@ 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 21, 1999
Amsterdam and 72nd Street,(center island)

On Thursday evening, 30 city cyclists will be joined by the NYPD to send a strong message to sidewalk cyclists and reckless drivers to follow traffic rules. The group will target a stretch of Amsterdam Avenue known for its numerous take out restaurants and problematic delivery cyclists on sidewalks, as well as for speeding and reckless driving by motorists. This is the 8th Give Respect/Get Respect campaign event organized by Transportation Alternatives (T.A.).

Advocates and volunteers will walk their bikes up Amsterdam from 72nd Street to 96th Street, asking sidewalk cyclists to ride in the street. Escorted by police officers from the 20th precinct, the group will also distribute leaflets in English, Spanish and Chinese advising riders to ride with traffic, not against it, and always to yield to pedestrians. Meanwhile, those drivers spotted ignoring traffic rules, blocking crosswalks or otherwise endangering walkers and cyclists will be issued mock summonses.

"Speeding cars terrorize other street users - intimidating cyclists to the point that they feel riding on the sidewalk is the safest option - this in turn terrorizes pedestrians" states Susan Boyle, bicycle program coordinator for Transportation Alternatives (T.A.). "Our message is simple," she added "motorists have to slow down and share the street with cyclists." The action is one of many staged by T.A.'s Give Respect/Get Respect Campaign, and is part of T.A.'s overall mission to improve the quality of life on our neighborhood streets.

T.A.'s Give Respect/Get Respect campaign calls for

• Stringent enforcement of NYC speed limits
• Designated cab stands to end taxi-hailing mayhem

Campaigners also encourage cyclists to respect pedestrians and other road users by:

• Keeping off the sidewalk
• Riding with traffic, not against it
• Always yielding to pedestrians