Warnings to Cyclists Near the Bridge
There have been a number of tragic bicycle fatalities in Brooklyn this week, and the danger of the intersections near the Brooklyn Bridge has once again been highlighted. But rather than focus on traffic calming and the like — or, okay, maybe in addition to it — Streetsblog reports that the NYPD is asking bicyclists…
There have been a number of tragic bicycle fatalities in Brooklyn this week, and the danger of the intersections near the Brooklyn Bridge has once again been highlighted. But rather than focus on traffic calming and the like — or, okay, maybe in addition to it — Streetsblog reports that the NYPD is asking bicyclists to dismount at the base of the bridge. Well, maybe not asking. “A uniformed officer told me that I was supposed to dismount and walk to the point where the path ends, and where we were then standing,” says their tipster. “I pointed her to the bicycle symbol painted on the ground about 10 feet from where we were and she pointed up to a sign about 30 feet away and explained that from that point to the end, bikers were to dismount and that C class summonses were going to be handed out shortly and that she was providing a warning.” Is the NYPD providing protection for bikers or is it a continuation of the culture war of cops-against-bicyclists?
NYPD Issuing Warnings to Brooklyn Bridge Cyclists [Streetsblog]
With all due respect, get a grip. 5th Ave (or even Flatbush) is hardly the death trap you make it out to be. Not sure what the point of “reaction time at 25mph” is, but if you’re implying that having offset streets somehow makes it less safe to drive, I don’t see how.
Narrow roads slow traffic; would you rather bike on 5th or PPW (no, don’t answer that, you would not bike at all.)
As a once-regular driver and regular cyclist, I can say if you are paying attention, there’s absolutely no difficulty in noticing a cyclist, they’re different than cars and move differently, and studies have shown that *difference* from the norm is what one tends to notice more. I think it’s not that drivers don’t notice them, but that some are enraged by them.
I do agree that many are terrible drivers. And drive carelessly. But that’s no reason for preventing cyclists from sharing the road.
And as for “expert cyclists” *they are* the problem, they go too fast, are too entitled and tend to yell at anything that impedes their forward progress.
“I don’t agree at all that it’s hard to see cyclists…that’s weird, they’re taller than most cars, for one thing.”
They are taller than *most* cars but have you noticed how many cargo vans, delivery trucks, and giant ass SUVs are on the streets of the city?
Trust me. They are hard to see. Especially when you are driving on a complex and freaking nutso road like Flatbush. The right lane keeps disappearing or become “turn only” — at least 50% of the drivers seem confused as heck — and even people experienced with the roadway find new traffic patterns emerging all the time as potholes develop and confused drivers plug up different lanes with spastic idiocy.
When I say cars and bikes cannot share the roadways in the city, what I mean is the roadways in the city are such a mess that the only thing that keeps car drivers from killing each other on a regular basis is that they are surrounded by metal and protected by air bags and seat belts.
Even on more “residential” roads like Park Slope it is dangerous. Visibility is awful due to the SUVs parked all over the freaking place (incl. right up the the corners on all streets). The roads are often too narrow for there to be any margin of safety, and at some places (like 5th ave btwn flatbush and union) the cross streets are offset on different sides of the avenue and visibility for a vehicle traveling 25 mph is less than their reaction time.
It’s just a mess.
I wish the city were more bike friendly, but not so much that I’m going to pretend that the current situation is safe for bikers or that pushing for ticketing reckless drivers will somehow make it so.
I think it would take something radical — like a bike lane running down the center of Atlantic or Flatbush protected by concrete barriers — to really make biking viable for non-expert bike riders.
The expert bike riders will manage with whatever they are given, but for biking to be a sensible option for less athletic people with slower reaction times there needs to be a more fool proof solution that doesn’t depend on car drivers magically becoming able to see every biker and keeping the same distance from a bike as they keep from a beat up white cargo van with graffiti on the side.
Ash, nothing like cycling to get the out the hyperbole.
northsloperenter “I think the whole idea that bikes and cars can share roadways in the city is tragically stupid.”…tell that to the millions who cycle everywhere everyday in hundreds of countries. There’s a whole school of traffic thought that says that roads *should be shared more*, not less and it’d lead to safer roads.
I absolutely agree that respect is the key, and it’s lacking on every front. Cyclists for peds, cars for cyclists, etc. If everyone drove considerately and looked out for others, there’d be a lot less hostility.
I also agree that the Brk Bridge situation is impossible, the entitled cyclists will never realize that for most peds including myself when one) a cycle lane is just a suggestion. Assigning a roadway lane is the only way to go.
