‘Dangerous:’ Tourist Questioned by NYC Police for Riding Bike in Short Skirt?
- Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:13am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A picture of Rijcken in her skirt and on her bike in NYC.
In my middle school and high school days, our dress code dictated that a girl‘s skirt couldn’t be higher than two inches above the knee. And we had the skirt police, who would sometimes walk around with a ruler and measure. That was then. But now, in New York City, apparently the skirt police still exist.
A Dutch tourist says that during a visit in early May, she was questioned by a New York City police officer after he saw her riding her bike in Lower Manhattan while donning a short skirt. According to her, he said her outfit was “dangerous” because she was distracting drivers.
“He said it’s very disturbing, and it‘s distracting the cars and it’s dangerous,” Rijcken told the New York Daily News. “I thought he was joking around but he got angry and asked me for ID.”
Rijcken, 31, was not given a ticket, but she was reprimanded. Unfortunately, she also didn‘t get the officer’s name. Because of that, the NYPD says it can’t really look in to her story.
“Whether this story bears even a modest semblance of what actually occurred is impossible to establish without being provided the purported officer’s name and getting his side of the story,” Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told the Daily News.
As for Rijcken, who is the general manager of a Dutch bike company and was in town for a bike show, she ended up going back to her hotel to change.
“I was on my way back to the hotel when it happened and I changed into pants,” she told the Daily News. “I didn’t want to get into trouble again.”
She’s also baffled: “I didn’t even think for one second that my outfit could be harmful or disturbing.”
As for the NYPD, I’ll let you know if I spot any officers with rulers.
(H/T: Gawker)
UPDATE:
It’s worth pointing out that a Facebook page that appears to be of Rijcken says she works for the bike company VANMOOF, the company that makes the bike she appears to be riding. VANMOOF posted the story on the company’s Facebook page on May 23, and is fond of the publicity it’s getting from the story. That’s to be expected. But coupled with the NYPD‘s inability to research Rijcken’s story, it does cast some doubt.
Still, it could just be that Rijcken was biking around NYC on one of her company’s bikes and did get stopped. Many outlets have posted the story and none yet have provided proof that the whole thing is a stunt. But then again, none have proven that it’s not true. We’ve presented both sides above. You decide.
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Comments (224)
BehindBlueEyes
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:52amI’m going to ask the weiner look into this.
Report Post »actuary
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:51amWas that a gun in his pocket or was he just happy to see her?
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:49amJust another instance of the ever-expanding police state. That idiotic police officer had no real reason to even pull her over from the start. Besides, it isn’t the short skirts that leads drivers to their deaths, it’s the drivers themselves.
Report Post »thermonator
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:44amShort skirts are cool with me, but the guys wearing their pants down around their knees should be ticketed…..lol
Report Post »Seriously guys, no one wants to see you duck walk so you can show off your Batman boxers….
Workforit
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:43amNice!
Report Post »Workforit
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:42amThe cop just wanted her number… come to think of it I want her number!
Report Post »endgamer
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:41amThe cop wanted an excuse to intimidate the girl. He knew she was a tourist and preyed on her. Clothing and actions in an unfamiliar place are a dead giveaway to cops and predators.. Cops can be both. My mother was harassed by cops (plural) who pulled her over to intimidate her into dating them. This was in the 1960′s . They would follow her at close range and pull her over is she was a fraction over the speed limit or made a move inconsistent with “normal” driving. She was pulled over for 1 mph over the speed limit and harassed for a date. I was in the car. This is just the way it is and it’s worse today. Most cops have superman syndrome as we call it & not all cops are like this. I have family members in police enforcement, they follow the rules and go above and beyond to serve their community.. This cop was just another “Wiener” in New York!
Report Post »LikesToFightGuy
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:41amBFD ive seen guys n gals with less on riding a bike…maybe thats her thing
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:41amThe voting app appears to be broken.
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 10:11am@Meyvn
I tried casting my vote, but for some reason, it brought up a tab saying that the webpage couldn’t be brought up.
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:41amWOW ! if she wants to show everybody what a nice twinky she has that is fine with me!
Report Post »rightwingheroes
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:37amWhat about obese people who wear spandex?
Can’t have it both ways, Gestapo.
Report Post »oldsoldier10
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:34amActually not sound bad but … bam is it me or does nothing beat a great pair of legs? Nah just kidding, this is preparation for the implementation of Shariah Law I CAN NOT WAIT! Imagine a paradise where no women are driving on yaking in cell phones, where modesty is the rule not the exception! Man paradise I can not wait to have three or four women at my beckon call , bring on the Shariah!
