Why Do New Yorkers Hate Cyclists?

Why can't we be friends? (Flickr user istolethetv)

Pedestrians and drivers in this city have hated each other for years, but it seems that the city's bicyclists get the brunt of hatred from both worlds. In "A unified theory of New York biking," Reuters blogger Felix Salmon theorizes that cyclists get such hatred because, though they are vehicles, they are treated as pedestrians. But that may be both the bikers' and the drivers' faults.

Salmon explains the standard "pedestrian-motorist encounter," in which both parties must keep to their clearly defined paths, and "When they do interact, pedestrians take advantage of the rules of the road: a red light, for instance, means that the cars have to stop, so pedestrians can cross against them. Pedestrians trust the motorists to follow the rules, and most of the time that’s what happens." However, when bikes are thrown into the mix, things get complicated. He writes:

Bikes can and should behave much more like cars than pedestrians. They should ride on the road, not the sidewalk. They should stop at lights, and pedestrians should be able to trust them to do so. They should use lights at night. And — of course, duh — they should ride in the right direction on one-way streets. None of this is a question of being polite; it’s the law. But in stark contrast to motorists, nearly all of whom follow nearly all the rules, most cyclists seem to treat the rules of the road as strictly optional. They’re still in the human-powered mindset of pedestrians, who feel pretty much completely unconstrained by rules.

Of course, it's not just the bikers who break the rules. Cars use bike lanes as parking spots or left-turn lanes and pedestrians jaywalk, but Salmon reminds New Yorkers, "Bicyclists aren’t like pedestrians: we’re much faster, we can’t stop quickly, we can’t navigate as adroitly, and it takes a lot of effort to slow down and speed up again, compared to the effort expended in just moving at a constant velocity." However, there is something bikers could do to calm the waters. According to statistics in Jeff Mapes’s book Pedaling Revolution, "as many as a third of all bike accidents involved simply riding against the flow of traffic." Stick to your lanes, and maybe we can all be friends one day. Or not.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on September 5, 2010 5:48 PM

Comments [rss]

spiritross

Who hates cyclists?

We just hate stupid people that don't follow traffic patterns and cause problems to our urban environment - goes for cars too.

The Guardrail

As a NYC cyclist and I agree the statements made in this blog by – I couldn’t have put it better myself. Unfortunately cyclists are still the step-child of transportation alternatives in this city. We have made strides and are more and more prevalent on the streets, and the Bloomberg Administration has supported us more than any administration before, but we have a long way to go.

I once explained to a non-biking friend what biking in the city is like and had to explain how I follow the law, except in times when it puts my life in danger – such as cars, trucks, food carts, cargo and pedestrians in the bike lane or taxis cutting me off and causing me to swerve in to rush hour traffic on Sixth Ave. I also personally find it safer to ride on the left hand side of one-way roads to avoid car doors, and I avoid Times Square and Herald Square by all means possible, even if they do have designated "bike lanes"!

We ALL need to learn how to follow the laws propererly, and I feel the only way we can do that is through proper education and enforcement. NYC DOT should consider a bike safety campaign educating pedestrians, cyclists and motorists on the laws and responsibilities of riding. I also feel we need to start ticketing motorists for being in bike lanes, cyclists for salmoning down the street (this is my BIGGEST pet peeve, especially delivery people) and pedestrians – well we might be SOL on that one.

The author did an exceptional job of getting his point across that we all play a role in this, while keeping the piece objective. Please take a look whether you are a pedestrian, cyclist or motorist and you may see a different side to the story, I sure did.

http://theguardrailblog.blogspot.com

dhash

Completely agree. It's actually pretty insulting being a law abiding cyclist in this city and being grouped into people who obviously have no regard for pedestrians and cars.

"I also feel we need to start ticketing motorists for being in bike lanes, cyclists for salmoning down the street (this is my BIGGEST pet peeve, especially delivery people) and pedestrians – well we might be SOL on that on."

What people don't realize is that when cars do this it's putting my life at risk. For them it's just annoying, for me if a cab door opens because they are unloading in a bike lane, that can mean a trip to the ER.

