Survey Says: Republican New Yorkers Hate Bike Lanes

Zoe Schlanger/Gothamist

After months of bike lane backlash stories in the media, a new Quinnipiac University poll suggests that New Yorkers may be less opposed to the DOT's bike lane boom than the press would have you believe. 54 percent of New Yorkers actually said the bike lane expansion "is a good thing because it's greener and healthier for people to ride their bicycle, while 39 percent said it's "a bad thing because it leaves less room for cars which increases traffic." And when the survey is looked at by party affiliation, the Republicans lived up to the stereotype of the hardcore gas-guzzling, Fox News cyclist foe.

According to the poll, NYC Republicans (how did they find them?) disapprove of bike lanes by a 59 percent to 35 percent margin. Democrats, on the other hand, live up to their reputation as bike-riding, tree-hugging Chardonnay swillers; they support the bike lanes by an exactly opposite margin, 59 to 35 percent. Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives says, "54 percent of New Yorkers support bike lanes, which is consistent with what were seeing in Park Slope where 71 percent of local residents support the Prospect Park West bike lane installed last year."

But can these surveys be trusted? Streetsblog commenter Eric McClure beats us to the punch: "This just in: Neighbors for Better Opinion Polls, represented pro bono by a high-powered white-shoe law firm, have filed a lawsuit against Quinnipiac University, claiming that the university knowingly manipulated the data in a poll so as to falsely show public support for bike lanes in New York City."

Speaking of Prospect Park West, last night Community Board #6’s Transportation and Public Safety Committees unanimously passed a resolution to move forward with the bike lane. The full board is expected to vote to make the bike lane changes permanent, leaving just a flimsy lawsuit standing between the bike lane Resistance and the TOTAL BIKE LANE DOMINATION BWAHAHAHA!

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

By John Del Signore in News on March 18, 2011 2:18 PM

Comments [rss]

petercow

No one, not even JSK herself, has proposed that bikes 'replace' cars, or mass transit.

Also, bear in mind that the PPW bike lane was put in at the request of the Community Board in order to deal with issues on PPW. There has been no credible evidence that there has been any negative impact on cars (except for speeding and double-parking).

The animus against bike lanes, seems to me sometimes to be a case of, "I'm not happy, why should you be happy?".

Peter
http://inklake.typepad.com

Sammy

you don't have to be able to ride 20 miles to work for a bike to be useful. Sometimes you just need to pick up some milk or bagels and car is really overkill. Also in less dense parts of Brooklyn and Queens, a bike could be a great way to get to a subway station that is too far to walk to. Bike lanes make that stuff much more viable.

tsol

Damn all those Park Slope Republicans!

James Donohue

Why doesn't everyone just get a bike? We make traffic conditions better by building bike lanes, so people can ride bikes. Is it that people are just too lazy to ride a bike? Even considering the fact that bicycling is easier than walking?

hotstepper

get real James. there is a shitload of city outside of the wealthy/trendy enclaves. salt of the earth types live and work in this city too.

for instance, queens alone is 109 square miles. bikes don't cut it when you've got 20 miles to ride and get to work dripping in sweat and smelling like a bum's nutsack.

public transportation is also slow, unreliable, cramped and often extremely frustrating. you feel the moments of your life drip away while your head is stuffed in some guy's arm pit, a teenager is yelling into their phone, and someone's breath proudly declares that they ate kimchi for breakfast and lunch.

and if you've never experienced the joy of waiting for an outerboro bus in heat, cold, rain, and snow i suggest you try it sometime...its just delightful.

KR

I have experienced all that. So what? Better than the stress of dealing with a car, gas, insurance and so on.
Also have you ever actually been to PPW? If you look at yes one lane of traffic was taken over by the bike lane. BUT there is parking still available for all the cars between the bike lane and the lanes still open to traffic. So I am confused that any type of parking was taking away? There hasn't, only one lane of traffic was taken away, again, no parking. Also I never see traffic on PPW except during certain hours which is a given in any community.
Have you experienced a bike lane yourself lately? If you still hate it after you've tried it, fine you have your opinion but don't write all this while texting from behind the steering wheel. It doesn't resonate worth a damn.

booboobooboo

Well so what?
Keep driving your car then.
But don't tell me I shouldn't be allowed to ride my bike in the safety of the new bike lanes because you don't like them.
It's too bad that they inconvenience you. Deal with it.

