Metro

NYPD’s ticket to ride

New York’s crackdown on scofflaw cyclists is on a roll, with cops cranking out tickets at a pace 48 percent ahead of last year.

Officers have written up 13,843 tickets so far in 2011 for cyclists ac cused of running red lights, rolling on sidewalks, and riding against traffic, according to NYPD data.

That compares to 9,345 tickets written over the same period in 2010, and 3,708 written during the same part of 2009.

Cops in Midtown-North are among the most prolific ticket-writers, issuing 567 bike summonses so far this year — 10 percent of the 5,666 written in all of Manhattan.

Pedestrians were glad yesterday to hear the news that cops are cracking down.

“It used to be wilder,” said Leslie Tylersmith.

Locals in Midtown-North claim the crackdown actually began about a decade ago, when a cyclist knocked down a member of the City Council in the nearby 17th Precinct.

“There is such a serious problem with bicyclists riding on the sidewalk,” she said. “As a pedestrian, you have to really watch it. They can get a little reckless and a little wild. They cut corners a lot.”

“They all drive the wrong way. They all run red lights,” said Ralph Rivera, 27, a building-security worker in the neighborhood.

“I think this neighborhood needs bike lanes,” said Anna Esposito, 47.

Cops say they’re cracking down in response to New Yorkers’ gripes about unsafe cyclists.

“A lot of this comes from community feedback and complaints. This is a quali ty-of-life issue,” said a police source.

Outside Manhattan, Brooklyn leads the pack in the number of cy cling tickets this year, with 4,489. Queens cyclists have gotten 2,492 tickets, Bronx cyclists have gotten 1,130 tickets, and Staten Islanders have gotten 66 tickets.

Cycling advocates say cops should just focus on the most hazardous offenses when going after pedal-pushers.

“Enforcement should always be data-driven, focusing on the most dangerous violations,” said Caroline Samponaro, of Transportation Alternatives, a bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group.

Additional reporting by John Doyle

bill.sanderson@nypost.com