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July 24, 2009
DOT Greens a New Bike Lane on 9th Street
The DOT's green paint-wielding fairies have been busy in yet another section of the borough: A new royal road to Red Hook has been established on 9th Street from Smith to the BQE. GMAP
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Comments
what I don't get is the two right turn only arrows they've stenciled at 9th and Court... if they are going to direct all the traffic to the BQE down Court, it's going to be jammed 24/7. Instead what they should do is divert the 9th street traffic to the BQE down 2nd Ave, keeping the truck traffic out of the residential neighborhoods.
Posted by: kramer at July 24, 2009 11:09 AM
those giant mint green lanes totally fuglify blocks.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 11:16 AM
"on 9th Street from Smith to the BQE"
...and then the cyclists ride on the BQE?
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at July 24, 2009 11:20 AM
THIS IS GETTING RIDICLOUS!
I mean that block is already wacky and wild and congested
Why would bikers/cyclists be on that block anyway - not like you are gettin on the BQE or Hamilton
ENOUGH!!!!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 11:23 AM
Umm, you'd use it to get to Red Hook. Not like there are many options...
Posted by: max_r_and_r at July 24, 2009 11:32 AM
looks like a conspiracy to route cyclists onto BQE traffic to be crushed / ran over by cars & trucks.
Posted by: more4less at July 24, 2009 11:34 AM
Going down 9th to get to Red Hook on a bicycle doesn't make any sense, you'd have to turn on to Hamilton and then make a left across traffic or cross under on the pedestrian path.
Posted by: kramer at July 24, 2009 11:36 AM
oh please! - take the bus, get a car with a bike rack for crissakes - why does every friggin street/ave have to make way for a few cyclists????
Should the DOT now put a bike lane on Hamilton Ave too, oh I know how about on the BQE - yes that would be great!
This ain't Portland
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 11:37 AM
A bike needs Mack-truck tires to get across that Ham Av crossing.
Posted by: Arkady at July 24, 2009 11:40 AM
I know one thing - they've really pissed off gemini.
Posted by: East New York at July 24, 2009 11:42 AM
ENY!
I drive and I respect all the bike lanes that make sense, I never enter them to make turns etc and I watch I don't hit anyone
HOWEVER - when I am in Highway mode and I am driving down Hamilton - I am flying! so watch the Eff out!
in all seriousness - I do think it's getting a bit out of hand and it's b/c our stupid mayor is sooo anti-car that he's taking our rights away and handing it over to a small few with hopes we will be this wonderful "green" city filled with smiling cyclists and happy walkers!
gimme a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 11:47 AM
Gem,
You know I love you, but encouraging biking in this city is about one of the most admirable things this Mayor is doing for us. I commend him.
I obviously HATE cars, never want one, and don't understand why so many think they need one in areas which are so highly accessible by Mass Transportation. It's your right to own and drive one, sure...but 99.9% of this country revolves around cars (which I find disgusting) but even more disturbing is the notion that people find the addition of some much needed bike lanes, ridiculous.
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 11:53 AM
Gem- gotta agree. And directing all traffic down Court St. to the BQE has to be one of the most moronic moves ever. I expect the area to become the same kind of parking lot the LIE is.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 24, 2009 11:53 AM
11217 - would you be outraged to learn that I drive my gas guzzler from my house on 14th to 9th street???
OH THE HORRORS-hahahahah!! -
I do think we need bike lanes and am happy there are others who enjoy biking and use it as their main method of transpo. BUT - there are SOME places bike lanes are not necessary and actually contribute to the overwhelming traffic problem that causes more pollution. - NOTHING worse than an idling car my friend.
Sorry but I come from a long line of NY'ers who have always owned a car in the city and or the borough - it gives you freedom to explore and opens your life up to more choices -imo
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 12:02 PM
I walk, drive a car and bike. I continue to see frequent transgressions by all three groups. I'm also man enough to admit that I have committed transressions as a member of each group. The funny thing is growing up in NYC, people, bikes and pedestrians shared the road, without bike lanes, yet the level of biker/driver/walker animus was MUCH lower. Funny how things change.
