Traffic Enforcement

A crowd of 300 people, outraged at a police ticket blitz that threatens to effectively eliminate Central Park as a place of recreation for cyclists, ran into an unyielding blue wall at last night's meeting of the Central Park Precinct's community council. The precinct commander, Captain Philip Wishnia, offered no hope that his precinct's enforcement of red-light laws at each of the loop road's 47 traffic lights will abate, nor any assurances that his officers will exercise meaningful discretion.

Major crimes in Central Park may be up by 50 percent, but that hasn't stopped significant resources from being spent on the ongoing NYPD crackdown targeting recreational cyclists in the park. Precinct officers are stopping cyclists for a variety of infractions, including spot equipment checks for missing bells and lights, but most notoriously are handing out $270 tickets to riders who roll through any of the loop drive's 47 traffic signals, even if the only other living being in sight is a squirrel.

Tracking the NYPD's enforcement of traffic laws, including tickets issued to cyclists, has long been part of Transportation Alternatives' job. A new tool on their website makes it easier than ever -- especially relevant while the city's bike ticketing blitz continues.

The City Council passed three bills to open up traffic information unanimously today, according to Juan Martinez of Transportation Alternatives. The most far-reaching of those bills, Jessica Lappin's legislation forcing the city to release fine-grained data about traffic crashes and traffic summonses every month, is expected to be signed by Mayor Bloomberg, the Daily News reported this morning.

Three bills to open up information about traffic and street safety to the public cleared the City Council's transportation committee unanimously today. According to committee chair James Vacca, the bills are scheduled for a floor vote this Wednesday. Two of the bills, in particular, should provide New Yorkers with a much clearer picture of what's happening on their streets and empower them to fight for increased safety.

You've probably heard some variant of the saying "If slaughterhouses had windows, there would be a lot more vegetarians." Well, if this video from the Traffic Safety Coalition were aired at every debate over red light cameras, there would be a hell of a lot more red light cameras. Brace yourself before you hit play. There are some graphic moments.

Residents of the Upper East Side, fed up with reckless drivers and reeling from recent pedestrian deaths, took advantage of an opportunity to make their case directly to NYPD this week.

A new study shows that, despite their supposed reputation as government revenue collectors, red light cameras are saving lives.

Cross-posted from Naparstek.com