A note from Dave Jordan about this weeks club race.
Form Letter to Help Stop Police Officers Target Cyclists in Central Park
To help stop police officers ticket cyclists in central park, we created an easy way for you to contact the Mayor, DOT, or your City Council Member to ask them to put an end to the harassment. Just copy and paste the letter below into your email.To contact the mayor, you can do this via an email form online at www.nyc.gov
You should also write your City Council Member asking him/her to pressure the mayor to stop the crackdown by NYPD. (If you don't know who your Council Member is, go to www.council.nyc.gov and click on the "Council Members" button on the left side.)
You can contact DOT here http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildot.html And if you live or work in Manhattan, write the Borough President, Scott Stringer, at bp@manhattanbp.org.
It only takes a few minutes to make a difference.
LETTER:
I am writing regarding a recent "crackdown" by NYPD on cyclists in Central Park. I have heard numerous accounts of cyclists receiving tickets for as much as $250 for running red lights in the Park.
I am an avid cyclist who easily logs several thousand miles each year in the Park. I belong to a cycling club in the City that has hundreds of members who use the park regularly - often during the early morning weekday hours. While I have been spared ticketing so far, this new effort by the City is disturbing for several reasons.
I, like almost all cyclists I know, take safety seriously. We are constantly on the lookout for reckless drivers, unaware pedestrian tourists, and careless taxi patrons. We are also aware that there are some dangerous cyclists in the City, including but not limited to the ongoing problem with delivery persons (particularly those that now ride motorized scooters). The NYPD crackdown seems to be an attempt to make the Park safer. However, the enforcement seems quite unfair. I have friends who have received tickets early in the morning or late at night when the Park is closed to car traffic and foot traffic is scarce. There are dozens of traffic lights on the Central Park loop. To target and ticket cyclists in a largely empty Park that is closed to cars (partly so cyclists and other pedestrians may enjoy safer riding) seems unreasonable.
If I were to enter the Park, at perhaps 6:00am or 7:00pm, and stop at every light, a formerly pleasant spin would be a worthless chore. Even worse, I have heard of bike commuters (who reduce congestion and pollution) who have been ticketed on the way to work. Shockingly, the enforcement is selective in nature. Pedestrians, skaters, and joggers who run red lights and/or jaywalk are exempt.
If I may propose one potential solution - during car free hours the city can put the traffic lights in the park on flashing yellow with "press to walk" buttons for pedestrians. This would allow cyclists - particularly those of us who use the park during the wee morning hours when foot traffic is extremely sparse - to continuing using the park in a safe manner without having to stop at red lights that are essentially not in use.
I'm not sure who initiated this new policy and for what reason. I would kindly request that your office look into this matter. Safe recreational cyclists want to work with the City to make the park safer and the City as a whole a more pleasant place to live. I am certain that with rational discussion an amicable solution can be found for all of the parties involved.
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March 26th Results
On a very cold morning, Dave Taylor wins the A race, Gregg Waggoner wins the B race again, only confirmed result from the C race was Jonathan Giahn in 4th place, and Kristen Lotito wins the Women's race.
| Race | Place | Number | Name | Team | ||
| A | 1 | 4 | David Taylor | Fuoriclasse/Discover Chirpractic | ||
| 2 | 39 | Chris Leong | BH/Garneau | |||
| 3 | 149 | Matt Seaton | Rapha Racing | |||
| 4 | 23 | Igor Volsheteyn | Jonathon Adler Racing | |||
| 5 | 32 | Kyle Peppo | CRCA | |||
| 6 | 83 | Thomas Pennell | Blue Ribbons - Translations | |||
| 7 | 64 | Ira Blumberg | Setanta | |||
| Lap Times | 15:31 | 14:56 | 15:02 | 15:07 | 15:03 | 15:04 |
| B | 1 | 399 | Greg Waggoner | Sids Bikes NYC | ||
| 2 | 229 | Brian Collet | Houlihan-Lokey/Sanchez | |||
| 3 | 307 | Graham Macbeth | Setanta | |||
| 4 | ??? | NY Velo rider | Siggi's/NY Velocity | |||
| 5 | 347 | Nicolas Lawson | Setanta | |||
| 6 | ??? | Sid's ride | Sids Bikes NYC | |||
| 7 | ??? | Tony Munoz | Foundation | |||
| Lap Times | 16:15 | 15:50 | 15:37 | 15:30 | 15:47 | |
| C | 1 | ??? | ||||
| 2 | ??? | |||||
| 3 | 412 | Jonathan Giahn | Asphalt Green | |||
| 4 | ??? | |||||
| 5 | ??? | |||||
| 6 | ??? | |||||
| 7 | ??? | |||||
| Lap Times | 16:31 | 15:48 | 16:02 | 15:08 | ||
| W | 1 | 630 | Kristin Lotito | Houlihan-Lokey/Sanchez | ||
| 2 | 729 | Raquel Miller | CRCA | |||
| 3 | 710 | Renee Engelhardt | NY Velocity Women's Racing | |||
| 4 | 723 | Anneliese Haines | NY Velocity Women's Racing | |||
| 5 | 737 | BrittLee Bowman | CRCA | |||
| 6 | ??? | Danielle Kosecki | Asphalt Green | |||
| 7 | 616 | Sarah Sauvayre | Comedy Central - Sid's Bikes | |||
| Lap Times | 18:06 | 17:27 | 17:39 | 18:08 | ||
Rider 445 Sai-Kit Wong from NY Velocity was spotted by a marshal entering the joggers lane at E 65th st and will receive a warning.
