We're seeing a lot of photos this week of police parked in bike lanes. Fortunately, there is something cyclists can do about it in addition to submitting documentation to Cops in Bike Lanes.
Blocking a lane is not merely a sign of disrespect on the the part of NYPD. It's illegal, and it poses a risk to people on bikes who are forced into auto traffic (and are sometimes ticketed for their trouble).
DNAinfo reported this week that NYPD plans to open Twitter accounts for all precincts. This will make it easier to complain directly (and publicly) to NYPD about police in bike lanes.
If you can make the time, you can also speak face to face with commanding officers via precinct community councils. Every precinct has a community council, and meeting info is posted on each precinct's web page. NYPD has a precinct locator if you're not sure which jurisdiction applies. NYPD may often come across as a big blue wall, but local officers do respond when people show up to speak with them.
One of the photos in this post was taken in the 6th Precinct, and two in Midtown South, where police regularly take over the bike lane outside Penn Station, within feet of a huge Citi Bike dock.
Inspector Edward J. Winski is the commanding officer for Midtown South. The Midtown South community council meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m at the New Yorker Hotel, 481 Eighth Ave. The community affairs phone number is 212-239-9846.
The 6th Precinct CO is Inspector Elisa A. Cokkinos. The community council meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at 25 Carmine St. The community affairs phone number is 212-741-4826.
