Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions
My previous, minimally-completed post reproduced an e-mail sent to a Brooklyn cyclist regarding the 78th Precinct's approach to "Operation Safe Cycle". I posted it here on this blog in the effort to comply with the request made by the Community Affairs Police Officer.
Last night at the Community Board 6 meeting on the Prospect Park West Bike Lane's incredible success at making a safer street, the Community Affairs Officers of the 78th Precinct, Mitch and Jerry, approached me. They expressed frustration that I had posted their phone number online as they were now experiencing a backlog of phone messages on their shared answering machine, regarding bicycle complaints. In fact, Jerry explicit threatened me. In hopes of ensuring justice is met in the case of my untimely death, the below e-mails, reproduced in full w/o the offending contact information, tell the story:
Wed, January 5, 2011 8:37:49 AM
Bicycle Safety Enforcement
From:
"KIRSHY, MITCHELL"
To: XXXX@XXXXX.com
[Name Withheld],
The New York City Police Department is putting an emphasis on enforcement against bicycle riders who violate the New York State Vehicle Traffic Law (ie. redlight, riding outside the bike lane, etc.). It is anticipated that this will result in enforcement activity being taken against those who operate their bicycles in an illegal manner. If you could please pass the word along to your friends and co bike riders.
P.O. Mitchell Kirshy
Community Affairs
78 Precicnt
65 6th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Office: 718-xxx-xxxx
Fax : 718-xxx-xxxx
Thu, January 6, 2011 7:48:11 AM
Re: Bicycle Safety Enforcement
From:
XXX XXXXX
To: "KIRSHY, MITCHELL"
Hey Mitch,
Thanks for the information. I hope the new year finds you very well.
Bicyclists are allowed to exit the bike lanes at their discretion for safety, as they are legally allowed to ride on streets without bike lanes and occupy the vehicle lane as needed for safety. Or at least that is my understanding...I will look the state laws up again. Obviously all street users, cyclists, motorists, and especially NYPD officers who work hard to keep us all safe need to have a consistent understanding of the laws applying to bicycles, and the rights of cyclists. I'd really appreciate the opportunity to continue this dialogue with you, as would many others in the cycling community.
I'll be in touch.
Take Care,
Xxx
Fri, January 21, 2011 4:34:01 AM
Re: Bicycle Safety Enforcement
From:
XXX XXXXX
To: "KIRSHY, MITCHELL"
Cc: John Argenziano; Charlie Glover
Dear Mitch,
While I appreciated our friendly and humorous banter during the DOT presentation on the Prospect Park West Bike lane, I did not appreciate your fellow Community Affairs Officer Jerry's gesture after the meeting, suggesting that he would slit my throat.
Please don't threaten me because I did what you asked, spreading the information below that you provided, which happened to be incorrect. If the community affairs telephone number is being overwhelmed by bicycle questions on perhaps you could set up an alternate line for such complaints. I will gladly pass that number on to the cycling community. Again, with all due respect, I would suggest that you form a Committee for Bicycle Safety to address these issues, and that if you are serious about serving the cycling community, officers of the 78th precinct should ride bicycles during the monthly critical mass ride.
I will be filing a complaint against Jerry.
Sincerely,
XXX XXXXXXX
Brooklyn Cyclist
A note to Mitch and Jerry, I apologize for any inconvenience disclosing your names may create, but I would ask that you take responsibility for your actions and words, or kindly direct me to the person who can. Perhaps the Deputy Inspector?
A word about the crackdown.
It is obviously just a fantasy, as the NYPD is not a grassroots organization...if the top doesn't decree it then it is not really so. And that is what the silence from 1 Police Plaza seems to be saying. This precinct to precinct, discretionary/inconsistent approach to traffic enforcement is a bit hard to take seriously at this point. Does anyone really expect the NYPD to enforce traffic laws for bikes any better than they do for cars?
If we can't get the NYPD to ride bikes, can we at least get them to answer their phones? Or perhaps just upgrade their answering machines? Lets spend the money planned on being wasted by continuing the debate over Prospect Park West.
