Closing Bell: The Brooklyn Bridge on Two Wheels
This video nicely captures a ride on the Brooklyn Bridge, though it doesn’t really document the tension that often exists between cyclists and pedestrians.
This video nicely captures a ride on the Brooklyn Bridge, though it doesn’t really document the tension that often exists between cyclists and pedestrians.
I am a born and raised New Yorker, but more importantly I am a life long New York biker and I just wanted to share an infuriating experience I had tonight as a pedestrian. I am very aware of the Brooklyn bridge biker/pedestrian conflict. As I began to walk across the bridge at dusk, I received a phone call and due to this and the beautiful city skyline I accidentally drifted into the bike lane. I was COMPLETELY at fault for being in the lane and it was very much an accident, but as soon as I realized my mistake a man wearing very tight spandex highlighting parts of his body no one should ever see, began screaming at me to get out of the way.
He was definitely riding at a speed of 40 mph or higher and due to his lack of a headlight and his speed he only became visible to me at the very last moment. I was in a panic and since there was only one other woman within 200 ft of me I figured the best thing to do was move to the right so he could ride around me as fast as possible. There was plenty of room for him to safely avoid me. After he passed I noticed the woman was yelling and when I got closer to her she screamed at me “ YOU’RE SO FUCKING STUPID YOU’RE SO FUCKING STUPID GET OUT OF THE BIKE LANEâ€. This woman is obviously insane and miserable, but as a biker myself the whole experience effected me deeply. I ride a bike path to work everyday where I deal with pedestrians/tourists having no regard for the fact that they are in fact walking in a bike lane, and you know what I DEAL WITH IT. As a biker I know it is my responsibility to make the safety of pedestrians my number one priority since I am the one on two wheels. I would like to know exactly what entitles this spandex gentleman to ownership of the Brooklyn Bridge? I don’t remember John Roebling telling him he could have it and go as fast as he wants.
If you’re going to bike in New York City you’re going to have to deal with the fact that other people live here too and the people/bikers make mistakes, if you don’t like it then take the bus. As a biker it offends me that men & people like the woman continue to bring so much unnecessary negativity to biking. If you can’t take it then get the hell out of this city.
Well said cmu.
There are times when I get going pretty fast, but those are on straightaway streets when I have green lights, like Park or Atlantic Avenues.
When it comes to the Brooklyn Bridge, cyclists and pedestrians have to respect each ohers’ rights to be there. As a cyclist, that means going an appropriate speed and if I come up behind a group of pedestrians, I slow down to a near-crawl and say (not yell), “Excuse me please”, and they will always move over to let me be. If you want people to respect your right to be there, you have to respect theirs!
Another set of overblown comments by over-zealous cyclists and their sense of entitlement.
I’m not a tourist, and I cycle regularly, and I neither dream of going even 15mph, nor do I particularly watch out for bike lanes on the bridge. It’s live and let live. When I bike, i go slowly, watch out for everyone and NEVER yell our and rarely even use my bell. That’s what make pedestrians (and, by extension, drivers,) hate us.
And, yes, bikes “belong” in the street as well (if no bike lanes,) more normal-clad bikers on the street would make it safer for all of us.
If you’re in a hurry, take the subway or ride in Prospect Aprk (though even there there are always the Spandex Speeders menacing everyone.)
3:02 and 3:41 – I ride my bike on the bridge and think banning bicycles is unnecessary; at the same time, I do think there needs to be some changes. Maybe enforced speed limits? (10 mph max). Or maybe bikes have to be walked over the bridge from 8-10 am and 4-6 pm? You can’t really ride very quickly during those times anyway, which is why I ride the Manhattan at rush hours (as do most reasonable cyclists)
“faded insults don’t count”? Count towards what?? Are you 12? Please don’t tell the teacher on us, or worse have your dad come try to beat up our dads.
Why does taking the time to register mean you have “guts”? It’s just as easy and brainless to insult someone if you’re registered. Everyone is trackable anyway, so stop being such a dork.
Does anyone know what city agency to contact with complaints about the bridge and the unfortunate cyclist/pedestrian conundrum? David Yassky? The Department of Transportation? Its really gotten out of hand now that spring is here. I saw a near miss this morning on my walk over from Brooklyn. Its time that cyclists were banned from the Brooklyn Bridge, especially considering the reasonable alternative of the dedicated Manhattan Bridge lane.
No bikes on the Brooklyn Bridge 9am-9pm.
And stick to the bike (uptown) side of the Manhattan Bridge. The train noise is so loud there that pedestrians can’t hear you coming up behind them.
And what is so wrong with not having to constantly be aware of moving bile’s when you or out for a walk?
11:59, thanks for the shout out! I love the attention.
12:21, you too. Unfortunately faded typed insults don’t count. Perhaps you should consider actually signing in – at least I have the guts to have my comments attributed to me, pseudonym or not. It’s pretty easy and brainless to throw out insults as a guest.
“Reality is there are way to many pedestrians on Brooklyn Bridge for the pedestrian lane.”
There are way too many cars on it too. Maybe we should ban pedestrians so we can have another car lane?