Originally Posted by
buzzman
HH I will concede in order to save us more of this sophistry. You are absolutely correct- it is indeed a fact that you have an opinion- absolutely positively correct. I stand corrected.
Thank you, let's move on, though I object to the implication that I have engaged in sophistry here.
There is a big difference between discussing semantics in order to clarify intended meaning and using semantics in order to distort intended meaning, dodge a question, etc. I engage in the former; sophistry is the latter.
Originally Posted by
buzzman
I could compile a substantial list of NYC streets since most of the bike lanes are an improvement over nothing but some serve me personally better than others. I will list these since they were used consistently by me and several of my colleagues all summer long, at any and all hours of the day. Though I would ride without the bike lane designations (I prefer riding with them) but my friends use them and did not ride before they were there and would not ride without them.
They are the 10th Street bike lanes from the West Side path all the way to the east side.
The 9th street bike lanes running from east to west.
And the 90th and 91st bike lanes that connect the West Side Bike path to and from Central Park.
Should I list more? Have you ridden on any of these? Is this falling on deaf ears? How would you know if I'm right or wrong if you have not ridden on these particular streets prior to the existence and now with bike lanes? What would you base your opposition to them on- your opinion? Certainly not the NYC DOT bike safety study, which supports my opinion with facts.
Thank you. I have not ridden in NYC. But that's not necessary for our purposes here. I trust your judgement.
Now, please focus on your favorite street with a bike lane in the list and please explain why cyclists would not benefit if the bike lane stripe were removed.
Specifically:
You say your friends did not ride there before the bike lanes were added. Did anything else change besides the addition of the bike lane stripes and designations? Any other street reconfigurations? Was onstreet parking removed? Were other lane lines moved? Remember, I'm not saying change it back to the way it was before, I'm saying leave it the way it is now, except remove the bike lane stripe and designation - so there is just as much width as there is now, except the outside lane becomes a WOL instead of being adjacent to a bike lane. Would your friends stop riding there? Why? Do they not understand that removing that stripe has no negative impact on their safety? Good biking friends don't let their friends think bike lanes make them safer... surely you are a good friend, are you not?