Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 1998

Release #124-98

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Curt Ritter (212) 788-2971


MAYOR GIULIANI INTRODUCES LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CRACK DOWN ON RECKLESS BICYCLE MESSENGERS AND ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

-- Proposal Would Hold Businesses Liable For Actions of Messengers --

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced today that he has formally introduced legislation in the City Council that would allow tougher enforcement of the prohibition of riding bicycles on sidewalks and create additional penalties for these offenses. The proposal was originally announced by the Mayor in his Quality of Life address on February 24th and is being sponsored by Council Members Andrew S. Eristoff, Noach Dear and Walter L. McCaffrey.

"Our City sidewalks should be safe for New York City pedestrians," said Mayor Giuliani. "However, in recent years, bicycles used by couriers and delivery persons for various types of businesses have taken over the public sidewalks and have created a major hazard for pedestrians."

The legislation introduced today provides that owners of businesses and bicyclists would be held jointly liable when the bicyclist is operating on behalf of the business. Moreover, the bill provides that a person in violation of the prohibition of riding a bicycle on the sidewalk has created a "substantial risk of physical injury" to another person if at the time of the violation the bicycle is approaching pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk and is within fifteen feet of such traffic.

"This legislation will ensure that bicyclists and business owners alike will comply with the laws that have been established to ensure pedestrian safety," the Mayor continued.

Current law already provides that it is unlawful to ride bicycles on sidewalks, but does not penalize the employers of bicyclists. The law also allows for the seizure and impoundment of bicycles for those who ride bikes on the sidewalks and create a substantial risk of physical injury to another person, but the law fails to define substantial risk of physical injury.

"Stronger enforcement, stricter penalties, and joint liability are the only sure way to have bicyclists and business owners comply with these laws," the Mayor concluded.

"Anyone who walks the streets of Manhattan knows that delivery bicyclists routinely and flagrantly violate the law against riding on the sidewalk," said Council Member Andrew S. Eristoff (R-L-F, East Side). "Last November, an elderly man was struck and killed by a food delivery bicyclist on West 77th Street. One reason for this sidewalk anarchy is that the current law is difficult to enforce and doesn't hold owners of businesses who profit from bicycle deliveries accountable for the recklessness of their employees. By imposing joint liability on business owners and making the law easier to enforce, this legislation will force the delivery-based business community to make bicycle safety a priority."

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