Citywide crackdown on cyclists causes divide on accountability
New data released by the NYPD shows over 6,000 criminal summonses issued to cyclists in the second quarter of 2025. That number increased tenfold compared to the first quarter. That number is also greater than the total number of criminal summonses issued to cyclists in the past seven years.
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New data released by the NYPD shows over 6,000 criminal summonses issued to cyclists in the second quarter of 2025. That number increased tenfold compared to the first quarter. That number is also greater than the total number of criminal summonses issued to cyclists in the past seven years.
Anna Berlanga, the Bronx and Uptown organizer for advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, said those numbers are alarming and that bikers are being treated unfairly.
"If a 4,000-pound SUV runs a red light, they get a ticket and you pay it online. You're done with it in a matter of minutes. But if a 60-pound bicycle runs a red light, then they can get a criminal summons, which means you have to take a day off of work, go to court, probably you should hire a lawyer. And if you are an immigrant, then that can put you at risk of deportation," Berlanga said.
This comes as the city started issuing criminal summonses to cyclists back in April for basic traffic violations, like running a red light or riding on the sidewalk. Berlanga said it's not the bikers that are the problem, but the infrastructure. She pointed to the lack of protected bike lanes on East 149th Street.
"It's a little bit of the Wild West, but it's because the design and the infrastructure is not there to protect the people who are the most vulnerable," she said. The organization is calling for more protected bike lanes and reguations for apps that rely on cyclists for deliveries.
"You stop and double park while you're doing DoorDash or Uber, and you get a ticket for double parking, and there is no consideration for a working man who's trying to do his living," said Moises Almanzar, a cyclist who occasionally works for food delivery apps.
However, some other cyclists claim the food delivery app workers are going way too fast down city streets.
"They'd be flying by me...And I don't think that's good," said cyclist Jorge Gonzalez. He said many don't respect stop signs and red lights, but ever since the city started issuing criminal summonses, those cyclists are starting to slow down and respect traffic rules.
While many people do remain divided on how the city should handle cyclists, most people News 12 spoke with have a common goal of making the city's streets safer.