Oh and watch out, Stiesel is planning to drag NYC into a mess .
Last night at the Community Board 6 meeting on the Prospect Park West Bike Lane's incredible success at making a safer street, the Community Affairs Officers of the 78th Precinct, Mitch and Jerry, approached me. They expressed frustration that I had posted their phone number online as they were now experiencing a backlog of phone messages on their shared answering machine, regarding bicycle complaints. In fact, Jerry explicit threatened me. In hopes of ensuring justice is met in the case of my untimely death, the below e-mails, reproduced in full w/o the offending contact information, tell the story:
Wed, January 5, 2011 8:37:49 AM
Bicycle Safety Enforcement
From:
"KIRSHY, MITCHELL"
To: XXXX@XXXXX.com
[Name Withheld],
The New York City Police Department is putting an emphasis on enforcement against bicycle riders who violate the New York State Vehicle Traffic Law (ie. redlight, riding outside the bike lane, etc.). It is anticipated that this will result in enforcement activity being taken against those who operate their bicycles in an illegal manner. If you could please pass the word along to your friends and co bike riders.
P.O. Mitchell Kirshy
Community Affairs
78 Precicnt
65 6th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Office: 718-xxx-xxxx
Fax : 718-xxx-xxxx
Thu, January 6, 2011 7:48:11 AM
Re: Bicycle Safety Enforcement
From:
XXX XXXXX
To: "KIRSHY, MITCHELL"
Hey Mitch,
Thanks for the information. I hope the new year finds you very well.
Bicyclists are allowed to exit the bike lanes at their discretion for safety, as they are legally allowed to ride on streets without bike lanes and occupy the vehicle lane as needed for safety. Or at least that is my understanding...I will look the state laws up again. Obviously all street users, cyclists, motorists, and especially NYPD officers who work hard to keep us all safe need to have a consistent understanding of the laws applying to bicycles, and the rights of cyclists. I'd really appreciate the opportunity to continue this dialogue with you, as would many others in the cycling community.
I'll be in touch.
Take Care,
Xxx
Fri, January 21, 2011 4:34:01 AM
Re: Bicycle Safety Enforcement
From:
XXX XXXXX
To: "KIRSHY, MITCHELL"
Cc: John Argenziano
Dear Mitch,
While I appreciated our friendly and humorous banter during the DOT presentation on the Prospect Park West Bike lane, I did not appreciate your fellow Community Affairs Officer Jerry's gesture after the meeting, suggesting that he would slit my throat.
Please don't threaten me because I did what you asked, spreading the information below that you provided, which happened to be incorrect. If the community affairs telephone number is being overwhelmed by bicycle questions on perhaps you could set up an alternate line for such complaints. I will gladly pass that number on to the cycling community. Again, with all due respect, I would suggest that you form a Committee for Bicycle Safety to address these issues, and that if you are serious about serving the cycling community, officers of the 78th precinct should ride bicycles during the monthly critical mass ride.
I will be filing a complaint against Jerry.
Sincerely,
XXX XXXXXXX
Brooklyn Cyclist
A note to Mitch and Jerry, I apologize for any inconvenience disclosing your names may create, but I would ask that you take responsibility for your actions and words, or kindly direct me to the person who can. Perhaps the Deputy Inspector?
A word about the crackdown.
It is obviously just a fantasy, as the NYPD is not a grassroots organization...if the top doesn't decree it then it is not really so. And that is what the silence from 1 Police Plaza seems to be saying. This precinct to precinct, discretionary/inconsistent approach to traffic enforcement is a bit hard to take seriously at this point. Does anyone really expect the NYPD to enforce traffic laws for bikes any better than they do for cars?
If we can't get the NYPD to ride bikes, can we at least get them to answer their phones? Or perhaps just upgrade their answering machines? Lets spend the money planned on being wasted by continuing the debate over Prospect Park West.
Oh and watch out, Stiesel is planning to drag NYC into a mess .
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