our smart and wonderful mayor

Dear Mayor De Blasio,

I am so glad you finally listened.

I applaud your efforts to integrate bikes into New York City. It's good for the environment, helps with traffic tie-ups, and a million more good reasons, I'm sure.

But as you know (since I've written before), the bikers (at least the ones in my neighborhood) need to be educated. I am sure if they knew the laws better they would follow them.

You could start by telling bikers they must abide by the same rules as drivers. Ya know. No right turns on red. No speeding through red lights. No creeping up to the last line of the crosswalk and sneaking through the red light. No crisscrossing back and forth on the pedestrian crosswalk waiting for the light to change. And of course no barreling down one way streets in the wrong direction. I'm sure these green-minded people and hard-working delivery guys (they are always guys) just need to be reminded and all will be good.

Today I see four NYC police officers and a NYC police van parked on the corner of 79th and First. When I ask why they are there, I am first told, "It's to hand out tickets to bike riders who break the law."

My prayers answered!



Okay, the police are in full view, so I doubt anyone will break any laws. But then I'm told, "Actually we're not here to hand out tickets. Just to distribute some flyers."

Tickets would be better, but oh well. I'm sure the flyers will really really help. How could any bike rider not be moved by such strong messaging?!

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So brilliant , Mr. Mayor. I would never have thought to:

• Hire a creative agency.
• Develop such compelling visuals.
• Add motivating copy sure to get bikers to stop driving recklessly.
• Print a gazillion copies on heavy stock paper.
• And have four police officers stand on one street corner to distribute these amazingly wonderful flyers.

Now I'll be able to sleep at night, no longer worrying that someone will be killed by a thoughtless, selfish, I-don't-need-to-follow-the-rules biker. 

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What a great use of taxpayer's money.

yours sincerely-

a nyc constituent