I hold the unfortunate belief that people who are outspoken about bikes don't have the will to see if from the other perspective.

Billiamsburg

Or maybe it's because New York is full of self-entitled douchebags whether they walk, drive or ride a bike.

spiritross

You must get spit on a lot right? I mean believe individuals are examples of whole majorities and making judgments on all.

How bought you get the hell out of my city - we don't take too kindly to whiners who hate themselves around these parts.

Fritzdecat

true that

billyjack44

Was at Herald Square Saturday, and saw a cyclist do a stoppie (planted front brake, rear wheel comes way up), just as an older woman stepped from the sidewalk to cross (she had the light). Practically gave her a friggin' heart attack, and he came within 10" of her when fully stopped. That guy was simply a TOTAL DOUCHE. I'm a motorcyclist, and fully realize how some assholes give all others in their clan a bad rap. This guy needed a beating, preferably from another cyclist.

RyanLee

The Reuters article is a very smart assessment of the current conflict among those choosing different modes of transportation in this city. Worth a read. Quite a bit more enlightening than the Gothamist post/summation or most of the comments on this page.

Anyway, I think it'll get better and we'll all learn how to make room for each other. Be safe and be kind.

-Pangloss

Sketto

The best solution will piss off everyone, as many fair solutions do - that is, give the bikers their green bike lanes all over the city (which drivers resent) and start ticket blitzing the jerky bikers who flaunt the traffic laws (which too many bikers feel they have a right to ignore). Problem solved. We should encourage biking in NY but seriously penalize illegal biking.

kevd

Ticket red light runners who actually cause problems.

If I slow to 5 mph, look both ways, and cautiously procede through while never coming within 10 feet of someone in the crosswalk I'm not endangering anyone.

And if you complain about that, you're really just a whiny bitch.

But, if I blow a light, nearly knocking over old ladies and making cars slam on their brakes, then I'm a dick and I should get a ticket.

If I step out into traffic without looking and nearly walk into a biker who has a green light or is in a green, separated bike lane - I too should get a ticket (or minimum, a light smack to the back of the head). Meanwhile, if I look and see that while technically I don't have the right of way - there is nothing coming. I should be free to cross.

Should I ride on the sidewalk? Of course not. But should I ride at 5 mph to the corner from my front door while no one is around, or if they are courteously alerting them and passing them slowly? Why the fuck not?

Should everyone in cars who doesn't actually come 100% to a complete stop at stop signs get tickets? I don't know. But I do know that I'm far more concerned with people driving at 20mph over the limit and passing me dangerously. Give the tickets to the people who actually cause problems (there are plenty). But not just everyone who bends or breaks a rule.

Is any of this really that tough? Bend the rules walkers and bikers, just not in any case where bending those rules endangers or causes inconvenience to others who have the right of way.

Fritzdecat

Count how many tickets you could have written in my "RAD"

video...fifty? sixty?

Cops would need fountain pens the size of baseball pens to write that many tickets

Although I do agree you go thru a red light you deserve a ticket

Sketto

Nah. You get ticketed for breaking the traffic laws. Period. If you break 'em and get away with it, just as drivers sometimes do, that's life. But don't try to justify it by saying you don't "cause problems". That ain't how it works. You take the risk (just like drivers) and you either get away with it (just like drivers), or you're busted (with a ticket you deserve).

kevd

Well...

I get away with it. So I guess that's all.

Juno-Jupiter

And you cyclists wonder why we dislike you guys so much. Its because you have no care in the world that you endanger our lives by breaking the rules. And justifying it by saying car drivers do it too is not enough, we get tickets when we break rules, so should you.

cashonfire

Bicyclists can be so self-righteous that it's hard for me to be sympathetic to their complaints. They want respect and even act as if they are performing a public service. Yet, their gross disregard for the rules of the road -- riding against traffic, blowing through stoplights, using the sidewalk, et. al. -- is just as dangerous as a distracted driver.

sharpshoota

Cyclists are dickheads. I'm talking about all you spandex losers. You all have big mouths but turn into a bunch of pussycats when really confronted. I really hope the city makes these losers license, register and insure those POS bikes.