Motorcycle unfriendly NYC

[snoone]

Yesterday on my way home, instead of taking the Lincoln Tunnel right next to my office, I decided to take a ride up the westside of Manhattan on Riverside Drive which empties out at the GW Bridge. Riverside Drive is a beautiful street with stately townhouses and multimillion dollars apartments overlooking the Hudson River.

Part of the drive are two lanes both ways and parts are one lane.. Coming down a hill in the distance I see an Police Car sitting in a parking space with a couple of bikes pulled over. At the light I pull to the right of a bus . Light turns green, I come towards the cop, he waves me over.. He says turn off the bike and I ask him , what can I do for you? He goes on to tell me that Riverside Drive is a one-lane road and that it is a violation to pull to the right to get the advantage at a light. He tells me it's the equivalent of lane splitting.

So he gives me a ticket and tells me to plead not guilty and to appear in court if I disagree with his actions..

Gotta tell you, in no way was I being my normal wise-guy self. I did something so natural to me on a bike and without thinking about it that I was stunned that anyone could think I was lane-splitting.

Mayor Bloomberg is trying to green up the city by coming up with ways to reduce traffic. With attitudes towards bikes like this I wonder who is not getting it.. You would have thought that this officer would have had better things to do on a Fri. afternoon then set up a motorcycle checkpoint in the middle of manhattan that served no purpose other than to create revenue. I guess NYC is crime free. Motorcyclists are the new criminals.

From now on I will take the one-minute route into the tunnel to avoid riding my bike on these unfriendly streets. The other guys who were pulled over told me this is a common occurance in the city and they are stopped frequently for routine checks.

Bikes beware, Stay Away!

[85138]

I've seen posts on other MC boards about a crackdown on Motorcycles in NYC. There's a letter from Steve Sergi (Manhattan BMW) warning riders of this.
http://www.bmwxplor.com/forums/topic/show/1038#new

Technically I think you violated the traffic law, though many of us do that right turn infraction with impunity (cars or motorcycles). Never thought much of it until years ago a friend of mine got pulled over in his car. I admit to still doing it. Even without a 'crackdown' you're risking being pulled over if a cop is nearby.

[username]

it's funny that you posted this. last week i saw a pair of motocops pull over two cars that did this same move here in austin at the intersection of 2244 and 360. they just scooted around the cars going straight, and turned right on red. i saw the whole thing and it was done slowly and wasnt the least bit scary or dangerous looking. they even signaled! i was flabbergasted, because i didnt even know a move like this was considered illegal. i'm doubly flabbergasted because it reduces traffic and idling vehicles when folks do this. (i was in the car with co-workers, and they said they have seen this enforced before lots of times.)

i dont get it.

sorry to hear NYC, like austin, has done such an awesome job stopping every other traffic offense like red light running, excessive speed, running stop signs, and all other manner of dangerous behavior and can now focus on ticky-tack stuff like this.

[henzilla]

it's funny that you posted this. last week i saw a pair of motocops pull over two cars that did this same move here in austin at the intersection of 2244 and 360. they just scooted around the cars going straight, and turned right on red. i saw the whole thing and it was done slowly and wasnt the least bit scary or dangerous looking. they even signaled! i was flabbergasted, because i didnt even know a move like this was considered illegal. i'm doubly flabbergasted because it reduces traffic and idling vehicles when folks do this. (i was in the car with co-workers, and they said they have seen this enforced before lots of times.)

i dont get it.

sorry to hear NYC, like austin, has done such an awesome job stopping every other traffic offense like red light running, excessive speed, running stop signs, and all other manner of dangerous behavior and can now focus on ticky-tack stuff like this.

YIKES!. I do that A LOT! And at the same intersection!...def have done it on bicycles forever... With the amount of red light runners in this town, I think their priorities are a tad off. Unbelievable!

I have to admit to some lane splitting yesterday as I was caught ina T-Storm at noon on Loop 360 and people were freaking out. Had several cars pulling way to the right for some reason and I used the opportunity to slide around them ...did not seem "unsafe" given the scenario...but, that's my story

[jdmetzger]

I did this in downtown Toledo, a month or two back. A car was turning left, so I snuck around him on the right; something I even do in my truck, when there is space. I know you CAN get in trouble for it, so I usually look around for an officer. This time, I missed the cop, who came up from behind me. I was followed for a few block, and then he turned. Either he didn't care, he saw I have a clean driving record for the past 7 years (knocking on wood), or he had better things to do.

