RSS Feed
New York City - Stopping In A Bike Lane Will Get You A $115 Fine |
|
| |
Text Size
|
Lower East Side resident Ernest Marshall never expected to get a ticket for blocking a bike lane.
"If the city is looking to make money, this is a cash cow," says Marshall.
But he recently received a $115 ticket when he pulled over to pick up his wife.
"As my wife was leaving the sidewalk to get into the car, a traffic officer pulled in front of me, blocked me in and then proceeded to give me a traffic ticket," says Marshall.
He says he wasn't standing for more than a second, as his wife walked to the car and wonders where he was suppose to pull over to pick her up.
"There's parking, a bike lane and traffic on both sides of the street," says Marshall. "It's impossible to load or unload passengers from a car without blocking a bike lane or traffic itself. It's unfair."
Under city traffic rules, which are enforced by the New York Police Department, bicycle lanes are considered no stopping zones and vehicles, whether attended or not, are not permitted to stop, stand or park in them.
Marshall, who cycles himself, says he has nothing against bike lanes but wonders why drivers all over the city are allowed to load and unload passengers in other no stopping zones without ever being ticketed.
Furthermore, Marshall questions exactly who these rules apply to.
"We have a large number of senior citizens here. We also have a senior citizens' health center. So, we have a lot of traffic of Access-A-Rides and car services," says Marshall.
According to traffic rules, there are no exceptions, including commercial vehicles and vehicles dropping off children, seniors and the disabled.
NY1 called the Department of Transportation for a comment and a spokesperson said that on Marshall's street there's alternate side parking and meter spaces. If those are occupied, vehicles are permitted to expeditiously drop off or pick up passengers at the bus stop.
Marshall says drivers would have no way of knowing.
As for his ticket, the Department of Finance told NY1 it's valid and they would not offer a reduction since no stopping violations are the most serious.
Marshall paid the ticket so he could appeal the decision and is now awaiting his next hearing.
DOF says last year about 70,000 tickets were issued for stopping in a bike lane, out of 10 million tickets issued citywide.
More of today's headlines
“Albany, NY - An estimated 123,000 New Yorkers will get a raise Friday when the federal minimum wage increases to $7.25 an hour. About 63,000 state residents will get a...”
Albany, NY - 123,000 New Yorkers to Get Pay Raise Tomorrow
Tel Aviv, Israel - Religious Woman: H&M Fired Me over 'Cultural Gap'
Total26
Read Comments (26) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 23, 2009 at 04:40 PM Askupeh Says:
And what will the biker get for riding outside the bike lane?
This is very dangerous; people will now start dropping off children well outside the bike lane.
2
Jul 23, 2009 at 04:37 PM Anonymous Says:
bloomberg knows of one thing money why else do you think he made bike lanes for? i think they should make bridges over the bike lanes so drivers dropping off passengers won't have to pull to the side and block the bike lane, all they will have to do is block the traffic. that sounds better to me
3
Jul 23, 2009 at 04:28 PM Bob Says:
The only way not getting a ticket and to drop off your family is just roll down your window and throw them out of your vehicle….. ….. that’s what Mike Bloomberg would like you should do…….
4
Jul 23, 2009 at 04:49 PM madd in bklyn Says:
NYC DOT
What is the proper way to double park/stand a commercial vehicle next to a bicycle lane?
Trucks and commercial vehicles, when permitted to double park, must not obstruct a bicycle lane. In addition, an operator shall not drive a motor vehicle across a designated buffer zone except when it is reasonable and necessary to enter or leave a legal curbside parking space or driveway. Obstructing a bicycle lane is illegal and subject to a fine. The images below depict the right and wrong way to double park near a bike lane: (CHECK NYC DOT FOR IMAGE)
The image show the law to be that when double parking a truck for a delivery the truck must remain outside the bike lane, which then guarentees the truck driver the same amount fine for obstructing traffic.
