GlennR

This just makes it unsafer for all of us.

Cop Hurt as Cycling Mob Rides Wrong Way Through NYC Streets, Attacks Drivers: Witnesses, Police


https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/loca...472536893.html

indyfabz

Mobs have happened in Philly. On at least one occasion a few women were groped by the mob.

Steve B.

I get the sense this is a new issue for the NYPD to deal with and they are shortly going to learn to quickly get assets to the the area in a hurry, given how easy a group can get together and then disperse.

I have seen on 2 occasions a similar group mass ride on Linden Ave. in Brooklyn, only these times they were in illegal dirt motorcycles. They would do similar stunts while blocking and controlling traffic. On one of these occasions, a police car was present, lights flashing etc.... only they seemed to be corralling and escorting.

Skipjacks

I've personally seen this happen in Baltimore.

I feel like a law that completely indemnifies a motorist from all liability and prosecution for hitting a cyclist, dirt bike racer, etc purposely going the wrong way in traffic would go far toward curbing this behavior.

ptempel

Interesting. I haven't seen these guys myself. But I do see some stupid motorcycle and ATV riders doing wheelies. Also see e-bike delivery guys go the wrong way down streets a lot. Its only a matter of time that they'll get pulled over by the men in blue. Actually, aren't e-bikes in NYC illegal? Maybe the cops are "looking the other way" with the delivery guys.

https://www.bicycling.com/culture/ne...war-on-e-bikes

Steve B.

The whole e-bike conversation is a thread in itself. As to NYC reg's, I think there are certain classifications, based on speed ?, that are illegal for sale, rental or use in NYC and others might be legal. I've zero interest in finding out.

Jarrettsin

E-bikes are illegal in the city not that the cops are doing anything about them, especially in the outer boroughs.


And don't give me e-bikes these thing are electric motorcycle. I see these things everyday and no one is peddling. Electric or gas it has a motor and should have to be registered, have a plate, insurance and used only in the street like other motor vehicles.


It's the same law with boats in any state. if you throw a battery operated trolling motor on a row boat you have to register it same as if it had a gas motor.

punkinevil

These kids are really a menace. I've had run ins with them before, and certainly had to use my skills to avoid collisions. They really don't give a crap, but it's funny when they try to chase me down. Those boys can't ride fast.t-mobile.com

As for ebikes, they are illegal to ride on any public road, path, or trail in the entire state of NY. There is no exception for slow speeds, no matter what people say. I'm very conflicted about them; I have no issue with them theoretically, but in practice, the delivery guys/messengers on term are a menace. Always salmoning, not using their lights (which are generally built in), blowing lights without looking. I've almost been hit countless times. I'm conflicted because my arguments sound like the anti biking arguments I always hear. Perhaps if they were legal, then there would be people riding them safely. Anyway, this isn't an ebike thread, but since it came up, I really wanted to point out that they are illegal to operate in public in the whole state.

robertorolfo

I don't think anyone is going to confuse a few thugs on bikes with regular bike riders. Although the idiots on dirt-bikes and ATV's do often get thrown in with motorcycle riders, but that's a different story...

Agreed, and it is all a little ridiculous. I don't see why these guys don't just ride on the street. And if they want something with a motor, just get a regular electric scooter, or a 50cc gas powered scooter that will make their lives 100% easier.

The e-bike nonsense is just their way of being able to used a motorized vehicle in bike lanes, on sidewalks, to run through red lights, and to go the wrong way down streets... because they know the cops won't do anything. So it ultimately comes down to the cops.

And I realize that it's often some poor dude making minimum wage that has to ride these things in order to get some rich people their food while it's still hot, but that really can't excuse everything.

I also notice a lot of idiots on scooters in the bike lanes, many of them also motorized and sometimes going against traffic. Just another sign that the city isn't what it used to be...

elee213n

I've seen these menacing mobs a few times.

I've also encountered a group of them in Central Park zig zagging all over the place and heading in the opposite direction playing chicken with on coming cyclists.

Heavens forbid you should hit one of them.