Riding a bike in New York City has never been a gentle cruise. There’s the usual dance with car doors swinging open, the jolt of dodging potholes, and the constant hum of traffic pressing in from all sides. Lately, though, riders have been facing a new obstacle: pink summonses. Not the kind that cost you a job, but the kind that send you straight to criminal court.
In the spring of 2025, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch rolled out a tougher stance on cycling violations. Running red lights, riding against traffic, and skipping a helmet are now more likely to land riders in front of a judge instead of just handing over a traffic ticket. The change has been swift and dramatic. In the second quarter of 2025, nearly 6,000 criminal summonses were issued to cyclists, a staggering jump from only 561 in the first quarter.
Officials say the goal is to make the streets safer. For thousands of cyclists, though, it has added a new challenge as they contend not just with the city’s intersections but also with its courtrooms.
A Legal Detour for Cyclists
Not long ago, a run-in with the rules for something like sidewalk riding or slipping through a red light usually ended with a trip to traffic court. It was often handled online, quick, and relatively painless. This year, that familiar process has taken a sharp turn. Those same small infractions are now sending cyclists into criminal court.
Drivers who make similar mistakes still have the Traffic Violations Bureau, where a case can be resolved from a kitchen table or by dropping a payment in the mail. Cyclists, though, now have to show up in person. That can mean losing a day’s wages, sitting in a crowded courtroom, and leaving with a $190 fine plus a six-month order to stay out of trouble. For riders, it feels like two different rulebooks are being used for the same game, with one set of players facing far tougher consequences.
Same Offense, Different Courtroom
For some cyclists, the process is little more than an inconvenience. For others, it turns into a long, exhausting ordeal filled with delays, language barriers, and hours spent in a courthouse line. It hits gig workers the hardest, especially delivery riders who can lose an entire day’s pay just by showing up.
Luis Cortes, director of Los Deliveristas Unidos, has watched the policy change ripple through the immigrant worker community. The fear it sparks isn’t just about the ticket itself, but about what might follow. Without clear knowledge of the legal system, many riders cannot tell the difference between a criminal court, state court, and immigration court, and that uncertainty weighs heavily. For undocumented cyclists, a simple appearance in court can feel like stepping onto unstable ground, especially in a climate of heightened deportation efforts.
Mapping the Hot Zones
The sudden flood of pink tickets isn’t popping up all over the city by chance. Most of them are showing up in exactly the places the NYPD said they would. Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, Second Avenue in Manhattan, and Fordham Road in the Bronx have all become regular stops for ticket writers. These streets have always been busy arteries for delivery workers, especially those on e-bikes, who spend long hours weaving through traffic to make their rounds.
The numbers tell their own story. In just three months, more criminal summonses have been handed to cyclists than in the last seven years combined. That is more tickets in one quarter than in the previous 28 put together, a pace that has left riders stunned and looking over their shoulders.
A Helmet Won’t Save You from This
Helmets have become part of the conversation too. New York law doesn’t require every adult to wear one, but not wearing one is now another reason a cyclist might get pulled over. Some see this as missing the point. If safety was truly the end goal, they argue, the focus would be on building better bike lanes, improving infrastructure, and educating both drivers and cyclists.
When the focus stays on punishment instead of prevention, riders say it feels less like protection and more like pressure.
Are Bikes the New Scofflaws?
The sudden rise in enforcement has many riders wondering what’s really behind it. The city says it’s working to balance congestion, protect pedestrians, and keep order on the streets, yet cyclists seem to be catching the brunt of this new focus.
It’s a move that leaves plenty of unanswered questions. Are riders truly the most pressing danger out there? Why do drivers often walk away with a simple fine while cyclists are sent to stand before a judge?
For a place that often touts itself as bike-friendly, the message to those on two wheels feels anything but consistent.
What Cyclists Should Know
Riding in New York has always meant keeping your eyes open, but now it’s just as important to keep the rules in mind. A helmet may not be required for every adult, yet skipping one could be enough to get you stopped. Rolling through a red light, even when the street is empty, can still land you in trouble. And that quick shortcut against traffic might save a minute but could cost you a summons.
The rules themselves haven’t changed much, but the stakes have. A pink ticket is not something to ignore. Failing to show up in court can turn a small violation into a much bigger problem that stays on your record. That’s why having a legal team that knows New York City’s traffic laws inside and out can make all the difference. At Gannes & Musico, LLP, we help riders and drivers fight tickets, protect their records, and work to reduce the financial and legal impact of a violation. With decades of experience in NYC traffic courts, we guide our clients through each stage of the process and aim for the most favorable result possible based on the facts of the case.
When the Bike Lane Leads to the Courthouse
For many cyclists, this new wave of enforcement has turned an ordinary ride into something far more complicated. What used to be about dodging taxis, weaving past jaywalkers, and staying clear of impatient drivers now also means keeping an eye out for officers ready to hand out pink summonses. The city’s streets may still belong to the bold, but the courts have carved out a lane of their own, and it’s reserved for bikes.
Our New York City traffic lawyers regularly assist riders facing these summonses, making sure they understand their rights and options. We walk our clients through the legal process so no one is left to handle it alone. If you receive a summons while cycling, we can