General Cycling Discussion - Got a ticket for riding my bike (NYC)

Hello everyone,

Just brought my bike last week and I got my very first ticket on my bike. First off, I didn't even know people got tickets on bikes but I jumping ahead of myself. I was riding my bike on the street, not sidewalk because it was too crowded, I slowed down after I went through an intersection to make sure my girlfriend caught up. Meanwhile a cop just made a U-turn and without putting on his sirens stopped and got out. First then he asked, are you aware you didn't stop on the red light. I told the officer sorry but I am new to biking and wasn't aware that bikes had to stop on a red light. For goodness sakes, in NYC you never see bikes stop on a red. Next thing I know he asks for my ID and I got a ticket for $270.00. All I have to say is WTF. The messed up thing was that two other bikes did the same exact thing in front of him and didn't mention anything.

Anyway, I think its a little unfair considering I honestly didn't know the rules. Anyone know what I can do to expunge the ticket or at least reduce it?

John

Ouch! I usually do the "Idaho-stop" in DC and have not yet drawn the attention of police.....yet.

Be that as it may, you just got unlucky man. You can't expect the police to accept the "I'm new and didn't know" line though .....I know what you mean as a cyclist, but you have to understand that it is against the law and there's really nothing you can do but bite the bullet. It's just a bum deal.

It's hard to swallow when you see cars double-parked, speeding in residential areas, making illegal turns, running stop signs, etc. but it is what it is!

--to answer your question, I don't really see much you can do other than calling the number on the ticket and begging the person to reduce it to a smaller violation or something. Honesty would probably work best if you talk to someone.

Actually what annoyed me the most, besides the ticket, was the fact that the officer said he normally wouldn't give a crap and wouldn't give a ticket but today was a cycling initiative day so he had to care. Does that make sense?

Ouch! I usually do the "Idaho-stop" in DC and have not yet drawn the attention of police.....yet.

Be that as it may, you just got unlucky man. You can't expect the police to accept the "I'm new and didn't know" line though .....I know what you mean as a cyclist, but you have to understand that it is against the law and there's really nothing you can do but bite the bullet. It's just a bum deal.

It's hard to swallow when you see cars double-parked, speeding in residential areas, making illegal turns, running stop signs, etc. but it is what it is!

--to answer your question, I don't really see much you can do other than calling the number on the ticket and begging the person to reduce it to a smaller violation or something. Honesty would probably work best if you talk to someone.

Yes.
This crap happens to the best of us. It made me think of a time when I was at Lake Havasu fishing with friends some years ago. In California one needs a fishing license so my friends and I took our chances and went out anyway. I was the only one who caught a fish, got excited and jumped up. The patrolling ranger came over and gave out $100-$150 tickets to everyone but me.
A red light is a red light and you should have stopped. It is common sense. With a hefty fine of $270 see if you can get a reduced fee by doing community service. On a weekly basis I volunteer at a rescue mission and from time to time new faces pop up to do community service. Most come in because of traffic citations.

sorry that happened. I think in the NY Times series of stories on the city's Stop and Frisk data and marijuana arrests, riding on the sidewalk was like number 4 in the amount of tickets written. I tried finding the link but don't remember where it was.
$270 is a lot of money, bloomberg is really doing a number on us for his 3rd term.

You got a ticket for breaking the law then feigning ignorance? My goodness, what is this world coming to?

Right now NYC is in "revenue mode." They are doing everything they can to get revenue for the city, including writing more tickets. That is why there has been so many complaints that the NYPD (and the NYPD traffic agents) have a "gotcha" mentality, and the uproar has been so bad that City Council had to pass a law a couple months ago to mandate a 5-minute grace period before writing a parking ticket.

Just don't do anything within sight of an NYPD cop that you know will result in a "gotcha."

Same Roads, Same Rights, Same Rules.

Riding in the streets and didn't obey traffic laws? How dumb is that! HTFU, pay the fine and learn your lesson.
Ernest

Riding in the streets and didn't obey traffic laws? How dumb is that! HTFU, pay the fine and learn your lesson.
ErnestNot that I ever expect a conversation to stay even marginally reasonable on BF, but I think you guys are being a bit knee-jerk sarcastic.

