Transportation
In New York, Toward a Harmony of Police and Cyclists
A bicycling advocate says both riders and cops must work to improve their relationship.
The relationship between bike riders and police officers in New York is historically rocky. Riders have a reputation for flouting traffic rules — sometimes that's deserved, sometimes merely perceived — and cops have struggled to understand which bike laws can and should be enforced. As ridership increases, especially after the delayed-but-inevitable launch of bike share, the road will only get rockier.
"There's a lot of friction between the cycling community and NYPD," says Rich Conroy, director of education for the Bike New York advocacy group. "A huge proportion of our officers live in the suburbs, and they drive in and they just have what we call a 'windshield perspective.' "