Residents Push to Enforce Little Known Bike Delivery Laws
November 18, 2011 7:21am | By Amy Zimmer, DNAinfo News Editor
click to see all pictures (9 photos)
A delivery man riding on the sidewalk at East 68th Street had his order in hand, but no helmet or restaurant identification on his bike or shirt. (DNAinfo/Amy Zimmer)
UPPER EAST SIDE — The call for a crackdown on rogue bicycle delivery people has been heard across Manhattan as community boards and resident demand new rules to license them.
A little known fact, however, is that these rules already exist — and have since 1984.
While residents across Manhattan are fed up with bicycle delivery people riding on sidewalks, running red lights or pedaling against traffic, and want businesses held accountable for the behavior of their delivery staff, a licensing system for commercial cyclists exists, but is virtually unenforced.
The Upper East Side's Community Board 8 is mulling new ways to enforce and promote the rules, whether it's through Health Department restaurant inspectors or through the New York State Restaurant Association's training program for new eateries.
"We already have commercial licensing and it's not being enforced," Community Board 8 transportation committee co-chair Jonathan Horn said at a recent meeting where members were discussing whether they should call on the city to require licenses for delivery people.
Restaurants and other businesses are required to issue their bike delivery people a numbered identification card with the cyclist's name, home address and photo with the name, address and phone number for the business.
The law also requires cyclists to have a "metal, plastic or other sign of a type approved by the police commissioner, with the name of the business and a three digit identification number" that is legible from at least 10 feet away, according to the rules. They are also supposed to wear a jacket, vest or other item of clothing with the business name and an ID number clearly emblazoned on the back.
Not having an ID number would be considered an equipment violation, which carries a fine up to $250. The cyclist is responsible for the fine, though there's a bill pending in Albany that would make the business owner responsible.
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