Posted by: East New York at July 24, 2009 12:06 PM
"BUT - there are SOME places bike lanes are not necessary"
I think this applies to car lanes much more than it does to bike lanes.
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 12:07 PM
The traffic at this particular intersection has nothing to do with bikes or no bikes. It has to do with truck traffic and poorly timed lights on Court and Hamilton. There's an immense amount of truck traffic down 9th street, coming across the canal from 2nd/3rd Aves. That's the problem that needs to be addressed. That's the problem that's affecting the quality of life for people who live there, drive there, bike there, walk there.
Posted by: kramer at July 24, 2009 12:10 PM
ENY - I couldn't have said it better myself
I walk and drive and I have committed sins both ways - true enough, but you are right, it's b/c the city is popping up every other day with a new bike lane that it's raising eyebrows and causing a lot of animosity.
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 12:10 PM
"it gives you freedom to explore and opens your life up to more choices -imo"
I feel far more free in renting a car whenever I feel like it and not dealing with parking issues or the expense of owning a car. The money I've saved from not having one for the last 10 years is quite a lot of explorations near and far...
But I get that some people are into cars. I'm very happy that there are a growing number of those who are not, although.
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 12:11 PM
"but 99.9% of this country revolves around cars (which I find disgusting)"
11217, America is a huge country! Public transit is neither feasible nor desirable in most areas because of the vast distances involved. That will never change.
Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at July 24, 2009 12:16 PM
Kramer- you hit it on the head with that 12:10 post
agreed!
11217 - you've just never owned the right kinda car! - some people are just drivers by nature.Car culture can be a lot of fun. I agree it can be a headache and thankfully we had a driveway this whole time living in PS.
My problem with city planning is that they are cow-towing(sp) to a select few and it's really truckers/commuters who are getting the short end of the stick when they put bike lanes in places they don't belong.
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 12:19 PM
sixyears, dont argue with him. he's an uppity urban transplant gay who thinks his poop doesnt stink because he's so much better than people who have to rely on cars to get to work. why cant everyone live in an overpriced shoe box in the center of the Universe, called Park Slope!? every else is just oh so declasse!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 12:21 PM
if you live in a hood where parking is great, having a car is great. especially when one has little buggers who are not that old yet to roam independently. powering them up & down subway (hey hey, don't forget the stroller, snack bag,....) is a biatch. those trips to the costco, BJ's, fairway, etc no need to worry about how the f I'm going to bring all that stuff back home. Living in NYC means we dont HAVE to drive everywhere cause public trans is great but to have the readily option of driving is a massive plus
Posted by: more4less at July 24, 2009 12:22 PM
11217 - also too remember I am from Long Island which means my entire family and some of my friends are all still on LI - and the LIRR trains that from Atlantic Terminal don't go to my town in LI - so I would either have a 2.5 hour train ride to visit them or a 40 min car ride
you tell me which is better?
am not getting on your case - you know I love you too
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 12:27 PM
very true, M4L- I miss not having a car but it's been many years. I also can't deal iwth the expense. Zip car is a g-dsend. I think a healthy mix is far better than tryig to promote one mode of transportation over another- at elast at this point in time because public transportation in NYC leaves a lot to be desired- unless you live in Manhattan.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 24, 2009 12:29 PM
Listen,
I don't think I'm better than anyone else because I don't have a car. I had a car all through high school, college and graduate school.
And I do rent cars on occasion (last week when I was on vacation because BART stops running at like 12:30...WTF?!). But believe me...I could not WAIT to turn the car back in at the end of the trip...it was fun for all of about 2 seconds, and the remainder of the time I found it just a way to get from point A to point B.
I just get annoyed when car owners get so pissed about this city becoming a little more bike friendly, that's all.
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 12:32 PM
Literally every time I'm driving on Union Street through CG there's a biker biking the wrong way against traffic right across the street from the bike lane. What's the point.
