Ours, however, was definitely not quick, but it was a hit. Streetsblog readers learned something in our piece<\/a> that no one else reported: The NYPD\u2019s long-documented massive, post-pandemic decline in writing tickets to address driver recklessness \u2014 i.e. tickets for failing to yield to pedestrians, for running red lights, for blowing through stops signs, etc. \u2014 had shifted to policing electric bikes, scooters and mopeds, which, despite the general feeling that these devices are causing chaos on our streets, have not done anything near the scale of damage still being caused by reckless drivers.<\/p>\n \t\t\tRecommended<\/p>\n \t\t The NYPD\u2019s boasting in Streetsblog about its shift from policing drivers to policing cyclists \u2014 about as bass ackwards an approach to Vision Zero as you can get \u2014\u00a0was on most reporters\u2019 minds at the Tuesday presser. Several reporters asked Mayor Mamdani about this shift in policing, but Max Rivlin-Nadler of Hell Gate was the most pointed:<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, earlier today Streetsblog reported that the NYPD has shifted its enforcement to e-vehicles and e-bikes [even though] we know, statistically, the number one danger for pedestrians, for cyclists, for anybody on the street are vehicles [cars and trucks]. My question is, how do you get the NYPD to ramp up its enforcement of drivers who run red lights, who speed? Even just biking here today, taking the alleged Grand Street bike path, it was completely blocked by trucks, cars, no enforcement whatsoever. How do you get the NYPD on board, because much like other plans we see laid out, the NYPD kind of shrugs.\u201d<\/p>\n The mayor\u2019s barely bothered to answer:<\/p>\n Our goal here is not going to be measured in terms of the number of tickets that are issued, but rather behavioral change. And the NYPD is a partner in delivering that change. So, too, is the redesign of streetscapes across the city. We\u2019ve seen, for example, one of the most effective ways at delivering increased bus speeds is not just from ticketing of police officers, but rather from \u2026 automated ticket enforcement, as well as the redevelopment of the streets themselves for the creation of those busways and bus lanes. So we are looking at every single tool that we have.<\/p>\n Chris Sommerfeld from Politico followed up with another attempt: \u201cThe statistics are going down on traffic enforcement from the NYPD,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m wondering if you just have a sense of why there\u2019s such a steep drop, and if you\u2019re going to actually order your NYPD to step up that enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n The mayor didn\u2019t answer: \u201cEvery single member of our task force, all the 19 members \u2026 are going to be partners in actually delivering on Vision Zero Reimagined, and what that means is we\u2019re going to be taking a hard look at how best we can change behavior that we\u2019re seeing in violation of our street safety laws, and then utilize that. That includes the PD.\u201d<\/p>\n The mayor, perhaps, can be forgiven for not leaning on the NYPD for enforcement, though \u201cenforcement\u201d (along with \u201cengineering\u201d and \u201ceducation\u201d) is one of the three \u201cE\u2019s\u201d of Vision Zero. The reason? The NYPD is neither a Vision Zero partner nor is it under control of the mayor. It does not respond to actual data (which show a tiny number of pedestrians are being injured by e-bike and e-scooter riders) nor does it seem to read this mayor\u2019s talking points. He repeatedly says, for example, that the city should be doing whatever it can to expand micro mobility, which is safer, more sustainable, and causes far less congestion, but the NYPD only seeks to discourage it \u2014\u00a0the agency\u2019s boasts to Streetsblog prove it.<\/p>\n So it\u2019s no surprise that the mayor spent almost the entire press conference deflecting questions about the NYPD and focusing on the great parts of his Vision Zero Revisited project (which we also wrote about yesterday). Those are the things he can control and, from these pixels to Flynn\u2019s ear, he\u2019ll hopefully accomplish.<\/p>\n For the record, had we been called on to ask a question, it was going to be this: \u201cYou said in your statement today, \u2018We should not have to wait for another family to lose a loved one before we make a street safer,\u2019 but another family did indeed lose a loved one on Canal Street last week<\/a>, where DOT has a safety plan, but has put it off until next year at the earliest<\/a>. And the Bedford Avenue bike lane remains unprotected despite constant danger to cyclists, whose families might be next. So why are you making them wait?\u201d<\/p>\n We didn\u2019t get to ask it, but, in fairness, Hizzoner said he would increase the \u201cscale\u201d and the speed of street safety projects. More to come, we suppose.<\/p>\n \u2014 Gersh Kuntzman<\/p>\n In other news:<\/p>\n Next up for the Mamdani administration: a new streets master plan, which Hizzoner said is coming soon. (The City Reporter<\/a>)<\/p>\n The Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 New York office is officially decamping to Jersey City. (City & State<\/a>)<\/p>\n Three cab drivers have died on the job in the last three months. (The City Reporter<\/a>)<\/p>\n Julie Menin \u201cmight know developers more intimately than most, but she isn\u2019t going to fight their battles.\u201d (The Real Deal<\/a>)<\/p>\n The city\u2019s new \u201cStripe Hog\u201d uses extreme water pressure to remove old street markings. (NY Times<\/a>)<\/p>\n California High Speed Rail consultants blew a half-million dollars on \u201cairfare without documentation, luxury rideshares to a gym, tiki bar, cigar bar in D.C. and nightclubs.\u201d (KCRA<\/a>)<\/p>\n The MTA is seeking bids for the 125th Street crosstown segment of the Second Avenue subway. (Daily News<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\n \t![\"UPDATE:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/mamdani-on-a-bike-with-cover-of-vz-report.jpg\")
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