Street Cut Inspectors and Traffic Enforcement Agents

In April 1991, the New York City Department of Transportation began a pilot program that took five of its 150 street-cut inspectors out of their city cars and put them on bicycles. The cycling inspectors, chosen from a surplus of volunteers, monitor all street cuts in Manhattan south of 59th Street as part of the Highway Inspection and Quality Assurance program.

Since 1991, five bicycle-riding DoT inspectors have monitored all street cuts in Manhattan south of 59th St. Photo: Charles Komanoff

Although no official results have been reported, by all counts the program is a big success. “The people love participating in it,” says John Benfatti, the New York City DoT bicycle coordinator, “and they're very productive.” The city also saves a considerable amount of money — to equip the five riding inspectors with heavy-duty bikes (complete with carrying racks, water bottles, and bells) cost only $600 per person, vs. $12,000 to supply a motor vehicle (not including gas, maintenance and storage).

The Department of Transportation is contemplating expanding the program and perhaps putting traffic enforcement agents on bikes as well. Since traffic agents must stop frequently to issue summonses, this would make a great deal of sense. Bicycles are easier to stop and to park than sedans, they don't block traffic when parked, and can cover more territory than agents on foot.

Another candidate for bicycle use is the joint DoT-DEP vehicle-idling enforcement unit, whose productivity has been miserable (see Chapter 18: Air Pollution); getting these agents out of cars would save money and make it easier to spot infractions, while sending the message that the city practices what it preaches.