I don't follow all the traffic rules 100% of the time, and I'd venture that nearly 100% of cyclists and motorists don't follow all rules, nor all rules to the letter....this is stupid. I follow the vast majority of them nearly all the time -- particularly the ones that are important to my safety and of people around me.

Do you all wait at a red at 5:30 AM in a deserted street with no cars or people around? Do you guys always slow to a complete stop at a stop sign on a deserted street instead of trying to avoid "unclipping" and then rolling on through?

Get over yourselves and ease up on the guy a bit....how about support him and ask why cab drivers never seem to get ticketed for FAR more dangerous maneuvers on busy streets, where there is 10X the risk of harming someone than with a bicycle?

BTW - I commute into and out of Washington D.C. daily and have done so safely for the past 3 years.

Not that I ever expect a conversation to stay even marginally reasonable on BF, but I think you guys are being a bit knee-jerk sarcastic.

I don't follow all the traffic rules 100% of the time, and I'd venture that nearly 100% of cyclists and motorists don't follow all rules, nor all rules to the letter....this is stupid. I follow the vast majority of them nearly all the time -- particularly the ones that are important to my safety and of people around me.

Do you all wait at a red at 5:30 AM in a deserted street with no cars or people around? Do you guys always slow to a complete stop at a stop sign on a deserted street instead of trying to avoid "unclipping" and then rolling on through?

Get over yourselves and ease up on the guy a bit....how about support him and ask why cab drivers never seem to get ticketed for FAR more dangerous maneuvers on busy streets, where there is 10X the risk of harming someone than with a bicycle?

BTW - I commute into and out of Washington D.C. daily and have done so safely for the past 3 years.

Why don't you get over yourself and stop acting like a child that asks, "He did it too, why did I get punished?". Accept responsiblity for your actions. If you want to run lights in a street with traffic, do so. Don't act like a child when you get caught out. No I don't have to support that kind of Behavior.
Ernest

I don't follow all the traffic rules 100% of the time, and I'd venture that nearly 100% of cyclists and motorists don't follow all rules, nor all rules to the letter....this is stupid.

I don't either, but I will suck it up and pay the fine at such time I get snagged for it. No different than getting caught speeding in the car.

The messed up thing was that two other bikes did the same exact thing in front of him and didn't mention anything.

Anyway, I think its a little unfair considering I honestly didn't know the rules.
That's some childish sႹÎt right there...really.

Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

Yeah it sucks, but sႹÎt...man up, man, take the heat and learn the lessons. Being stupid stinks, but not knowing you're stupid is truly a crime.

The upside is now you know, and you can share what you know with those who do not know. Ain't life grand? :)

OP, you did not get a ticket for riding your bike, you got a ticket for disobeying the law.

I told the officer sorry but I am new to biking and wasn't aware that bikes had to stop on a red light. Anyway, I think its a little unfair considering I honestly didn't know the rules.

R-I-G-H-T ... sure ... mmmm-hmmmm ......... pull the other one.

Your bicycle is a vehicle of the road, just like a car. The rules that apply to a car apply to you. How do you not know that?????

And even if you didn't realize that the bicycle is a vehicle of the road, would you walk right out among traffic, against the red light if you were a pedestrian? Have you no concern for your own safety and the safety of your girlfriend?

Pay the ticket and consider yourself lucky to be alive and uninjured. Oh and ... get ahold of a road rules booklet for your area and read it. You might be able to find one online. Those rules apply to YOU.


And +1 to the comment above, "OP, you did not get a ticket for riding your bike, you got a ticket for disobeying the law." ... riding your bicycle was fine, but you broke the law. You did something illegal. You got fined. That's how it works.

OP, you did not get a ticket for riding your bike, you got a ticket for disobeying the law.

Exactly! You got a ticket for running a red light. If you didn't want that on your record you should not have blown through the light.

Do a web search and find the NYC and NY state bicycle laws. Read them and print them out. Go to court. If the cop does not show up, ask the judge to dismiss the case since the city/state cannot prove it's case. If the cop shows, have your bike receipt to show the judge you just bought the bike, show him the print out of the laws and tell him you have read them, understand them and now follow them. Ask him if he can convert the ticket to a warning, community service or please at least reduce the fine.

