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]
pig three — You REALLY missed my point. “laws that must be adhered to” “policing of users” “regulations as motorists” THESE are the things that AREN’T HAPPENING.
Let’s take them in turn:
Registration and Insuring of Vehicles —
** This ain’t happening. Look at all of the cars that are registered in NC, FL, PA, NJ, etc. These are folks that live in Brooklyn. (a) They are not registered legally, and (b) because they have committed fraud to get their out-of-state insurance… if they have any at all… the insurance company will quickly discover their “primary garage” is Brooklyn and refuse to pay any claims… i.e., Uninsured.
** This is not being checked or regulated by the city or state.
Policing of Users —
** This ain’t happening. There are lots of parking tickets, for sure. I don’t see parking tickets as particularly important. But these ARE NOT moving violations (ya know, where safety is involved). AT BEST, the police are collecting a few low hanging fruit if they have to (short-lived appeasement), but there is ABSOLUTELY NO sustained enforcement of traffic laws. I regularly write to the NYPD asking for this! Should cyclists be ticketed? Sure, why not. But don’t ticket cyclists just because it’s easy and appeases… ticket cyclists because you’re ticketing EVERYONE to IMPROVE SAFETY. In the four years I’ve lived here, I have seen exactly 4 cars pulled over in Brooklyn.
** I drive as much as I’m on my bike… I want traffic calming and traffic law enforcement because I don’t feel safe IN MY CAR (never mind on my bike)!!!
** Umm… why are people paying tickets at the DMV? Any traffic violation tickets being paid at the New York State DMV are tickets issued by the STATE POLICE — i.e., on the highways outside of the city!!
Vehicle Inspection —
** Cars are inspected for emissions and safety. Bikes don’t have emissions. And I don’t know anyone who could ride a bike that is unsafe… unlike a car, you KNOW it’s unsafe and, guess what, you don’t want to ride an unsafe bike because you KNOW you’ll be hurt. Cars are inspected for safety because you don’t necessarily know the joints are about to give way, your lights are blown, and you’re a danger to yourself and others.
Roads and Tax Payer’s Dollars —
** I think you recognize that we ALL pay for the roads, not just the car drivers. I think you also recognize that the costs associated with maintaining or building bike lanes is NOTHING compared to the maintenance associated with the wear and tear caused by cars and trucks.
Licensing —
** I fully support mandatory bicycle safety education in schools. I also support (as mentioned above) ticketing of bicycles for reckless/dangerous biking.
** Do you REALLY not see the fundamental difference between a car and a bicycle?! The former is a large, complicated machine that requires years of practice to master… weighs several tons and exceeds the speed of a bicycle without even pushing the gas pedal. A bicycle, on the other hand, can be mastered by an 8-year old in a month.
tybur6,
You have the commonly mistaken definition of privilege.
A privilege is something that is given and therefore can be taken away.
One has driving privileges. Requires a license issued by the state. There are restrictions, requirements and laws that must be adhered to – to maintain those privileges. Insurance requirements. Vehicle inspection and registration.
The state provides tax payer funded services associated with driving privileges. To name a few – paved roads, lighting where possible, policing of users, signs. The list goes on.
I suggested that those who use these tax payer funded roads and services be subjected to similar, appropriate privilege regulations as motorists. There are some similarities to liability issues from said use.
Do you understand what I mean now or are you going to continue with your blog rage?
Drivers are being checked. Your sound like a pissed off cyclist with entitlement issues.
Go to dmv and see how many people paying ticket or seeing the judge. You would have a hard time finding a cyclist there I’m sure.
dh: “Doesn’t matter if it’s bikes, cars or pedestrians – you only notice the assholes.”
Actually, the campaign was originally going to be called “Don’t be an Asshole,” but the mayor vetoed that.
And just in case it got lost in the thread, the campaign is intended to reduce the jerkiness of everyone on the street; drivers, cyclists, pedestrians.
“i almost got hit (yep i counted) three times in soho today by bikes. by cars? none. in heavily congested areas like soho bikes ARE a nuisance, you cant deny that DH. they jut in between and besides cars and sneak up right behind you.”
anyone who chooses to bike or drive a car in soho is a fuckin maniac. pedestrians are the main problem (if a car isn’t traveling down a side street like Wooster at 50mph, a wall of people will cross in front of them) – so yeah, cars drive more aggressive causing people on bikes to be more aggressive.
but seriously – that whole damn neighborhood should be closed to car / bike traffic (except necessary deliveries)
i almost got hit (yep i counted) three times in soho today by bikes. by cars? none. in heavily congested areas like soho bikes ARE a nuisance, you cant deny that DH. they jut in between and besides cars and sneak up right behind you. this was always at a cross walk, when it red. sorry im a tad psychic, but i have no clue if that stopped van has a biker speeding up behind it, and that is exactly what happened today. TWICE, the other time was just some tard going the wrong way, which doesnt bother me as much cuz you can see it coming.
i dont really have a problem with people who cycle in park slope tho. buncha geeks, they really DO stop at red lights hahahahah
*rob*
oh yeah – and i was sitting in front of blue bottle the other night drinking some coffee and noticed some poor shmuck in the bike lane on berry street trying to use hand signals to get over to make the right hand turn on N5th street. needless to say, about 3 cars sped up so he couldn’t get over even though there was a stop sign at the corner. the cyclist had to make a left on n5th, circle around in the crosswalk and STILL almost got hit by someone rolling thru the stop sign.
typical aggressive driving douchebaggery.
“bikes should have the right to treat a red light as a yield sign.”
I used to think treating a red light as a stop sign was ok, but with more bikers and bike lanes I no longer think this is the case.
“No dirty_hipster – I wanted to account for that, so lately I made a concerted effort to watch all bikers…guess what – not ONE stayed at a red light unless they were absolutely forced to by traffic. Seriously not one (lets say over a 4 week period) ”
red lights are SOMETIMES better treated by cyclists as yield signs, to stay ahead of the flow of traffic. obviously someone on a bike doesn’t have the power to accelerate as fast as someone in a car – so for those few seconds when the light turns green they are particularly vulnerable, almost at a stand still while people in cars are flooring it. if there are no cars or pedestrians in sight, why not? bikes are more maneuverable and have far less of a stopping distance than a car.
As a pedestrian – do you wait for the light to turn red before you cross the street, even if no cars are in sight?
anywho – who cares? cold weather is here and most people have packed up their bikes for the winter.
pig three — You first show me how DRIVING is treated as a privilege!!! Drivers are NOT being checked. They drive almost however the fuck they want with NO consequences.
The ONE law I see respected (and I truly don’t know why) is “No Turn on Red.” Drivers will blow *through* red lights, but they wouldn’t dare turn right!