Gothamist: Bike Sharing Rolling Forward in NYC

rumaeCollective

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:46:11 -0500

I commute daily from Brooklyn into the city and have really enjoyed the sharp increase in cyclists I've noticed over the past few months. Granted, it is summertime, but I see alot more cyclist on the daily rides and welcome all those newbies, weekend warriors, and everyone else. The basic rule of riding in NYC is take nothing for granted and LOOK EVERYWHERE. Don't expect that a painted line on the street is going to protect you, or a sign showing one way traffic... Nothing will protect you riding in the city except your own caution and awareness. Take that for granted, and then you start getting complaints about everything under the sun. I've been slammed onto a sidewalk, and flippd over my handlebars by a recent dooring, but still love the ride and bike to work and play always, and you'll never hear me complain because I'm grateful for having a healthy body to bike with above all, so all else is just learning experiences. It's NY - love it for what it is and adapt to your surroundings - 'when in Rome...'

glennQNYC

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:16:15 -0500

Only about 1% of commuter trips in New York City are made by bicycle, so as part of its strategic plan, Sustainable Streets, DOT intends to double that number by 2015 and triple it by 2020. At least the city is being realistic in it's aspirations. The auto-phobic crowd could learn something by this.

NannyState

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:46:11 -0500

I wonder what would happen if entire streets were closed to auto traffic and set aside for bicyclists and pedestrians. My guess is that people on foot would ignore the bike lanes and mill around, blocking cycle traffic and creating ugly scenes. Somehow, in New York, the cars might actually help clear bike lanes by keeping pedestrians on the sidewalks. It'd be worth studying because fully half the streets in NY should be closed to automobiles.

REALITY CHECK

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:21:10 -0500

Cyclists will obey traffic laws if there were dedicated bikes lanes on every avenue with a separated median, and dedicated cyclist traffic lights beside every single regular traffic light, like in Amsterdam: http://z.about.com/d/goamsterdam/1/7/K/0/-/-/bike_signal_red.JPG Psychologically, a circular red light means "cars must stop" but not necessarily pedestrians or cyclists (even though that's what you should do, legally and for safety). That's why there are separate pedestrian signals. There should also be dedicated cyclist signals.

IvoryJive

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:39:57 -0500

The City is not going to operate the bike share - the DOT is seeking proposals for a private company to run them.

glennQNYC

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:29:36 -0500

Hey, more responsible riders, the better. But how is this bike share program not going to be a money pit? We (the tax paying public) are going to provide the service, and storage of the bikes, and also the staff to process the rentals. How is this program going to fund itself? Oh yea- it won't even come close.

interlard

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:24:56 -0500

Wow. I'm impressed by the other comments. They are all rigtht (even when they think they are disagreeing with each other). I didn't know there was a goal to double the number of bike riders in the city. Surely they are killed off too quickly for any increase to make a difference? I would dearly LOVE to ride a bike but I know for sure I will die within 10 minutes. Crossing the street on foot is normally life-threatening at least twice in my 30 minute walk home. Traffic in this city is psychotic and the cops are too chicken to do anything about it.

Deb88

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:19:24 -0500

cwbuecheler, I agree with you. Eliz & #20, it's really a matter of logic. The streets in NYC aren't wide enough to accompany bicycles and two lanes of cars without one or the other needing to veer into the other's path. Common sense stipulates that it's not the fault of the bicyclist or the driver of the vehicle 98% of the time - it's really just a matter of not having enough space. With that said, bicyclists that break the law (by running red lights, or riding on the sidewalks or down the wrong way of a one way street), should be ticketed the same way a car would be ticketed. Why should it be any different? If some kid on a fixie thinks it's ok to go shooting through red-lights, before he goes out and buys another pair of converse, he can pay a ticket for making it worse for the rest of us riding responsibly. There seems to be an annoying batch of NYC bicyclists that like to blame traffic, claim they have no rights, etc. Meanwhile, your right is basically the decision to ride in a city without provided bicycle infrastructure. It sucks for all of us, but money talks in this town. We need some serious funding people. That's all I can say about it.

spreetaper

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:01:36 -0500

look both ways before you A. cross the street B. pull over to park

CR

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:40:16 -0500

As a cyclist in NYC my biggest fear is being hit by a car/cab as it pulls over to park in a bike lane. As a pedestrian in NYC my biggest fear is being hit by a cyclist going the wrong way down a one way street.

eliz

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:16:03 -0500

#20 - I'm not an anti-bike nut. I wish more people in the city cycled. I'm just frustratedby how few bicyclists understand that they're subject to traffic laws, also. VERY few bicyclists understand that when they do things like stopping at a red light, looking both ways, and then moving onward, they're breaking the law. you know, i'd be more inclined to listen to this if drivers actually treated bicyclists like traffic and not nuisances. i move onward and go through a red light to get the hell away from the pack of cars driving like maniacs behind me. i was riding in california once and there were dedicated lanes everywhere and bike-only stoplights, and i paid attention to those because i didn't feel like i was being made a target on the regular streets.

lanciano

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:14:54 -0500

I always wait for a green lights at clear intersections if a cop is waiting for the light or if there is a child in eye sight and don't want to set a bad example.

cwbuecheler

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:06:47 -0500

#22 - Yep, that'd be the attitude that annoys the shit out of me.

Headzo

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:52:57 -0500

Oh and all the bike cops I've seen are utterly useless. Clunky overburdened mountain bikes that are poorly maintained being ridden by cops whose physical fitness is even more poorly maintained than the bikes! The cops who were riding along with the Tour de Brooklyn were huffing and puffing riding up slight inclines on smoothly paved roads. For a couple of them it seemed like they hadn't ridden a bike in 20 years. One of them didn't recognize the sound of a bike bell and most of them ride with the gears grinding all the time.

