Comments on: You Heard It Here First: Cyclists Ticketed for Using New Willy-B Lanes http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:32:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: ricky http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59660 ricky Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:06:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59660 The police in the area have received many complaints of police not following the rules of the road in regards to bikers and are stepping up enforcement nonetheless--this has been discussed at several citizens who hates pigs meetups. That doesn't excuse this, of course, but FYI The police in the area have received many complaints of police not following the rules of the road in regards to bikers and are stepping up enforcement nonetheless--this has been discussed at several citizens who hates pigs meetups. That doesn't excuse this, of course, but FYI

]]> By: Ian Dutton http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59607 Ian Dutton Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:59:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59607 <blockquote>Perhaps DOT is not the functioning agency we thought it to be.</blockquote> Perhaps NYPD is as bad as you say it is. Doc's pretty much right: NYPD is a big organization with a lot of people that like to exercise the power if the badge. There are a lot of cooler-heads in the PD who certainly agree that a 5-year-long crackdown on reasonable cycling is a giant waste of resources. But there are some that think it's cool when you can harass a group - or cool to jam the antenna of your radio into someone's anus while he is being restrained. While the former attitude is more prevalent than the latter, PD is undeniably an organization with many individual attitudes that lead to very schizophrenic overall behavior, despite many many very professional individuals.

Perhaps DOT is not the functioning agency we thought it to be.

Perhaps NYPD is as bad as you say it is.

Doc's pretty much right: NYPD is a big organization with a lot of people that like to exercise the power if the badge. There are a lot of cooler-heads in the PD who certainly agree that a 5-year-long crackdown on reasonable cycling is a giant waste of resources. But there are some that think it's cool when you can harass a group - or cool to jam the antenna of your radio into someone's anus while he is being restrained. While the former attitude is more prevalent than the latter, PD is undeniably an organization with many individual attitudes that lead to very schizophrenic overall behavior, despite many many very professional individuals.

]]> By: Doc Barnett http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59593 Doc Barnett Sat, 29 Nov 2008 16:28:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59593 If I were the DOT, I would "reach out" the local precincts with paint and sinage (which can take days or weeks to complete) as well. Letters and emails are a waste of time with goons that write tickets for doing exactly as the nearly complete markings indicate. These precincts have shown that they'll go to the ends of the legal interpretive earth to write cyclists tickets, so the only thing left to do push them off. But I'm flattered to see that some famously parochial Soho residents will take the anti-safe-cycling jihad even to low-class Brooklyn (after jamming the internets with endless comments telling Brooklynites on bicycles to stay out of their precious Soho). If I were the DOT, I would "reach out" the local precincts with paint and sinage (which can take days or weeks to complete) as well. Letters and emails are a waste of time with goons that write tickets for doing exactly as the nearly complete markings indicate. These precincts have shown that they'll go to the ends of the legal interpretive earth to write cyclists tickets, so the only thing left to do push them off. But I'm flattered to see that some famously parochial Soho residents will take the anti-safe-cycling jihad even to low-class Brooklyn (after jamming the internets with endless comments telling Brooklynites on bicycles to stay out of their precious Soho).

]]> By: nyctaxiphoto http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59585 nyctaxiphoto Sat, 29 Nov 2008 03:49:21 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59585 If the DOT is claiming the area as a shared use zone, I highly recommend that everyone who got tickets should photograph the area for proof and print webpages highlighting the controversy, then fight the ticket in whatever courts these tickets are for. I can't see any of these tickets actually standing up in a court of any kind. If the DOT is claiming the area as a shared use zone, I highly recommend that everyone who got tickets should photograph the area for proof and print webpages highlighting the controversy, then fight the ticket in whatever courts these tickets are for. I can't see any of these tickets actually standing up in a court of any kind.

]]> By: Sean Sweeney http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59457 Sean Sweeney Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:21:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59457 Perhaps DOT is not the functioning agency we thought it to be. Perhaps DOT is not the functioning agency we thought it to be.

]]> By: somebody http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59456 somebody Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:28:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59456 @ doc barnett eyup . . . . i shoulda read more carefully. @ doc barnett

eyup . . . . i shoulda read more carefully.

]]> By: st http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59455 st Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:02:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59455 i do not understand why NYPD and DOT do not work together on issues like these. Can we get a meeting between Janette and Ray? So many of the positive efforts by DOT to make our streets safer and more efficient are undermined by NYPD's lack of support/buy-in. i do not understand why NYPD and DOT do not work together on issues like these. Can we get a meeting between Janette and Ray? So many of the positive efforts by DOT to make our streets safer and more efficient are undermined by NYPD's lack of support/buy-in.

]]> By: Doc Barnett http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59452 Doc Barnett Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:12:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59452 The "first" was for predicting it. Oh, joy, I do live in 84th which has been responsible for harassing salarymen and ladies riding bicycles to work on the brooklyn bridge bicycle path (of all things!). I'll add their meetings to my civic calendar, though I do admit I fear being attacked with canes when I speak out in favor of the bicycle. The "first" was for predicting it.

Oh, joy, I do live in 84th which has been responsible for harassing salarymen and ladies riding bicycles to work on the brooklyn bridge bicycle path (of all things!). I'll add their meetings to my civic calendar, though I do admit I fear being attacked with canes when I speak out in favor of the bicycle.

]]> By: somebody http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59450 somebody Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:47:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59450 oh, and, no, i did not hear it here first! thanks, Gothamist!!! oh, and, no, i did not hear it here first!

thanks, Gothamist!!!