Anyhow, in the driving handbook they DO list "passing on the right" as an infraction. I can think of one possible good reason; I did the same thing about a year and a half ago (passing a left-turning car on the right) on a two-lane street. An oncoming car was looking to turn left as well, and didn't see me coming up on that side (there wouldn't be enough space for a car to make the same move). Had I not been going slow, there could have been an accident that I would have been on the losing end of. Have to watch REALLY close and take your time if you're going to make the same move. In my downtown incident where I passed on the right, oncoming traffic couldn't turn in front of me, as the cross street was one-way only - so it was much safer to execute.

Granted this is a little different than getting in front of a stopped bus at a light and then passing him; I wouldn't try that anywhere except Cali; at least until they make lane filtering legal (Which would be nice).

[The_Veg]

Just one more reason why I don't believe all that hooey about New York being the center of the frikkin' universe. :nyah

[dancogan]

Just one more reason why I don't believe all that hooey about New York being the center of the frikkin' universe. :nyah
Hey, Veg. you don't have to believe that; you just have to understand that all New Yorkers believe it. :nyah

[The_Veg]

Yeah, New York is the Houston of the north! :laugh

[SIBUD]

Yeah, New York is the Houston of the north! :laugh

Now that is funny.:laugh

[RandallIsland]

Hey, Veg. you don't have to believe that; you just have to understand that all New Yorkers believe it. :nyah

And Amen to that!

Lane splitting and speeding are now lumped together.
No biggie.
Ride safe fastly.

[wezul]

Hey, Veg. you don't have to believe that; you just have to understand that all New Yorkers believe it. :nyah


+2 Trust me, I know. I telecommute from here to Long Island and at least quarterly I visit there. In my mind if a city is great it doesn't need to be hyped.

[bubbagazoo]

Just one more reason why I don't believe all that hooey about New York being the center of the frikkin' universe. :nyah

Do you mean to tell me that Toronto isn't the centre of the universe?? :dunno :dunno

[snoone]

I've seen posts on other MC boards about a crackdown on Motorcycles in NYC. There's a letter from Steve Sergi (Manhattan BMW) warning riders of this.
http://www.bmwxplor.com/forums/topic/show/1038#new

Technically I think you violated the traffic law, though many of us do that right turn infraction with impunity (cars or motorcycles). Never thought much of it until years ago a friend of mine got pulled over in his car. I admit to still doing it. Even without a 'crackdown' you're risking being pulled over if a cop is nearby.

Now that I've seen Steve's letter, it all makes sense.. Everyone seems to be complaining about the singling out of bikes.. Maybe it is an issue for AMA to take on!

[tessler]

NYC is the center of my universe! :thumb

[Mika]

Lilydale is the center of mine.

The fun began for me was when I first learned the joys of jumping from universe to universe via motorcycle inter universal travel.

[BubbaZanetti]

thats it, i'm not moving there:brad

[tessler]

Lilydale is the center of mine.

The fun began for me was when I first learned the joys of jumping from universe to universe via motorcycle inter universal travel.

++1 Right, on, John! :)

[sjbmw]

I did this in downtown Toledo, a month or two back. A car was turning left, so I snuck around him on the right; something I even do in my truck, when there is space. I know you CAN get in trouble for it, so I usually look around for an officer. This time, I missed the cop, who came up from behind me. I was followed for a few block, and then he turned. Either he didn't care, he saw I have a clean driving record for the past 7 years (knocking on wood), or he had better things to do.

Anyhow, in the driving handbook they DO list "passing on the right" as an infraction. I can think of one possible good reason; I did the same thing about a year and a half ago (passing a left-turning car on the right) on a two-lane street. An oncoming car was looking to turn left as well, and didn't see me coming up on that side (there wouldn't be enough space for a car to make the same move). Had I not been going slow, there could have been an accident that I would have been on the losing end of. Have to watch REALLY close and take your time if you're going to make the same move. In my downtown incident where I passed on the right, oncoming traffic couldn't turn in front of me, as the cross street was one-way only - so it was much safer to execute.

Granted this is a little different than getting in front of a stopped bus at a light and then passing him; I wouldn't try that anywhere except Cali; at least until they make lane filtering legal (Which would be nice).

Be careful with this approach. 2 years ago the driver in front of me did not honor his left turn signal and then turned RIGHT.
I spent 3 weeks in the hospital over that erroneous estimate.
The driver claimed there was no left turn signal. (or so I was told weeks later)
LEO wrote the report said I passed on the right, but no ticket was issued.
Maybe the ambulance was enough for him.

