RhythmRider

Maybe the recent crackdown against NYC cyclists was for the sole purpose of gathering data...read this

from the NY Post:

NEW YORK — Pedestrians and motorists, watch out - cyclists are abusing their ticket to ride!

Forty-one percent of two-wheeled travelers observed on a pair of SoHo bike lanes last week blew through red lights, pedaled the wrong way, zipped along the sidewalk or rode outside the lanes, a Post investigation found.

The lanes that intersect Lafayette and Prince streets got plenty of use - 7,182 cyclists rode them between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. over five days last week.

But reporters saw 1,759 of those riders - 24 percent - running red lights, narrowly avoiding collisions with pedestrians and cars.

Another 1,111, or 15 percent, rode the wrong way and bolted in and out of the lanes, pushing fellow cyclists into traffic or nearly sending them sprawling from their bikes.

Eighty-one adult riders rode the sidewalk instead of the bike lanes. In one case, a female biker riding the Prince Street sidewalk skimmed a pedestrian, knocked a shopping bag out of her hand, and kept riding.

There was an average of four near-collisions per hour on each route, with errant cyclists narrowly missing each other, pedestrians or cars as they entered the intersection.

Once, two cyclists crossed Lafayette against the light, one behind the other, snarling traffic as they barely avoided crashing.

Another time, a man on a unicycle going the wrong way down Lafayette ran the light, forcing a cyclist crossing Prince with the right of way to swerve to avoid a collision.

Several red-light runners forced cabs and trucks to stop short. And pedestrians in crosswalks were nearly struck several times by red-light runners or wrong-way riders.

"They seem to think they have more rights than cars," said a SoHo cop working near the intersection.

As part of a cyclist crackdown launched in late 2010, the NYPD has issued 9,427 summonses this year so far, 65 percent more than a year ago at this time.

John Buffa, who owns a restaurant near the intersection of Lafayette and Prince, is livid at the law-breaking.

"I can't stand them," Buffa said. "They think the streets belong to them, and they don't."


Hell on two wheels
Five days at the Prince and Lafayette bike lanes. Post reporters observed traffic in the lanes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. over five days last week. Here's what they found:

* Number of riders: 7,182

* Number violating traffic laws: 2,951, or 41 percent

* Ran red light: 1,759

* Wrong way/out of lane: 1,111

* Used sidewalk: 81

* Near-collisions: 189, 4.2 per hour

ctyler

"But reporters saw 1,759 of those riders - 24 percent - running red lights, narrowly avoiding collisions with pedestrians and cars."

Really? Reporters with an anti-cycling bias perhaps? Reporters standing in one place from 8-5? Come on. By noon they were in the local bar for their first drink of the day.

dougmc

Unfortunately, these sorts of figures are basically worthless if they don't also count cars and what they do.

41% sounds like a lot, but without anything to compare to ... it's worthless. If you count a cyclist making a right turn at a red at 2 mph as running the red light ... you should also count a motorist doing the same thing. At some intersections, everybody does that, whatever their vehicle.

And really, if there were nearly 200 "near collisions" and no actual collisions (if there were, I'd expect them to be reported) ... that suggests to me that the criteria for "near collision" are far too lose.

Also, a minor nit ... 2951 comes from just adding the three offenses up -- but if a single cyclist does all three, he's counted three times, which suggests that the 41% figure is too high. (If every cyclist did every offense, the offender percentage would be 300%!)

UptownJoe60640

I advocate bicycle use whenever possible. You do something illegal I believe you should pay the price and that includes cyclist!

AC1074

Yea, how did they get that reporters saw 24 percent committing violations?? The restaurant owner's comment was hilarious.

UptownJoe60640

It doesn't belong to any group... it belongs to EVERYONE and everyone needs to obey the law! I say ticket the crap out of them... it gives cyclists a bad name
that we don't need! I see this stuff every day!

AC1074

I agree everyone needs to obey the law. I thought this was a NYPD release but after re reading the article it was something the newspaper did. Having reporters watching intersections and lanes of traffic looking for bicycle rider violations is a bit odd.

fuji86

I still say if the road and intersection is clear, run the red/stop sign on a bike is no harm, no foul. No excuse for going the wrong way, but I'd like to see the out of lane violation. Just yesterday, I had a car block the road by the gutter, jerk just sat there with his right turn blinker on. Nobody could go by him and he wouldn't go into the parking lot driveway. I wanted to give him the botd (benefit of the doubt), but there were no cars or pedestrians. So basically I had to go out to the left side of the lane to pass him. So I'm out of lane, but going around an idiot that caused an issue for me to have to compensate for his inconsiderate driving habits. On the sidewalk, only if there is a sign prohibiting it, otherwise I'll weigh whether or not it's safer for me to be on the street or sidewalk. Near collisions, no excuse for that just like going the wrong way.

UptownJoe60640

I don't care who reports on it just as long as cycling isn't given worse of a name than we already have. I wish every cyclist,
and motorist, were to be ticketed even more for braking the law! It is ridiculous that people cannot wait a short time to cross
through an intersection, adults riding bikes on sidewalks, not signalling when turning and so on and so on. These are basics
everyone knows they should be doing and the importance of these laws.

I am in no way saying cars should be overlooked in any way here. I am simply saying we need to be more responsible and
this behavior isn't acceptable. We need to be treated as equals and all obey the laws and everyone would be much happier.
Is this going to happen? No, certainly not! What should be when they break the law? Ticket the crap out of them and make
them pay a fine for having to waste city cops time on silly non-sense!

exile

How about the cops statement;

"They seem to think they have more rights than cars," said a SoHo cop working near the intersection. "We usually don't ticket or fine them, but we should, because they break all the rules. I've seen a lot of accidents right here involving cyclists. It happens all the time."



What is his name and badge number? He seems to view violations all the time but does nothing about it. What does he expect to happen if he doesn't enforce the laws .

UptownJoe60640

Absolutely agree. If the law is being broken all the time in front of you, and you do nothing, you are apart of the problem! I totally agree with you!

genec

But is that an actual violation?

Here in CA you can leave the bike lane for a list of exceptions that pretty much gives you almost any reason but "I feel like it" as an excuse.

It is quite possible that the "reporters" don't have a clue as to bike law and don't know what (if any) similar exceptions for NYC exist.

UptownJoe60640

Yeah, not really sure where they were trying to go with that argument. If you need to leave the bike lane to change lanes, for whatever reason,
signal and move over when it is safe. Same thing for cars! I do agree though, if there is a bike lane you should use it! We do advocate more
bike lanes so we have our share of the road right? But, like I said, if you need to change lanes, for whatever reason, signal and change lanes
when safe.