j4ys0n

thanks! definitely filling this out! tweeted it also

facted

I wonder if Usain Bolt would get a speeding ticket while running in the park.

Gwinny

Yeah, and doesn't the Marathon go through the park at the end?

won't someone PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!??

NY_Cyclist

Knowingly ticketing people who have not broken the law is harassment. There is a mechanism in place for reporting officers who abuse their authority - it's even online:
https://www.nyc.gov/html/ccrb/...