General Cycling Discussion - Action Alert : Stop the Anti-Bicycling Bill!

READ UP AND SEND A FAX ONLINE : http://www.transalt.org/press/askta/041116bikebill.html
A draconian anti-bicycling bill, Int. No. 497, was recently introduced to the New York City Council by Councilmember Madeline Provenzano.

If passed, Int. No. 497 would require every bicycling New Yorker over sixteen years old to obtain bicycle license tags from the NYC Department of Transportation. The bill stipulates that those who do not display such tags on their bicycles would be subject to up to 15 days imprisonment in addition to hefty fines and bicycle confiscation.

T.A. needs your help to defeat this appalling bill. Please send a fax to Councilmember Provenzano now using the form below!

Practically speaking, Int. No. 497 would criminalize bicycling, create more incentives to drive, and erect yet another obstacle for those seeking to do their part to reduce congestion, clean our City's polluted air and stay healthy.

If passed into law, Int. No. 497 would reduce the number of people who bike by as much as 50%, erode the "Safety in Numbers" effect, and make biking more dangerous. Research in multiple cities has shown that tripling the number of bike riders on the street cuts motorist-bicyclist crashes in half. Conversely, reducing the number of bikers will increase crashes. Indeed, as biking has grown in New York City over the past ten years, annual motorist-bicyclist crashes have decreased--in 2003, 13 bicyclists were killed by motorists. Int. No. 497 would turn back the clock a decade to the days when 20-30 NYC cyclists were killed by motorists each year.

Councilmember Provenzano's staff explained that her intent is to make it easier for law enforcement agencies to hold reckless cyclists accountable. However, according to her staff, the bill is not informed by formal conversations with any law enforcement personnel.

This bill is a malicious attack against people who ride bikes in New York City. It is aimed at stopping bike riding. Int. No. 497 must be stopped.

Under Int. No. 497 those bicycling anywhere within the city limits without their registration number tag would face stiff civil and criminal penalties including:

* UP TO 15 DAYS IMPRISONMENT and
* $100 - $300 criminal fine and
* $100 - $300 civil fine and
* a misdemeanor charge and
* confiscation of one's bicycle.

man... those license plates would ruin the look of a brakeless bike.

this will probably get moved, but you should all check out this thread in the advocacy forum: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=75427&page=1

it's about a draconian bill proposed to make all cyclists get a license, or spend some time in jail and see their bikes forfeited. take action here:

http://www.transalt.org/press/askta/041116bikebill.html#fax

and, maybe, just so this thread doesn't get moved too quickly, discuss pie.

cheers.

edit - looks like turd beat me to it...

damn it! why is it so hard to ride a bike here? i wish i had a scanner, i'd post the flyer from the brooklyn critical mass the other night. among other things, it stated that it was illegal to ride in groups larger than two or to rode more than two abreast, and also that critical mass rides were technically illegal without a permit- all this despite the recent court decision. when i asked the cop who handed it to me about it, his reply was "i really don't know". i bet that wouldn't stop him from handing out tickets, though...

i just sent off my letter/fax of protest. this is beyond the ridiculous - let's hope this doesn't come close to passing.

in general, besides CM, i find new york to be a great town to bike in. i hope it continues to be.

I was going to post that as well, but you beat me to it. Everybody in NY should check it out, and send in the form that TA provides.

yeah, you're right, **** like this just pisses me off, though.

it's one thing to actually pass these bills, quite a diff't issue when it comes to enforcement. i mean, my bike would probably double in weight if i had all the required ****e (brake, rearview mirror, light, bell, license plate) put on it, so screw that. however, ever since the RNC, the police HAVE targeted and enforced a lot of these rules.. so just a word of caution is all. and better to NOT have these bills pass to begin with.

this will probably get moved, but you should all check out this thread in the advocacy forum: ...

FNB I didn't move your thread but I did merge it into this thread.

Marty

Hate to break it to you but rarely do form faxes sent to congressmen do anything to sway their opinion. Actual letters, and phone calls, are worth something. If you send a letter they feel like that have to respond, if they have to respond then they notice your existence. Faxing is too much like spam for people to care when they are dealing with hundreds of constituents each day.

Milo

[devil's advocate]
Well, on the other hand, this could be a good thing for cyclists in the long run. a bicycle licensing system could potentially legitimize cycling as a means of transportation in the eyes of motorists. Most of the shouts of "get off the road!" and the attempts to ride me into the ditch come from motorists who believe that the road belongs to them since they pay gas taxes and vehicle licensing fees. A small, reasonably-priced bicycle licensing fee could have an effect on making drivers view bicycles as vehicles as well.
I do realize that this isnt't the point of this particular bill.
I live in a very bicycle-friendly city and I would NEVER take part in a Critical Mass ride here. The city has put millions into making bicycle paths and traffic-calmed routes for cyclists. CM here serves no purpose other than pissing off motorists even more.
[\devil's advocate]

Is there a cm there?