5
Jul 23, 2009 at 05:23 PM Anonymous Says:
Are they ticketing the bicycle riders! They are the worlds worst -- They do not signal and do not care where they are going!!
6
Jul 23, 2009 at 05:19 PM Obamanation Says:
this Blooming idiotberg will find ways of ticketing every penny out of every new yorker. if u didnt get a ticket becuase of 1 thing u will get ticketed becuase of some thing els. but some how evry one in new york will get find.
7
Jul 23, 2009 at 05:12 PM Big Masmid Says:
New York City became the modern Sdom Vamorah
8
Jul 23, 2009 at 05:11 PM in a pickle. Says:
We New Yorkers, the working and middle class are in a pickle.Bloomy knows nothing about how difficult it is to manage without getting tickets and on top of everything else he has brilliant ideas of bike lanes etc.
Resign yourself for 4 more years of him
9
Jul 23, 2009 at 05:08 PM The only way... Says:
You have to pay off your local precinct to stay away.
We have here in Crown Heights a business on the block of the police station (71st) that has trucks parked in the bike lane while they load the trucks, and I have never seen them being given a single ticket.
Unfortunately, most of us can not afford such 'arrangements' with the local police department.
10
Jul 23, 2009 at 05:51 PM Anonymous Says:
"a spokesperson said that on Marshall's street there's alternate side parking and meter spaces. If those are occupied, vehicles are permitted to expeditiously drop off or pick up passengers at the bus stop."
Yeah right even look at a bus stop the wrong way and they jump on you like a bunch of monkeys
11
Jul 23, 2009 at 06:37 PM commercial Says:
according to nyc traffic rules one may stand a commercial vehicle next to a bike lane not in the bike lane. from what i understand that must mean they would rathr you block the flow of traffic, than to block the flow of bicycles. go figure.
12
Jul 23, 2009 at 06:36 PM mewhoze Says:
DOT lies!!
They jump on you faster than a fly on **** if you stop in a bus stop at all. Forget about long enough to let someone get in or out. The whole thing shows the car owners what Bloomers thinks of us.
They take our $$ for registration fees and tolls and gas taxes but we have zero rights compared to a biker who pays not a penny for having our tax money pay to paint lines all over the city.
Its worse than Chelm now.
13
Jul 23, 2009 at 06:34 PM vb Says:
“ "a spokesperson said that on Marshall's street there's alternate side parking and meter spaces. If those are occupied, vehicles are permitted to expeditiously drop off or pick up passengers at the bus stop."
Yeah right even look at a bus stop the wrong way and they jump on you like a bunch of monkeys ”
I have dropped people off at a bus stop in the middle of Manhattan and never had a problem.
14
Jul 23, 2009 at 06:25 PM BloombergShtick Says:
“ New York City became the modern Sdom Vamorah ”
best described!
but a small correction its not New York City read the United States of America!
15
Jul 23, 2009 at 06:23 PM BloombergShtick Says:
promise you its another shtick and tactic from this disgraced bloomberg to fine and tax the pepole of nyc.
but you go vote for him again!
16
Jul 23, 2009 at 06:58 PM AuthenticSatmar Says:
I don't understand what Marshall's claim is. He clearly stopped in the bike lane and got a ticket for it. Dropping of someone, even for a moment is not a defense.
17
Jul 23, 2009 at 10:54 PM Milhouse Says:
“ I don't understand what Marshall's claim is. He clearly stopped in the bike lane and got a ticket for it. Dropping of someone, even for a moment is not a defense. ”
So what was he supposed to do? Whose street is it anyway? Bloomberg's? The street belongs to the people, and we have the right to reasonable use of it. It's not Bloomberg's private property, or the council's private property.