Headzo

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:48:46 -0500

It's not that bicyclists aren't AWARE they are breaking the law, it's just that most don't care. If there are no cars or pedestrians coming and I am at a red light, you better believe I'm crossing the street. There are no repurcussions. Why wait?

cwbuecheler

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:43:06 -0500

#20 - I'm not an anti-bike nut. I wish more people in the city cycled. I'm just frustratedby how few bicyclists understand that they're subject to traffic laws, also. VERY few bicyclists understand that when they do things like stopping at a red light, looking both ways, and then moving onward, they're breaking the law. I complain far more often about New York drivers than bikers, however. I support congestion pricing, and any other measure that would reduce the number of cars on the street, making it safer for bicyclists and pedestrians to move around the city. It doesn't have to be a one-or-the-other thing. As a person who walks, I want BOTH groups to pay more attention to the law.

Spiritof76

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:04:37 -0500

That was fast. I knew there would be some anti-bike nut in the thread, but first post? Why aren't you ranting about the prodigious number of drivers who run red lights, block the box, honk their horns, make illegal turns or the prodigious number of pedestrians who block the sidewalks by strolling four abreast slowly or jaywalk at a leisurely pace when traffic has the light?

Rocknrope

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:59:01 -0500

#15, you're lucky they didn't haul your ass into jail or run you into a parked truck.

Toby von Meistersinger

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:48:33 -0500

The idea of shared helmets doesn't sound like a particularity good one. SC: I have seen bike cops in Prospect Park.

lanciano

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:41:51 -0500

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy commuting to work by bike. But a world class city for biking NYC is NOT.

twakum

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:39:37 -0500

I once saw 2 cops sitting in their car in Brooklyn, parked in a bike lane, eating their McDonalds lunch. As I rode by, I pointed down to the pavement and said, loudly: "Bike Lane". Later they drove by me and flipped me off. I called their car number into 311, and never heard back.

twakum

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:37:58 -0500

http://www.mta.info/lirr/pubs/bikerulelirr.htm not friendly at all, and worthless to commuters. 4 biccycles per train? Stupid Metro North is much more tolerant, I have seen LIRR conductors harass cyclists.

janelle

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:57:07 -0500

I applaud these efforts even though it'll mean an increase in the already prodigious number of bikers hit by cars who run red lights, drive on sidewalks, and generally disobey traffic laws. ;)

SC

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:52:07 -0500

"Put Cops on Bikes, make them enforce rules for proper bike behavior. Also make them stop, ticket and confiscate AUTOS that violate rules, or drive too aggressively near bikers. Also give them power to enforce these rules agsint all drivers of buses." Amen. It's a brilliant idea, since cops would finally get to see the city from a bicycle perspective, instead of from the "windshield perspective". It'd also put them a lot closer to the people, working a bike beat. As far as I know, the only place in Manhattan where there are any bicycle cops are in Central Park. Anyone know of it elsewhere? Plus, a lot of these cops could use the exercise anyways.

TurkeyburgerDLX

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:50:45 -0500

Those wide handlebar cruisers are not safe for city riding (not sure if the ones pictured are the ones to be shared).

babyhitler

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:41:02 -0500

"New York is a world-class city for biking" - obviously this dude's never biked in NYC. The only good paths are the westside highway and the ocean parkway. I wouldn't say that NY is terrible just not world-class.

Fritzdecat

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:40:36 -0500

Instead of ticketing three year old girls for pulling a leaf off a shrub the City might consider lifting a finger on the bike theives... Then they might find a more bike happy city.

drewo

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:35:02 -0500

Nice idea - but as twakum above is saying, bicycling in New York won't take off big-time till the streets are safer, more accommodating to cyclists, and auto traffic laws are strictly enforced. The city still operates as if the auto is king - even though the auto is responsible for destroying most of the fabric of city life. Every evening from the window of my gym, I see an ice cream truck parked directly in (and over) the bicycle lane on Prince Street where it crosses Broadway. I'm sure the cops have seen this truck there - while the cops were ordering their snacks.

Steven

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:34:57 -0500

Bikes are allowed on the LIRR and Metro North on Off-Peak trains not during the rush hour. You also need to pay a one time fee for a bike permit.

John Del Signore

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:31:17 -0500

Bikes are allowed on the ferry; there are even bike racks.

TK

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:29:02 -0500

How long until pictures are posted showing bikes being defaced?

CR

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:27:45 -0500

Anyone know if you can take you bike on the ferry to Govenors Island? I know you can take it on the SI Ferry.

twakum

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:21:28 -0500

Put Cops on Bikes, make them enforce rules for proper bike behavior. Also make them stop, ticket and confiscate AUTOS that violate rules, or drive too aggressively near bikers. Also give them power to enforce these rules agsint all drivers of buses. Make the LIRR accept bikes on trains. the first time a tire blows on a city owned bike and leads to an injury, ca-ching for the trial lawyer scum. Force Commercial buildings of a certain size to accomodate bikers ON DEMAND. Penalize them if they dont. Even better, enact congestion pricing, and close off certain streets to vehicle traffic.

SP

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:12:12 -0500

Paris has already done it, and it works great. But that isn't saying much, Europeans are light years ahead of of us in all matters, except for being fat and lazy and anti-progress. We rule at that.

matty

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:08:48 -0500

This isn't going to work.

cwbuecheler

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:53:16 -0500

I applaud these efforts even though it'll mean an increase in the already prodigious number of bikers who run red lights, drive on sidewalks, and generally disobey traffic laws. I am curious though how long it'll take until someone gets hit and killed on a city bike, though, and what the reaction will be. This city is still quite dangerous for bikers, as the number of ghost bikes around town shows.