Posted by: woodys at July 24, 2009 12:37 PM
quote:
I don't think I'm better than anyone else because I don't have a car. I had a car all through high school, college and graduate school.
oh the irony of having to mention graduate school in that statement :-/
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 12:40 PM
I don't understand how any bike lanes increase traffic. They are just marking off a piece of existing infrastructure so drivers are more aware that bikers are there.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 24, 2009 12:40 PM
I get to Red Hook via bike on 9th Street very regularly. You have to get off the bike to cross the pedestrian path. It's one of the only ways to get to the neighborhood, which is a great place to tool around on a bicycle.
I agree that lots of bikers often act like entitled poopheads and disregard the rules of the road. (Of course I've been guilty of this, but I don't make a practice of it.)
About a week ago I was on the co-op block, Union, around 6 p.m. Two people were riding up the block on their bicycles. I said to one of them, "This is a sidewalk." And she yelled back, "Oh, shut up!"
Folks like these ruin it for the rest of us.
Posted by: max_r_and_r at July 24, 2009 12:43 PM
Rob,
Why is that ironic? Those are the years I owned a car.
Glad I didn't mention the years I was studying towards my Doctorate (although I didn't have a car then, thus the reason for the exclusion).
What's your problem?
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 12:47 PM
max R and R:
Agreed Red Hook is a great place to ride a bike - lots of open roadways not too many pedestrians and not that many cars
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 12:49 PM
Only YOU would find educating oneself to be offensive.
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 12:52 PM
you are the most clueless person i have ever come across in the entire history of the internet!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 12:55 PM
Pot.
Kettle.
Black.
And here I thought we were getting along again.
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 12:57 PM
gem, if you agree that Red Hook is a great place to ride a bike, then I don't understand why you object to a bit of green paint on the road that is connecting a train station and an easy bike route into Red Hook. We sit and wait at the traffic lights to cross Hamilton, we aren't getting in anyone's way.
Posted by: mshook at July 24, 2009 12:59 PM
HEY HEY
HUG IT OUT YOU TWO!
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 12:59 PM
Hello Kitty and Hanna Montana kisses...
Posted by: 11217 at July 24, 2009 1:02 PM
Mshook
I could be wrong
but I thought the reason for bike lanes was to carve out a bit of roadway for the exclusive use to bikes only. Cars/Trucks cannot ride in this lane, park in this lane, idle in this lane or turn from it either or face being ticketed by NYPD - am I right?
Posted by: gemini10 at July 24, 2009 1:03 PM
ugh Hannah Montana is so last month. iCarly is much better.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 1:05 PM
I have a motorbike so I'm better than all of you...
Posted by: the chicken at July 24, 2009 1:09 PM
"especially when one has little buggers who are not that old yet to roam independently. powering them up & down subway (hey hey, don't forget the stroller, snack bag,....) is a biatch. those trips to the costco, BJ's, fairway, etc no need to worry about how the f I'm going to bring all that stuff back home"
Greatly disappointed you buy into this rot, m4l. 1-Shop local, they deliver; I don't understand why people DRIVE to Costco, waste time, DRIVE back and think they've saved money. 2-It's not that hard to take kids on the bus/subway (well, unless you have a brood); and teach 'em to walk early so you get rid of the stroller.
Posted by: cmu at July 24, 2009 1:10 PM
CostCo & Fairway save tons of money for families.
Posted by: Arkady at July 24, 2009 1:22 PM
My 2c. I think it's nicer to have the bike lane because at least it will encourage people who will bike down that street anyway to stick to one side. I agree that sometimes people ignore the bike lane and go on the other side of the street though that happens more on Court (with the ambigious sporadic white arrows) versus Henry and Clinton which have clearly marked bright green lanes. I think traffic and bikers both behave more responsibly when there is a clearly marked lane.
