Comments on: Bridges Burning at DOT http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:32:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: StreetsBlog » Ex-DOT Bike Director Speaks http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-1277 StreetsBlog » Ex-DOT Bike Director Speaks Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:17:32 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-1277 [...] In today's New York Sun Bradley Hope scoops up the first follow-up interview with former DOT Bicycle Program Director Andrew Vesselenovitch after his controversial resignation letter. Vesselenovitch has a big story to tell and I have a feeling that this isn't the last we've heard of it: [...] [...] In today's New York Sun Bradley Hope scoops up the first follow-up interview with former DOT Bicycle Program Director Andrew Vesselenovitch after his controversial resignation letter. Vesselenovitch has a big story to tell and I have a feeling that this isn't the last we've heard of it: [...]

]]> By: StreetsBlog » New York City’s New Bike Czar http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-1274 StreetsBlog » New York City’s New Bike Czar Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:14:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-1274 [...] Crain's Insider reports: "Biking advocates are cheering the city Department of Transportation's hiring of Josh Benson as bicycle program director. He steps into a tense situation." [...] [...] Crain's Insider reports: "Biking advocates are cheering the city Department of Transportation's hiring of Josh Benson as bicycle program director. He steps into a tense situation." [...]

]]> By: Carter Craft http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-558 Carter Craft Tue, 11 Jul 2006 15:25:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-558 even more sad evidence of DOTs bias against bikes is that the long-promised Bike Station in the Whitehall ferry terminal apparently is not happening. MWA had asked 2 years ago for DOT to put us on the list of prospective bidders for operating a bike rental, secure storage (and ferry riders advocacy office) but I learnd from a DOT source last winter that the plan was scrapped -- all so that the operator of a newstand could have "more storage" How pathetic. even more sad evidence of DOTs bias against bikes is that the long-promised Bike Station in the Whitehall ferry terminal apparently is not happening. MWA had asked 2 years ago for DOT to put us on the list of prospective bidders for operating a bike rental, secure storage (and ferry riders advocacy office) but I learnd from a DOT source last winter that the plan was scrapped -- all so that the operator of a newstand could have "more storage" How pathetic.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Aaron Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:06:28 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-554 Back when I was writing a column for the New York Press I wrote a story on the bridge bumps and really did a ton of research on the issue. One of the things I heard was that someone at DOT thought that the higher expansion joints would function as speed bumps to help ensure cyclists wouldn't ride too fast on the bridge. I only got this from second- and third-hand sources so I never printed it. If that story is true then, well, every neighborhood street that has waited five years for DOT to install a speed bump or some other traffic-calming measure would have to be envious of the bridge. Back when I was writing a column for the New York Press I wrote a story on the bridge bumps and really did a ton of research on the issue. One of the things I heard was that someone at DOT thought that the higher expansion joints would function as speed bumps to help ensure cyclists wouldn't ride too fast on the bridge. I only got this from second- and third-hand sources so I never printed it. If that story is true then, well, every neighborhood street that has waited five years for DOT to install a speed bump or some other traffic-calming measure would have to be envious of the bridge.

]]> By: dot http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-553 dot Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:52:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-553 I'd like to add that as someone who saw some of the initial northside Williamsburg Bridge bikeway designs, the specs specifically called for expansion joints that would provide the minimum disruption. It was only later that someone decided to change the design for reasons I can't begin to imagine. I'd like to add that as someone who saw some of the initial northside Williamsburg Bridge bikeway designs, the specs specifically called for expansion joints that would provide the minimum disruption.

It was only later that someone decided to change the design for reasons I can't begin to imagine.

]]> By: Biking in NY at Whistling It by James Liu http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-552 Biking in NY at Whistling It by James Liu Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:10:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-552 [...] Here [...] [...] Here [...]

]]> By: Gotham Gazette - The Wonkster » Blog Archive » Congestion Relief? http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-551 Gotham Gazette - The Wonkster » Blog Archive » Congestion Relief? Mon, 10 Jul 2006 17:10:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-551 [...] Streetsblog features a message from the director of the transportation department’s Bicycle Program, who left the job Friday. Andrew Vesselenovitch criticizes the department for hindering programs to encourage bicycling. He cites slow progress on increasing bike lanes in the city and says the department ignored warnings about hazardous joint covers on the Williamsburg Bridge, which resulted in many injuries to – and lawsuits by – cyclists before they were removed. Vesselenovitch concludes, “I waited for a long time for the direction from the commissioner’s office to change, or for the commissioner to be changed. I hope that you won’t have to wait much longer.” [...] [...] Streetsblog features a message from the director of the transportation department’s Bicycle Program, who left the job Friday. Andrew Vesselenovitch criticizes the department for hindering programs to encourage bicycling. He cites slow progress on increasing bike lanes in the city and says the department ignored warnings about hazardous joint covers on the Williamsburg Bridge, which resulted in many injuries to – and lawsuits by – cyclists before they were removed. Vesselenovitch concludes, “I waited for a long time for the direction from the commissioner’s office to change, or for the commissioner to be changed. I hope that you won’t have to wait much longer.” [...]

]]> By: Sam http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/comment-page-1/#comment-550 Sam Mon, 10 Jul 2006 16:48:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/07/10/dot-bike-director-bombshell-resignation-letter/#comment-550 Imagine if there was a Department of Bicycling that had the power to say there was little it could do to make the city's uncrowded streets and exclusive transit lanes more convenient for automobiles. Imagine if there was a Department of Bicycling that had the power to say there was little it could do to make the city's uncrowded streets and exclusive transit lanes more convenient for automobiles.

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