CB6, Fifth Avenue BID Going After Bike Lane
The Fifth Avenue BID wants to do away with the bike lane that runs from Carroll Street to 24th Street, and Community Board 6 is listening, reports Streets Blog. The BID argues that the bike lane makes it too difficult for trucks to make deliveries to the many businesses that line the avenue and that…
The Fifth Avenue BID wants to do away with the bike lane that runs from Carroll Street to 24th Street, and Community Board 6 is listening, reports Streets Blog. The BID argues that the bike lane makes it too difficult for trucks to make deliveries to the many businesses that line the avenue and that more tickets are getting issued as a result. CB6 District Manager Craig Hammerman has suggested a compromise—downgrading from a full-fledged bike lane to sharrows, lighter-weight markings. “The proposed scenario wouldn’t do anything to help delivery drivers find curbside spots,” writes the blog, “but it would force cyclists to kiss their dedicated space goodbye.” Streets Blog thinks the answer lies in a fledgling program that’s been experimented with along Fifth Avenue that makes metered parking more expensive at peak times.
Fifth Ave BID, CB6 Take Aim at Park Slope Bike Lane [Streets Blog]
The more I think about it, the more unbelievable it is that businesses are claiming the bike lane is interfering with deliveries! It’s the business owners OWN CARS, illegally parked ALL DAY at meters that are blocking deliveries.
DIBS, ready to back away from your silly “I’m with the business owners on this one” comment?
tybur6 has this right. the bike lane doesn’t prevent trucks from physically double parking, so what’s the issue? I would be very surprised if the bike lane was actually enforced enough to create hardship for the businesses.
“Sorry chicken, no lane for you
Posted by: dittoburg at June 10, 2009 9:49 AM”
The Chicken makes his own lane……grrrrr….. (or should that be “squawk”?)
What tyburg and slopenick said. What idiocy. There’s no special fine for double parking in the bike lane. It’s illegal to double park, period. Much higher meter prices would create curbside space for deliveries; no parking 8am-6pm on at least one side of the street would be another way to go. As it is, people just feed the meter all day — ALSO illegal — hell, it only costs $4 to park for eight hours on 5th ave., why not. 5th ave is a hellish drive because of all the double parking — has not a freaking thing to do with the bike lane.
“People who don’t bike have no idea how useful even a cursory bike line is in improving safety for bikers pitted against aggressive and indifferent drivers”
Exactly! It does not stop trucks parking there, so what’s the beef. That said:
I am one cyclist (not ‘biker’, thank you Rob, how would you like it if I called you by a pejorative name which I can think of?) who accepts trucks parking in bike lanes. I have no difficulty going around them, and anyone who thinks they shouldn’t park in them for essential deliveries (or who thinks it’s “dangerous”) should not be on a bike.
Perhaps turning 6th avenue into a one-way street (all the while regulating cars’ speed with properly timed traffic lights) isn’t such a terrible idea. You could get a nice wide lane and a bike lane.
I’d hate to live in SoHo. Talk about a place with too many Asshats.
“i will say, making the bus ONLY lane in soho on broadway is great. it’s so much easier to cross the street (whether it’s green or red)”
Ha Rob – I bet you’re one of the people that sprints out into oncomming traffic on Broadway getting off the Prince St R stop in the morning.
The Prince St bike lane is a failure – I never see it being used. Lots of people seem to use the Grand St bike lane in the morning rather then use Delancey St – It just sucks that Grand turns one way after Chrystie.
If commercial deliveries are the problem, why not just put a no parking zone along the entire length of 5th avenue? You could even make it during business hours only. Problem solved, and you keep the bike lane.
Anybody who thinks these bike lanes are a)lightly used or b) respected by anyone in a car or truck is out to lunch.
This is a the result of someone (emphasis on the ONE) who doesn’t like bikes using their business and their post on the BID to wage a personal campaign. Should be dismissed with as same contempt as the neighborhood has for the food at her restaurant….