Groups representing thousands of New York City pedestrians and bicyclists welcomed recent announcements by Mayor Giuliani and Police Commissioner Safir that the City was cracking down on dangerous cabbies starting on May 1.

John Kaehny, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives welcomed the move. "Cabs set the pace on city streets, which has meant speeding and reckless driving. We applaud the police effort to calm our streets."

Transportation Alternatives is a 4,500 member group which works for better conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Jon Orcutt of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a regional group which promotes street safety, concurred, saying

"The image of NYC should be something positive like the Statue of Liberty, not negative like crazy cabbies. We support any police effort to get these guys under control."

Every year 14,000 pedestrians are struck by cars in NYC and 250 killed. Hundreds of those struck are injured by reckless cab drivers.