Ticketed in NYC for failure to use a bike lane
10-04-11, 09:48 PM
#26
Cycle Year Round
Suggesting (note, merely a suggestion) it is possible to be considered reckless (primarily to the cyclist) , particularly by a judge or police officer if one cycles when you can't see roadway markings.
There are plenty of other ways to cycle recklessly, most don't threaten anybody but the cyclist.
Your claim that I'm saying it is reckless to cycle in the rain is quite an exaggeration.
No suggestions whatsoever about driving a car when you cannot see, as that is not relevant to the OP's query (OT).
There are plenty of other ways to cycle recklessly, most don't threaten anybody but the cyclist.
Your claim that I'm saying it is reckless to cycle in the rain is quite an exaggeration.
No suggestions whatsoever about driving a car when you cannot see, as that is not relevant to the OP's query (OT).
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10-05-11, 03:07 AM
#27
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The downside to bike paths, bike lanes, and the like is that they lead expectation and belief that bicycles should be restricted to them. That this gets codified into law is the worst possible outcome. Having bicycle advocacy groups lobbying for bike paths and bike lanes is like having black rights activists in the '60s lobbying for separate entrances, drinking fountains and restrooms.
Also in areas like NYC that have horse and buggy service as we also have here in St. Pete. Why aren't they restricted to "horse lanes" or "horse paths?" I mean the horse and buggies that I've seen in the Downtown area move much slower then bicycles do. Yet they're allowed to take the full lane, nor do they get honked at or harassed.
10-05-11, 07:26 AM
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Ithacan native here, lived for awhile in NYC too. Last time an NYC investigator was sent up to be chief of police in Ithaca (probably like seven years ago now), he left after less than a year because he couldn't pass a basic civil service exam - the difference between the two forces is night and day. In Ithaca, the police enforce the traffic laws which make traffic fatalities rare, despite two very drunk colleges in a rural area. In NYC, they 'crackdown' to the point inexperienced cyclists don't have much of a chance to even practice enough to comply with traffic law to begin with.
10-05-11, 08:53 AM
#29
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It was on the outskirts of Times Square, which is relevant in that it's an insanely busy, confusing, and distracting environment. All the lights, including car lights and billboards, reflecting in the rain-slicked streets, etc. Plus it was rush hour. The exact location was 8th avenue, between 42nd and 43d streets.
10-05-11, 09:25 AM
#30
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
Meanwhile some ones house was getting robbed and another was jacked up in an alley way. Seriously don't the NYPD have anything better to do?
10-05-11, 10:07 AM
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Back OT...
Anyway, I would hope he'll have charges dismissed but it involves the inconveniences of going to court.
I suppose they are doing this in rush hour for maximum influence on commuters and highest numbers of citations.
If you have charges dismissed, you might want to write a note to the precinct chief reminding him of this waste of police resources and your anger at being delayed and inconvenienced for doing nothing illegal.
Good luck nycbianchi.
Anyway, I would hope he'll have charges dismissed but it involves the inconveniences of going to court.
I suppose they are doing this in rush hour for maximum influence on commuters and highest numbers of citations.
If you have charges dismissed, you might want to write a note to the precinct chief reminding him of this waste of police resources and your anger at being delayed and inconvenienced for doing nothing illegal.
Good luck nycbianchi.
Last edited by No Whey; 10-05-11 at 10:25 AM.
10-05-11, 01:51 PM
#32
Cycle Year Round
10-06-11, 09:41 AM
#33
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Last night on my way up 6th ave in the 20's I had to swerve out of the bike lane to avoid horse poop. Not because of sanitation - it was thick enough I might have skidded out like heavy mud.
About 4-5 blocks later, I encountered two mounted officers, side by side up 6th ave, with the inner-most officer using the outside painted line of the bike lane to walk his horse on. I was not about to get crushed between a scared horse and a car, so I swerved out of the bike lane again.
Legally, NYC is a 'cycle at your own risk' kind of place. Watch out for cops seems to be the only universal constant.
About 4-5 blocks later, I encountered two mounted officers, side by side up 6th ave, with the inner-most officer using the outside painted line of the bike lane to walk his horse on. I was not about to get crushed between a scared horse and a car, so I swerved out of the bike lane again.
Legally, NYC is a 'cycle at your own risk' kind of place. Watch out for cops seems to be the only universal constant.
10-06-11, 03:02 PM
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I have no experence in riding in any city, as I live in the sticks.
I looked on Google maps at this area and could not see any signage about a bike lane only street markings and if you were in the right lane dodging cars then I can't see how you could have seen the road markings 4 lanes over. But did see two cyclists not in bike lane passing two marked police cars parked on either side of the road. Could not imagine driving with so much traffic never mine riding. Glad I live in the sticks.
I went up the street aways and could not imagine all of the pedestrian in the bike lane.
I looked on Google maps at this area and could not see any signage about a bike lane only street markings and if you were in the right lane dodging cars then I can't see how you could have seen the road markings 4 lanes over. But did see two cyclists not in bike lane passing two marked police cars parked on either side of the road. Could not imagine driving with so much traffic never mine riding. Glad I live in the sticks.
I went up the street aways and could not imagine all of the pedestrian in the bike lane.
10-06-11, 03:31 PM
#35
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It was on the outskirts of Times Square, which is relevant in that it's an insanely busy, confusing, and distracting environment. All the lights, including car lights and billboards, reflecting in the rain-slicked streets, etc. Plus it was rush hour. The exact location was 8th avenue, between 42nd and 43d streets.
I have no experence in riding in any city, as I live in the sticks.
I looked on Google maps at this area and could not see any signage about a bike lane only street markings and if you were in the right lane dodging cars then I can't see how you could have seen the road markings 4 lanes over. But did see two cyclists not in bike lane passing two marked police cars parked on either side of the road. Could not imagine driving with so much traffic never mine riding. Glad I live in the sticks.
I went up the street aways and could not imagine all of the pedestrian in the bike lane.
I looked on Google maps at this area and could not see any signage about a bike lane only street markings and if you were in the right lane dodging cars then I can't see how you could have seen the road markings 4 lanes over. But did see two cyclists not in bike lane passing two marked police cars parked on either side of the road. Could not imagine driving with so much traffic never mine riding. Glad I live in the sticks.
I went up the street aways and could not imagine all of the pedestrian in the bike lane.
Look here
10-07-11, 09:26 AM
#36
incazzare.
Well I have no knowledge of NYC, NY or the USA's road marking systems, but I too went to Google maps. I honed in on 8th Ave between West 42nd and West 43rd and zoomed right in to street view.
Look here
Look here
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10-07-11, 01:40 PM
#38
incazzare.
If you pan back a little more you can see that the lane does indeed start at that corner, as the OP stated.
Also if it's still confusing, go one block up in the aerial photo. You'll see some "sharrows" moving the bike lane out of the "protected" area and next to traffic.
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