Image from a security camera on Albany Ave this Sunday
Sunday afternoon on Albany Ave between Eastern Pkwy and Union St, a Jewish man was stopped by police as he was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. The Israeli man didn't know it was illegal to ride his bicycle on the sidewalk, as he had recently moved here. However, after arguing with the officer and the officer calling for backup to restrain him, he was issued a summons for biking on the sidewalk.
Lately the police have been giving out all types of nonsense summonses. We would like warn all residents thirteen and older DO NOT ride your bicycles on the sidewalks, you can be summonsed and your bicycle can be seized and impounded.
PSA: Attention All Bikers, Do Not Ride on the Sidewalk
Image from a security camera on Albany Ave this Sunday
Sunday afternoon on Albany Ave between Eastern Pkwy and Union St, a Jewish man was stopped by police as he was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. The Israeli man didn’t know it was illegal to ride his bicycle on the sidewalk, as he had recently moved here. However, after arguing with the officer and the officer calling for backup to restrain him, he was issued a summons for biking on the sidewalk.
Lately the police have been giving out all types of nonsense summonses. We would like warn all residents thirteen and older DO NOT ride your bicycles on the sidewalks, you can be summonsed and your bicycle can be seized and impounded.
CP
we shud protest! I dont want my kids riding in the street! I want them alive!
Barry
why is it that it seems only jews are stopped for riding on the side walk??
Pikuach Nefesh
DONT RIDE ON THE ROAD.
Its not hard to explain to the cop that I’d rather pay a small fine than risk my life!
NYC Cyclist
This isn’t nonsense. The police officer was right here. Biking on sidewalks is hazardous to pedestrians.
Better safe then sorry
“nonsense summonses”?
To be fair there have been many people young and old hurt and killed by bicycles in NYC over recent years. When a quiet and fast moving bike comes from behind trying to pass an unaware pedestrian it is dangerous.
Check ER statistics if you don’t believe it.
MushPee
wow, i didn’t know that the police could tackle like that, very impressive, not!
i know they read this site, so why don’t they yknow, get rid of this nonsense!
But yknow, at least they do as they’re told and have a major presence in Crown Heights!
frustrated
Thank you for the notice, but this has been a law in MANY states and MANY cities for a very long time. If we do not do things that are against the law, we will not be punished for it!
got that ticket 3 month ago
I got it 3 month ago,
got in the store, 5 minutes later when I get off the store police officer outside was waiting for me. He asked for my ID and I gave it to him and then he gave me ticket to be in court by 03/05/09.
I was in Manhattan, pretty close to court last week (Rosh Hodesh Adar) and decided to go earlier (you can do so as long as you have your ticket with you).
Waited for 40-50 minutes and was called before the judge. One guy (who was helping judge) said that I do not have to do anything and it will be dismissed in 6 month (as long as you appear in court) but the judge said that he can DISMISS it now w/o waiting. You have to go to 346 Broadway, NY, NY. 10013 room 120 646-386-4831
bad idea
My son is 14 and rides his bike to yeshiva everyday. I hate the thought of him riding in the gutter. I think it is not safe.
Milhouse
He didn’t know? It is no more legal in Israel than in the USA. In fact, in Israel the policeman would have deflated the cyclist’s tires and valves, to prevent him from riding on after he got his ticket.
Rule 129 of the Israeli traffic code says: “No person may ride a bicycle on a footpath, or on any part of the road that is designated exclusively for pedestrians.”
Rule 134 says: “If a policeman finds a bicycle being ridden contrary to these regulations, he may deflate the tyres and valves, to prevent the continued illegal operation of the bicycle”.
You can see these regulations here:
<http://www.tzafonet.org.il/…>
Pentax
There are a lot of annoying,stupid,and arrogant cops in the NYPD—probably because of the minuscule pay but that isn’t the point. I ride my bicycle on the street because 1.I won’t hit anyone that way 2.because I can go faster. When walking I have been hit and almost hit too many times by a cyclist on the sidewalk. I also skidded with my bike because of a double-parked cop car, and I’ve almost been hit by 3 cop cars because they don’t like traffic laws either (no,they weren’t on calls).
Anyway this is not the first time I post this comment on a story just like this.