Whatever you end up paying, just consider it your share of the NYC tax increase.

Anyway, I think its a little unfair considering I honestly didn't know the rules. Anyone know what I can do to expunge the ticket or at least reduce it?


You didn't know bicycles are supposed to stop at red lights? Don't you learn that in kindergarten?

And what's this "not sidewalk because it was too crowded"? Don't ****ing ride your bike on the sidewalk ever - that's not only illegal too but also dangerous to the pedestrians.

I am in no way saying he shouldn't have been ticketed, or that he shouldn't take responsibility for his actions.....read my first response to the OP -- it clearly states this.

I'm just saying it sucks for the OP....and that essentially any regular commuter (including drivers) really has no place to take the high-ground.....you're essentially telling this guys he's an idiot while probably breaking the same or similar road laws yourselves.

You just break the law with more style, more luck, and possibly less frequency....and as many of you have pointed out: more enthusiasm for sucking it up!



Pay the ticket and consider yourself lucky to be alive and uninjured. Oh and ... get ahold of a road rules booklet for your area and read it. You might be able to find one online. Those rules apply to YOU.Agreed. Mostly. I don't know that the risk of injury is all that great in a bicycle as compared to a car, when you can pull up to the top of the intersection, see in all directions, hear, and pass through the intersection in a vehicle which poses little to no risk of injury of people around you....hence the Idaho stop.

Most "road manuals" provide little if any information about dealing with bicycles safely in traffic (even when the area has a large number of cyclists, bike routes, and a 3-foot passing law). I'd see if there's a manual specific to cyclists first.

DC has a page about common laws where cyclists are likely to be faulted by police instead of motorists! Boy that inspires confidence in road laws protecting my safety!


And what's this "not sidewalk because it was too crowded"? Don't ****ing ride your bike on the sidewalk ever - that's not only illegal too but also dangerous to the pedestrians.Now this is a great BF post! It completely ignores the fact that riding on the sidewalk is actually legal and unavoidable in many areas (DC routes some MUP's over marked sidewalks - but prohibits sidewalk riding over the national mall and downtown areas.....other areas have similar situations).

Oh, I guess in keeping with the general tone here I'll add:

You broke the law idiot, what did you expect a freakin' shiatsu!?!

Can you in fact read the NY rules of the road? Can you even read my responses?

If that happened to me, I'd suck it up and pay the fine -- then come on here looking for threads like this to post sarcasm!

You give us cyclists a bad name! Not because we don't also do the same thing you did. No, but because you got caught!

Did you go to kindergarten? Because when I was there I learned to always ride my bike facing traffic, so I can see the cars coming!

Yawn.

If it's an MUP it's not a sidewalk. And even if it is legal, with what right are you bothering the pedestrians with your bike? Just because you're scared of the cars?

I'm just saying it sucks for the OP....and that essentially any regular commuter (including drivers) really has no place to take the high-ground.....you're essentially telling this guys he's an idiot while probably breaking the same or similar road laws yourselves.

Speak for yourself, don't speak for the rest of us. I can't speak for anyone else here, but I do my best to follow the rules of the road ... even to the point of looking them up for each place I live or visit to make sure I'm not inadvertently breaking some rule. For example, here in Australia it is a fineable offense to ride without a helment. I can get away without wearing a helmet in Canada, but I can't in Australia, and I knew that before I got here.

If you don't follow the rules of the road, you are at risk for fines.



Agreed. Mostly. I don't know that the risk of injury is all that great in a bicycle as compared to a car.

Big car ... little bicycle = many, many examples of people who have died or been seriously injured.



Most "road manuals" provide little if any information about dealing with bicycles safely in traffic (even when the area has a large number of cyclists, bike routes, and a 3-foot passing law). I'd see if there's a manual specific to cyclists first.

DC has a page about common laws where cyclists are likely to be faulted by police instead of motorists! Boy that inspires confidence in road laws protecting my safety!

Good for DC!! Seems like a place that takes the safety of its cyclists seriously. If you follow the same rules of the road as the vehicles do, and ride in a predictable manner, you'll have a much greater chance of riding safely.



