A couple of days ago police sources told the Brooklyn Paper that the NYPD was beginning a borough-wide crackdown on cyclists who don't follow the letter of the law. The source promised that bicycle riders will be ticketed for often-overlooked "vehicular offenses, such as failing to obey traffic signals and signs, breaking the speed limit, tailgating, and even failure to signal before turning." Now the Post (which is owned by the same company that owns Brooklyn Paper) follows up with news that this crackdown in Brooklyn will continue as long as the grass shall grow and the Gowanus, um, flow.
"It's from now until forever; there is no set time," a police source in Williamsburg tells the Post. "Bicyclists should travel like vehicles and must obey the same laws. The department and the people are sick of it!" The source further clarified that the effort is being considered "prolonged enforcement"—not a "crackdown" with quotas. Great news, because we also assume the "prolonged enforcement" of the traffic laws will also include drivers, who have been speeding with impunity in NYC for far too long. Maybe the NYPD can even expand it beyond Brooklyn, where people behaving recklessly on two and four wheels have occasionally been observed?
Transportation Alternatives spokeswoman Caroline Samponaro tells the Post the bicycle advocacy group welcomes the increased enforcement but hopes the NYPD will focus on preventing "the most dangerous behavior on city streets—car speeding... Bikers don't want any special treatment. We have a responsibility to follow the rules like everyone else." The group also encourages New Yorkers to attend the Community Council meetings held regularly at their local police station. Kim Martineau at Transportation Alternatives tells us, "These meetings give residents a chance to air their complaints about traffic violations; they are often poorly attended and those who go often see results: police targeting problems like speeding, red-light running and yes, parking in bike lanes."
