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

Top Traffic Cops Promise Pedestrians-First Enforcement at West Side Forum

5:06 PM EDT on May 19, 2011

Michael Pilecki (center) promised to strengthen traffic enforcement and focus on pedestrian safety at a community board meeting last night. Photo: Adams/Daily News..

Top NYPD brass expressed surprise at West Side residents' unhappiness with the department's traffic enforcement policies and vowed to do better at a meeting of Manhattan CB 4's transportation committee last night. They also announced a new citywide "pedestrians first" policy for the department.

Four officers attended the CB 4 meeting, according to committee co-chair Christine Berthet, including Michael Pilecki and Scott Hanover, the commanding officer and executive officer of the NYPD's traffic enforcement division. "It was fabulous," said Berthet. "They took copious notes on everything."

Berthet said that committee members had a wide array of complaints with NYPD's current traffic enforcement practices in the area and pushed for more aggressive enforcement focused on pedestrian safety. "They were surprised how strong the message was from the community," said Berthet. "We want fewer agents [who can only issue tickets for very limited violations like parking] and more tickets, summonses and towaways."

Certain NYPD practices earned specific criticism from the West Siders. Police wave cars through red lights even when there isn't any threat of gridlock, they said, or wave turning vehicles right into crossing pedestrians. "They said they had heard that, but needed to reinforce that message," reported Berthet.

The officers also agreed to enforce anti-idling laws against buses and vans as well as automobiles.

To ensure that the police follow through on their commitments, said Berthet, she'll hold another meeting of the transportation committee in three months to gather community feedback. "If there was no visible change," she said, "we'll re-invite them."

Pilecki and Hanover also told the community board that the police had made a new citywide commitment to "pedestrians first" enforcement. "This is their new priority," said Berthet. The campaign will include retraining traffic officers and stressing the "pedestrians first" mantra inside the department with visual reminders like stickers. A Streetsblog request to the NYPD press office for more information on the "pedestrians first" commitment was not returned.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Maximum Rage: Delivery Workers Protest Low Wages, App ‘Lockouts’

Couriers with bikes and signs urge the city to step in as Uber Eats, GrubHub and DoorDash withhold work, they say.

March 28, 2024

The Toll of History: MTA Board Approves $15 Congestion Pricing Fee

New York City's congestion pricing tolls are one historic step closer to reality after Wednesday's 11-1 MTA board vote. Next step: all those pesky lawsuits.

March 28, 2024

Company That Fought McGuinness Safety Project Wants to Seize Bklyn Street for Private Backlot

Broadway Stages to Greenpoint residents: "Street safety for me, not for thee."

March 28, 2024

SEE IT: Hit-and-Run Driver With Fake Plate Seriously Injures Cyclist

The 5 p.m. crash occurred at Flushing and Waverly avenue near the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

March 28, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Shakira Shakira Edition

Pop superstar Shakira performed for a crowd of 40,000 packed into the Times Square pedestrian plazas. Plus congestion pricing news and more.

March 28, 2024
See all posts