It completely ignores the fact that riding on the sidewalk is actually legal and unavoidable in many areas

Wrong.

http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by TurbineBlade http://www.bikeforums.net/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=11171074#post11171074)
It completely ignores the fact that riding on the sidewalk is actually legal and unavoidable in many areas
Wrong.Not a fact.

Here's the prohibited sidewalk riding ares locally, linked from the Washington Area Bicyclists Association:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116706197888210191894.00045a67012a61efed392&ll=38.897713,-77.028666&spn=0.03026,0.055275&z=14

http://www.welovedc.com/2010/05/11/dc-mythbusting-bike-myths/

Outside of downtown and the national mall sidewalk riding is legal. I don't EVER ride sidewalks personally, but it's not 100% illegal as suggested.


Big car ... little bicycle = many, many examples of people who have died or been seriously injured.This is obviously true, no arguments. I was pointing out that a bicycle waiting at the front of an intersection, who can see in all directions (and hear) has a huge advantage in going through the intersection than a car in the same situation.

Hence the "Idaho stop" laws being considered by many states -- where cyclists are allowed to treat red-lights essentially as stop signs. Initial results of this law have been positive, which is surprising to many.


Good for DC!! Seems like a place that takes the safety of its cyclists seriously. If you follow the same rules of the road as the vehicles do, and ride in a predictable manner, you'll have a much greater chance of riding safely.Sort of true. Riding predictably and following the same general rules as cars is advisable.

DC doesn't IMO take the safety of cyclists too seriously though....just an opinion. This guy had 5 tickets prior to killing this cyclist and was still somehow still on the road:

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=104723&catid=187

You can dig up tons of stories where DC police, given tag numbers of vehicles involved in hit-and-runs and aggressive driving toward cyclists, don't even pursue the people. For the most part motorists are given the benefit of the doubt around here, and I would guess that it's the same or worse in other places.



Speak for yourself, don't speak for the rest of us. Then


I do my best to follow the rules of the road ... ;)....so we're back to the point that everyone probably is doing things that warrant tickets at some point.

Which is further supported by driving statistics:

http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/frames.asp?doc=/mpdc/lib/mpdc/info/traffic/pdf/redlight_stats_summary.pdf

running stop signs - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10368561

illegally parking - http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-928940/D-C-parking-fines-jump.html

ignoring toll booths - http://www2.insidenova.com/isn/news/local/traffic/article/virginia_cracks_down_on_toll_violators/17782/

driving drunk - http://www.alcoholalert.com/drunk-driving-statistics-dc.html

driving aggressively - http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2009/06/annual_crackdown_on_aggressive.html?wprss=getthere

fleeing the scene - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/21/AR2009092103498.html

None of this is to excuse responsibility - it just points out how stupid it is to stand and say that he's an idiot and we're not. I guess I'm more addressing the snide comments and holier-than-thou positions taken here....

--Done, moving on.

Yes, I do obey the laws. I always have because I know it's right to do. My taxes pay for "them" and I don't like throwing money away. If you run lights and signs, you are being cheated by your own actions and endangering others' safety. Would you accept being stopped for running a "Stop" when no apparatus actually were in place, but your taxes had payed for it? I think not. Excuse me, I digress.

Yes, I do obey the laws I know of, and if I don't know and get the ticket, I consider myself informed, pay the fine and move on a bit more informed.

BTW, I have never been detained by authorities while riding.

Believe it or not, it's the truth.

The OP should direct his fingers to the NY DMV website & read NY's traffic laws as they pertain to bicycles. As a former NYer, riding on the sidewalk is a big NO! even if it's empty! Unless NY has done a total turn-around in the last 20 years, bikes obey vehicular traffic regualtions. The OP should be very very happy his wallet is just light, and that he has no moving violation points on his drivers license!

wow a lot of hateful people here.

Contrary to what you may think I do not mind paying the ticket, what I am bothered with is how many people in NYC are not even aware of these laws and that's with a city of over 8 million. In fact, I would argue that people in this forum are a minority when it comes to knowing bicycle law. BTW when I learned to bike I was eight years old, back then my parents took me to a park to learn and ride my bike. I never took my bike on the street because you "did not do that" and in fact many bicyclist in and around the city do the same thing. It has been over 20 years since I was on a bike. So for those you think you learn this in school I did not.

