As a penalty for certain offenses, a new sentencing option sends New York City's cycling scofflaws to a remedial class to learn about bicycles and traffic, reports J. David Goodman.
Of the 30 students initially entered in the class, the most common infractions were riding on the sidewalk and not using the bicycle lane, neither of which were deemed worthy of such punishment (which often includes a day of community service in addition to the class) by offenders.
According to Goodman, "The class included slide presentations on bicycle law,
hand signals and moving safely through traffic, as well as a discussion
of cyclists' rights and how abiding by the law could help them curry
good favor from the broader public."
"It [the class] comes amid broad agreement among bike advocates and the
Transportation Department that compelling riders to obey traffic
signals, go with traffic and stay off the sidewalk is critical to
improving the image of cycling and ensuring the long-term health of New
York City's expanding bicycle network. That mission will become even
more important," writes Goodman, "once the city's bike-share program rolls out in the next month or so."
FULL STORY: Penalty for Rule-Breaking Bicyclists: A Remedial Class
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
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