GRIDLOCK SAM

Sunday, May 15 - Saturday, May 21

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT ALL WEEK

It’s NYU’s commencement and Taylor Swift will be delivering remarks to the Class of ‘22 at Yankee Stadium at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. As attendees of previous graduations know, traffic will be a mess on 161st St. and Jerome Ave. Don’t expect to find parking easily, the subway or Metro-North are your best bets.

The Union Square Block Party is Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on 17th St. from Broadway to Park Ave. South. Decriminalize Mental Illness, a rally and press conference, will be held on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall; watch for extra traffic on Park Row, Chambers St., Broadway, and the approach to the Brooklyn Bridge.

The 3rd Annual Free Dead in the Park Concert to Benefit Riverkeeper will take place Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Park Bandshell. Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Midtown East Food Fair Series will be held along 54th St. between 3rd Ave. and Lexington Ave.

The Cardinals play the Mets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 7 p.m., plus Thursday at 1 p.m.

At Barclays, the Sun take on the Liberty on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Haim will play MSG on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Hudson Yards-bound 7 trains skip 111th St., 103rd St.-Corona Plaza, 90th St.-Elmhurst Ave., and 82 St-Jackson Hts., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mailbag Dear Gridlock Sam,

RE: traffic deaths, I believe electric bikes that go above say 20 or 25 miles per hour should be licensed. I see them going through lights and not obeying traffic laws. I will write to my state legislators.

Dear Diane,

Diane

If it were up to me, I’d only allow e-bikes with a max speed of 18 mph (instead of the current 25 mph) without pedaling to be unregistered. Any vehicle, with an engine, that can go faster without pedaling should be subject to registration (I propose a nominal amount, say $10) and follow all traffic rules and regulations. The problem is at the state level; there is no way to register these vehicles legally. So, I’m glad you’re writing to state legislators. In reviewing traffic fatality stats comparing 2021 with 2019, I haven’t seen an increase in e-bike deaths even with far more on the road, but more than a doubling of motorcycle/ moped fatalities. I have little doubt some of it is due to the lawlessness and lack of helmet use by some riders.