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]
morralkan, chill: regardless of your politics here, you’re being a douchebag.
“rich people who live on PPW can’t double park to unload their cars.
that’s ALL it’s about.
proceed.”
And they lost some parking spaces ruining what used to be the easiest neighborhood to park in…
You went from quoting intellectuals beyond your grasp to “singing” the theme song from an inane comedy. I’m so impressed. Judging from your current and past comments to me, which mostly have been of an ad hominem nature, it’s pretty clear that you detest me and anyone else who doesn’t hold your world view. Of course, since mommy and daddy brought you up to believe that you are special and privileged, how could anyone ever expect you to appreciate a view that conflicts with your own.
When it comes to substance, are you telling me that points about the deception about test scores and other indicators relating to school performance are not troubling? That you’re not troubled by the emperor’s $700 million (and still counting) CityTime project which still doesn’t work? That the explosion in non-bid consultant contracts under this administration doesn’t concern you at all? That you honestly believe every bit of data that Khan puts out? Anyway not troubled by such things (and these are factual, not “from the gut”) is exhibiting his limited intellectual powers.
By the way, I don’t believe I ever called our mayor or Khan and evil dictator. Not sure that term doesn’t apply, but it’s not my own. In any case, go back to talking only with the zealots who agree with you. I’m sure you’ll be much happier and you won’t have to strain your brain too much.
LilBit – you hit the nail on the head:
“Gibson Dunn…represented, unsuccessfully, the land owners affected/opposed to the creation of the Highline.”
They are professional NIMBY nuisance suit-filers, dedicated to the exerting the power of the wealthiest over the rest of us [which is indeed reminiscent of Bush v Gore, though that’s truly not germane].
Suffice to say, the suit deserves to be thrown-out on the common-sense basis that there was adequate public debate on this issue in the years leading-up to the construction of the bike lane AND that the project was initiated as the request of the local community.
’nuff said!
Oh look at me… “quote intellectuals’ names”! Because that’s what I was doing with etson, et al. We weren’t having an intelligent conversation. Just name dropping of people I don’t understand.
I don’t hate you, morralkan. I just think you lack basic capacities others enjoy. And that there is no need to engage you because you do everything to avoid substance and everything about “emperor this” and “evil dictator” that. You’re just a joke. But that’s ok.
Because it takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world.
Yes it does.
It takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world.
I don’t know what too easy is, tybur6. Your mental powers, aside from quote intellectuals’ names, seem to be very limited. You hate me and I think you’re an idiot. Big deal!
I will congratulate you on suppressing your natural inclination to curse at people with whom you disagree. Perhaps you’re finally taking some small steps in the direction of maturity.
If the city wants to calm traffic and deter people from driving; adding bike lanes is not the answer; they should invest more heavily in fixing our public transportation.
If the trains/buses ran more efficiently; especially on the weekends; more people would opt to use public transportation than using their car.
etson, it’s ok to use the term entitlement with reckless abandon. Clearly no-one in this country knows what it means because they say “person x is entitled” when they mean “person X is self-entitled”, which is the opposite.
I find the whole bike lane debate really boring so my question on Janette Sadik-Khan:
Would you?……………