18
Jul 23, 2009 at 10:28 PM get rid of bike lanes Says:
“ I don't understand what Marshall's claim is. He clearly stopped in the bike lane and got a ticket for it. Dropping of someone, even for a moment is not a defense. ”
You missed the point. These bike lanes are there for one reason to generate money for the city. When bike lanes began many years ago the exuse was to connect certain parks, and only selected block got these lanes. Now every few blocks have bike lanes, most of these bike lines are used by very few people. All the new bike lanes have done is impede bussiness and increase traffic. In many places I drive 2 lane streets became one lane. Another great example Ft hamilton pky and Mcdonald ave. until the bike lane you had 2 turning lanes now there is only one lane and the traffic is backed up to past 12th ave. Where are the pollution advocates?
19
Jul 23, 2009 at 11:29 PM Bugsy Siegel Says:
“ DOT lies!!
They jump on you faster than a fly on **** if you stop in a bus stop at all. Forget about long enough to let someone get in or out. The whole thing shows the car owners what Bloomers thinks of us.
They take our $$ for registration fees and tolls and gas taxes but we have zero rights compared to a biker who pays not a penny for having our tax money pay to paint lines all over the city.
Its worse than Chelm now. ”
My thoughts exactly. In front of Bais Yaakov of BP there is a bus stop. When parents try to stop in the bus stop to drop their kids off, the traffic cops run to give you a ticket. You have to pull over after the bus stop and drop off (I think they could still give you a ticket for that anyway.) I think bus stops are no stopping, not no standing, so you can get a ticket even if you drop off passengars.
20
Jul 24, 2009 at 12:20 AM Change the Laws of Sdom Says:
We the people can lobby our lawmakers to change these ridiculous laws.
If we don't lobby to change the laws, then we are guilty of the bad laws and not Blomberg.
Bloomberg the idiot did not write the laws, he is only enforcing every crazy law that exists.
It's OUR fault for not abolishing crazy laws.
21
Jul 24, 2009 at 12:05 AM Anonymous Says:
I was once ticketed for parking on top of a biker. I wasn't even in a bike lane and I told him "I'd only be a minute."
22
Jul 25, 2009 at 11:17 AM Anonymous Says:
The problem is that, as bikers, when cars park in the bike lane, we are forced to swerve in the street, into traffic. It puts our safety at risk -- and is a scary experience every time it happens. (which is just about every block, unfortunately.)
23
Aug 03, 2009 at 12:37 PM Anonymous Says:
“ And what will the biker get for riding outside the bike lane?
This is very dangerous; people will now start dropping off children well outside the bike lane. ”
unfortunately there aren't enough bike lanes to merit this, most streets do not have bike lanes therefore requiring bikers to ride on, gasp, the street.
when there is a bike lane, stopping in the middle of it compromises the safety (and LIFE) of bikers, pedestrians, and drivers. anyways, drop your kids off where there isn't a bike lane - there are plenty of roads without them.
24
Aug 03, 2009 at 12:29 PM Liam Says:
Ernest : You deserve your ticket. Enjoy paying up!
25
Aug 04, 2009 at 10:31 AM Kari Says:
“ The problem is that, as bikers, when cars park in the bike lane, we are forced to swerve in the street, into traffic. It puts our safety at risk -- and is a scary experience every time it happens. (which is just about every block, unfortunately.) ”
Agreed.
Why is there a constant battle between bikers and drivers? One is not better than the other, nor does one deserve more consideration than the other. But when a car can run down a cyclist much easier than a cyclist could run down a car, laws like this are necessary. Both exist and will continue to exist, so you have to make it safe for both parties. Deal with it.
26
Sep 11, 2009 at 10:08 AM Rob Foran Says:
“ And what will the biker get for riding outside the bike lane?
This is very dangerous; people will now start dropping off children well outside the bike lane. ”
Bicycles are not legally confined to bike lanes. Motor vehicles are, however, prohibited from stopping in, standing in, and blocking bike lanes. This is the law, and it seems to reflect common sense. (You wouldn't drive a car on a sidewalk or through a playground, right?).
As the article says, drop your passengers off in a legal, courteous, and expeditious manner at the bus stop. Problem solved.