Bronx pol pushes for mandatory bike licenses

not really helpful in promoting alternative transportation . . .

BY BRYAN VIRASAMI
Newsday Staff Writer
November 17, 2004, 10:02 PM EST

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-bike1118,0,2976740.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines

Bicycle riders pose a growing danger on city roads, said a Bronx politician seeking to put registration plates on bikes and slap fines and jail time on offending pedalers.

The bill, introduced by City Councilwoman Madeline Provenzano, calls for fines up to $300 and up to 15 days in jail for anyone over 16 years old who rides an unregistered bike or flouts traffic laws.

Transportation Alternatives, a bicycle advocacy group, said yesterday that its members have sent more than 1,500 faxes to Provenzano's office saying the bill is misguided. They say it would discourage bike riding among the city's 112,000 daily riders, promoting traffic and pollution.

"It's clear that she does not like bike-riding, which is why her introduction of this bill is a blatant attack against bike-riding," said Noah Budnick, projects director at Transportation Alternatives.

- more . . .

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/nyc-bike1118,0,2976740.story?coll=ny-nynews-headlines

...who've been getting more hassled by police in NYC lately.

About Critical Mass:
http://www.times-up.org/cm.php#What%20is%20Critical