Otus Law Group Blog

An officer from the Central Park Precinct addressed a Central Park Precinct Community Council meeting this week to refute the recent news stories reporting a New York Police Department crackdown on reckless bicyclists in the area. According to Central Park Precinct officers, the crackdown, which according to several reports began 1 to 2 weeks ago, is actually just one aspect of an ongoing traffic law enforcement initiative that also includes distributing informational brochures to bicyclists in an effort to increase their safety education and awareness.

Many New York City bicyclists, according to the NYPD representative, are apparently misinformed about certain aspects of traffic law. One widespread misconception, for example, is the idea that bicyclists are allowed to treat red lights as yield signs in the hours before 7 a.m., when pedestrian traffic is significantly lighter. This idea is incorrect, the Central Park Precinct officer told the audience, traffic laws are applied consistently throughout the day. The officer also told the story of witnessing four bicyclists racing through the park during busy afternoon hours and narrowly avoiding colliding with a woman pushing a baby stroller.

Cyclists concerned with the cost of the traffic citations issued for running red lights – one bicyclists was reportedly fined $550 for failing to stop a red light and for failing to yield to a pedestrian – were assured that the larger fines are issued for failure to yield the right of way to commuters on foot.

The commanding officer also reportedly told the community council that the Central Park Precinct, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city, faces hazards unique to the region — such as the additional traffic created by illegal bicycle rental stands whose employees typically neglect to provide safety instructions to customers.

Bicyclists aren’t the only danger in Central Park, members of the audience at the community council meeting – which included representatives from the New York Cycle Club – reminded the NYPD officer. Pedestrians exhibiting reckless behavior — such as inattentive dog owners and cellphone-distracted jaywalkers – are hazardous to other pedestrians and bicyclists as well, according to one audience member. During hours in which car traffic is allowed in the area, some cyclists complained the single non-car lane becomes dangerously overcrowded with cyclists and pedestrians. Prospect Park, a region of the city that faces similar concerns, added an additional bicycle lane to relieve congestion, an idea the Central Park Conservancy is currently considering, according to a representative of the Parks Enforcement Patrol who was also in attendance, even though the traffic lights in Prospect Park are programmed to stay green during car-free hours until a pedestrian pushes the button to activate the walk signal, an action the older traffic lights in the traffic Central Park area are reportedly incapable of being programmed to perform.