Before we begin, I need to give you some full disclosure. Prior to the pandemic, I never drove in the city. Now, I drive every single day to work and often to Brooklyn on the weekends to see friends. My car has become a larger part of my New York existence than I could have ever imagined.
All of this to say, my perspective of New York City streets has grown exponentially in the last three years. This period of time also seems to correlate with bikes taking over the world. And by world, of course I mean New York City.
Motorbikes, mopeds, electric bikes, motorcycles and let’s not forget the classic Schwinn. They are everywhere, operating in the most lawless way possible. No, I’m not a lawyer, but have you seen these things?
They drive on sidewalks, the opposite way in bike lanes, they run red lights and they dodge in and out of traffic on the Cross Bronx Expressway nearly every morning. It’s absolutely terrifying and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.
When the pandemic hit and most of the city was on lockdown, the streets became a free-for-all. Every night, packs of bikers, skaters, skateboarders, you name it, would fly down avenues at all hours of the night. Bikes weren’t the only culprits. Cars would drag race on the mega wide, landing strip-like roads of Riverdale in the Bronx. Neighbors would complain of engines roaring at all hours of the night.
However, bike behavior seems to have changed the most during the pandemic. Motorized e-bikes have become the main mode of transportation for Uber Eats, Seamless, or whatever your delivery service of choice may be. They zip, typically without headlights, down streets without regard for the rules of traffic. At least once a week, an e-bike sidles up to my car, so close that it’s in my blind spot and I’ll nearly hit it when I go to make a turn. It’s so, so scary and it makes me fearful for them and for me.
Things got pretty real when the manager of my favorite Chinese food restaurant in New York City was struck and killed by an e-bike in front of his restaurant. He ran Jin Fong on the Upper West Side. Neighbors told me he was helping to unload produce for the restaurant when he was hit by a speeding bike in the bike lane.
This incident is terrifying enough, but bikes on the sidewalk take things to a new level. In the Bronx and Brooklyn, this practice is rampant. Delivery bikers use sidewalks as their primary thoroughfare in many areas to transport food. Being a pedestrian in 2023 seems more challenging than ever before.
Most of us were taught as children to look left, then right, then left again. Now, my head jerks back and forth so many times before crossing any sidewalk or street, that I never know when I’ve done enough. I guess whiplash seems sufficient?
Bikes have NEVER been allowed on the sidewalk. Kids get away with it, adult bikers never have and there’s no reason for it now. Yes, streets are more crowded due to outdoor dining structures, but that’s no excuse. Bikes can wait in traffic just like cars in the city.
My friends in Brooklyn have a rambunctious french bulldog. They say walking her at night is especially difficult because bikes fly down the sidewalk and can’t see her. Their solution is to keep her nearly attached to their hip so she’s not run over.
When my family visits the city, my immediate warning is not about safety on the subway or dodging rats, it’s all about being aware of bikes. No longer is it ‘New Yorker cool’ to try and cross the street when you don’t have the walk sign or against traffic. Now, it’s all about surviving whether you’re walking or driving. Engaging in both modes of transportation daily almost feels like a death wish in bike land.
And, I feel like I have to say this: I’m not a bike hater. I actually love to ride bikes. I’ve ridden the NYC 5-Boro Bike Tour, I love Citi Biking the length of Manhattan in the Summer and biking as a kid was my favorite activity with my best friend a few blocks over.
Unfortunately, many bikers are abusing the privilege and there seem to be few consequences. That’s because many e-bikes and mopeds don’t have license plates and aren’t identifiable. Therefore, tickets or repercussions seem to be off the table. However, I feel like all 8.5 million of us have agreed to live in this society, why can’t we just all abide by the rules of the road for everyone’s safety?
What do you say you stay in your lane and I’ll stay in mine? We will agree to leave the sidewalks to speed walking New Yorkers, strollers and dogs? And we can all get back to complaining about the rats, let’s not forget we have a Rat Czar now! See you next week.
