oboeguy

To make a long story short, I tried the new bike lane from 23rd up to the low 40s. I felt safer when the bike lane disappeared and I took a full lane in front of the PA bus terminal. I hear that other sections of it are bufferred, but that's only half the problem. I nearly got doored from the right (how else, taxi + dumb prego lady getting out), dodged zillions of delivery vehicles parked in the bike lane, etc.

sukram

I'm not much of a fan of the on-street bike lanes in the city either. I haven't been over to the new 8th Ave bike lane yet, it's not like I'm going to make an effort just to go ride it either.

If they're going to put bike lanes in, they should be useful bike lanes where you're not in danger of being doored and it won't end up being a parking spot for delivery vehicles and other cars. I gave the city an F for effort in a recent Transportation Alternatives survey. In general, I avoid the bike lanes in town.

adgrant

The First avenue bike lane always has cars or trucks double parked right in the middle of it. The city really needs to assign an entire lane to cyclists and prevent cars from parking in it. Perhaps they could eliminate parking from one side of the avenue and run the bike lane there with a curb in between.

timmhaan

yeah, the vehicle parking in the bike lane just forces you further out into high speed traffic. i have yet to check out the 8th ave bike lane, but judging how vehicles currently abuse all the other lanes, i assume this is about the same.

oboeguy

I could swear I saw a couple of cop cruisers encouraging the double-parkers to get out. Both times it was at a distance of a block or more so I couldn't be sure. I like the idea of removing a lane of parking. Not only would it be for a full bike lane, but it would also allow for physically buffering it AND effectively make driving less desirable by removing free / low cost parking spots. Win-win, IMO. Deliveries? Same as before, "double"-park -- to the side of the physical buffer -- doesn't seem to be a problem right now for them.

pharnabazos

I'm not a VC freak, but almost every avenue with a bike lane encourages you to stay as far as possible *from * it for all the above reasons. How can they expect people uncomfortable riding in traffic to merge into traffic every other block? Gimme a retina-searing blinky and the lane any day.

Similarly, I've begun thinking, why should I use the bike lane in CP ever? I'm more likely to get steamrolled by an off-road stroller than hit by a car.

noisebeam

NYC is a BL mandatory use place, right?
Al

oboeguy

I've had that thought too. The idiocy displayed by many park users blow me away. Walking two abreast pushing a baby stroller in the narrow bike lane in the SE part of the park where cars are allowed? Ringring, Darwin is calling! Also, on the downhill and flatter parts it's not too hard to stay close to the posted speed limit of 25mph, at least on a road bike. I wish that speed limit was enforced more. Cars -- which shouldn't be there in the first place IMO -- flying through at 35+mph is dangerous in a park!

oboeguy

Hmmm, good question. I always thought it was NOT, but I never bothered to check.

pharnabazos

I seem to recall people saying last year during the ticket blitz that they were given citations for not using the lane (I think on 6th ave).

noisebeam

NY State Law
exceptions for unusable, making left turns, hazards:
"S 1234. Riding on roadways, shoulders, bicycle or in-line skate lanes
and bicycle or in-line skate paths. (a) Upon all roadways, any bicycle
or in-line skate shall be driven either on a usable bicycle or in-line
skate lane or, if a usable bicycle or in-line skate lane has not been
provided, near the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway or upon a
usable right-hand shoulder in such a manner as to prevent undue inter-
ference with the flow of traffic except when preparing for a left turn
or when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that would make it
unsafe to continue along near the right-hand curb or edge. Conditions to
be taken into consideration include, but are not limited to, fixed or
moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, in-line skates, pedestrians,
animals, surface hazards or traffic lanes too narrow for a bicycle or
person on in-line skates and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side
within the lane. "
But perhaps there are municipal laws as well. I thought I read from reliable source that BL use was manadatory in NYC.
Al

Laika

city law trumps this and I am pretty sure offers an either/or (in the BL or as close to the right as practicable). city law also allows cyclists to ride abreast of each other and allows any lane position on 40' wide one way streets (which is a pretty good chunk of them).

pharnabazos

This is from the time's up website:

10. Do I have to ride in the bike lane if there is one?
Generally, yes (as per § 4-12(p) of the aforementioned NYC Traffic Rules), except when you need to turn off the road and for reasons of safety, and only if the bike lane is usable. Many bike lanes in New York City are not usable; they're unsafe, obstructed, and not even built to highway code specifications. You could get a bogus ticket for not using them, though.



Section 4-12 (p) says you can only not use the bike lane to make a turn or to avoid a Nuts4Nuts guy pushing his cart towards you.

zowie

I haven't had an occassion to ride it yet, but walking from 50th down to 40th the other night it was obvious to me that it sucked.

jyossarian

I feel safer in the bus lane. Less parked cars in it, just right-hookers to watch out for. And buses.

.:Jimbo:.

ah, a hate most bike paths for more than the reasons listed above, but what about the efed pavement bettween our white lanes! That and the wrong way cycists who think its okay because "im in a bike lane." That said now, i'll rarely be found in the bike lanes. Id second the bus lane notion, but too many taxi's take advantage of that lane becuse of the limited traffic, resulting in many taxis moving into that lane, and cutting me off.

nycm'er

Please remember, because the NYPD gives you a ticket or arrests you, does not mean you have broken any law. i.e. Critical Mass or the ticket blitz.

I agree with the timesup! bit, many lanes are unusable by definition.

One other thing, I never get right (left) hooked when riding on the left side of the street. I highly recommend it.

adgrant

OTOH Many cyclists disregard traffic laws in NYC so I am not prepared to assume that if a ticket is writtenit is not justified. The food delivery people are the worst, they are always cycling the wrong way on oneway side streets.

jyossarian

I get left hooked in the left lane too. I find splitting the lane between the bus lane and the lane to the left (or vice versa if I'm on the left side of the street), gives me a better chance at maneuvering around people changing lanes to make turns. Or riding down the middle of the street if I'm moving fast enough.

FraAngelico

i like it, it's good for pedicabbing and bicycling

sukram

Totally. If I'm on a 1 way street that's only 1 lane wide (with all that wasted space for "parking") I almost always ride on the left hand side. I still notice most cyclists ride on the right, they're probably confused seeing me on the other side... OK, still the left hook issue, but you run the right/left hook issue regardless, just got to keep alert.