Is $270 A Reasonable Fine For Bicycling Through Red Light?

[PamNY]

That said, some cyclists don't ride sensibly around peds, but it's usually wildly exaggerated ime and far less lethal than motorised vehicles.

I saw a very bad incident yesterday where a cyclist going much too fast simply mowed down an elderly man who was crossing the bike path completely legally. The man was in a crosswalk where cyclists are required by law to stop for pedestrians. The cyclist called out the classic New York "heads up!" and the pedestrian was toast.

I don't know how badly the man was injured -- he was conscious, at least, but he had facial injuries and I wouldn't be surprised if his nose was broken.

It's a very bad, crowded spot (Chelsea Piers for those who know the area) and why cyclists don't slow down there is beyond me. I'd love to see the Central Park ticket blitz moved to that area, because most cyclists don't slow for pedestrians, let alone stop.

I hope we all remember that we need to be careful of pedestrians, and that we will all be old and infirm one day.

I was so tempted to take a photo of this bloodied elderly man lying on the ground with the young, healthy cyclist crouched near him. I didn't want to violate the victim's privacy, but it was a stunning visual example of why so many New Yorkers hate cyclists.

[salsabike]

I saw a very bad incident yesterday where a cyclist going much too fast simply mowed down an elderly man who was crossing the bike path completely legally. The man was in a crosswalk where cyclists are required by law to stop for pedestrians. The cyclist called out the classic New York "heads up!" and the pedestrian was toast.

I don't know how badly the man was injured -- he was conscious, at least, but he had facial injuries and I wouldn't be surprised if his nose was broken.

It's a very bad, crowded spot (Chelsea Piers for those who know the area) and why cyclists don't slow down there is beyond me. I'd love to see the Central Park ticket blitz moved to that area, because most cyclists don't slow for pedestrians, let alone stop.

I hope we all remember that we need to be careful of pedestrians, and that we will all be old and infirm one day.

I was so tempted to take a photo of this bloodied elderly man lying on the ground with the young, healthy cyclist crouched near him. I didn't want to violate the victim's privacy, but it was a stunning visual example of why so many New Yorkers hate cyclists.

Well said.

[ccnyc]

The Chelsea Piers section of the Westside greenway is very dangerous. I stay off the whole Westside greenway because it's just too stressful (with pedestrians walking on the bike path) and not an enjoyable ride for me. Too bad since it is so nice once you reach upper Manhattan. Hope the injured person is okay. I hate those cyclists, too. Makes me so mad when I see this stuff happening.

The NY DOT is going to begin an ad/awareness campaign aimed directly at cyclists. NOT at pedestrians, skateboarders, bladers, or motorists. The message will be "Don't be a jerk." Pretty much in those words. The senior policy director of the DOT, Jon Orcutt, spoke at my cycle club's January meeting and told us this. A couple days later the ticketing blitz began.

FYI: http://www.nycticketblitz.com/

[Biciclista]

wow. Central Park has changed a lot in 40 years!

[PamNY]

wow. Central Park has changed a lot in 40 years!

Not really. You can still smoke a joint or have sex in the park. You just can't blow through a red light on your bike.

[oz rider]

I hope we all remember that we need to be careful of pedestrians, and that we will all be old and infirm one day.

I was so tempted to take a photo of this bloodied elderly man lying on the ground with the young, healthy cyclist crouched near him. I didn't want to violate the victim's privacy, but it was a stunning visual example of why so many New Yorkers hate cyclists.

I'm personally very careful around peds, whether they are old, infirm, oblivious or anything else. It sounds like the education and enforcement is under way.

It's sad there is so much hate. We didn't even have that towards the truck that crushed a woman cyclist here this week.

[PamNY]

It's sad there is so much hate. We didn't even have that towards the truck that crushed a woman cyclist here this week.

It's not sad if you think of it as part of the transition from cycling being a renegade, slightly outlaw culture to a part of normal, everyday life.

Cyclists have to grow up. It's time to stop whining about being singled out, and time to stop pointing out something a driver did every time the subject of safe cycling comes up.

When New York's stringent anti-smoking laws came into effect, a lot of smokers pointed out that it's ridiculous to forbid smoking when we are all being choked by fumes from cars, and anti-idling laws are never enforced . I wonder how many cyclists would agree with that logic?

As far as Central Park, which was the original subject of this thread, everyone who uses the park feels picked on by any form of law enforcement. There is outrage over tripods being forbidden on the lawns, over euthanasia of rabid raccoons, over the hawks' favorite tree being cut down due to disease. It's always something.

One of our bird photographers zealously documents illegal drug use in Central Park. It's quite funny. I wonder what Holden Caulfield would make of the whole thing.

http://palemale.com/ildruseincep1.html

[ButIDidntFall]

I can see when there are cars allowed in the park, we should stop. But when there are no cars..? I was there on Thursday night and I saw one cop i think near the 7th ave exit around 8pm. I never realized how many lights there are in central park until I hit every.single.red.light.

[salsabike]

It's not sad if you think of it as part of the transition from cycling being a renegade, slightly outlaw culture to a part of normal, everyday life.

Cyclists have to grow up. It's time to stop whining about being singled out, and time to stop pointing out something a driver did every time the subject of safe cycling comes up.

When New York's stringent anti-smoking laws came into effect, a lot of smokers pointed out that it's ridiculous to forbid smoking when we are all being choked by fumes from cars, and anti-idling laws are never enforced . I wonder how many cyclists would agree with that logic?

As far as Central Park, which was the original subject of this thread, everyone who uses the park feels picked on by any form of law enforcement. There is outrage over tripods being forbidden on the lawns, over euthanasia of rabid raccoons, over the hawks' favorite tree being cut down due to disease. It's always something.

One of our bird photographers zealously documents illegal drug use in Central Park. It's quite funny. I wonder what Holden Caulfield would make of the whole thing.

http://palemale.com/ildruseincep1.html

Again, well spoken, Pam. Thanks.

[ccnyc]

http://chasingwheels.blogspot.com/20...tral-park.html

[redrhodie]

That video tells the story well, in 2 minutes, I got it. I would find that pretty frustrating.

[ButIDidntFall]

That is a great blog! I almost crashed too, at the end of a decent, having to stop.