Bikes and Bodies on the Brooklyn Bridge
In the weekend New York Times, Robert Sullivan tackles the nightmare that we all know and many avoid: the Brooklyn Bridge elevated path. Designated half pedestrian walkway, half bike lane, the white line separating the two is never enough. Tourists often wander across the line with cameras glued to their faces, unaware of the cyclists…
In the weekend New York Times, Robert Sullivan tackles the nightmare that we all know and many avoid: the Brooklyn Bridge elevated path. Designated half pedestrian walkway, half bike lane, the white line separating the two is never enough. Tourists often wander across the line with cameras glued to their faces, unaware of the cyclists zooming towards them; and cyclists, well, sometimes they zoom too much. Sullivan’s solution: instead of signs and bollards, just separate the two—give bicyclists a protected lane on the lower level, among the cars. This suggestion will surely sound unpleasant to many bicyclists: they will lack the scenic views of the upper level and it sounds like a bad deal for anyone who enjoys breathing oxygen. Sullivan resisted the idea as well, but argues that “if we bicyclists cede the Brooklyn Bridge walkway, then it might be a step toward winning the public’s respect. Then, just maybe, pedestrians would call a truce and recognize that their real enemy is the car …” It’s a respectable argument, one definitely worth mulling over, but we still voted no on the Gothamist poll asking whether bikes should be banned from the upper level (64 percent said yes at the time of writing this post).
Bicyclists vs. Pedestrians: An Armistice [NY Times]
Vote: Ban Bikes from the Brooklyn Bridge Walkway? [Gothamist]
“We can only hope, northsloperenter. ”
Hope is for people who have planned badly.
“And what percentage of bikers who are currently speeding would slow down once confronted with new signage?”
We can only hope, northsloperenter. It’s certainly worth a shot before banning bikers from the upper level altogether and reconfiguring the lower level. I also think it’s in the bikers’ interests to slow down – In August, I saw a biker thrown over his handlebars onto the pavement after running into a tourist, blood gushing from his forehead, face, etc. The tourist was relatively unscathed.
“signage reminding bikers to slow down there would also be welcome.”
And what percentage of bikers who are currently speeding would slow down once confronted with new signage?
Generally speaking, traffic regulations are considered an advisory notification by most regular bikers to be obeyed or ignored as they see fit.
CGar, at least I honked my Harpo-esque horn first, before running you over.
A barrier down the middle and better signage!
More bikes, less cars. And cyclists (of which I am one), please do not speed and breakneck speed and PLEASE do not scream in a poor, unsuspecting tourist’s ear when they unwittingly block the bike lane. I’ve seen it a million times and it’s horribly rude and gives all cyclists a bad name.
Thank you.
“Bicycles should be walked over the Brooklyn Bridge walkway.
What’s the hurry?”
I like to see how fast I can go.
As a biker, I wouldn’t mind a restricted lower bike level. Those tourists and other gawkers are a pain in the ass! Then again, sometimes I like to stop my bike, take a seat on a bench and just check out the view. I’d miss that.
“signage reminding bikers to slow down”
Biff, this means you!! Though I suspect you were gunning for me when you ran me down. ; )
I walk (not bike) over the Bridge at least once, often twice a day. That said, I think bikers have as much right to ride over the upper level of the Bridge as pedestrians have to walk over the Bridge. I think putting a barricade of some sort between the pedestrian and bike lanes is a good compromise.
New Yorkers who walk over the Bridge on any regular basis tend not to stop and ogle the City, or stop at all for that matter (which is why most tourists go home with photos of “rude” New Yorkers walking in front of their cameras). We don’t want to discourage tourists (like them or not, they’re great for the City’s economy), but I think much larger signage should be installed on both sides of the Bridge, in numerous languages, advising tourists to not only stay on the pedestrian side of the Bridge but to be considerate of other pedestrians walking across the Bridge.
fsrq is right about pedestrians having to cross the bike lane to exit the Bridge on the Brooklyn side, so signage reminding bikers to slow down there would also be welcome.
“But this whole “bikers are rude and disrespectful” thing is complete crap.”
Spoken like a true partisan. There are disrespectful cyclists, disrespectful pedestrians and disrespectful motorists. You need to get out more if you haven’t realized that yet.