Pentax
“we shud protest! I dont want my kids riding in the street! I want them alive!”
12 and over have to ride on the street, relax.
I think those people here talking about how it’s not safe need to ride on the street, you probably never did. personally on side streets it is very safe. The only place you might need some more skill (like me) is on ave J,18th ave,kingston ave.
Pedestrian
Please do not call a ticket given to a sidewalk bicyclist a “nonsense summons”. Bicycle riding on sidewalks is both annoying and dangerous. Perhaps the author meant to write “nuisance” rather than “nonsense”. Also, it’s not very bright to argue with a police officer – being from Israel is no excuse for this sort of behavior!
LET THEM CHASE THE REAL CRIMINALS
I was chased for riding my bicycle on the sidewalk in the 77th
precinct side and got caught by the NYPD 5 years ago, when i was 13 years old. They let me go, but they ruffed me up, even if it is illegal according to the law it was disgusting and ridiculous do to me.
LET THEM CHASE THE REAL CRIMINALS.
Boruch N. Hoffinger
BS“D
You said: ”Lately the police have been giving out all types of nonsense summonses.”
‘Dina De Malchusa Dina.’
Who said this is a ‘nonsense summons?’
Did you ever have to jump out of the way of a speeding bicyclist?
(What’s a Conservative? A Liberal who was mugged.)
No fun.
Read this:
http://www.bicyclinginfo.or…
(There is plenty of info on this subject.)
This report presents a descriptive analysis of data collected prospectively at eight hospital emergency departments over approximately a 1-year time period in three States: California, New York, and North Carolina. Information was gathered on 2,509 persons treated for injuries incurred while bicycling or walking. Results show that 70 percent of the reported bicycle injury events and 64 percent of the reported pedestrian injury events did not involve a motor vehicle. (continue reading below):
In addition, 31 percent of the bicyclists and 53 percent of the pedestrians were injured in non-roadway locations such as SIDEWALKS, parking lots, or off-road trails.
Alcohol was a factor in one-fourth of the pedestrian-motor vehicle injury events and 15 percent of the bicycle-motor vehicle injury events for those age 20 and older. The emergency department data were also examined in conjunction with statewide hospital discharge and motor vehicle crash data in an attempt to better define the overall scope and magnitude of the pedestrian and bicyclist injury problem.
http://www.bicyclinginfo.or…
Zev
I got one, I did not know it was illegal and instead of a warning or something they just put me to the side called for backup and almost booked me since it took me a few min to find my ID. The way it would look to a passerby would seem that I was being arrested for a much harsher crime. The officer called an additional 2 foot officers and a squad car. I got the summons, went to court and got it taken care of. I got no warning and it was quite embarrassing since people I knew were walking by and it looked a lot worse.
Pedestrian
I don’t understand how people can not know that it’s illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. Where in the world IS it legal? Would you think to ride a motorbike on the sidewalk, or a moped? So why do you think a bike is different? It’s a vehicle, and it belongs on the road together with other vehicles, and must obey all the traffic laws like other vehicles. If you must cross a sidewalk, get off the bike and walk it until you’re at a road where you can ride. That’s always been the law, everywhere that I’ve ever heard of.
awacs
“Would you think to ride a motorbike on the sidewalk, or a moped? So why do you think a bike is different? It’s a vehicle, and it belongs on the road together with other vehicles, and must obey all the traffic laws like other vehicles.”
Oh? How about a stroller? It’s a vehicle, too. Maybe strollers should be pushed on the street?
mike goldberg
Take ur children to the parks, riding a bike on the side walk is illegal folks plain and simple.
Pedestrian
A stroller is not a vehicle unless the baby is driving.
Pentax
“Take ur children to the parks, riding a bike on the side walk is illegal folks plain and simple.”
No. If your children want to ride on the sidewalk they can.
How many times does it have to be said?
If your child is under 12 he/she can ride on the sidewalk no problem.
Aussie biking law
In australia over 12 you have to start riding on the road you get fined other, but the police dont grab us……
Park Slope Resident
Maybe these people should learn the laws before moving to New York City.
Another aussie
B”H in Australia the police don’t have to deal with arrogant people who think that the law only applies to non-Jews.
