https://www.streetfilms.org/complete-...st-bike-lanes/

Complete Streets: It’s About More Than Bike Lanes
by Clarence Eckerson, Jr. on May 9, 2011 | 1,672 Plays

Over the last four years, New York City has seen a transportation renaissance on its streets, striking a better balance by providing more space for walking, biking, and transit.

As with any departure from the status quo, it can take a while for everyone to grow accustomed to the changes. So Streetfilms decided to look at three of NYC’s most recent re-designs — Columbus Avenue, First and Second Avenues, and Prospect Park West — and show how pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers benefit from safer, calmer streets. We talked to transportation engineers with decades of experience, elected leaders, community board members, people on the street, and business owners to get their take on the new configurations.

The truth is, no matter how hard some media outlets try to spin it otherwise, these new street safety projects have broad community support. And while the story of these changes often gets simplified in the press, the fact is that the benefits of the redesigns go far beyond cycling. A street with a protected bike lane also has less speeding, shorter pedestrian crossings, less lane-shifting and more predictable movements for drivers, and the opportunity to add more trees and plantings. Injuries to pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and car passengers drop wherever the new designs go in. And on the East Side, these improvements have been paired with dedicated bus-only lanes with camera enforcement, making service more convenient and attractive for thousands of bus riders.

At 11 minutes, this is one of our longest Streetfilms. We cover a lot of ground here, and we hope it’s illuminating no matter what side of the issue you fall on.

In the film it was noted that narrowing the traffic lanes led to less speeding, not installing the overly narrow segregated paths (complete with storm drains). Just about everyone interviewed was a newbie. I wonder how they'll feel about these structures after they learn to ride. I noticed the film was edited in such a way as to not show any pedestrians or cars blocking the bike facilities. Nice P.R. job, if somewhat transparent.

Great comment in the vid: "It's so civilized"

I noticed that as well. I also couldn't help but notice how the cars that provided a "barrier" between the cyclists and traffic also blocked the motorists view of the cyclists. And can anyone explain the "logic" of planting trees and bushes and what not in the "islands?" I mean by doing so isn't that likely to uh, obscure the view of both the pedestrians and the cyclists from the motorists?