- From a Brooklyn car-owner who only drives when he has to.

hotstepper

hello strawman 1 and 2! the car vs. bike lane ultimatum is tired. where did i even MENTION bike lanes? and i don't commute by car, thank you.

since both of you forgot to bring your reading comprehension skills to this thread, i was responding to the elitist notion "Why doesn't everyone just get a bike?"

now, Booboo, old chap, if you want to get back on the topic of class and geography and transportation in NYC i'm all ears.

and no, KR your highness, not everyone can just move, as you so gracefully command above. perhaps from your entitled perspective that is a viable option but not everyone who works in Manhattan can live in Park Slope.

i am not interested at all by the tedious Prospect Park bike lane wars. the militant firebrands on both sides of the argument bore me. doesn't it get old dancing in circles? beating your chests instead of working together? its called "selfishness." your rant is gibberish.

unretrofiedforu

I try to stay out of these debates - however the sheer ineptitude of a lot of the biker lobby just astounds me.

Fuck bikes and cars - Why doesn't everyone just stop going where they need to go?

Gwinny

Well, riding a bike isn't *always* practical - for example, I don't ride when I have to wear business attire on a given day - and there are lots of people who may live too far from their jobs for riding to be a viable option.

Unless your comment was a joke or some sort of jab that went over my head - in which case, never mind :)

Gwinny

If you love the bike lanes, clearly you hate America, you America-hater you!

Mark B

Oh yeah? OH YEAH?? Well, I'm American silicone rubber, you're Chinese glue, whatever you babble bounces cleanly off me and picks up paint lead before it sticks to you! NYAAH!

carrots328

isn't the point of bike lanes so there will be less cars on the road? I don't understand how that would increase traffic...

people are dumb.

Guest

Conservatives aren't really about conserving. They're in bed with the oil and car companies.

Mark B

YUP -- they're "conserving" their elitist lifestyles!

KR

And heard this morning Nuclear Power lobbyists secured from the government 18 billion in loans while asking and also securing that solar and wind energy receive 0 in loans.

Queens Crapper

Actually, that may be the stated reason, but that's not what happens. Bikes are impractical for most people. The number of cars in this city has not changed since the bike lanes were installed. That's because most bike riders come off mass transit. The way this poll question was worded, with lengthy explanations which aren't even factual, is why this result was obtained. Fact is that bike lanes don't cut down on pollution and it's typically healthy people that choose to ride them, not the ones that need exercise.

randomtransplant

"The number of cars in this city has not changed since the bike lanes were installed."

That isn't true at all. The amount of road congestion has been directly correlated with gas prices & the economy.

The amount of cars has changed, and varies from year to year.

All these people responded to something you just made up. good job.

Barbara Starkweather

One cannot state as fact that "Bikes are impractical for most people". I think it's more accurate to say that "bikes are impractical for many people".

But then, considering the expense and difficulties of owning a car in NYC, I think it's accurate to say that cars are impractical for many people, too.

And when I look at the congestion, injuries, deaths, noise, dirt and pollution, cost of road maintanance, and the large amount of public space cars take up for parking, I think that cars cause a lot of trouble and cost for everybody in this city.

I understand the frustration of the Anti-traffic calming camp. For as long as anybody can remember we've been dealing with the congestion cars create by making accommodations for more cars. Judging from what's happening in cities all over the world, I reckon that way of thinking is coming to an end.

Public space is public, and drivers are going to have to learn to share. (In the case of this city, they're giving up less than 2% of road space for bike lanes). Sorry, but that's progress.

Perry

Let me guess, you drive everywhere? As for practicality, bikes are way more suited for urban living than cars are. Now if you're on the outskirts of Queens, sure you're right. You probably need a car. But if you're in Fort Green, Brooklyn Heights, Williamburg, the UES, Hells Kitchen, etc... life is much simpler on a bike. If you have a family, or you're taking care of an old person, fine drive your car. If you're going to pick up a few things from the store, why would your drive there, lose your spot, re-park your car somewhere else, and return home only to have to find another parking spot? Is that practical to you?

apheliotrope

Yeah, this question is loaded. There are a number benefits to biking on a personal and societal level, but the survey only provides that it is "greener and healthier for people to ride their bicycle." And on the other side, "leaves less room for cars" is only one objection to bike lanes.