Report Post »HemiOwner
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:33amShe can ride around my neighborhood any time she likes. Viva la Dutch!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:32amIsn’t that a boys bike?
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:01pmLOL what bicycle?
Report Post »alina.bolero
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:28amcute outfit … neat looking bike too
Yeah, the dress police are everywhere. Since the government cannot force people to dress the way the politicians think everyone should dress, they have to play games with the definition of words. In many places here in Florida, since they could not pass laws preventing women from wearing thong bikinis on the beaches, they redefined the word “nude” to include the wearing of a thong bikini. …. it all depends on what the definition of the word “is” is!
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 7:39pmI agree 100%…
Report Post »standwithIsraelstandwithGod
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:28amWow martial law is going to expand to dress code? Jihad definitely has been working in this country!
Report Post »PingPongPing
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:27amNY is a cesspool of perverts like A. Weiner…..
Report Post »Tom21773
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:24amThat cop is an idiot. It wasn’t the short skirt that makes her disturbing, dangerous and distracting. Spandex bike shorts would have been equally distracting on her. Short skirts don’t kill people – inattentive drivers kill people. Why don’t they make all female bike riders wear burkas. While they’re at it, make female pedestrians wear burkas.
Report Post »NoIPhone
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:21amSorry, I won’t vote because I do not believe the story.
Report Post »If detained, the first thing I would do is write his name and badge and she certainly is savy enough to know that if she is riding bikes in NY.
She got her photo posted. Who took it?
Young_Millionaire
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:19amWe are just waiting for the approach of CheezWhiz, who is leading in today’s Hate Trick competition with 2 1/2 points on three attempts. Here’s a chance to criticize a young virile woman (not as good looking as Sarah) for “pedaling her wears.” Pun intended.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:18amThe only disturbance was in the officer’s pants.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 12:59pmGood one LOL
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:18amThere is nothing wrong with that skirt. Police state.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:18amActually I don‘t think she’s very good looking and her legs look more like they belong on a corner back or safety. So what”s the distraction?
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:43amHuh??
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:57amdont worry ..he is drunk *LOL*
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:29amSorry, You’re too young to remember when women were really pretty.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:30amLOL, he is drunk, I was just thinking I’d love to be her bicycle seat, for a while anyway.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:31amJust messing with you Ted, don’t throw your shot glass at me man.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:39amgeez ..one day of not being serious and look at what I get myself into …geeez
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:17amObviously a bad cop. NYPD really should look into this. If he’s stopping women for stuff like this, what else is he doing?
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:25amWhat a Jerk! I agree Mandors
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:46amDeputy Commissioner Browne obviously doesn’t care about the possibility that he has a cop who enjoys harrassing good-looking female tourists.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 10:54amBut if it’s name was Frank It would be OK
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:16amWas the officer’s name Ahmed?
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:28amif all the answers from the poll questions asked by the Blaze were lumped with your IP address could they be used to indictate your physcological profile…….jsy saying *LOL* ..does that indicate anything ? *LMAO*
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:30amPersonally I think it was a poor choice for bike riding but I’m sure there are worse outfits out riding/walking in NYC.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:35amhttp://theintelhub.com/2011/06/10/has-the-earth-shifted/
The Intel Hub
Shepard Ambellas
June 10, 2011
This morning after waking up (very early) to many birds chirping like an angry alarm clock, I was conversing with some friends of mine about the suns position and I decided to film a short clip to demonstrate a few points.
Something about the sun seems different lately, from my understanding the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
The position of the sun has been striking me as being different lately, something might be going on.
According to official data — with the sun 10 to 15 degrees off the horizon it should have been positioned at around 70 degrees toward the east when I spotted it at 5:45 am PST, when in fact it was positioned at 29-30 degrees north by northwest according to my compass
Any notice this ? I just checked with my Compass here in texas …compass and sun didnt match …
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:36amLet me just say that as a person that got a ticket in New York for blocking the cross walk, I’m sure it was. The part of this that gets me is the ticket was over $100. They had no problem with bus’s block the entire intersection so no traffic could move coming out of the tunnel, but one block up there was a truck in the traffic lane unloading. The cop gave someone else a ticket, released them and stopped traffic so he could go around the truck that took up my space to clear the cross walk. Then he walks up the traffic lane, not on the sidewalk so I could not even us that lane which was blocked any way. So I as a out of state driver got a ticket that put money in New Yorks coffers that there is no way I could fight.