Posted by: CG_ups at July 24, 2009 1:26 PM
quote:
2-It's not that hard to take kids on the bus/subway (well, unless you have a brood); and teach 'em to walk early so you get rid of the stroller.
please keep as many crotchfruits out the subway as possible. thank you!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 1:31 PM
CMU, I work in NJ and there's a costco, walmart,... right next to me and those are the ones I frequent more often. while in BK, I only go to BJ's once in a while (to do some massive inventory reload). Fairway - that one I go often since I'm close by or hang out nearby in cobble hill often. BTW, my little bugger is pretty young and the stroller is mainly for when he wants to sleep. I'm not saying people need a car in NYC but I can't be convinced otherwise that having a car is NOT a positive. BTW, parking in clinton hill is super super easy.
Posted by: more4less at July 24, 2009 1:37 PM
Okay, so why don't more people ride motorbikes in NYC? They are the perfect way to get around congested cities and blend the best of both cycles and cars.
Posted by: the chicken at July 24, 2009 1:39 PM
those giant mint green lanes totally fuglify blocks.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 11:16 AM
At least if you eat the pavement your breath will be minty fresh...
Posted by: bridges at July 24, 2009 1:39 PM
chicken, it's probably because it aint cool - ie you aint going green with the motor plus he aint rolling in a sexy ride. practical? yeah, that aint a top priority for folks here
Posted by: more4less at July 24, 2009 1:46 PM
Men love to claim its not that difficult to drag a kid on and off the subway with all attendant gear. Of course the majority of them aren't the ones who deal with it day to day on the subway and woman don't usually have the same strength a man does. (er....brute force, I should say :-). Having done the subway thing with my niece and nephew many times, and watched many a woman struggle up and down the stairs I call Bullsh*t on that one. I like you cmu- but that's bs. And teach them to walk early- nice concept. Still gives you at least a year and a half and you still have to cart the gear because little legs get tired fast-especially going up and down stairs. It's not like the tracks are right there when you walk into the station.
As far as Costco, Home Depot, Fairway, etc.- I can state for a fact you can and do save money if you can get there. Putting them in inaccessible places is stupid city planning- so blame those guys, not those of us who have to use or rent cars to get to them.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 24, 2009 1:48 PM
i saw a woman with a baby in one of those cat carrier cages once lol. now that's smart!
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 24, 2009 1:54 PM
some children are just animals, rob! :-)
Posted by: bxgrl at July 24, 2009 2:01 PM
This used to be a great city before all the retards turned it into "Clown Town"!
This is the main reason why when this crash happen I will cheer it on. Some people need to have their asses kicked. Bike lanes restrict the flow of traffic and make it MORE dangerous for bikers.
GOD bless New York and God Bless Brooklyn..
The What
Someday this war is gonna end...
Posted by: Return of The What at July 24, 2009 2:13 PM
Sorry bkgrl, have to disagree and stop with the 'men...' bashing. From the age of 9mo. to 4yrs, I was primary caretaker of my son (and continuing later, but less so.) When I moved here I had a stroller and got rid of it asap. Admittedly, I was not here when my son was pre-toddler, but I stand by my statements.
And as for saving money: not having a car I save at least $500/month. How much shopping at CostCo is that? And finally, at even my not-in-the-hedge-fund income level, bulk-shopping makes no difference to me; I'd rather not spend the time to go to CostCo, and to support local merchants.
Posted by: cmu at July 24, 2009 2:43 PM
cmu -- has anyone every called you a smug, self righteous, close minded, overbearing know-it-all?
Just curious...
Posted by: northsloperenter at July 24, 2009 3:05 PM
Not lately, but thanks for the compliment.
Posted by: cmu at July 24, 2009 3:47 PM
"Okay, so why don't more people ride motorbikes in NYC? They are the perfect way to get around congested cities and blend the best of both cycles and cars."
They are a real bitch to park. Either you park inbetween cars on the street and pray they don't get knocked over, or leave them on the sidewalk and take your license plate with you and pray you don't get towed by an over-ambitious traffic cop.
I think a bicycle is a little more manuverable in NYC traffic.
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 24, 2009 4:18 PM
cmu, thanks for your lecture on how we should all live our lives. I think we're all better off for being told what you think we should do.
