Jenee

Hi! Just joined this group. First place to come up on Google, when I typed in bicycle citation in New York City. I live in Brooklyn and have had my bike now for a couple of years. The police here are out of control with ticketing people for riding on the sidewalk. I have contacted several agencies and places to find information and help for advocacy, but no such luck. Are the bikers in New York a stuck up bunch or what is the deal?

I really enjoy riding my bike, but if I am going to be treated like a criminal for doing a leisure activity then it's time to move elsewhere. Seriously.

Sorry for the rant. Probably off topic for an introduction.

Juha

Cheers Jenee, welcome to Bike Forums.

Is sidewalk riding allowed in New York City? Around here it's not, but I know in the US it varies from one place to another.

--J

Jenee

Thanks No it's not legal to ride on the sidewalk, although there is a sidewalk here where this a bike lane. Haven't quite figured out how that fits into the law, but the point is... Not sure where you are, but in the suburbs and other places, it is probably a hell of a lot safer riding in the street on your bike then in New York. NYC is notorious for **** drivers. And I know how that works very well cause I crashed two cars living in L.A., cause I couldn't deal with the traffic there.

I don't make riding on the sidewalk a habit, but at the same time, sometimes it is necessary. I try to be very conscious of pedestrians. The unfortunate thing about the law is it is not always black and white. There are gray areas.

And when I was pulled over, I was riding in the street even though the police had originally seen me riding on the sidewalk to cross to the street. He passed me by. I don't see how he can write a ticket for after the fact. And from what I have found, I am not sure the police can actually write the tickets for riding on the sidewalk at all. Supposedly the Environmental Protection whomever is supposed to do the task. Whatever, LOL.

I just feel like bikers have rights and need their voices to be heard. There is no test for riding a bike - no license. Anyone can do it, so police should be more understanding in enforcing the laws.

Sadly in my neighborhood, things are heavily insane here. Police trying to fill their ticket quota and a lot of rookies. Not sure how bothering citizens who are getting from place A to B is the issue when there are people 24 / 7 blasting their car stereos, stealing, murdering people and all the other fun filled crimes that go on in my neighborhood pretty much around the clock.

No one likes to feel like a criminal. I ride my bike to save money and for exercise. I see a lot of other people who are seriously bike bullies and riding in places where they are running people over. Really not cool.

But that's a whole other issue about advocating for rights and changing laws, which I am all for, since the city where I live is a nightmare of chaos, to be quite frank.

I pay ridiculous amounts of rent never mind the taxes to live in a place where I am made to feel like I am committing a heinous sin. Not really improving the quality of life in my opinion.

GeoBigJon

Welcome to the forums! Sometimes I think I would like to visit NY, I had no idea riding on the sidewalk was prohibited. Crazy how laws vary from state to state, I would think they would let cyclist be unless they were causing problems.