My issue with the entire thing is that if they are going to treat us as a vehicle and expect us to know these laws then they should require to take classes, pass a test, and get a license or at the very least require that all bike shop in the city give a out a packet of the rules and bike safety when selling a bike. Going to my job I saw SO many bicyclist running red light, speeding through intersection while people were crossing, without night lights, etc. Are they wrong, no not really because many don't even know. In fact I casually talked to two people who were biking and I told them I got a ticket; they were surprised and admitted they do the same thing all the time, especially in suburban areas like got my ticket.

And for the jerks, I follow the law whenever I am aware of it. I won't be posting on this forum again.

Thanks for all the people who were understanding.

Contrary to what you may think I do not mind paying the ticket, what I am bothered with is how many people in NYC are not even aware of these laws and that's with a city of over 8 million.

Rule #1 of law: Ignorance of a law is not a defense. It's your duty to be sure that you verse yourself in the rules as they pertain themselves to your situation.

And just because you have no clue doesn't mean we have to go to class.

OP, you're a criminal! CRIMINAL!!!!! :notamused: :notamused: :mad:

OP, honestly ... you really didn't know it was illegal to blow through a red light on a bike? I could see you posting a thread about the unfairness of the value assigned to the ticket, however to plead ignorance for rules of the road ... especially the very basic rules ... you are just asking for these types of responses. Most of us are trying to improve the perception of the public to cyclists on the road. Someone who doesn't know the rules, or purposefully disregards them, is adding to the negative perceptions. You'll see very little sympathy here I'm afraid.

I'm really not surprised by some of the responses from this place.
that said, I hope you didn't vote for Bloomberg.

Many cyclists break the rules of the road, and many times get away with violations. You take the risk and sometimes you get caught. Also ignorance of a law is not a justifiable reason for breaking the law.

Suck it up and pay the ticket.

Interesting twist in the cycling on sidewalks in NYC debate:

—AC 19-176 - Riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited. Bicycles may be confiscated.
NOTE: Tickets for riding on the sidewalk fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Control Board (ECB). If you are given a ticket or summons that requires you to appear in criminal court instead, you should be able to get the ticket thrown out for lack of jurisdiction.

Interesting twist in the cycling on sidewalks in NYC debate:

—AC 19-176 - Riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited. Bicycles may be confiscated.
NOTE: Tickets for riding on the sidewalk fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Control Board (ECB). If you are given a ticket or summons that requires you to appear in criminal court instead, you should be able to get the ticket thrown out for lack of jurisdiction.

(Insert "Jaws" music here.)

It's illegal to run red in NYC?! really???

Running reds in nyc on a bike is like jaywalking in nyc, EVERYONE does it and NO ONE IS TICKETED. And I'm being serious, not just saying everyone meaning a lot of people, if a cyclist stopped for a red I would be shocked, and then i'd be horrified as a bus or taxi squished them. They run reds all of the time right in front of cops and nothing ever happens. Now when i see cyclists going the wrong way on a one way street i know that has to be illegal but not many of them do that...

But seriously, cops shouldn't choose when and if they want to do their job and enforce the law, that's probably why the confusion of it's legal or not. If they bust cyclists for running reds they should bust everyone for jaywalking. And they should bust people that smoke and toss butts on the ground and they should....if you think about it, by cops not enforcing the law against running reds in nyc they have practically legalized it in that area, and then all of a sudden they choose to enforce the law (reminds me of a Wire episode), it's not right.

And to everyone saying you broke the law, it's your fault, have you even been to NY?? do you ever go 1 mph over the speed limit? it's the same thing, in NY it is generally accepted as legal and ok to run reds, it's the norm for this city. Now for Dallas, I would never run a red because it is not accepted.

what I am bothered with is how many people in NYC are not even aware of these laws

My issue with the entire thing is that if they are going to treat us as a vehicle and expect us to know these laws then they should require to take classes, pass a test, and get a license or at the very least require that all bike shop in the city give a out a packet of the rules and bike safety when selling a bike.

I agree ... there should be a lot more education along those lines for both cyclists and drivers.

ask for defensive driving. not sure if it applies to bicycle tickets. 250 seems kind of high.
never been stopped but wonder if you have no id on you how do they know they are writing the ticket to the right person. no license plate.

wow a lot of hateful people here.

