I just moved to NYC and there is some really wacky stuff. For example: In trying to get to the Brooklyn Bridge there is a bike lane to the right of a double right turn lane. Supposedly there is a sign somewhere that tells cyclists that at this one intersection they are supposed to follow the ped signal and not the traffic signal for vehicles.

I am not unsympathetic in trying to accommodate the overly phobic cyclists but dropping the occasional facility where standard rules of the road don't apply without better notice is really not cool. If I live through this learning period I suppose I'll adapt to these things but so far I find NYC bike facilities inconstant, sometimes they follow the rules for pedestrains and sometimes the rules for vehicles. Does this inconsistency improve safety? I'm seeing it go both ways so I have no idea which side is winning.

So far my impression is the lacking educational component plays the most negative effect for cycling on NYC streets. They can build more bike lanes or they can take some away and it will not change the general atmosphere for cycling here. It all comes down to the 5 E's you cannot stress just one, end of story.