Ever been minding your own business on the sidewalk, when seemingly out of nowhere, a food delivery person almost runs you down with their bike? That could change, when City Council approves legislation to hike the current fine for biking on the sidewalk.
The city plans to crack down on cyclists – especially messengers and delivery people – who illegally ride on sidewalks, boosting the current $100 fine to more, says the New York Daily News.
City Council is working on legislation that would allow Department of Transportation enforcement officers to ticket sidewalk riders, says the article, but also plans to reach out to businesses that employ commercial bicyclists, to educate them about the current rules.
“A lot of the problem has to do with commercial sector,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan before the Council, according to the article. “Everyone wants their food delivered really fast and they don’t want to wait 10 minutes more for it.”
Councilman James Vacca, D-East Bronx, (and chairman of the Council’s Transportation Committee) demanded “civil and criminal penalties,” though a punishment has not yet been decided.
