Latest Spin From PPW Bike Lane Opponents: Cut the Lane in Half?
“Opponents of a controversial bike lane along Prospect Park West are offering a one-way compromise, suggesting the two-lane path be chopped in half. ‘The entire community favors a regular one-way bike lane, which would neither place pedestrians in danger nor create the kind of choking traffic we see day in and day out,’ Neighbors for…
There are “safety buffers” at all of the intersections with crosswalks… i.e., no cars parked there. Oh, wait. These pedestrians finding it ever so deadly are crossing wherever they want to and not pausing or even looking. Yes, that’s the truth.
Doesn’t take away from any dickishness of bikes and cars, just want to point out how stupid the pedestrian argument is!!
Answer: To get a better view of the dead pedestrian.
The real question is “Why did dirty hipster cross the street?”
i have to cross a busy two lane bike lane everyday. it’s really not that hard.
step one: cross the vehicle lane by looking in the direction of traffic (disregard if cars have a light)
step two: pause when you reach the row of parked cars.
step three: look both ways for bikes
step four: cross when clear
I think the issue with pedestrian safety is that there are no lights at the intersections on the bike lanes only flashing yellow hazzards, and for families with kids, its difficult to see around the parked cars, so its possible if you are pushing a stroller or if you have small children (under 10)for them to cross the street with the light, only to then step into the path of an oncoming (southbound) bike. Its an easy fix, just add lights to the bike lanes that mirror the traffic signal lights so that pedestrians have the right of way on red from sidewalk to sidewalk.
And, also, I believe I read that they plan to add some raised planting beds along portions of the lane. That will look even nicer.
dirty hipster: I like the way it looks, too. To me, with the bike lane, PPW now looks like a graceful, well-designed boulevard — more luxurious than before. Granted that green paint on the lanes is a little bright, but it will fade.
Here’s a before and after shot – I think it looks better now:
http://gothamist.com/2010/11/02/dot_says_prospect_park_west_bike_la.php?gallery0Pic=4#gallery
I don’t love how this bike lane has affected the LOOK of this street; it looks, I dunno, strange. But I drive down PPW often, and the “choking” traffic that I was expecting has not happened at all.