PPW Bike Lane Kerfuffle: Volume MCDVI (Apx)
There’s a feature about the city’s bike wars in the latest New York mag entitled “Not Quite Copenhagen,” and the Prospect Park West imbroglio plays a very prominent role. What’s learned? Bike-lane foe Louise Hainline has “an expensive spy camera” to document the bike lane traffic because she’s intent on debunking city stats about how…
There’s a feature about the city’s bike wars in the latest New York mag entitled “Not Quite Copenhagen,” and the Prospect Park West imbroglio plays a very prominent role. What’s learned? Bike-lane foe Louise Hainline has “an expensive spy camera” to document the bike lane traffic because she’s intent on debunking city stats about how much usage it gets and says the characterization of her and others who oppose the lane—”that we’re a bunch of old, crotchety rich people that don’t understand that they deserve to have a bike lane on our street”—is incorrect. Then there’s Aaron Naparstek, creator of Streetsblog and co-founder of Park Slope Neighbors, who says this about the firm working pro bono on the suit against the lane: “It’s crazy. Gibson Dunn is the law firm that represented George W. Bush in Bush v. Gore in 2000. Now they’re working to get rid of a bike lane. Think about that.” Meanwhile, former transportation commissioner Iris Weinshall’s support opposition to the lane is also called questioned: “‘Clearly, if the lawsuit was to succeed, [Weinshall] could say, ‘See, I was reasonable after all,’ says Andrew Vesselinovitch, who served as the New York City ‘bike czar’ under Weinshall before leaving the DOT in protest in 2006. To Weinshall’s critics, she is waging a personal vendetta” against current commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. Following the publication of the article, the city defended its bike lane program and said the majority of New Yorkers support the lanes.
Not Quite Copenhagen [NY Mag]
You’re embarrassing yourself. We’re trying to get you to stop digging your hole deeper. Some thanks would be nice.
Same ol’ same ol’, morralkan. Yep. No facts in your statements above (other than the DoE tangent).
My 11:12pm comments were VERY clear. I don’t need to repeat them. You simply have to read them again. If you don’t think my characterization of your attitude is accurate, please prove me wrong.
By the way, tybur6, when you’re trying to convince people of your intellectual superiority (11:12PM), it would be behoove you to actually proofread what you post.
If you cannot find any facts in any of my statements, then perhaps you need some remedial reading classes.
You’re quite a pair, tybur6 and zinka!
I’m pretty sure my grasp of the English language (and also of several others) is great than yours. Both of you continually use insults and curses when addressing anyone who disagrees with your point of view and get highly disturbed when anyone (especially me) calls you on this. I suppose that you both believe “douchebag” is some sort of fact. As to the “zealot” charge, a good synonym might be “fanatic.” Since you refuse to entertain any argument that would contradict your point of view, I think that zealot is pretty apt.
morralkan: “I do get upset by ad hominem attacks by people who profess to offer “facts” and instead will only listen to people who agree with them and attack anyone who has the audacity to question their self-perceived wisdom.”
Wow. Just wow. Pot, meet kettle? That’s basically a PERFECT description of your own behavior on bike lane threads.
By the way… constantly referring to the bike lane advocates as “zealots” and continually trotting out references to folks being “special and privileged” or “the world revolved around you” couldn’t be BETTER examples of ad hominem attacks!!!
Makes me wonder if you know what that term means — especially since this technique seems to form the basis of most of your “arguments.”
You are right, donatella. And a reasonable person. Of course, I do get upset by ad hominem attacks by people who profess to offer “facts” and instead will only listen to people who agree with them and attack anyone who has the audacity to question their self-perceived wisdom. Zealotry is the enemy of wisdom. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a drinker, so I will have to decline even the virtual glass of wine. Thanks, though, for polite discussion.
Morralkan… What factual arguments have you made?! Ya know, other than your most recent tangent about DOE policy. A topic I have never taken part in because I have knowledge on the topic. (And I have no idea if your assertions are factual… I just know they have nothing to do with transportation policy.)
HOWEVER — I do have a great deal of information about civil planning and “complete streets” and multimodal transportation in an urban environment. You, on the other hand, REFUSE…. yes REFUSE… to even entertain a different approach for New York City.
You immediately jump to absurd black-and-white conclusions. Please look at your comments. Wherever a suggestion that X or Y should be introduced, you jump to some absurd conclusion where everything becomes X or Y and old grandmothers can’t get chemo therapy because cars have been banned in the city. And it’s things like, “Well, you zealots just believe everything Bloomturd and Khan hand you!” Guess what?! There’s a difference between accepting data because it’s confirmed by several sources and blind DISMISSAL because you have decided you don’t trust the source… and nothing will convince you otherwise. (This is the voice of a conspiracy theorist.)
THIS is evidence of a pathetic intellect — a lack of critical thinking skills.
Another example… you criticized my intellect because you perceived my discussion with etson concerning liberty as quoting intellectuals beyond my grasp. Have you even heard of Hobbes? (and not the tiger) What about Locke? Thomas Jefferson perhaps?
So, yeah. As you said earlier. I think you’re an idiot. The reason is not because of the position you take. I respect and find myself persuaded by many people when they present me with an alternate view. Unfortunately, your take-it-or-leave-it, it’s good enough for me, the only reason you can’t take it is because you’re a snowflake, head up your ass attitude will NEVER persuade me. Why should I be persuaded by your position when it presented with your unyielding, New York is exceptional and can’t be compared to anywhere else outlook?!!
P.S. Always saying “Bloomturd” when referring to the mayor is really the hallmark of a great mind!
Morralkan, if this were the real world, I would gently lead you away from this….discussion…..where nobody convinces anybody of anything and invite you for a glass of wine and a few laughs and to discuss floor designs and the other things you discuss on brownstoner (which have been very interesting and helpful). Because these bike lane threads are vicious things and no hearts or minds ever seem to be won.