By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN — Midtown police are cracking down on bike messengers and delivery men who ride their bicycles on the sidewalk, and locals couldn't be happier.
Midtown residents have long complained about reckless delivery men and bike messengers who intimidate pedestrians by riding on the sidewalks instead of the streets.
Midtown North’s new commanding officer Timothy Beaudette, who took charge of the precinct in September, didn't waste any time in addressing the problem, announcing a crackdown on enforcing sidewalk crimes in October.
As part of the move, police have begun reaching out to local delis, diners, restaurants and pizzerias, asking them to post voluntary notices reminding employees that riding on the sidewalk is illegal and punishable by a $100 fine.
A total of 68 local businesses located near Seventh, Eighth and Ninth avenues have agreed to post the signs so far, police said.
The harsher enforcement of the sidewalk law was met with a round of applause by residents at a precinct community council meeting earlier this week.
"Thank you!" said Joe Minor, 65, who has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years. "At least we can see something is happening," he said.
The precinct, which stretches from the Theatre District to Central Park, wrote 26 bike-related criminal court summons for riding bikes on the sidewalk in the last 30 days. All of them were issued to delivery bikes or bike messengers, police said.
Of the 27 bike-related moving summons, which are issued for less serious violations like failing to stop at a signal or not having headlights, most were delivery riders as well, police said.
Asim Calik, 40, the manager at Amish Market on Ninth Avenue between W. 49th and W. 50th streets for almost 10 years, was one of the first to post a sign two weeks ago.
Calik applauded the initiative and said he thought it was making a difference already.
"I don't see [anyone] on the sidewalks riding bicycles anymore," Calik said.
P.K. Hundayani, 51, who owns the Mexican eatery Mi Nidito on Eighth Avenue between near 51st Street, put his sign up earlier this week.
He said that cycling on the sidewalk has been a "serious problem" in the area and placed the sign in a small cubby space where the restaurant takes its orders. Hundayani said he has long warned his staff that the restaurant is not responsible for any tickets they get.
Still, Bavdez Bravo, 30, who dispatches delivery orders at Famous Amadeus Pizza, said that even with the sign, delivery men in a rush still have to be reminded of the rules.
"I gotta tell them every day," he said.