Contrary to what you may think I do not mind paying the ticket, what I am bothered with is how many people in NYC are not even aware of these laws and that's with a city of over 8 million. In fact, I would argue that people in this forum are a minority when it comes to knowing bicycle law.

I don't hate you at all.

Find, you have to fight this ticket. The next time, the find will double and it could mean points on your license if you have a car. Your insurance will find out and this could cost thousands over several years. Here's what to do.

Fight the ticket. Motorist all do the same and you would be surprised at all the "Lawyers" who make a living fighting these tickets INSIDE the court house! The lawyers actually have an office for all those looking to get off paying tickets. Their "Girls" who approach you aren't too bad looking either!

Go downtown and see for yourself at how motorist are getting tickets for DWI, speeding and not having insurance tossed out!! The whole thing is a joke and their offenses are far more serious than yours.

What you did is wrong and you will have to pay for it but it does not cost $270.00 for legal representation. The last time it happend, I paid about $150.00 dollars (cash only) or less. I would not feel guilty at all in paying a lawyer to get the ticket tossed out. In fact, you don't even have to be there once you hand over the money. Your lawyer just steps out of the room and meets with the officer. The officer then walks away and the judge tosses the ticket out. What is discussed the lawyer would not tell me but that's how it goes.

It was right for the police to fine you. It is your right to have legal representation dispute the ticket.

Do you guys always slow to a complete stop at a stop sign on a deserted street instead of trying to avoid "unclipping" and then rolling on through?

No need to unclip; the law just requires a complete stop. It's not even really a trackstand if nothing's coming, since as soon as you fully cease forward motion you can start again. Most cyclists can simply balance the bicycle in place for the half-second or less that's needed to get moving again without having to worry about the extra gyrations of trackstanding.

I got stopped by a sheriff in Cali several years ago because I was stopped at a light and saw the other light turn red and I started to roll before my light turned green. It was green by the time I got all the way through the intersection but I still technically ran the red light. He made a big fuss and filled out a ticket but after some sweet talking we agreed that he'd let me go on the condition I never do it again. Since then I've done rolling stops within sight of countless cruisers and haven't been stopped again. I make it a habit of looking over my shoulder to make sure one isn't right behind me though.

I have to say I find it far fetched that you "didn't know" that you had to stop for a red light.


how many people in NYC are not even aware of these laws

Its a red light, isn't it common knowledge that you have to stop for red lights?

I have to say I find it far fetched that you "didn't know" that you had to stop for a red light.

Its a red light, isn't it common knowledge that you have to stop for red lights?

The interesting thing is that I have driven and cycled all throughout Canada, the US, Australia, and have cycled in various parts of Europe ... and the red light is used in all the places I've been to indicate the necessity to stop. And it's not just a signal for motorised vehicles to stop, it's also a signal for pedestrians and bicycles.

I have a teaching degree and one of the lessons we teach the Grade One kids is all about the traffic signals ... red means stop, green means go. The kids have a game they like called Red Light where a kid calls out Green Light and everyone runs, then that kid calls out Red Light and everyone is meant to stop. If they don't stop and are seen still moving, they're out. The kids play it in the various parts of Canada where I've been ... and also here in Australia.

If a person grew up in the so-called "western world", the idea that we all stop at a red light should be deeply ingrained. Perhaps the OP comes from a country that does not teach the red light = stop concept.

The interesting thing is that I have driven and cycled all throughout Canada, the US, Australia, and have cycled in various parts of Europe ... and the red light is used in all the places I've been to indicate the necessity to stop. And it's not just a signal for motorised vehicles to stop, it's also a signal for pedestrians and bicycles.

I have a teaching degree and one of the lessons we teach the Grade One kids is all about the traffic signals ... red means stop, green means go. The kids have a game they like called Red Light where a kid calls out Green Light and everyone runs, then that kid calls out Red Light and everyone is meant to stop. If they don't stop and are seen still moving, they're out. The kids play it in the various parts of Canada where I've been ... and also here in Australia.

If a person grew up in the so-called "western world", the idea that we all stop at a red light should be deeply ingrained. Perhaps the OP comes from a country that does not teach the red light = stop concept.

