Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Is Transportation Reform Possible When the Cops Don’t Care?

A reliable Streetsblog tipster sends along this photo of a police cruiser parked in the Department of Transportation's new Ninth Avenue bike facility. The police officer seen getting into the car was returning from a nearby deli with what appeared to be lunch for him and his partner.

Again, as we pointed out yesterday, the Ninth Avenue cycle track is still under construction and it is way too early to judge whether it is working or not. New medians, planting beds, street markings, muni-meters and traffic signals will likely make it clearer that the city's first on-avenue, physically-separated bike path is not a loading zone.

Still, no matter how the final design of this particular bike facility works out, the larger question remains: Is it possible to have meaningful transportation policy reform and a successful Livable Streets movement in a city where the police generally do not care to enforce traffic laws and, in many cases, actively break those laws themselves?

Related:

    • Automated Parking Enforcement is the Killer App (9/14/07)
    • NYPD to New York City: "We Do Not Summons Our Own" (3/28/07)
    • UncivilServants.org: Cleaning Up Illegal Placard Parking (3/15/07)
    • Chinatown Businessman Arrested for Photos of Illegally Parked Cops (9/7/06)
    • The $46 Million Parking Perk (6/16/06

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Streetsies 2025: The Best Projects of the Year

Even amid Mayor Adams's bikelash lame-duck era, there were some major bright spots this year.

December 24, 2025

Hey, Insurance Companies, Here’s Some Driver Fraud Hiding in Plain Sight

Insurers don't seem to care, but we've provided a list!

December 24, 2025

Streetsies 2025: The Biggest Failures Of The Year

2025 was rough year to be a cyclist in New York City, now's your chance to vote for what pissed you off the most.

December 24, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: See You In Court Edition

President Trump's case against congestion pricing will finally be heard next month. Plus other news.

December 24, 2025

Mamdani Appoints Pro-Labor Lawyer To Run Worker Protection Agency

"My life's work has been about ensuring that money and power cannot trample the rights and dignity of working people," said the incoming DCWP commissioner, Sam Levine.

December 23, 2025

Don’t Believe the Hype: NJ Turnpike Widening Still Happening

Gov. Murphy's late revision will just move the problem around, advocates say.

December 23, 2025
See all posts