Advocacy & Safety - NYTimes Bike Lane Article

Buried in the Metro section the NYTimes had a good article about bike lanes and cars abusing them and how cyclists are retaliating.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/nyregion/04bikes.htm



James Frederick was in Manhattan cycling west in the Prince Street bike lane on a recent morning when a green Ford parked in the lane forced him to swerve into the narrow roadway where cars and vans were rushing past.

“It’s kind of scary because the cars next to you just keep going,” said Mr. Frederick, 49, a messenger who lives in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. “The city just put this lane in a few months ago, but it’s not respected by drivers.”


Interestingly:



Paul J. Browne, the chief spokesman for the Police Department, said that there had been a significant increase over the last year in summonses issued to drivers for double parking and moving violations, and for standing in areas, including bike lanes, where that is not permitted.


And there's a cute video.

On Second Avenue, Lynn Roman, a 42-year-old construction company employee, sat behind the wheel of a gray Toyota Land Cruiser just north of St. Mark’s Place.

Ms. Roman said she planned to be there only briefly while a passenger ran an errand but added that she rarely paid attention to bike lanes.

“I have other things on my mind,” she said. “This is the city. Bike lanes belong in parks.”


She sounds lovely...

That person doesn't sound nice, bikepacker...



"We believe that a connected network of bicycle lanes throughout the city increases safety, comfort and mobility for cyclists,

Physically separated bike lanes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONS2ptAR4mo) are the only way to go.

Physically separated bike lanes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONS2ptAR4mo) are the only way to go.

Yes, as one of the pro-segregation speakers in the video says, the best possible solution would be for cyclists to share the sidewalk with the peds.

The last time NY tried the physically segregated lanes, cyclists quite rationally wouldn't use them:


Ten years later, Mayor Edward I. Koch became frustrated when bike lanes that he had built on main thoroughfares like Fifth Avenue and Broadway, which were separated from motor vehicles by asphalt islands, were criticized by drivers and pedestrians and, even worse, ignored by many cyclists.

I know I used those lanes during the Koch era.
granted it was only during the weekends but I've always tried to stick
to bike lanes.
this was during the Koch era, that's a lifetime ago to some new residents.

Yes, as one of the pro-segregation speakers in the video says, the best possible solution would be for cyclists to share the sidewalk with the peds.

The last time NY tried the physically segregated lanes, cyclists quite rationally wouldn't use them:

About three years ago, there was a small section of about 5 feet left of Koch's asphalt islands and it was DANGEROUS! I wasn't paying attention and rubbed against it and nearly fell into the traffic lane! Furthermore, you had to ride within inches of the island as it was placed very close to the door zone! That's why no one used them. The idea wasn't too bad but execution was poor.

Originally Posted by article On Second Avenue, Lynn Roman, a 42-year-old construction company employee, sat behind the wheel of a gray Toyota Land Cruiser just north of St. Mark’s Place.

Ms. Roman said she planned to be there only briefly while a passenger ran an errand but added that she rarely paid attention to bike lanes.

“I have other things on my mind,” she said. “This is the city. Bike lanes belong in parks.”

She sounds lovely...



Wouldn't a Landcruiser belong out in the woods, or in Africa, and not in the city?

About three years ago, there was a small section of about 5 feet left of Koch's asphalt islands and it was DANGEROUS! I wasn't paying attention and rubbed against it and nearly fell into the traffic lane! Furthermore, you had to ride within inches of the island as it was placed very close to the door zone! That's why no one used them. The idea wasn't too bad but execution was poor.

i figured there had to be a good reason for cyclists not using the lanes - if any part of that story was true.

thanks for the disinformation, NYT.

i'm with separate bike lanes, bike paths, greenways, etc.

the good thing is that now, there's no way residents/advocates would allow a half-assed plan like that to be implemented.