Leila SamiiYesterday we spotted a cyclist looking none-too-thrilled as he was ticketed while riding in the bike lane and today, on First Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, we noticed two police officers – one on a scooter, the other on a mountain bike – ticketing two cyclists. As we passed the scene, a pedestrian called out, “It’s a speed trap!” We circled the block and, sure enough, yet another bike rider was being ticketed at the same location.
We’re not the first to notice what may be a crackdown on scoffing cyclists: in February, Bowery Boogie witnessed three bikers getting pulled over at the intersection of Delancey and Bowery – “a rarity on the Lower East Side.” Seems the police department is making moves to insure the downtown area doesn’t turn into “Premium Rush.”
In the district needs statement it released earlier this month, Community Board 3 asked the city to “enforc[e] traffic laws regarding dangerous and illegal cyclist behavior.” We’ve asked the police department if that has already started happening. While we await a response: have you noticed an uptick in tickets? Tell us your story in the comments.
Correction: Sept. 6, 2012
An earlier version of this post misidentified the date of the Bowery Boogie post. It was from February, not a couple of weeks ago.
