A friend of mine was stopped in central park today by the parks police and handed a flyer documenting the park rules. Amongst other things:
* cyclists and skaters must stop at red lights.
* bicycles must be equipped with a bell or similar warning device.
* do not bike, skate or run in groups without a permit.
* cyclists may not ride more than two abreast on the drive.
* the speed limit for cyclists is 15mph.
* cyclists and skaters are not allowed to have fun, or otherwise enjoy themselves in any way that may be deemed irresponsible by the facist state police. remember, big brother is watching you.
more park rules
Fri, 08/11/2006 - 2:02pm
Fri, 08/11/2006 - 2:33pm
#1
Park Rules
Have the authorities started ticketing the various teams that train in groups in the morning? What about the impromptu gatherings that just happen? Are we to expect a summons on weekends as we ride out of the park on a club ride?
I hope I get witness the police person who tries to write a ticket for Richard Rosenthal.
Fri, 08/11/2006 - 4:51pm
#2
Steve, your wish to witness delights the hell out of me; but...
"Steve:
Here's a wilder fantasy than any you might have about the scholarly dialogue an officer of the New York Police Department and I might engage in as he tickets me....
My simply being in the park (or, for that matter, anywhere else) training. Doesn't happen. Hasn't happened in years. But what a great fantasy.
Here's an even greater fantasy that arrived with my dotage: my thinking I can keep up with young bucks and buckesses who ride three and four (or more) days a week as I ride one.
However, back to your implied point: you're invited to come to Police HQ Aug. 23 and hear my 2 min. oration regarding the parade permit proposal...which, let us note, is due to go into effect five hours after the meeting--which, in the PD's mindset, is surely time enough for it to carefully consider and evaluate all the comments it will have heard.
A related thought: someone on the message board thought cyclists citywide could bring the PD to its knees by flooding it with parade applications. I wouldn't want to cede to the PD their having a right, or even thinking they had a right to pass on (or withhold) permission for us to ""parade"" in groups of two up to, for example, the GWB.
Having said that, I continue to enjoy the notion of our requesting--and getting--police accompaniment to the bridge week after week after week after week as we parade to it."
Fri, 08/11/2006 - 6:02pm
#3
George, that last thing on the list wasn't really on the literature, was it? LOL
I can't wait for the 2007 SIGs, it'll be great having a police escort going up the Grand Concourse!!! Oooo... I just had a thought, if we're a parade, and we get the permits, we won't have to obey any traffic rules. It'll be just like the St. Paddy's Day parade. For a preview of what this could look like, attend the Dominican Day Parade this Sunday... hey Richard, this may be a good thing after all!
George
Sat, 08/12/2006 - 5:07am
#4
What is going to be the cost to apply for a parade permit?
And what makes you think they are going to issue any permits?
Mon, 08/14/2006 - 2:18pm
#5
Ah... but permits can be denied. To Permit is to Control.
To acknowlege their power to require permits is to let them control you.
Sat, 08/12/2006 - 5:09am
#6
park rules
Okay, I understand stopping at red. I did just that on Wed. a.m. Aug 2 at about 7:30 a.m., along with the cars, on the west drive. However, when the COP waved us on because there were NO pedestrians anywhere in sight, we started to go, only to be stopped by two other cops (in brown uniforms) 20 feet ahead, where we were ticketed. I was very pissed off, needless to say. I'm fighting this ticket when I get an assigned court date, which entails me losing a day from work (and the concommitant money). Anyone else dealing with this issue?
Morene
Tue, 08/15/2006 - 1:52pm
#7
park rules
I also got a summons last Thursday morning - aug 10 - 7:30am, at a red light a parks cop told me to slow down - I did. But 20 feet ahead were those 2 cops who stopped me and gave me a summons for court Oct 11 - on the summons it said 'failed to yield to pedestrians' -there were no pedestrians there - only the cop telling me to slow down. He also said he thinks most of these will get thrown out because no one needs a license to ride a bike where you have to say you've read and understand these rules in order to get the license.
