dear mr. mayor...

Dear Mayor de Blasio:

I live on 79^th and First.  A couple of years ago, a bike lane was added to the east side of 79^th  street.  It has been a nightmare.

PROBLEM:

It is only a matter of time before someone is badly injured or worse.  The bicyclists do not abide by the rules of the road.  I use the intersection of First and 79^th as an example, but I have seen this problem all over the city.

Bicyclists zoom up First Avenue in total disregard for the light at the intersection of 79^th and First.

They may slow down, but only enough to make sure they won’t get hit, and then they will go right through the red light.

They will make right turns on a red.

The delivery people are the worst offenders.

I often see bicyclists going the wrong way down one-way streets. This is particularly dangerous for pedestrians.

And not once have I ever seen a bicyclist who is breaking the law get ticketed, or held accountable in any way. 

RECOMMENDATION

• Make it mandatory that all bikes with drivers over age 17 be registered.
• Make the registration fee nominal: say $10/yr. or $10 every two years.
• Require a license plate or something similar for all bikes —some way for the biker to be identified.
• Ticket offenders.
• Require delivery people to wear something that clearly identifies the name of the establishment they represent; fine the restaurant if they don’t.
• Hold restaurants liable for the behavior of their delivery people 

I eagerly await your response.