Who Rides on the Sidewalk? To NYPD, Just Blacks and Hispanics - Streetsblog New York City

"The NYPD has ramped up its enforcement against cyclists for riding on the sidewalk, but continues to do so in a haphazard and racially suspect manner, new data reveal. In the 12 months from October 2024 to September 2025, cops wrote 5,068 summonses for "unlawful bicycle riding on sidewalk," up nearly 69 percent from the previous 12 months. But the racial breakdown of that crackdown suggests that the push for safer space for pedestrians is being carried out in a disproportionate way:"

"Black cyclists got 37.1 percent of the sidewalk-riding tickets, but Blacks comprise just 20 percent of the city population. Hispanic cyclists got 34.4 percent of the tickets, but they comprise 28.3 percent of the population. Meanwhile, white people, and to a lesser degree, Asian people, are getting tickets at a lower rate than their portion of the population: White cyclists got 10.1 percent of the tickets in the most-recent period, even though white people comprise 31 percent of the population."

"Streetsblog provides high-quality journalism and analysis for free - which is something to be celebrated in an era of paywalls. Once a year, we ask for your tax-deductible donations to support our reporters and editors as they advance the movement to end car dependency in our communities. If you already support our work, thank you! If not, can we ask for your help?"

NYPD issued 5,068 summonses for "unlawful bicycle riding on sidewalk" from October 2024 to September 2025, a nearly 69 percent increase over the prior year. Black cyclists received 37.1 percent of sidewalk-riding tickets while comprising about 20 percent of the city population; Hispanic cyclists received 34.4 percent while comprising 28.3 percent of the population. White and Asian cyclists received tickets at rates below their population shares. Enforcement appears applied unevenly across precincts, with a map of 2025 tickets showing concentrated and inconsistent enforcement patterns. Streetsblog solicits tax-deductible donations to support reporting aimed at ending car dependency.

Read at Streetsblog