NYPD Comments On Alleged "Biking While Sexy" Ticket Threat

The full picture of Rjicken in the offending skirt (via News)

Yesterday, a Dutch tourist alleged that a cop threatened to ticket her for cycling while wearing a skirt in SoHo last spring. Jasmijn Rijcken says the officer told her that her skirt was dangerous because she could distract drivers and potentially cause them to crash—the whole thing sounded like a Jackie Chiles lawsuit in the making. Today, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne commented on the story...rather unsatisfactorily: "Whether this story bears even a modest semblance of what actually occurred is impossible to establish without being provided the purported officer's name and getting his side of the story."

Maybe we're reading too much between the lines, but that sure sounds like he's saying, "Totally could have happened, knowing these chuckleheads!" Rjicken, the general manager of the VANMOOF bicycle company in Amsterdam, was in town for the New Amsterdam Bike Show when the cop allegedly scolded her for cycling while sexy. She retold the story to the News, noting how she thought he was joking until he asked to see her ID. "I didn't even think for one second that my outfit could be harmful or disturbing," she said.

As we noted yesterday, it is decidedly not illegal to wear a skirt while cycling. You won't even find that "violation" under the NYPD's questionable "cheat sheet" for cyclist rules, which is part of their massive cyclist crackdown.

Commenter Jim Dyer on Streestblog points out this NY Times article from 1899 about a Chicago policeman who thought the use of bicycles by women degraded them morally: "A large number of our female bicyclists wear shorter dresses than the laws of morality and decency permit, thereby inviting the improper conversations and remarks of the depraved and immoral." Suddenly, it all makes sense: obviously a time-travelling bluecoat from 1899 landed in lower Manhattan that day, and upon seeing Rjicken, was terrified for her well being, lest some coarse and undignified peasants started hollaring at her.

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By Ben Yakas in Arts & Entertainment on June 12, 2011 4:40 PM

Comments [rss]

African mangoes lover

I think that it is creepy, however if that cop looks yummy hmm.. .why not. But it is still creepy.

M. Seiss - AvivA Intercambio

I don't know, but attention-whore seems to pop into my head, either that or lack of basic decency.

Fat Girl Slim

She's a pathetic liar looking for attention.

jbloggs

aah. good to see the latest commercial for VANMOOF in Gothamist. I really hope you guys are at least taking some sponsorship dollars/euros for this. or are you that gullible?

Zachary Uram

Sexy legs on that Dutch babe!

zincink

I don't know, but attention whore seems to pop into my head, either that or lack of basic decency.

Guest

By the NYPD is what you surely mean.

zincink

No, as a woman with some basic manners.

OvaltineJenkins

What?

TheRealCannibal

If I got a ticket for being too sexy on a bike, I'd fucking frame it

Reverend Flash

I like how the commissioner wouldn't commit to a real answer on the subject; just a lot of sneaky double-talk about confirming the woman's story.

newambikeshow

For more info on The New Amsterdam Bike Show, the first bicycle show in NYC in over 5 years, please visit http://www.newambikeshow.com/!

Guest

While I sometimes question their intelligence - riding down Houston at 5 pm with no helmet in flip flops for example - and bless void for them to be safe.

You still gotta love a pretty girl on a bike.

chlyn

"You still gotta love a pretty girl on a bike."

Not when she's a fakety ass fake fake business owner exploiting the natives' distrust of its police.

bggb

you mean exploiting the reputation that the NYPD has meticulously cultivated for itself?

Perhaps.

mistermarkdavis

The viral angle us pretty interesting. If ge wanted to ticket get it could be for lack if reflectors and bell which are required by law.

randomtransplant

Your standards are too high. Its fairly clear this was not an intelligent campaign which will drive any sales.

As if the American market needed any more competition to sell vehicles using sex & rebellion. Please.

Guest

It was a no-brainer - say something bad about a cop and watch the trained monkeys never even question the information. Surprised we didn't have a "The same pig did this to me last week!!" post.