The article highlights a concerning disparity in traffic enforcement in New York City, where cyclists receive a disproportionately high percentage of red-light tickets despite making up less than 2% of trips and contributing minimally to accidents. Over three-quarters of 2024, car drivers received the lowest share of red-light tickets in five years, while tickets for cyclists remain significant. Advocates are alarmed by the prioritization of penalties against cyclists over vehicles that pose higher risks, suggesting that this focus distracts from addressing the dangers posed by cars and trucks on the streets.
"Red lights exist because cars and trucks are deadly," said Corey Hannigan of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "Bikes and e-bikes weigh an order of magnitude less, have far better sightlines and maneuverability, and are speed limited (unlike motor vehicles)."
Over the first three-quarters of 2024, car drivers received the fewest red-light tickets as a percentage of all cop-issued red-light tickets than they have in at least five years.
The portion of tickets issued to slower-moving bike riders is still sizable: Activists express shock over the high percentage of tickets issued to these riders.
The new data is likely to traumatize people who have been injured by car or truck drivers only to learn that cops are increasingly deprioritizing those vehicle operators.
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