I got one on Northern Blvd in Queens. I rarely ride on a sidewalk, only in short cases like you mentioned. Again, the police car was camped out and snagging people...They came after me.

I got it dismissed but I had to take a sick day to do so. I wore a suit and tie and the judge basically told me to stay out of trouble for six months, Every day I see people ride on busy sidewalks and no one does a thing about it. But a dragnet grabs me and a bunch of other saps for riding on a huge sidewalk with no one on it.

Total utter BS.

Bottom line - it's against the law, regardless of how unfairly it's enforced.
Don't do it anymore and if you can get out of it great, if not don't sweat it.