I do not trust turn signals any more.

[snoone]

thats it, i'm not moving there:brad
I'd stay far away. Come up to Orange County. Its just close enough, but a world away

[BouncinBob]

First it was the whores and 42nd street, then the Hot Dog vendors, I guess it had to be the motorcyclist next. :dunno


Man, the whores and dirty water dogs are gone.. no need to go to NYC anymore.

[tessler]

I'd stay far away. Come up to Orange County. Its just close enough, but a world away

Ya, for it's exciting Nightlife and Choppers! :snore :snore :snore

[snoone]

Tsk Tsk Tessler, You will find the more time you spend at The Tessler Estate in the Catskills the less time you will want to be in the motorcycle unfriendly capitol of the East Coast The more research I do on the subject , the more I see that motorcycles have been unfairly targeted by NYC. On one hand they want to be green, on the other they want to make sure us bikers are not disturbing the status quo on chic chic Riverside Drive.

Mayor Bloomberg with his congestion pricing plan can kiss our collective _ _ _ _ _.

[tessler]

Tsk Tsk Tessler, You will find the more time you spend at The Tessler Estate in the Catskills the less time you will want to be in the motorcycle unfriendly capitol of the East Coast The more research I do on the subject , the more I see that motorcycles have been unfairly targeted by NYC. On one hand they want to be green, on the other they want to make sure us bikers are not disturbing the status quo on chic chic Riverside Drive.

Mayor Bloomberg with his congestion pricing plan can kiss our collective _ _ _ _ _.I love the Cats, bro, but I severely doubt I'd ever leave NYC. The crackdown suks, but hey, that's life. Don't lane split! Obey traffic rules, ya know? ;)

And for the record, I love the congestion pricing thing, but don't think the price is high enough. $25-30 might be a better deterrent.

[snoone]

I love the Cats, bro, but I severely doubt I'd ever leave NYC. The crackdown suks, but hey, that's life. Don't lane split! Obey traffic rules, ya know? ;)

And for the record, I love the congestion pricing thing, but don't think the price is high enough. $25-30 might be a better deterrent.

I'm just bitter:fight

[jdmetzger]

Be careful with this approach. 2 years ago the driver in front of me did not honor his left turn signal and then turned RIGHT.
I spent 3 weeks in the hospital over that erroneous estimate.
The driver claimed there was no left turn signal. (or so I was told weeks later)
LEO wrote the report said I passed on the right, but no ticket was issued.
Maybe the ambulance was enough for him.

I do not trust turn signals any more.

VERY good point. I now recall back to when I was 16. There was a guy in a truck signaling a right turn and slowing down (he was a little ways back), so I made my left turn in front of him. In the meantime, he sped up (signal still on) and went STRAIGHT. That was a bit of a close call. I don't trust the signals of people coming towards me at an intersection, anymore... not sure why I never thought about the left-signaling right-turner going the same way.

Something similar to this led to a fatality earlier this year. A car signaled LEFT and got into the turn lane, only to find the road they wanted to turn on was closed due to construction. They quickly hopped back into the other lane to continue on down the road. Unfortunately, two bikers who were behind the guy started to pass and were now NEXT to the guy. He changed lanes right into the bikers. Actually, he changed lanes into one, and the second one hit the first one. Also, no helmets. That was bad all the way around.

[Emoto]

Go to court. Fight it.

Tell them that the bus was turning left and that as it turned you went past and did not share a lane with it at any time and that you believe that because of your bright headlight being on for safety that the officer simply misjudged on depth perception and that it was an honest mistake that anyone could make (allowing him to save face). Then point out how if one looks at your record there is no pattern of misbehavior. Stay friendly and informative rather than angry or combative and watch your body language; precognitive responses matter. :deal

Of course, if he told you to fight it, there is a good chance he will not show up and it will be tossed out.

Bob

[Easy]

If you believe you are in the right, you should go to court and fight the ticket.

Demand a JURY TRIAL. Do not waive your right to a jury trial. A trial to the court in traffic court is a one way ticket to a guilty verdict.

Best bet is to find the lawyer friend who still owes you a favor and get him to represent you.

Easy :german

[donkes]

I have sent a voodoo spell on all bike hating NYC authorities (and cages).

[snoone]

:dance :thumb