Lime Green Bike Lanes: Garish or Gorgeous?
The Department of Transportation is testing colors that would make bike lanes more visible to motorists, and they started with a strip of green in Brooklyn Heights — on Henry Street between Clark and Montague. Folks are already debating this color choice on StreetsBlog, where some are calling it “Gorgeous!” and others are calling it…
The Department of Transportation is testing colors that would make bike lanes more visible to motorists, and they started with a strip of green in Brooklyn Heights — on Henry Street between Clark and Montague. Folks are already debating this color choice on StreetsBlog, where some are calling it “Gorgeous!” and others are calling it “insane lime-neon green.” We’re all for bike safety, but we think that a more muted color could still stand out against the pavement — and might be more appropriate for brownstone-lined blocks. Can somebody call Benjamin Moore and let him know that there’s a demand for street paint in the soft tones of his Historical Colors collection? —KZ
High-Visibility Bike Lanes in Brooklyn [StreetsBlog]
Colorful Lane Could Keep Bikers Safer [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
Photo by McBrooklyn
I live in Copenhagen, (am an ex-Brooklynite who still checks-in on Brownstoner once in a while to see what’s going on…), a city where bikes come first, but also a city where no one, but occasionally me, jaywalks. I bike to work and so does my husband and so do most people who live within 6 miles from their work. What I think is the best solution for bike lines is slightly elevated bike lanes like we have here. They are about 6 inches above the road. They are certainly not disgraceful and motorists are most likely to respect them. They are probably very expensive to make but just think of how great New York would be as a truly bike-friendly city? Imagine if all of you could bike to work, alleviate traffic AND get in shape?!? But I am glad to see, in any case, that NYC is taking steps towards making the city more bike friendly…
Anonymous 11:32 said “1) I would not paint the lane a solid color. Given the amount of street repairs, potholes, wear and tear, it will soon end up looking ugly, warn out, broken, etc. It would be better to paint these via a colored pattern that is also reflective paint. Patterns: polka dots; dashes, etc. A break in this kind of pattern will be less obvious to the eyes”
There’s another REALLY good reason not to use that particular solid shade of green – red green color blindness. It’s the commonest kind and that shade will turn pavement colored to someone who can’t see green. RG colorblind people can tell traffic lights by position. I agree with 11:32 and chlllllll above about horizontal white lines. Something with a pattern will be more visible and more meaningful to drivers. A white reflective pattern will also be visible at night, which is VERY important.
I wish cyclists could email cell-phone photos of cars parked in bicycle lanes with additional identifying information, resulting in a ticket to the person violating the lane.
Oh please! Sean and glf only see what they want to see. “Everyone jaywalks” they say. Funny, I don’t and neither do my friends. However I did have one friend cross the street when it was his right of way, and he got hit by a car. I did have another friend walking down the SIDEWALK and she got knocked over by a bicyclist. She got really banged up.
I have lived in 3 other major cities in the U.S. in addition to NYC and I have never ever ever seen bicyclists break the laws like they do here. Never. It’s shocking. I have literally never once seen a bicycle stop at a light. I have never seen a bicyclist use hand signals. I seldom see/hear them use the bells on their bikes to let people know when they are coming through, and when they do use their bells I’m totally appreciative. Lastly, as a pedestrian all I can say is I have had so many near misses with bikes, but not yet had a near miss with a car. Knock on wood.
Can I ask why on earth those on bicyclists think they are more superior and more “green” and politically important than pedestrians? We’re not guzzling gas by walking down the sidewalks, you know. Don’t know if you noticed that. Bicyclists should be on the side of pedestrians, not against them. The bicyclists’ hatred of pedestrians here is really creepy and disturbing and stupid. Pedestrians are afraid of your bikes, people. Think about that. Afraid of you, because they’re afraid of getting hit and hurt. Try and muster up a little human sympathy.
This should not be painted a color, at all. Instead, the city should paint horizontal white lines in the bike lane. The green looks ridiculous–like there’s a miniature St. Patrick’s Day parade a-comin’.
let’s also require people to purchase vintage cars and period costumes if they want to live or drive here.
I agree completely with sean.
This city is so unbelievably car centric but we love to think we aren’t. Everything revolves around the automobile. If you’re afraid to ride a bike, then the auto terrorist win!
HIDEOUS
There are at least 3 different groups here:
1) Doing something for the bikers is what’s important.
2) Wow. Green!
3) The beautiful streets of Brooklyn are part of the reason we live here, and part of what gets us out of our houses. The green stripe draws too much attention to one part of the street and diminishes the unity and beauty of the block as a whole.
Yes, I’m in group number 3. I’m a biker too, and think bike lanes are an important part of urban design. Just not THE most important part.