Slope Bicycle Summons Increased in January

Local cops have made good on their promise to crack down on cyclists who disobey the rules of the road.

After an initiative to enforce got underway earlier this year, cops said the number of summons they issued to Slope cyclists increased for the month of January.

 “We issued a lot of summons for bicyclists,” said Deputy Inspector John A. Argenziano of the . “Mostly to cyclists who were running red lights.”

Argenziano said the precinct issued around 30 bike summons last month.

In January, the 78th Precinct said that it would crack down on cyclists who don’t follow traffic laws in an effort to promote bicycle, pedestrian and motor vehicle safety.

Neighborhood cyclists who make a habit of running red lights or riding on the sidewalk now run an increased risk of getting slapped with an expensive summons, or, if they’re lucky, a warning from local officers.

The precinct plans to help educate local cyclists about the rules, as well, by reaching out to local businesses and bicycle advocacy groups.

Cops note that the number of bicycle accidents in the neighborhood seems to be on the rise as well, particularly at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and 11th Street.

“There have been a lot of bicycle to pedestrian accidents,” said Argenziano. “Bicyclists need to show respect for pedestrians.”