City Promoting Bike Lanes More Aggressively
Today The Times covers how the city has set out to make its case for bike lanes, saying it hasn’t been “aggressive enough” in promoting and defending them. The PR push comes after the lawsuit filed over the Prospect Park West bike lane. The lawyer repping the plaintiffs in that case has been on a…
Today The Times covers how the city has set out to make its case for bike lanes, saying it hasn’t been “aggressive enough” in promoting and defending them. The PR push comes after the lawsuit filed over the Prospect Park West bike lane. The lawyer repping the plaintiffs in that case has been on a media blitz himself and says “the Bloomberg administration had still not addressed concerns about its closeness with bicycle advocates and its interpretation of statistics.” Meanwhile, the article notes that the bike-advocacy group Transportation Alternatives has hired a PR firm for the first time in its nearly 40-year history: “‘It’s all hands on deck because the future of our city does, quite frankly, hang in the balance,’ said the group’s executive director, Paul Steely White. He framed the recent ruckus as a turning point in whether the city continues to promote pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly policies.” The story also highlights that the city’s defense of bike lanes comes amidst the mayor’s low poll ratings “and a fair amount of resentment from those who live outside Manhattan, who tend to be less in favor of bicycles.”
Promoting Bicycle Lanes as if They Were on the Ballot [NY Times]
Photo by Graham Coreil-Allen
Benson, thank you. I think we only diverge on preservation, hi-density housing, and my vice of making fun of bad taste decor.
5w30 – this city (and Bloomberg) are far from perfect but lines like this:
“Emperor Bloomberg is taking this city for a ride … infrastructure falling apart, schools going straight to the hot place, the city bureaucracy keeps growing and growing …”
are just complete and utter B.S.; ignoring reality likely because your anti-Bloomberg feelings are based mainly against his wealth; as revealed by lines like this:
“nothing wrong with a bike lane. Just to have this sanctimonious whining billionaire shove them down our throats is another story”
I am a supporter of the bike lanes, but even I think the “better for the environment” argument is silly. Without having statistical evidence, I would think that very few are replacing their car with a bike. Most who use a bicycle for transportation in NYC are those who would otherwise be walking or using public transportation. For me, the fact of the matter is that biking is simply a better way to get around. It’s always faster than the subway, and is usually faster than it would be even in a car.
For heaven’s sake. Emperor Bloomberg is taking this city for a ride … infrastructure falling apart, schools going straight to the hot place, the city bureaucracy keeps growing and growing … and the emperor and his minions are focusing on – bike lanes? How far away from reality is Megabucks Mike that he wants his legacy to be Chinese food delivery guys riding the wrong way down protected bike lanes? Is the Spandex Ballet crowd so important? Meh, Bloomberg’s out soon, unless he finagles with the election laws again.
PS – nothing wrong with a bike lane. Just to have this sanctimonious whining billionaire shove them down our throats is another story.
I get on my bike and ride. I don’t need a bicycle lane, I ride where ever I feel like riding.
I am not all that worked up about bike lanes – one way or another but if you really wanted to ‘save the environment’ – making those bike lanes a bit wider and turning them into DEDICATED bus lanes- would do more more for the environment per mile than 100 miles of bike lanes.
i think i actually want to get a bike in the spring! but id probably only use it in the park. i used to have a bike but i only used it on path that goes alone the west side of manhattan, and even that was ridiculous! but i dont whine and whine
*rob*
quote:
the fact is, bike lanes will not save us
oh but they will. they WILL! i have nothing against bike lanes or riding, but ive never seen a group of people whine and yank their own chains so much in my life!
*rob*
Ditto;
You’re making me literally laugh out loud today.
I forgive you for your defense of the LPC.