I don’t agree at all that it’s hard to see cyclists…that’s weird, they’re taller than most cars, for one thiing. Even a kid on a cycle is obvious if you’re paying attention, which is what a lot of drivers are not. If you can’t drive safely, slow down or don’t drive. Like the driver who killed the kid last week, what could’ve been his excuse? And of course there’s never a penalty for killing a cyclist.
aah, schultz had to to say “without a helmet”…that’s the Nazi trope of bike threads. Get over it, sch, I and millions of others world around don’t wear one and we’re doing fine. Has nothing to do with the issue anyway.
parkedslope:”everyone rode clunky 3-speeds, rang their bells constantly – and nobody wore spandex!”…the point I’d emphasise is that “everyone” was riding, not just a bunch of testosterone-fueled spandex clad speeders. We need to get your average middle-class person out biking to make it a normal activity. And please don’t tell me about commuters, they’re almost as bad as the speeders.
Having almost been a statistic once when the car I was in swerved to avoid a dog, I’m well aware of the responsibilities of car drivers. However, I don’t brake for mosquitoes, snakes or waterbugs :-).
Unfortunately for all concerned, car drivers are only as human as the rest of us and the physics or maneuverability of 2 tons of steel also comes into play. People don’t have 20 20 vision, when you’re watching out for the other 2 tons o’steel surrounding your ass you can miss a lot (Of course it doesn’t help when you talking on the cell phone and going 40 miles an hour either).
I’m not blaming bikers or car drivers except to say they each cause problems and that neither of them are entirely to blame when I really blame the city for devising such a poor plan.
bxgirl, I’m surprised at you. It’s up to drivers of cars to anticipate and look out for things like bicyclists, motorcyclists, small children, and pedestrians. Not to mention cats 🙂
If you’re driving 2 tons of potentially deadly steel, you have certain responsibilities. Those include being aware that you share the road with a variety of other things, who are in fact, actual human beings.
I’m not anti-car, in fact I own one.
vinelod, it’s not legal to have a bike without brakes. Most fixie riders have a brake on the front wheel. But those that don’t are usually highly skilled riders, and they ‘brake’ using reverse pressure on the fixed gear rear wheel. No one is suicidal, really.
I drive and walk and ride a bike. Therefore, everyone annoys me.
That said, there are many things that need to be done to make cycling safer. There are a lot of people on the road now who have never ridden a bike in New York City. School is back in session and there are college kids used to riding in the suburbs. All four East River bridges have different traffic patterns for pedestrians and cyclists. The Brooklyn Bridge is the worst bridge for bikes, the Manhattan and Queensboro are the best.
Here’s what I think each person could do to make life nicer:
Bikes:
Learn the laws of the road. Seriously. You ride WITH traffic. Pedestrians have the right of way. Put some damn brakes on your fixie, and some reflective stripes on your bookbag.
Pedestrians:
Look both ways. Don’t jaywalk. Stop listening to your iPod and ignoring everything outside of a three-foor bubble.
Cars:
No parking in the bike lane, and use your turn signal when turning across a bike lane. I’m sick of being run off the road. That’s all I want from cars.
Now, get off my lawn, you goddamn kids!
-cranky old man, signing off.
As a walker going across the Brooklyn Bridge several times a week I’ve seen so many close calls – and while often caused by clueless pedestrians, I can’t fathom riding a bike in NYC without brakes – and then riding it at top speed on the downhill side of the bridge. I know it’s not sane, but is it legal to have a bike without brakes?
Maybe we can debate the issue at hand, and the location of the photo, which is different from the story on Streetsblog.
Pedestrians who enter the BB walkway from the underside of Cadman Plaza (as opposed to Tillary Street) must cross the bike lane once they get onto the BB to get to the ped path. Therefore the city has painted a stop sign on the bike lane at that point, so that cyclists can stop and allow pedestrians to cross the bike lane. If they don’t stop it sets up the potential for collisions btw peds and cyclists, especially peds not familiar with that intersection.
I’m sure there are some cyclists who stop for those pavement markings, it’s just that I haven’t seen any. Except when there are a couple of police there from time to time to remind them.
To everyone who thinks the BB is over-crowded, I would recommend the Manhattan Bridge walkway. Almost no bikes or tourists, and a better view than the BB.
As to the dismount at Tillary, it’s not unreasonable. You have to come to almost a complete stop, make a 90deg turn off a curb cut while catching the light in your favor, and not hitting peds or being hit by a car. For an experienced cyclist who does this regularly, not a biggie, but if it’s your first time, you _better_ stop and dismount. imo this is the city protecting taxpayers from lawsuits. If a cyclist gets killed, or kills a ped, while exiting at this crazy exit, for sure the city gets sued.