Prospect Park West Bike Lane Supporters Outnumber Foes 4 to 1 on Facebook
It may not be totally representative since Facebook users tend to skew younger, but membership in the pro-bike lane group is dominating that in the anti-bike lane camp. More details on Streetsblog.
It may not be totally representative since Facebook users tend to skew younger, but membership in the pro-bike lane group is dominating that in the anti-bike lane camp. More details on Streetsblog.
fsrq — I would have no problem with your suggestion if you could tell me WHY.
Why are automobiles registered? Why do automobile drivers require licensing? (And why are there different licenses for different classes of license?)
If you can answer that, then you will realize how ridiculous it would be to include bicycles in that same category….
What I would be in favor of is ENFORCEMENT of rules — for bikes, for cars and for pedestrians! But the NYPD is unable or unwilling to enforce even these registered and licensed vehicles…
tybur6 – I would say your hostile attitude, anger and inability to look at bike riders objectively sort of proves my point and seems to indicate that you fit right in with my generalizations about bikers.
Oh as for bikers “right to be on the road as much as cars” – not sure if I agree with that but if its established to be true, then I assume you are in favor of bikers 1. needing a license,2. having to register their vehicle and 3.paying appropriate taxes to do so, carrying liability insurance,
There are traffic patterns–like on 9th street–where bike lane traffic is directed to merge into the “car” lane. Which I think you would agree is not ideal.
Also, there are always going to be a large number of aggressive or clueless drivers in NYC, and it strikes me as silly and irresponsible to not bear that in mind when planning something like bike lanes.
I do assume bikes are secondary on the roads, but that’s a separate discussion and we can agree to disagree on that one.
No, Woody, that’s not wrong… but it’s not right either. There are no traffic patterns, per se. One one block there is a bike lane, on the next there isn’t one.
But again, you’re working with the assumption that bikes are somehow secondary on the roads. You’re right, the separated bike lanes are the best. The paint-only lanes are for AWARENESS… there’s no magic barrier. If the drivers think the bikes magically disappear when the white stripe disappears… well, we’re talking about people that shouldn’t be behind the wheel.. right?
etson — I never said that. I’ve very comfortable driving in this city. (The metal walls help.)
I’m uncomfortable with the increased chance of killing pedestrians because they are impatient, stand in the road, and dart out in front of my car. I’ll be in jail for manslaughter and they’ll be squished… that’s reality.
Now, those same pedestrians vs. a bike. Well, that will result in a bruised pedestrian and biker thrown 20 yards against concrete.
tybur6–*sigh* my only point originally was I dont even as an anti bike person have a problem with a well separated bike lane such as on PPW but I think even bike riders would agree there are some problems with how some of the bike lanes are laid out, and it creates dangerous traffic patterns for bikers. But then, I’m sure that’s wrong somehow too.
You seem to find driving in NYC inordinately difficult, tybur. It’s really not.
DH — Didn’t you know… when you add wheels, humans become invulnerable! This is evidenced by all of the baby carriages jutting out in the road. No need to wait on the sidewalk! My baby has wheels.
Woody — you are working with the assumption that cars have some sort of *priority* on the streets… it doesn’t matter if there is a bike lane or not, bikes have a RIGHT to be on the road. A bike is not “in the way” of a car. That’s the problem. If a bike takes up space on the street and a car can’t get by, guess what… it’s not the responsibility of the bike to pull over… it’s the responsibility of the car to calm the hell down and be patient until they can pass safely (or not pass at all and just go slower).