Bike lanes generally are a good thing. They help keep cyclists and motorist safe by keeping them apart. They also help to encourage cycling by making it safer. It seems though that in New York they've become more of a boundary. Not only are they the safe place to ride, but they're your only option. Cyclists in the Big Apple are getting tickets for wandering out of the lanes. Unfortunately others, i.e. motorists, construction workers, etc, are not so respecting of the precious cycling lanes making it difficult for those on bikes to stay where the law requires them.
Well, you can see where this is going. Cyclists are getting tickets for being out of the lanes that others are pushing them out of. Check out this awesome video posted by an upset cyclist after receiving a ticket for riding his bike outside of the bike lanes.