Closing Bell: Don't Be a Jerk
Over the past four year, 250 miles of bike lanes have been added to New York City Streets. Today, both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal look at what comes next. New York Times reports on the growing backlash against the lanes and says PPW could prove to be New York’s “biggest challenge.”…
Over the past four year, 250 miles of bike lanes have been added to New York City Streets. Today, both the New York Times and Wall Street Journal look at what comes next. New York Times reports on the growing backlash against the lanes and says PPW could prove to be New York’s “biggest challenge.” A supporter was quoted at the PPW rally saying, We don’t want to be out here having to advocate for something that’s already done, But here we are. Wall Street Journal shifts the focus to changing the habits of cyclists, pedestrians, and motorists as infrastructure changes. Next year the DOT plans to plans to increase awareness and outreach to alert New Yorkers to the rules of the road, including a “Don’t Be a Jerk” campaign. Although there are plans to increase police monitoring of both motorists and bicycles, a recent grant of $150,000 can only do so much. “Cycling advocates say a lack of enforcement breeds contempt for the law,” quotes the article, saying that lawlessness is easy to find in New York, but also that bicyclists are riding less aggressively in protected bike lanes.
Bike Lane Growth in NY Brings Backlash [NY Times]
Cycling’s New Rules of the Road [WSJ]
I neither drive nor bike, and I hate the PPW bike lane. Bikers never stop at red lights, nor do they yield to pedestrians, which they are required to do at every intersection (whether there is a light or a sign or not). The City better start ticketing these a******s before we pedestrians start clotheslining them.
For the record, there’s no stop sign on the Brooklyn Bridge for bikes on the Brooklyn Bridge walkway anymore.
Here’s a recent video (shot by someone else):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQkANB74Ltw
Skip to about the 1 minute mark.
Yes, I live in Bklyn, but I never heard of PPW.
OK, now how about those who go against traffic in bike lanes. Mostly with a bag or so of food to be delivered. Usually of some sort of Asian or Spanish-speaking background. Will the city spend untold amounts of money to educate these folks who “salmon” against the tide?
Let’s turn down the volume.
Enforcement is not a panacea. There aren’t enough police officers to do the amount of enforcement that some here advocate. We (all of us) need to become more conscious walkers, bikers, and drivers. That probably means turning off the cell phone and paying attention to what is going on around you – anticipating that the clueless mom with a stroller is going to walk off the curb as the walk signal begins to flash; or that the biker on a cell phone is not paying attention to the lights, or the ca service guy who runs the light because he’s in a hurry.
There is a lot of bad behavior that is tolerated in NYC – yellow light means speed through the intersection; it’s ok to ride your bike the wrong way in a bike lane; it’s ok to edge out into the crosswalk in anticipation of the light changing (all three users are guilty of that one).
Until we all stop whining about other people and understand that we all have to behave better, nothing will change. Yes, of course, pedestrians are the most vulnerable, bikes second, sedans third, SUVs next, agro pick-ups and Hummers fifth; and trucks last. The blame game doesn’t get us anywhere.
Hey g man , Bloomberg vetoed that campaign motto because “asshole” is reserved for him
Typing in all CAPITALS to raise your voice is annoying.
I agree insuring outside the state is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Is is legal for someone living in NY to have a company car or truck from a business that is outside of NY and registered and insured where that business is located.
If a NYC police officer issues a ticket for a moving violation, it is paid by mail or at the DMV. Not sure what you are talking about regarding state police.
People ride unsafe bikes every day. Having no or inadequate brakes is illegal.
We now know 50% of New Yorkers pay no taxes at all (NY may have use of withholdings, but after tax filing – zip into the tax fund). We also know now that 2% of New Yorkers pay 50% of the tax collected.
So this idea that we “ALL” pay for roads is simply not true.
Truck and cars are essential for business and commerce, goods and services. Do you really need to review economics 101?
Bicycles are not. With the possible exception of the delivery bike, which, should be backed by the liability insurance of the business.
I never made the implication that bikes and cars pose the exact same liability risks. This size, weight argument is silly. See above regarding cars and trucks necessity. Bikes do pose a liability risk.
I also think you should start paying attention to bike/car accidents. From the reports that I have read, most of the time it is due to bicyclist negligence. In those cases, why should a driver have to suffer that injuring or fatality of a bicyclist because they felt red lights should be considered a yield?
If you are scared in your car, you are the one who is a danger on the road. Quit driving in NY or move to the burbs.
“A bicycle, on the other hand, can be mastered by an 8-year old in a month. ”
Or the average NYer in a 5 hour course. B.S. answer…
I have been a bicyclist, bicycle racer, driver, motorcyclist, and pedestrian in manhattan and brooklyn for 17 years. here are a couple of statistics. Anecdotal, yes, but typical i’m sure.
number of times hit by cars while riding a bicycle – 3 in NYC, 1 in NJ
number of times I hit a pedestrian while riding a bicycle- 0
now you tell me who’s bigger menace, drivers or cyclists.
I’m a driver. I own a car. But in big cities, cars suck and car ownership should be discouraged as a matter of policy. If you want to drive unfettered by pesky pedestrians and cyclists, move to the suburbs.