Jim Boyd and Team Cup Points have been updated.
If you were in the C field you need to check in with the race official immediately after the race. We had a problem with the camera and only one C rider checked in after the race. E-mailing after the race will not get the results updated.
From the Club Race Protocol Page
Results
The race officials will compile results for each field in the parking lot immediately after the race. Riders who think that they’ve placed in the top seven should report to the race director to confirm their result. The race officials are obliged to attempt to pick and list the top seven finishers only. Results will be posted and after a 15 protest period the results will be official and no subsequent changes will be made in normal circumstances.
If you believe you placed in the race, please also check with the Race Director immediately afterwards to confirm your placing and pick up any prizes; usually the top three finishers in each field receive a small cash prize. Prizes not claimed on the day of the race are forfeited. Similarly, if you have any protests or complaints about results or the conduct of other riders, inform with the Race Director immediately following the race.
http://archive.crca.net/racing/club/race-protocol/
Introductory Officials Clinic
Introductory Officials Clinic
Members interested in learning more about USA Cycling rules are encouraged to attend an upcoming Introductory Officials Clinic and obtain a level C Road/Track and Mountain Bike Officials License. With the support of NYSBA, an Introductory Officials Clinic is scheduled for April 18tha and 19th. There is no charge to attend.
Rulebooks will be provided. Basic instruction in road, track, cyclocross, and mountain biking officiating will be given. There will be an open book test following the clinic. Please bring a check payable to USA Cycling or a credit card to be sent in with the application for an official's license. Please indicate your interest as soon as possible to allow time to acquire class materials.
The clinic will be hosted on 2 days, Monday 4/18 and Tuesday 4/19 from 6pm-9pm each evening at 1633 Broadway (50th & Broadway) New York, NY.
If you would like to attend, please email rodmillott@gmail.com to reserve your place – space is limited.
Borough President’s response to DOT
The Borough President’s responds to a letter received from the DOT. He originally requested the DOT to explore the feasibility of refiguring the traffic lights along the loop in Central Park during off peak-hours. The response from DOT “our traffic engineers have evaluated [your] suggestion and determined that it is not feasible because it would impact pedestrian safety.”
His request back to DOT was to provide:
- Data used to measure pedestrian traffic along the Central Park Loop in the early morning hours
- An explanation of why flashing yellow lights provide sufficient protection for pedestrians along Prospect Park West’s Bike Lane- but not in Central Park
- All relevant data used to determine that changing the lights to flashing yellow would impact pedestrian safety.
You can read the document available online here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/50898327/Scott-Stringer-Responds-to-DOT-re-Central-Park-Cycling-03-16-11
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"Flashing Yellow" Bill to be Introduced
In support of safe cycling and pedestrian use of Central Park, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez is introducing the "Flashing Yellow Light" bill to City Council. It has been submitted for Introduction at the next Stated meeting scheduled for next Wednesday, March 23rd. Council Members Gentile and Brewer have joined as lead sponsors for the bill. A press conference will be held at 1:00pm on the steps of City Hall. You can show your support by attending the Press Conference. Please be sure to arrive before 12:45pm.
Statement on March 5th Race!
Damian update!
Let your voice be heard at the:
Central Park Precinct's Community Council meeting When: Monday, March 14, 7 pm.
Where: 160 Central Park West (Unitarian Church at 76th Street)
Reclaim your right to Central Park as a place for responsible recreation.
March 5th Club Race Results
A big turnout was met with some unexpected rain for our first club race of the season. Unfortunately a serious crash in the Women's field and the resulting ambulance on the course required both the A and B field races to be stopped before approaching Cat's Paw on their final lap. Two riders were taken to hospital. We wish both riders a speedy recovery from their injuries.
Kristin Lotito started off the season on a good note, out-sprinting Fabienne Gerard and Renee Engelhardt to win the Women's race.
In the C Field, new member Steve Kang showed good form with a first race win over Jonathan Ohara and Juan Barraza.