JJ
I was riding my bike through Boro Park today in street (as the law requires me to do).Many cars had to contend with the snow piles and with my bike and were very angry to have to drive around me.
Many hasidim yelled at me from their cars to get off the road.I asked them where I should ride and they said on the sidewalk.I said absolutely not because it is against the law.
Then one man started honking at me.He was yelling “get out of the road you idiot”. I stopped my bike and I told him he was the one acting like an idiot because he was driving a car on the road without a complete knowledge of the laws (which is that cars and bikes must share the road)
So instead of apologizing to me, he purposely steered his car into me and knocked me off my bike into a pool of snow and filthy water.
The point is : everyone hates bicycles.If the cars dont run you over in the street the cops will get you on the sidewalks.Its a no win situation.
By the way, I just came back from Germany.In Hamburg the sidewalk is very wide and the white painted areas are for pedestrians and the dark portions of the sidewalks are for bikes.It seems like a great system.
You know me!!!
Pictures tell 1000 words…or maybe just one. Is it possible that the officer asked him to stop and he tried to get away? maybe it doesn’t show your children playing on the sidewalk, or just walking up the block where the biker is headed, nor the speed the biker is going??? doesn’t show him cutting in and out of people on the sidewalk creating a risk for others? Or maybe it shows the police harassing someone, or possible saving others!
Another Sloper
“Maybe these people should learn the laws before moving to New York City.”
That implies that the laws are different elsewhere; they aren’t. Certainly not anywhere in the USA, and nowhere else in the world either that I’ve heard of. This Israeli who got ticketed can’t claim that he didn’t know the law because he’s new to NY; the law is exactly the same in Israel.
In any case, most of the ignorant people never moved to NYC, they were born there.
mt
in the article it says
“Lately the police have been giving out all types of nonsense summonses. We would like warn all residents thirteen and older DO NOT ride your bicycles on the sidewalks, you can be summonsed and your bicycle can be seized and impounded.”
oh? whats with the danger of riding on the SW? the ONLY reason you shouldnt bike on the sidewalk is- (according to ch.info) because police might catch you
i agree with ”dina dmalchusa dina” it doesnt go against the tora so you must obey
bike rider
i agree with JJ comment, i ride my bike often in crown heights
and it is very hard with the cars they think the road is theirs.if i go on the sidewalk i try to get off my bike b/c it is not worth it to get a ticket
but you should know there is so many bike riders that go killed and injured because of big shot on the road
there is no respect for nothing anymore pne ador ke pne a kelev.
drivers when you see a bike have a little respect, the biker could be a father, mother, brother, sister that their family are waiting for them home, and b/c you drivers cant stand seeing bikers on the road you could just hurt them.
bikers choose bikes for different reason: easier to get to place, cheaper than a car, healthier for environment, healthier, for whatever reason someone ride on the bike
have a little respect for them. it’s like when a kid is waiting online to buy something, by the cashier, adult just don’t see him, like he doesn’t exist and take care of their own business. Pleople look around you wherever you are it doesnt matter road, sidewalk, store, ect……it became a mentality nobody CARE ANYMORE……ITS SAD….AND DON’T BRING MUCH NACHAS TO THE REBBE!!!! :(
Ed Greenberg
Just yesterday, I watched a bicycle rider ride between two ladies about to board a bus. The ladies had been standing on the sidewalk and just as the bus opened the door, and the ladies stepped forward, this bicycle rider zoomed across their path of travel causing them to stagger back.
Bicycles (ridden by adults) need to be on the roadway and traveling to the right, on the correct side of the street. They have both the rights and responsibilities of auto drivers.
Wind Blowing My Hat
at an earlier post, who says the stroller is not considered driving unless the baby is driving, how about if the baby is not driving the stroller, however it is driving the mother crazy, does that count for anything. I wonder if there would be any tickets given to the kids fir that.
jews don-t stand above the law.
laws are laws. also for yidden. since when do we stand higher than the law. bikes belong on the street. if you think it’s dangerous for your kids than don’t let them ride one. but don’t bring some else (pedestrians) live in danger for the safety of ur chil. that’s just plain stupid. Hashem gave you common sence. USE IT. it’s free too ;)
common sense
just put a seperate spot on the street for bikes. i only saw that on 1 street.