In Paris, City Hall has just announced that thousands and thousands of free bikes will be on the streets by summer.

In contrast, locally, the NYPD has just announced that groups of 50 or more riders or walkers will be subject to arrest if they have no permit. What does Paris know that we don't?

Bicycling is nonpolluting, healthy, chic, cheap, fast, fun and ideal for urban mobility. Paris gets it, as do Amsterdam, Copenhagen and many other cities with weather and density like ours. NYC should be doing all it can to get more cyclists on the streets, not setting up roadblocks that contribute to climate change and minimize citizen participation in a democratic society.

Even if their current tactic is regressive, the City has opened the way for your input regarding the future, and wants to hear from you this month. NYC's new Office of Long-term Planning & Sustainability has transportation high on its agenda -- reducing congestion and improving air quality are both major aims of the city's proposed PlaNYC 2030 to create a sustainable city in the next 25 years. Add your vision for the city to the plan - do it in February for maximum impact!

Follow all kinds of mobility and transport issues at StreetsBlog - great calendar of related events, lively discussion, too. A hot topic: who will be our next Department of Transportation Commissioner? Hopefully, a powerful visionary leader who puts sustainability in the forefront of each decision.