Well this is embarrassing. This video from Casey Neistat, of Neistat Brothers fame, is right in Streetsblog's wheelhouse but went totally viral before we got it up on the site. Even the Today Show beat us to the punch.
Still, it's a good way to go out on a Thursday.
Here's the relevant city rule that Casey is helpfully illustrating:
RCNY § 4-12(p) Bicycles.(1) Bicycle riders to use bicycle lanes. Whenever a usable path or lane for bicycles has been provided, bicycle riders shall use such path or lane only except under any of the following situations:(i) When preparing for a turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.(ii) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, pushcarts, animals, surface hazards) that make it unsafe to continue within such bicycle path or lane.