NYC Council member caught running red lights, riding wrong way on Citi Bike

Liberal City Councilman Chi Ossé was caught-on-video recklessly riding a Citi Bike in the wrong direction down a busy Manhattan street while carelessly breaking traffic laws and blowing through red lights.

A witness recorded the lawlessness, which unfolded on Worth Street and Broadway near City Hall on Sept. 2, as the Brooklyn lawmaker pedaled northbound against southbound traffic, weaving dangerously close to pedestrians in crosswalks with the right of way.

“I saw him pulling all these stunts and running red lights,” the witness said. “It’s unfortunate that some council members don’t think they have to set an example.”

Ossé did not reply to requests for comment.

The recording is the second time the firebrand lefty has been flagged breaking basic bike laws.

A separate video shared on social media Sept. 16 by the NYC Democratic Socialists of America showed comrade Ossé pedaling a Citi Bike on a sidewalk.

Cyclists must follow the same rules as motorists and stop at red lights, not drive against the flow of traffic and stay off sidewalks, according to New York City laws. 

The infractions raised eyebrows in the council, where Ossé had pulled his support for an e-bike safety bill in 2024 specifically because it relied on NYPD enforcement.

“Council members need to set an example especially on the issues people care about and the issues that are important to New Yorkers, especially something as important as e-bike safety,” said a fellow council member who saw the video. “We had a 10-hour hearing on this issue. It creates a sense of lawlessness in our community where anything goes.”

The colleague also predicted how the the prolifically online Ossé would have handled being pulled over.

“I’m sure if he would have gotten pulled over he would have played the victim and thought about ways of getting attention out of this rather than thinking about how his behavior can create problems for our overall community,” the colleague added.

The council held a marathon hearing on 23 bike safety bills on Sept. 30.