BIKES Off the sidewalk!

Zomg! another minor outrage of insignificant importance!

someone please make it stop.

Subject: Re: BIKES Off the sidewalk!

Flexichick wrote: [quote=BrookSignal]KK I will no longer stand for adults riding on the sidewalk!

and what exactly are you going to do about it?
I think he's hinting that he'll call in another K.

I admit that adult bikers on the sidewalks is irritating but I also admit to riding on the sidewalk on my own block when coming home periodically (sorry, its easier to hop up and ride 1/4 of a block to my gate then to dismount in traffic and walk the bike in.) I think that usage of the sidewalk for this purpose is fine...however the WORST offenders are the parents (plural) teaching their kid how to ride a bike by riding around he/she on the sidewalk, usually in the middle of a weekend day down 7th or 5th aves. Teach your kid to ride a bike IN THE PARK not in a heavily foot-trafficked area on the busiest day of the week.

Just be careful and remember to pick your battles...................

it's a law, really a nyc administrative code.
—AC 19-176 - Riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited. Bicycles may be confiscated.
NOTE: Tickets for riding on the sidewalk fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Control Board (ECB). If you are given a ticket or summons that requires you to appear in criminal court instead, you should be able to get the ticket thrown out for lack of jurisdiction.

Yea, I'd be like all: nice chain face, chain-face!

i never quite understood why it is illegal/looked down upon to ride your bike on the sidewalk. it really doesn't seem safe to have people on bikes in the streets along with cars.

Whoa! I'm guilty of both and I'm fully aware of it. Usually I try not to be annoying to the pedestrians if I take the sidewalk for a small stretch.
However all rules are off on the Brooklyn Bridge!

philmc wrote: it's a law, really a nyc administrative code.
—AC 19-176 - Riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited. Bicycles may be confiscated.
NOTE: Tickets for riding on the sidewalk fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Control Board (ECB). If you are given a ticket or summons that requires you to appear in criminal court instead, you should be able to get the ticket thrown out for lack of jurisdiction.

Don't know about this info above, but I can tell you I was once ticketed for riding on the sidewalk and yes, I did go home and get my ID to show the officers, the ticket was for criminal court and I did have to pay a $50 fine. Before anyone has a conniption, I ride in the street and was only going from my apt to the corner on the sidewalk and I had a foot on the sidewalk the whole time. I'm not complaining about the ticket---merely sharing the info because I don't think the ECB info is correct. Personally I don't think that sidewalk riding is much of an issue at all because I rarely see it done, except maybe for midtown or in the case of food deliveries. I don't see it happening too much in Brooklyn.

Anastasia Beaverhausen wrote: All the time in my nabe, due to the multiple restaurants on mine and the next block. I love it when they have the nerve to get shitty with me after almost running me down because they're not watching where they're going.

Added problem in that situatuion is that delivery bikes often have big baskets which make them more of a hazard to pedestrians, or at least more of an obstacle.

stacey wrote: [quote=Boygabriel][quote=philmc]it's a law, really a nyc administrative code.
—AC 19-176 - Riding bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited. Bicycles may be confiscated.
NOTE: Tickets for riding on the sidewalk fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Control Board (ECB). If you are given a ticket or summons that requires you to appear in criminal court instead, you should be able to get the ticket thrown out for lack of jurisdiction.

wait, really?

I think you were misinformed about the ECB summons.
From KWAC

King without a crown wrote: A bicyclist is issued a Criminal Court summons 99% of the time, IE: Reckless Operation of a Bicycle. In a few instances a moving violation my be issued to a Bicyclist, such as Disobeying a Steady Red Signal or other traffic infractions . . . A criminal court summons requires a personal appearance a 346 Broadway in Manhattan. The only criminal court summons in which an appearance may be waived, is for Alcohol consumption in a which a mail in penalty is accepted.

Thanks Stacey--that was my experience exactly. For a second there, I felt like I might have been a sucker with the ECB thing mentioned. I did see the judge dismiss the case in front of mine (teen on a bicycle), so if you are young and its a first time offense, you might get lucky in court and avoid paying the fine. If I remember correctly this was $50, but this was at least 4 years ago.

bill c wrote: I recently got 3 tickets for riding my bike on the sidewalk. i was riding the one block from the street to my building and it was 3:30 a.m. but the officers were not sympathetic.

I got 2 traffic tickets for riding "not in bike lane" and "no lights or reflection material" (that's actually not true) and a summons for disorderly conduct "obstructing pedestrian traffic" . any idea how much this will cost?

Serious?

1. Why did you stop for the cops, it's not like they can catch you.

2. Since when is it illegal not to bicycle in a bicycle lane?

3. Is it a law to have a light after dusk? I have no idea.

4. Obstructing pedestrian traffic? WTF?

They should all be dismissed IMO

Boygabriel wrote: [quote=MeredithB]1. Why did you stop for the cops, it's not like they can catch you.

terrible advice! they radio to a car down the street and you get charged with resisting an officer.

They'll never catch me. Never I say. I'll go down in a blaze of glory before those coppers put the cuffs on this bird.

Flo wrote:
Thanks Stacey--that was my experience exactly. For a second there, I felt like I might have been a sucker with the ECB thing mentioned.

§19-176 of the city administrative code prohibits bicycling on sidewalks, but as a civil violation under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Control Board. As a city administrative law, it's enforceable by police, sanitation, and parks and recreation.

But NYS Vehicle and Traffic law also regulates bicycles, making riders generally subject to any VAT regulation. Generally a cop will cite you for a VAT violation, not an administrative violation. If you're cited under §19-176 and the citation says you appear in criminal court, yes, that's an error. But if you're cited under a provision of state law, then criminal court is the proper venue.

I have a cloaking device. They can't catch what they can't see.

I also believe the more lights, bells, whistles you have, including wearing a helmet. gloves etc., the more lenient they are on you.