But of course, riders don't just come from mass transit. And that's hardly the point. There's only so many subway cars that can run during the day. Bikes are one alternative that help make more room for subway riders. I commute by bike most days except when it pours, when I'll be trying to pack myself in on a crowded subway. Without fail, these days when it rains the subway is exceptionally crowded and often there's no room on the first train to come through the station.

carrots328

bikes are way more practical than driving in the city. between that and public transportation, there should hardly be any cars on the streets.

choose is the key word there. if you choose to be a lazy slob, then you choose to sit in traffic. tough break.

Perry

Let me guess, you drive everywhere? As for practicality, bikes are way more suited for urban living than cars are. No gas needed, no parking space needed. Now if you're on the outskirts of Queens, sure you're right. You probably need a car. But if you're in Fort Green, Brooklyn Heights, Williamburg, the UES, Hells Kitchen, etc... life is much simpler on a bike. If you have a family, or you're taking care of an old person, fine drive your car. If you're going to pick up a few things from the store, why would your drive there, lose your spot, re-park your car somewhere else, and return home only to have to find another parking spot? Is that practical to you?

hotstepper

you've nailed it. the anti-car bike enthusiasts are the elite who can afford to live in the most expensive of neighborhoods and look down their noses at everyone who have more practical considerations than mere bragging rights.

johnnieutah

I could never afford a car in NYC. But I bought my bike for $40.

hotstepper

i don't see you ranting against cars and the highways devoted to them. i'm not talking about cyclists like you who just ride and don't evangelize.

KR

Move

hotstepper

i'm not talking about myself. soil yourself sometime, your highness, and tour the fringes of the outerboros. tell them to move, and get back to me with their reply.

carrots328

wait...I'm arguing for more bikes. is this directed at me? now I'm all confused.

I think instead of reading anymore of this thread I'm gonna go for a bike ride...

Perry

Sorry for the confusion, "carrots328", I was directing my comment at "Queens Crapper". As for that bike ride...I'm with ya!

unretrofiedforu

"bikes are way more practical than driving in the city".

You know how I know you're not from here?

carrots328

I am actually, but whatever. the only argument for them not being practical is because of all the cars. if more people biked this wouldn't be an issue. you can chain your bike anywhere. try finding a parking space on a sunday evening...

the people who are completely attached to their cars are the ones who aren't from here.

hotstepper

for a street-wise local, your perception of people who live here seems restricted to those who live in trendy/wealthy nabes. its a big city out there.

carrots328

i'm not gonna play the "I'm more new york than you are" game.

it's just sad that new yorkers continuously play the "we're tough new yorkers" card and embrace the shittiness of new york instead of trying to fix a place that's becoming more flawed as a livable city by the day.

instead of saying "it'll never work and you don't get it because you don't live here", try to make it work.

hotstepper

i'm not playing that game either, just bluntly asking you try biking to work each day no matter the weather from 20+ miles away.

also, i'd be interested in your response to my comment below.

carrots328

I am not suggesting all-weather biking, as I also mentioned public transportation above. 20 miles isn't that far outside the city. surely there's a bus or a train you could take...

unless your job actually involves driving, you don't need to drive in the city. that's just the way it is.

hotstepper

seriously? the MTA is pathetic. i responded to the lack of viable public transportation options below, even more true on the weekends.

now you just sound like another bike extremist, intolerant of those who make different choices than you...oh well, i guess thats just the way it is.

johnnieutah

I suffer from MTA outages on my line on the weekends all the time. What I usually do is ride my bike to the nearest viable subway station - WIN WIN.

hotstepper

nicely done. its too bad the MTA is dysfunctional.

i like to party, so riding a bike after a few beers might be dangerous where i live. stay safe out there.

KR

Hotstepper, do you actually commute 20 miles a day from NYC? Why don't you move then?
Also I don't see the problem with change, you'll have to live with it and eventually you won't even notice it anymore as it will become part of the landscape of the City. Things change all the time and usually when its for the better, there seems to be a backlash. If a building was falling down in your neighborhood, you would probably just say - oh well, that is NYC for you. Also how can you afford gas?