Cyclists have hit out at a latest New York Police Department (NYPD) crackdown that will see riders who roll through stop signs or red lights issued criminal summonses rather than regular traffic tickets, calling the move “excessive, unfair and offensive”.

Under the department’s new policy, riders who commit minor infractions such as failing to stop at a red light or stop sign will be required to appear in criminal court, rather than simply paying a civil fine.

The change is part of the NYPD’s rollout of a new Quality of Life Division and will see officers deployed to 14 corridors around the city where complaints about reckless cycling have been recorded, including Manhattan’s busy Sixth Avenue.

“I can understand wanting to step up enforcement but bringing it up to a criminal violation seems excessive and unfair, given the relative danger of a bike compared to a car,” cyclist Amanda Tait said.

The NYPD has said the policy was prompted by concerns over reckless riding, particularly by e-bikes and scooters. Last month, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the initiative as a response to rising complaints from pedestrians. However, cycling advocates have argued that the response is disproportionate and risks exacerbating existing inequalities.

Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, said: “This is an obscene escalation from the police department, and not one that’s grounded in real safety, data, or best practices. We know what works — building the bike lanes and street improvement projects that corridors like Broadway need — not suddenly locking up people on bikes.”

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Cyclists have also pointed out the stark difference in treatment compared to drivers. Paula Richter, a New York local and cyclist, told Spectrum News NY1: “The cost of transportation is so expensive, biking is sometimes the only option that people have, and to criminalise that for running a red light when you wouldn’t do that for somebody running a red light in a car is absolutely offensive.”

Concerns have also been raised that the policy could disproportionately impact communities of colour, low-income workers, and undocumented immigrants — many of whom rely on bikes for essential travel and deliveries.

Attorney Steve Vaccaro warned: “Some of these e-bike riders, who are the target of this initiative, are people in this country without status. Forcing them to go to a criminal courthouse — it’s problematic because we understand ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] views courthouses as a place to roundup deportees, to put it bluntly.”

Cyclists in New York City (licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by Billie Grace Ward).jpg
Cyclists in New York City (licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 by Billie Grace Ward) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Cyclists have further highlighted the disparity in outcomes between crashes involving bikes and those involving cars. Since 2014, crashes involving people on bikes and pedestrians have killed 11 New Yorkers, compared to 1,359 pedestrians killed by drivers over the same period.

Some pedestrians welcomed stricter enforcement. Fernando Guimaraes, a West Village resident, said: “A lot of times with these bikers, there’s a lot of accidents that happen because they kind of go through these red lights.”

However, cycling groups have argued that the city’s approach punishes the symptom rather than addressing the cause, with many pointing to the need for safer streets and better infrastructure.

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The introduction of criminal summonses for cyclists comes amid a broader political climate in New York that has seen increasing hostility toward bike users and active travel infrastructure.

Earlier this year, newly re-elected President Donald Trump called for New York to “get rid of the bike lanes” and “kill” congestion pricing, claiming that reduced traffic was a sign that “people can’t come into” Manhattan. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said bike lanes were “so bad” and “dangerous”, adding: “They’re whacking people.”

In December, New York City Council said that it was considering a bill that would require e-bikes and e-scooters to be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and fitted with visible number plates. The bill, known as Priscilla’s Law, was proposed following 47 fatalities linked to e-bike crashes over the past five years.

Council member Robert Holden described the proliferation of e-bikes as a “scourge” that “continues to wreak chaos, injure and maim people, and, tragically, take lives.” He added: “We need accountability for the victims of e-bike incidents — and we need it now.”

Janet Schroeder, founder of the NYC E-Vehicle Safety Alliance, claimed that visible licence plates would help track down riders who flee the scene after collisions.

However, the proposal also faced pushback. Andrew Rigie, executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, warned that mandating DMV registration for e-bikes would place “yet another financial burden on small businesses and workers”, pointing out that delivery riders are already required to display an ID number on their clothing and bikes.