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]
Oh — and just to add to the “Cycling advocates say a lack of enforcement breeds contempt for the law” bit. I bet BOTH cars and bicyclists will start paying pedestrians more respect if pedestrians were to (a) cross only when safe, (b) look before crossing, (c) not stand in the TRAVEL lane when not able to cross, and (d) not walk AT me when I’m driving or biking… i.e., they know they’re not going to walk INTO me, but *I* don’t.
fsrq — you are such a little bitch. I’m sorry bicycles annoy you. I sorry you can’t live in a city where EVERYONE drives. I’m sorry you don’t understand, “Cycling advocates say a lack of enforcement breeds contempt for the law” — meaning almost being killed daily by crazy aggressive drivers in 2-ton steel boxes breads contempt… ya know, cuz NO ONE is being given tickets for shitty driving. I don’t give a crap about the way bikers act as long as the DANGEROUS, CRAZY fuckers in cars are given a pass.
You bring up statistic like “X per miles drive.” If you look around at cars in this city, they should have about 3 tickets each per mile driven… but most drivers have ZERO ticket per ALL miles driven.
You want traffic enforcement? I’m ALL FOR IT. But don’t give cars a pass… and, guess what? You are! Stop being a bitch.
(p.s., I’m amused by your little list of traffic infractions. I’m wondering if 50 mph on PPW bothers you. Probably not right? You probably annoyed that you CAN’T drive 50+ mph on PPW That damn bike lane has made you slow down… I know, it’s tough. Stop being a little bitch.)
Driving is a “privilege” not a “right”. Bicycles and those who use them should be treated the same way.
They use city streets and tax payer funds for their special lanes and create liabilities.
Break the laws and requirements down by age. Parents are financially responsible for their children to a certain age.
Shit will change real quick!
Seems like in NYC it is about 1 per year – not insignificant when measured by likely miles driven
And city figures show bicycles struck and killed 11 pedestrians from 1996 to 2005. No statistics are kept on non-fatal crashes.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/08/16/2009-08-16_biking_boom_in_new_york_city_sets_off_clash_between_cyclists_pedestrians_and_car.html#ixzz163XZ5VHB
bikes should have the right to treat a red light as a yield sign.
denton – I do nto have that statistic – but let me say that 1. the # of cyclists as a % of road users is so infinitesimal that it would much matter and 2. A cyclist doesnt have to kill a pedestrian to make a cyclist a meance
“Denton, agreed, but a cyclist zooming the wrong way down a one way street can easily kill a pedestrian (if not themselves) just as easily as a car. Again, common sense.”
AJ, I realize your point but statistics will not bear you our nor will common sense. If a cyclist can kill a ped ‘just as easily’ as a car, we would have dozens of peds killed by cyclists every year. We don’t. A cyclist weighs whatever they weigh plus thirty pounds. A car weighs two tons minumum. Your physiscs are not adding up.
We have dozens of peds killed by cars tho, not to mention cyclists.
The DOT has a new ad campaign with a big sign in dumbo where they point out that a ped hit by a car at 30mph has a 70% chance of survival, but at 40 mph, only a 30% chance. And God only knows in what shape they will be in either case.
I’m not defending cyclists who do wrong and I look forward to them being ticketed and made to behave better. But let’s not pretend that cyclists are killers.
43000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents last year. How many peds were killed by cyclists? You can’t even find a statistic. Five? Ten?
IF Bloomie would just start ticketing these cyclists and like I have suggested here time and time again-force cyclists to register their bikes and pay for monthly insurance – that would change their entitlement and curb their disrespect for the rules.
Yes, I know plenty of drivers do ignore the rules, but at least they are paying insurance and registration fees and there is recourse if you get into an accident with a car, there is no recourse for a driver or pedestrian for that matter who gets hit by a bike.
“Their biking system is light years ahead and can give some real insight to what needs to be done.’
You mean those bike rental racks (“bixi”) that are everywhere there? They have been tried in other cities as well but aren’t as ubiquitous. Not sure they are a serious transport alternative though. Never saw anyone use them but saw the racks everywhere.
Unrelated: Always thought NYC bikers were bad until I drove in Canada. Toronto bikers are not that aggressive but seem fond of no helmet / no lights / dark clothing after dark / inability to ride in a straight line.