Report Post »I have every confidence she got a ticket that would cost more money to fight then it is worth, which is what they count on
Searreigh
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:38amIt’s a marketing stunt. She made it up.
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:39am“Whether this story bears even a modest semblance of what actually occurred is impossible to establish without being provided the purported officer’s name and getting his side of the story,” Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told the Daily News.–
If the officer’s side of the story is worth hearing, he should come forward. I wonder why he hasn’t done that? In the meantime, Deputy Commissioner Brown should stop insinuating that Rijcken is lying.
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:42amAnd did he ask for her phone number and if she’d go out with him for a drink?
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:43amokay , okay …it is just that this story was so important in the scope of world event I just had to add to it . Remember the Martain from Bug Bunny ? I think I just saw him in my Garden ….there goes my carrots …..*L*
Report Post »jackrorabbit
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:02amAt some point the people of NYC are going to wake up… to a police state.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:05amI wish i knew her on a personal lvl :)
Report Post »GETLIFE
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:06amThe officer in question must go by the name of TEXAS GRASSHOPPER.
Report Post »ilovethiscountry
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:07am@getlife
His name probably wasn’t Achmed, but this type of nonsence is typical for police. This type of thing happens everywhere. remember they don’t want officers with an IQ too high. A man near here was not chosen as an officer because he scored too high on the test.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:10amShouldn’t his name appear on the ticket? Whenever I have received a ticket, the office writes their name on it. Should not be too hard for NY police to look up the ticket and find out who wrote it.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:17amif they cant tax it…..they give a ticket
Report Post »America, the land of the not so free
GETLIFE
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:17amILOVE THIS COUNTRY, I just can‘t believe the Deputy Commissioner’s idea of damage control.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:20amCount me DISTRACTED!! Wooo Hooo!
I think I can drive and look at a pretty woman at the same time, though.
Bad call on the officer’s part.
Of course, maybe weiner was driving by and bouncing off other cars trying to tweet her a pic of his…
Report Post »Hula Calhoun
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:22amThat cop may be shocked to know that when women first started riding bikes over 100 years ago, they wore skirts. That is the reason for the difference between men‘s and women’s bikes.
If he wants to see what a short skirt looks like, he should go to the PeopleofWalmart web site and see just how short skirts can get.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:30am@getlife
if it is true then it is not right or a good thing but really ….do you honestly think this story is important related to the scope of Politcial , Economic , and Social upheaval ? If she had actually recieved a fine or ticket …then yeah .it is story…but the only reason this is a story is she is hot ……..oh crap ..did ya hear that democrats are really Reptilian People from the plant V …gulp …seriously
Report Post »watchmany2k
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:34amWhere in the law does it state
Report Post »you have to look like a liberal in order to bike ride ?
GodHatesFigs
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:45amI know a lot of people always comment “how is this news,” but seriously, how is this news? One person makes a claim and has zero evidence to back it up and its a story on theblaze. My neighbor claims he was abducted by aliens, does that deserve an article?
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:49am@GodHatesFigs
Thank you ….I had thought I had blacklisted myself for being the only one with “ great stories ” !
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 10:19amTexas Grasshopper…This morning after waking up (very early) to many birds chirping like an angry alarm clock, I was conversing with some friends of mine about the suns position and I decided to film a short clip to demonstrate a few points.
Something about the sun seems different lately, from my understanding the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
The position of the sun has been striking me as being different lately, something might be going on.
According to official data — with the sun 10 to 15 degrees off the horizon it should have been positioned at around 70 degrees toward the east when I spotted it at 5:45 am PST, when in fact it was positioned at 29-30 degrees north by northwest according to my compass
Any notice this ? I just checked with my Compass here in texas …compass and sun didnt match …
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
That is because the entire world is upside down, truth will be seen as lies and lies truth. The earth off its axis is just the least of the proof.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 10:29am@ armed patriot ….yeah I had way to much coffee this morning …by the way headlines for next week ….” the Moon is gone !! btw way there will be an eclispe sometime next week …dont quote me on the time or day .
@ Getlife ..BTW I was used to be a LEO ..and manged alot of idiot officers ..so this does’nt surprise me a bit . if it is true I still am not saying it is right but since there is not ticket it is just one unprofessional Officer not a Conspiracy …..
oh crap ..I see a Asteriod !!!!!!