]]> By: somebody http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59449 somebody Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:46:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59449 whether the directions to use the sidewalk prove to be correct or legal does not matter as much as the poor design and safety implementation. i think that location is a pretty lousy place to make a left turn - a turn that pits cyclists against a nearly invisible car turning from s5th pl. this is particularly a problem when it comes to those unfamiliar with the intersection especially inexperienced cyclists who may well not realize they are actually turning into a lane for cars driving the opposite direction. as i have said before, the DOT needs to stop slapping down bike lanes just to meet the mileage goal and work harder on proper design and placement. fools!! whether the directions to use the sidewalk prove to be correct or legal does not matter as much as the poor design and safety implementation. i think that location is a pretty lousy place to make a left turn - a turn that pits cyclists against a nearly invisible car turning from s5th pl. this is particularly a problem when it comes to those unfamiliar with the intersection especially inexperienced cyclists who may well not realize they are actually turning into a lane for cars driving the opposite direction.

as i have said before, the DOT needs to stop slapping down bike lanes just to meet the mileage goal and work harder on proper design and placement. fools!!

]]> By: Jaywalker http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59448 Jaywalker Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:25:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59448 Sounds like an underhanded way to raise revenue in the midst of a financial crisis to me! Sounds like an underhanded way to raise revenue in the midst of a financial crisis to me!

]]> By: Geck http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59446 Geck Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:17:29 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59446 I think we will be seeing more of these shared use lanes (outside the most congested portions of Manhattan). They often make a lot of sense. Bikes fall somewhere between pedestrians and motor vehicles and sometimes they can safely and appropriately share pedestrians areas (taking it slow and yielding to pedestrians). I think we will be seeing more of these shared use lanes (outside the most congested portions of Manhattan). They often make a lot of sense. Bikes fall somewhere between pedestrians and motor vehicles and sometimes they can safely and appropriately share pedestrians areas (taking it slow and yielding to pedestrians).

]]> By: Marty Barfowitz http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59445 Marty Barfowitz Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:45:50 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59445 This is an absurd and mindless waste of NYPD resources. 100 cyclists and a City Council member need to show up at the next precinct community council meeting to demand that this stop and that the police direct their resources towards preventing dangerous motor vehicle driving, horn-honking and the like. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_094.shtml If biking on the sidewalk is, in fact, such a big problem, enforce against it in a place where pedestrians are actually at risk. This entrance to the Wburg Bridge is not a problem. The cops just want to write a bunch of tickets so that the next time a community person complains about dangerous cyclists they can say, "Look, we've handed out X number of summonses, we're addressing the problem." NYPD: Pathetic. This is an absurd and mindless waste of NYPD resources. 100 cyclists and a City Council member need to show up at the next precinct community council meeting to demand that this stop and that the police direct their resources towards preventing dangerous motor vehicle driving, horn-honking and the like.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_094.shtml

If biking on the sidewalk is, in fact, such a big problem, enforce against it in a place where pedestrians are actually at risk. This entrance to the Wburg Bridge is not a problem. The cops just want to write a bunch of tickets so that the next time a community person complains about dangerous cyclists they can say, "Look, we've handed out X number of summonses, we're addressing the problem."

NYPD: Pathetic.

]]> By: bk http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59443 bk Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:29:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59443 The police in the area have received many complaints of cyclists not following the rules of the road and are stepping up enforcement--this has been discussed at several precinct meetings. That doesn't excuse this, of course, but FYI The police in the area have received many complaints of cyclists not following the rules of the road and are stepping up enforcement--this has been discussed at several precinct meetings. That doesn't excuse this, of course, but FYI

]]> By: Robert Milkwood Thomas http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59442 Robert Milkwood Thomas Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:06:37 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59442 Before my brain splits in two, I wish the city would make up its mind whether it wants to invite more cyclists on the streets or wants to harass them off the streets. Before my brain splits in two, I wish the city would make up its mind whether it wants to invite more cyclists on the streets or wants to harass them off the streets.

]]> By: Mike http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59440 Mike Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:44:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59440 Actually, the ticket blitz has been going on for a few weeks. I saw cops writing tickets there several weeks before the new lanes were striped. Actually, the ticket blitz has been going on for a few weeks. I saw cops writing tickets there several weeks before the new lanes were striped.

]]> By: paco http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59438 paco Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:30:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59438 Something seems screwy here. DOT made changes and didn't tell NYPD, yet NYPD just happened to start a ticketing blitz the week after new lanes were striped? I firmly believe most police officers aren't 'against' cyclists, but cops planted at the bridge that disregard the very obvious bike lane directions onto the sidewalk are not doing much to ease tensions. The tickets will get thrown out in court and in the end, just be a waste of many people's time, causing unnecessary frustration. Something seems screwy here. DOT made changes and didn't tell NYPD, yet NYPD just happened to start a ticketing blitz the week after new lanes were striped? I firmly believe most police officers aren't 'against' cyclists, but cops planted at the bridge that disregard the very obvious bike lane directions onto the sidewalk are not doing much to ease tensions. The tickets will get thrown out in court and in the end, just be a waste of many people's time, causing unnecessary frustration.

]]> By: Mike http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/11/25/you-heard-it-here-first-cyclists-ticketed-for-using-new-willy-b-lanes/comment-page-1/#comment-59437 Mike Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:11:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=5019#comment-59437 The Gothamist post now has an update from DOT; DOT says that it is implementing a shared-use zone on the sidewalk there, but apparently it hasn't told NYPD yet. The Gothamist post now has an update from DOT; DOT says that it is implementing a shared-use zone on the sidewalk there, but apparently it hasn't told NYPD yet.

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