No good can come of this.

[devil's advocate]
Well, on the other hand, this could be a good thing for cyclists in the long run. a bicycle licensing system could potentially legitimize cycling as a means of transportation in the eyes of motorists. Most of the shouts of "get off the road!" and the attempts to ride me into the ditch come from motorists who believe that the road belongs to them since they pay gas taxes and vehicle licensing fees. A small, reasonably-priced bicycle licensing fee could have an effect on making drivers view bicycles as vehicles as well.
I do realize that this isnt't the point of this particular bill.
I live in a very bicycle-friendly city and I would NEVER take part in a Critical Mass ride here. The city has put millions into making bicycle paths and traffic-calmed routes for cyclists. CM here serves no purpose other than pissing off motorists even more.
[\devil's advocate]

You're kidding yourself if you actually believe that some idiotic bike "license plate" is going to legitimize cycling in the eyes of the average motorist.

You're kidding yourself if you actually believe that some idiotic bike "license plate" is going to legitimize cycling in the eyes of the average motorist.

No I don't believe that. It'll be about as effective as Critical Mass.

No I don't believe that. It'll be about as effective as Critical Mass.


That makes me feel better somehow, and I think I agree with you for the most part about critical mass. Critical mass, and all it's recent controversy in nyc, could very well be the root of this bill.

if the point of critical mass is to raise awareness of cyclists, then it's doing the job. the real question is, what's the next step? something like this bill, or something that's actually positive?

"They" (that notoriously evil faction of faceless supervillains) have to act fast, or before you know it cyclists will want to use their drinking fountains, vote, own land, sit at the front of the bus, and eat pie.

Get on the phones, folks. Get in personal contact with your gov't representation. They're going to follow what they feel is the majority, and if they don't hear opposition to this sort of thing, well...who can blame them? It's their job to repesent the voice of the people, so be heard!

Glad I live in a place with ample bike paths and bike-friendly law enforcement, but witch hunts spread like wildfire. After Columbine, every rural high school in the area hired "resource officers" (off-duty cops) to police the halls and installed metal detectors at every entrance - no school around here has EVER had any problem whatsoever with students bringing weapons to class. Some seriously troubled youth go on a killing spree, and now every high school student in America must be hiding an Uzi in their bookbag.

Acording to the wording of the proposed law these would be exempt.
http://www.wizardbrothers.com/files/DSCF0037a.jpg
http://www.intellectualpoison.com/Pics/invertedunicycle.jpg
http://www.northwoodhighschool.com/unicycle.jpg

Acording to the wording of the proposed law these would be exempt.
http://www.northwoodhighschool.com/unicycle.jpg


The guy in the red...he can be stopped. That'd be ok. :rolleyes:

A proposal in the New York City Council will be voted on by its members. The members of that council care about two things: the support of the registered votors of New York City AND bribes (I mean campaign contributions).

So, if you are a registered voter in the city of New York (and registered in the district the "Honorable" lady represents) let her know you intend to vote for and FUND the campaign of her opponent in the next election.

Any letters or e-mails from people who are NOT registered to vote in her district will provide her staff with a few yuks, but will simply go to a land-fill.

In the last election, only one in three people under the age of twenty-five bothered to vote. And very few people in that age group provided bribes (I mean contributions) to political candidates.

How many members of this forum who live in a city that has a city council knows the NAME of the person who represents their neighborhood on the council? Voted in the last city election? Gave generous bribes (I mean contributions) to a city council member?

Don't waste your time e-mailing politicians. They want your votes and your money. Your whining is not of any interest to them.

How many members of this forum who live in a city that has a city council knows the NAME of the person who represents their neighborhood on the council?


Another important step is to contact your Councilmember (http://www.nyccouncil.info/constituent/member_list.cfm) urging them NOT to support this bill.

Those who live outside of New York City can send email to Mayor Mike Bloomberg (http://nyc.gov/portal/index.jsp?epi_menuItemID=bd08ee7c7c1ffec87c4b36d501c789a0&epi_menuID=beb0d8fdaa9e1607a62fa24601c789a0&epi_baseMenuID=27579af732d48f86a62fa24601c789a0&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fnyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fmail%2Fhtml%2Fmayor.html) who has the power to veto bills. Explain how this will effect your ability to ride in the city, whether its communting or paticipating in the numerous cycling events New York City hosts.

Stacy

Acording to the wording of the proposed law these would be exempt.
http://www.intellectualpoison.com/Pics/invertedunicycle.jpg


What the HELL is THAT?

Alanbikehouston: That's all well and good, but just know that in New York City (and especially the Bronx, people mindlessly vote Democrat when it comes to local elections, and in many districts, the Republicans don't even field a candidate. It's machine politics at its worst.

In other words, telling Provenzano you were going to fund the campaign of her opponent would, at best, generate a yawn.

Not that your idea is a bad one; it just wouldn't work so well here.