Posted by: woodys at July 24, 2009 4:18 PM
A single mother I know goes to CostCo every 3 weeks & to Fairway once a week in her car. She has 3 teens - slender but tall - & saves a bundle even though she typically drops $500 at CC & upwards of $200 at F on each trip.
Posted by: Arkady at July 24, 2009 4:23 PM
"chicken, it's probably because it aint cool - ie you aint going green with the motor plus he aint rolling in a sexy ride. practical? yeah, that aint a top priority for folks here"
Posted by: more4less at July 24, 2009 1:46 PM
"Cool" is what you make it (plus some bikes are pretty cool). In the meantime, I can beat any alternative transport point to point within central London - I outmaneuvre cars and I outdistance cycles. Yes, it does have an engine but I get 100mpg so there's probably more noxious fumes coming out of my mouth than my bike's exhaust.
"I think a bicycle is a little more manuverable in NYC traffic."
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 24, 2009 4:18 PM
Not if you're carrying a weeks worth of groceries uphill!
Posted by: the chicken at July 24, 2009 5:12 PM
I don't suppose anyone is still reading, but...
"Okay, so why don't more people ride motorbikes in NYC? They are the perfect way to get around congested cities and blend the best of both cycles and cars."
I don't know if you mean motorscooters or motorcycles. If the latter, people need to learn to drive manual transmission. In NYC, most people can't even drive period.
Bxgirl @ 1:48, that is a truly sexist, and erroneous statement. Ain't like that in Brownstone Brooklyn. And big box stores are not where they are due to city planning, it's due to a lil' thing called rent. You think HD can afford 250,000 sft on Madison at 62nd Street?
Posted by: denton at July 24, 2009 5:19 PM
Hi denton,
I meant either - although scooters are more practical for city riding (and really easy to ride).
It just surprises me that scooters/motorbikes are very popular in every major congested city outside of the US but not within.
Posted by: the chicken at July 24, 2009 5:26 PM
"Not if you're carrying a weeks worth of groceries uphill!"
Touche Chicken!!
Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 24, 2009 5:28 PM
denton- no- it wasn't- and certainly far less so than cmu's smug,know-it-all statement. Even he says "Admittedly, I was not here when my son was pre-toddler, but I stand by my statements." Well, the majority of people carting around pre-toddlers ARE women. (I did say "most") That's a fact and it isn't sexist.
Man-bashing? That's your issue, not mine cmu. If you two can show me the numbers proving at least 1/2 of infant and toddler caregivers are men, I'll retract. And I do mean in NYC.
Yes- I understand a "little thing" like rent. That doesn't solve the problem of big box stores being accessible, now does it? But thanks for the input, unhelpful as it was.
Posted by: bxgrl at July 24, 2009 8:19 PM
when is a bike lane painted green vs. left black with white lines?
Posted by: lhr at July 24, 2009 9:29 PM
This is the route I drive to go to work, and I agree completely with the commenter who said the problem is the lights. In my opinion, it's less their timing, and more the crappy block design. Because 9th Street hits Hamilton in a "T" intersection (as opposed to a through street), cars and trucks coming down Hamilton don't stop where they legally should (at the light), but they go past it in such a way that they block 9th Street. This creates gridlock on 9th Street so that cars that are trying to make a right hand turn from 9th Street are blocked by cars and trucks on Hamilton and can't make the turn.
This is why they're routing cars left down Court Street. Having on 3 separate occasions spent half an hour to go the one lousy block on 9th between Court and Hamilton, I eventually figured out that this is what I should do. It's not a matter of especially high volume going down 9th, it's a matter of terrible design making it impossible for more than 2 cars to make the turn from 9th onto Hamilton per green light.
And I totally support the bike lane. When you're driving on city streets, you should expect to share lanes with pedestrians and bikers, regardless of the size of the road. Marking off the bike lane is good--it gives bikes an official space, and it also slows down traffic more generally.
Really, it's just the official highways that you should drive on like highways. You should not be in "highway driving mode" on Hamilton. Because Hamilton Avenue is not, in fact, a highway.
Posted by: bkrules at July 24, 2009 10:19 PM
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