You're position seems fair enough. However, I would like to ask you to provide an example of a country in the world that does not have traffic lights at all or one where the stop colour is something other than red.

Additionally, even if the above were true, ignorance is by no means an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules and it would behoove someone to be aware of basic traffic rules before heading out.

You're position seems fair enough. However, I would like to ask you to provide an example of a country in the world that does not have traffic lights at all or one where the stop colour is something other than red.

Additionally, even if the above were true, ignorance is by no means an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules and it would behoove someone to be aware of basic traffic rules before heading out.


Well, of course ... that's exactly my point. I don't know, I suppose it is vaguely possible the OP might be a very recent immigrant from some obscure country that doesn't use the red/green light signal system .... but I doubt it. Most likely the OP was born and raised in NY and if he/she is telling the truth, he/she must have just slept through the traffic signal classes. :lol:

wow a lot of hateful people here.

I won't be posting on this forum again.

I don't see any hateful people here ... and you need to have relatively thick skin to post anything on the internet.

Well, of course ... that's exactly my point. I don't know, I suppose it is vaguely possible the OP might be a very recent immigrant from some obscure country that doesn't use the red/green light signal system .... but I doubt it. Most likely the OP was born and raised in NY and if he/she is telling the truth, he/she must have just slept through the traffic signal classes. :lol:

In some of the more "chaotic" Asian cities, traffic works largely without traffic lights I think, but even there they exist and I'm pretty sure everybody is aware of their meaning. I doubt there's any country in the world without traffic lights, except maybe North Korea or Bhutan or whatever, but I think not even there.

And I'm not even buying that NYC cyclists ignore red lights all the time. Sure if no cars are coming I guess, but with all the traffic there I would be very surprised if stopping at red lights isn't the reasonable thing to do 9 out of 10 times for cyclists even if they don't care about red lights at all.

In NYC many residents don't have drivers licenses nor know how to drive. not mutually exclusive.
there's no drivers ed in public school like in the suburbs, they pay for driving lessons and it's expensive.

I was taught how to obey traffic signals as a VERY young kid, well before driver's ed age, just to help us walk across the street safely. Of course this was back in the olden days before every street was decked out with walk/don't walk signals. Perhaps kids these days are taught only to follow said walk/don't walk signals and completely ignore the red/amber/green lights. I dunno. Still seems odd to me.

You broke the law and you got a ticket. That is allowed. Isn't fair but is is the law. If you have a drivers license then you know the rules for bicycles in 95% of the country.

Now, for a little legal advice with the disclaimer that I am not a lawyer, if you follow this advice you do so at your own risk. It isn't fair that only some cyclists get tickets and others don't, the laws should be applied at all times to all people in a fair and unbiased way.

Do you have the option to take it to court? In Texas we do. I would get the officer on the stand and ask him if he saw the other cyclists that went through the red light ahead of you. Also try to find them (the cyclists). The argument is that the law is not applied fairly and uniformly to all citizens and therefore you should not be the exception, Video helps in this aspect also. Even if you can get other video of other cyclists where the officers see them blow the lights and don't enforce the law.

Just a suggestion. You can also ask about classes to maybe get the ticket expunged.

just a possible argument in court.

Last time I bought a bike in NYC ... dating myself here... in 1974, the guys at the shop hasd a parting shot - "hey" they shouted as I apparently fully intended to pedal away on the sidewalk - "you're a VEHICLE now!! Get off the sidewalk!!"

Where I live in WV there aren't many sidewalks - heck, there aren't many paved roads... but the sheriff's deputies have been know to give out speeding tickets to cyclists ona local BIG hill where the posted speed is 25 mph........

You got a ticket for breaking the law then feigning ignorance? My goodness, what is this world coming to?

I agree. No offense, but I don't think you'll ever go through a red light again! Better just serve this as warning, because it would have been a lot more money had you been hit by a car and had to go to the hospital!

I thought it was common knowledge that red light means "stop". If you don't know that, you should not be riding your bike. Or walking. I assume (and hope) you don't have a driver's licence.
Just because a lot of people run red lights doesn't mean it's OK. Pay the ticket and thank your lucky stars that you didn't end up under the truck.

And if you're still reading this, you should stick around and read some threads, lots of useful information that you can use.