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:00amShe’s also baffled: “I didn’t even think for one second that my outfit could be harmful or disturbing.”
Report Post »……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Hey it was a hot day and she enjoyed the cooling effect the very short dress provided.What not to like
runner68
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:02amperfect sounds more like the “new” egypt doesn’t it…of course on the other hand, While in New York on a family trip several years ago I literally stumbled upon a Gay Rights parade or something to that affect…oddly enough not a single officer stopped those folks who were in my view distracting if not disturbing….
Report Post »bikerr
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:08am@Texas Grasshopper—–What the h-ll are you talking about?
Report Post »Red herring
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:26amI lived in Europe in Belgium for several years, (in the Flemish-Dutch part), and I can tell you this is very typical behavior for the Dutch. Everyone rides their bicycles and it is a huge part of their culture, and you will very frequently see women of all ages wearing dresses or skirts while riding. You would also see men in business suits or men in only tight shorts too. There is also much less of a sense of modesty and propriety in dress there than in America, so you just had to deal with it.
When my daughter was in school there, the school taught her to ride a bicycle (in what we would call Kindergarten). I thought that was weird but it was part of their Nanny-State initiatives.
Report Post »stephenb.net
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:48amThe cop was probably trying to get a closer look. What a ridiculous story.
Report Post »Patrick in AZ
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:51amI could understand why this short skirt could be dangerous if say Oprah or Michelle O were riding the bike while wearing that skirt, but this young lady obviously posed no threat to safety.
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:57amI wonder what they would do when the Gay and Lesbian pride parade gets more mobile with bicycles and just start biking around the city. Will they do the same thing? Or what about pedestrians on the side-walks of New York City.
Report Post »DogTags
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 12:30pmShe should have felt flattered. Dutch ideas of decency certainly do not match American ideas. I hope we never reach the moral lows the Dutch have reached.
Report Post »fatjack
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 12:50pmYes, it would be extremely dangerous for me to drive by and look at her.
Report Post »ManThong
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:04pmIt worked.. everybody here knows of a Dutch bike company with a too many consonants in the name now.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:08pmNice bicycle …
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:20pmEven in spandex, she would still be easy on the eyes!
Report Post »click_name_4_impeachment
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:27pmTo me it feels like the left is trying to make citizens afraid that the right it way too prude, and would love to bust you for your outfits……are the police involved in this scam??? I don’t know, but it seems odd is all I am saying…
Could it be dangerous…I would say yes, its possible but again people must take responsibility and focus on driving
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 1:27pmUnless things have changed in NYC the hoes walk up and down the streets unmolested except during “clean up ” periods in all manner of provocative dress.
Report Post »melmatmic
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 2:43pmThe tight spandex is worse grandma!!!
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 2:58pmahmed , no meds , who the hell cares. the u.s. is going down the terlit. idiots like this are in control. i have said many times there is only one solution to this. it is a bullet placed in the proper spot.
Report Post »hologram5
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 4:10pm@TEXAS GRASSHOPPER
Report Post »Not if you know how to hide your IP.
Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 4:39pm@GETLIFE
Report Post »It couldn’t of been someone named Ahmed, they didn’t behead her with obama holding her still so that he could do the chopping.
Ookspay
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 5:36pm@Grasshopper, Get a new compass or quit eating those back yard mushrooms.
Report Post »zman173rd
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 8:48pmAnother BS story by the BLAZE. It was for a bicycle add.
Report Post »Just goes to show you where this website has their priorities.
You folks keep falling for it.
How ironic that the “Blaze” keeps playing the fiddle while…
Sinista MACE
Posted on June 13, 2011 at 9:46pmLeave her alone.
Report Post »Kiddle
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 12:49amMaybe I am really dense but looking at the picture, I am having a hard time seeing what the problem is. Though I wouldn’t wear this personally, I can’t see the problem. Maybe I don’t have a sick twisted, demented mind like others? Help me out?
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 2:39amWhat’s so hard to understand here? One doesn’t have to be “sick, twisted or demented” to be distracted by someone riding a bicycle around with their arse virtually if not actually hanging out. Get a clue.
Report Post »Texas Grasshopper
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 3:46pm@ biker ..just messing around since it wasnt a serious story …there was no ticket issued
hiding my IP ..who cares ..ya dont think “ they ” can find you ….? …
Report Post »