The Sanctity of Bike Lanes?
This police van’s complete disregard for the bicycle lane on Ashland Place last week got us wondering about what the law says about the sanctity of bike lanes. Anyone know?
This police van’s complete disregard for the bicycle lane on Ashland Place last week got us wondering about what the law says about the sanctity of bike lanes. Anyone know?
2:40 I agree that people crossing against the light must watch out for cars AND bikes. But are you denying that cyclists don’t ride right through red lights weaving around the pedestrians they notice and hitting those that they don’t?
I’ve never claimed that drivers and pedestrians do no wrong (though I personally, try to be careful about bike lanes and crossing the street when it says Don’t Walk). However you seem to be unwilling to admit that there is anything wrong with the behavior of bikers and it is that very attitude that I am complaining about.
You even say “as the pokey cyclist goes right by.” Goes right by and does what? Run the red light? The driver wouldn’t be stuck at that light if the pokey cyclist hadn’t been blocking their way. Bikers want cars to “share the road.” You hear it all the time. But bikers are unwilling to do the same. It doesn’t matter if it is a law, it is common sense. How can you ask to be treated well by others when you are unwilling to provide them with similar courtesies? It is the attitude of being unwilling to look 1 foot beyond yourself that is the problem with most drivers and bikers. It is that same attitude that leads to the littering and destruction around Brooklyn, the rest of New York, and other cities.
Honus — is there a law requiring cyclists to yield to faster moving cars or ride in single file? You’re so indignant about that, it’s almost comical.
As a cyclist, it’s amusing to see cars cross, illegally, the yellow line to pass me, revving their engines and racing ahead so they can stop at the red light with a squeal. Then watch as the pokey cyclist goes right by.
On the topic of pedestrians, are you kidding? Try riding your bike down Broadway through Times Square or below 34th street. See how many pedestrians observe the “Walk/Don’t Walk” signs. It’s extremely hazardous and NOT the cyclists’ fault. I’ve had pedestrians walk backwards into me as I’m riding and knock me over, then scream at me like it’s my fault. And it always comes with some cursing out of cyclists in general.
I wish cyclists could simply email cell-phone photos of cars parked in bicycle lanes with additional identifying information, resulting in a ticket to the person violating the lane.
Just because I don’t respect them doesn’t mean I’m going to drive like an idiot and kill them. And it doesn’t mean I drive like an asshole. Who was being an asshole when I was trying to drive on a two lane road and couldn’t because the bikers refused to make room for cars? Car drivers had a choice, go slowly up the hill at the speed of two bikers who simply refused to ride single file or cross a yellow line and try to speed around them in between on coming cars. That is how bikers kill people.
It does mean that I don’t buy their rhetoric when they complain about how bad they have it.
They make it worse for themselves. It isn’t always the car driver’s fault when something happens, no matter whose vehicle can kill the other one. If a biker runs a red light and gets hit by a car it is the biker’s fault.
Bikers can kill people in cars by causing accidents with their ridiculous behavior. They can injure (and perhaps kill) pedestrians by running into them. I’ve been nearly hit by bikes trying to cross the street when the biker decides he doesn’t have to follow the low and stop at red lights (and WAIT UNTIL THEY TURN GREEN).
Your attitude is a typical NYC attitude. Nearly all of the bikers here are self-righteous pricks who think because they aren’t driving cars and because cars are bigger that they are entitled to do as they please and everyone else must watch out for them.
honus — And there are a thousand bikers out there saying that they’ll start following laws when all cars start staying out of bike lanes, start yielding legally for turns, etc….
Typical NYC attitude. I get to be the last one in the world to stop being an asshole–everyone else has to stop being an asshole first.
And in the meantime, you’re the one driving the vehicle that can kill the person riding the other vehicle. How convenient for you.
It would be nice if bicycles obeyed the traffic laws, stopped at lights, didn’t go the wrong way on one way streets, didn’t ride on sidewalks, and showed some respect for the others using the roads. I was driving a Zip Car on a Brooklyn street behind two bikers who refused to ride one behind the other. Apparently they just had to talk to each other as they road slowly up the steep hill.
I will start respecting bikers when they start respecting other drivers and pedestrians.
And don’t get me started on the police in NYC breaking the law. How many times do they turn on their lights simply to turn left at a light because they don’t feel like waiting. Just walk down Smith past the detention center and look at all the cars parked illegally on the sidewalk. The police here thing we have to respect them because they are police no matter what they do. They do nothing to earn that respect.
Just as an aside – always – ALWAYS look behind you before opening your car door or your cab door. I’ve been “doored” in Manhattan, as I know most cyclists have. When I found myself pinned under the back door of a taxi with my bike on top of me and unable to move, I heard the guy who “doored” me say “She needs to look where she’s going!” Thank God I was wearing my helmet(as always) and my broken finger has healed by now.
Oops. That comment was supposed to be addressed to 1:30. Not 1:18.
1:18 — Ridiculous (but typical) attitude.
You choose not to ride a bike. Does that mean you choose to drive a car? E.G. contribute to the problem? If you’re in New York city, there’s almost no excuse for using a car for commuter purposes. The city has amazing public transit. It’s good enough for the mayor, even.
Anger at bicycles is a pretty dumb way to deal with global warming, congestion, traffic deaths, oil wars, fun stuff like that.