In a landmark court ruling, city lawyers have openly acknowledged that it is legal for cyclists in New York City to pass through red lights when a ‘Walk’ signal is displayed.
This long-awaited concession is hoped to put an end to the ongoing harassment of cyclists, who have faced tickets from officers even after lawmakers clarified the rules more than four years ago.
The legal allowance for cyclists to proceed with a ‘Walk’ signal, known as a leading pedestrian interval (LPI), has been in effect since 2019.
However, the NYPD has continued to ticket cyclists erroneously, leading to growing frustration among bike advocates and riders alike.
Cyclist Andrea Adleman’s lawsuit against the city and state, stemming from a red light ticket received in 2023, recently prompted a Manhattan Supreme Court judge to clarify this point with legal representatives from both the city and state.
During a hearing in November, Judge Nicholas Moyne posed a clear question to city lawyer James Cullen: “Do we all agree, that under city law if you are on a bike and you’re at the intersection and there’s a walk signal for the pedestrian and the vehicle signal is red … you can proceed into the intersection and go even though the vehicle signal is red?”
“Yes,” Cullen replied, agreeing with the judge’s assessment.
Judge Moyne’s inquiry wasn’t just a procedural formality; it represented a crucial moment for cyclists facing unjust penalties.
Chris Greene, Adleman’s attorney from the bike-focused firm Vaccaro Law, highlighted the importance of this admission as it allows cyclists to use the judge’s words as evidence if they encounter wrongful ticketing in the future.
“It wasn’t until we had sued … that they actually conceded something that should have been obvious,” Greene remarked, stressing the need for clarity in enforcement and understanding among law enforcers.
Adleman’s case illustrated a glaring dissonance between the law and its enforcement.
After receiving a ticket for crossing Sixth Avenue at 41st Street while the pedestrian signal was illuminated in June 2022, Adleman was told by the officer that “that’s for pedestrians.”
Despite contesting the fine at a DMV hearing, she was unfortunately ruled against by an administrative law judge, who mistakenly concluded, “You have to operate a bike like a car. … You can’t go through red lights.”
When the DMV appeals board upheld this ruling, Adleman was left with limited options until she filed an Article 78 lawsuit against the city and state, which successfully brought attention to the issue.
Judge Moyne commented on the collective failures across multiple levels of government, urging officials to better inform law enforcers and administrative judges about the correct application of the law.
His insightful approach underscored the need for streamlined communication among city and state agencies, which appears to have been lacking.
“Is there something the city could do or that the DMV could do to tell ALJs ‘Look, this is the law. They do not have to be treated like a car.’ Maybe give them some instruction or guidance or something,” suggested Judge Moyne, emphasizing the importance of awareness to mitigate future violations.
Greene noted that the DMV vacated Adleman’s ticket shortly after her lawsuit was filed, allowing the government to argue that her case was moot, which he perceived as an implicit concession to their earlier wrongdoings.
“This law was passed in 2019. What I would like to know is what steps the NYPD took to inform its officers,” Greene questioned, highlighting potential lapses in training and communication within the department.
Notably, a recent cyclist shared their positive experience after successfully having their ticket dismissed at a DMV hearing by citing the leading pedestrian interval law.
Oliver Casey, another Manhattan commuter, reported that a judge dismissed his ticket after he explained his actions at a red light, further highlighting the impact of this new legal clarity.
Despite the positive outcomes for some cyclists, attorney Greene pointed out that not all riders have the resources to contest improper ticketing, leading many to pay the fines despite being legally justified in their actions.
The NYPD’s current response to the situation was to assert in a recent statement that they informed their members of the law change back in March 2020.
According to a police spokesperson, all members in training receive a vehicle and traffic law reference guide, which is updated as necessary.
However, the lack of consistent enforcement and knowledge among officers raises questions about how effectively this information has been disseminated.
As the ruling reverberates throughout the cycling community, advocates are hopeful that this acknowledgment and the resulting awareness will lead to more informed responses from all levels of law enforcement in the future, ultimately creating a safer environment for cyclists navigating New York City streets.
image source from：https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/04/25/yes-cyclists-can-go-on-red-with-walk-sign-city-confirms-in-court
