Comments on: The Week’s Links http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:31:30 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/comment-page-1/#comment-18715 Glenn Sat, 16 Dec 2006 15:02:11 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/#comment-18715 When I talk about bike park and rides near subways to local officals, they just look at me and say "That's what the bus is for". And they wonder why people complain about bus bunching and overcrowding... A bike is perfect for short trips around the neighborhood. Biking is also especially good at reducing peak demand for subway feeder buses AND providing a good transit option during off peak times when the buses are not as frequent. And it's healthy... But in most parts of the city, the "That's what the bus is for" continues to be the norm. Perhaps we could get the MTA to start advocating for this after Sanders takes over... When I talk about bike park and rides near subways to local officals, they just look at me and say "That's what the bus is for". And they wonder why people complain about bus bunching and overcrowding...

A bike is perfect for short trips around the neighborhood. Biking is also especially good at reducing peak demand for subway feeder buses AND providing a good transit option during off peak times when the buses are not as frequent. And it's healthy...

But in most parts of the city, the "That's what the bus is for" continues to be the norm. Perhaps we could get the MTA to start advocating for this after Sanders takes over...

]]> By: Aaron Naparstek http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/comment-page-1/#comment-18582 Aaron Naparstek Sat, 16 Dec 2006 03:33:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/#comment-18582 Thanks for clarifying. I should have more details on the bike parking on Monday. Thanks for clarifying. I should have more details on the bike parking on Monday.

]]> By: Orcutt http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/comment-page-1/#comment-18555 Orcutt Sat, 16 Dec 2006 01:51:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/#comment-18555 I don't think the entire area freed from car parking in W'burg will be filled with racks. The whole plan originated to help ease pedestrian obstructions at the subway entrance, which random non-rack bike parking at the corner aggravates. So some of it will apparently be sidewalk widening. Sum result is peds will have more room, the transit entrance will be easier and bike parking is expanded and perhaps somewhat more orderly. I don't think the entire area freed from car parking in W'burg will be filled with racks. The whole plan originated to help ease pedestrian obstructions at the subway entrance, which random non-rack bike parking at the corner aggravates. So some of it will apparently be sidewalk widening. Sum result is peds will have more room, the transit entrance will be easier and bike parking is expanded and perhaps somewhat more orderly.

]]> By: ddartley http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/comment-page-1/#comment-18488 ddartley Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:22:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/#comment-18488 Also about the bike parking-- Bikes belong on the street, right? So they should not compete with pedestrians for sidewalk space. It is a great move, and I hope it starts to repeat itself all around town. Also about the bike parking--

Bikes belong on the street, right? So they should not compete with pedestrians for sidewalk space. It is a great move, and I hope it starts to repeat itself all around town.

]]> By: AD http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/comment-page-1/#comment-18442 AD Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:10:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/#comment-18442 It's easy to fall back on the defense that people will always drive because they need the trunk space for groceries. My experience living in Harlem belies that. Harlem's built environment is characterized by supermarkets located within walking distance of brownstones and small to medium apartment buildings that don't have off-street parking. This encourages people to walk to the supermarket and take the food home in a wire pushcart. These pushcarts are sold on the cheap up there. The supermarkets are built within the areas of concentrated housing, not placed way out in a place like Gowanus, to far from concentrated housing in the Slope and Carroll Gardens to walk, then luring drivers by building a huge garage. Despite the laudable green roof, this development is a bad idea. It's easy to fall back on the defense that people will always drive because they need the trunk space for groceries.

My experience living in Harlem belies that. Harlem's built environment is characterized by supermarkets located within walking distance of brownstones and small to medium apartment buildings that don't have off-street parking. This encourages people to walk to the supermarket and take the food home in a wire pushcart. These pushcarts are sold on the cheap up there.

The supermarkets are built within the areas of concentrated housing, not placed way out in a place like Gowanus, to far from concentrated housing in the Slope and Carroll Gardens to walk, then luring drivers by building a huge garage.

Despite the laudable green roof, this development is a bad idea.

]]> By: da http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/comment-page-1/#comment-18441 da Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:02:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/#comment-18441 Yes, to a certain extent the green roof is "greenwashing". But if the alternative is rooftop parking, isn't a green roof to be preferred? Actually if they go with the green roof, they'll say they need to make the parking garage even bigger. Yes, to a certain extent the green roof is "greenwashing".

But if the alternative is rooftop parking, isn't a green roof to be preferred?

Actually if they go with the green roof, they'll say they need to make the parking garage even bigger.

]]> By: steveo http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/comment-page-1/#comment-18438 steveo Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:38:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/12/15/the-weeks-links-3/#comment-18438 The bike parking at Bedford Ave. is huge. Besides being useful for cyclists, the symbolism of giving car space directly to cyclists is just tremendous. Whole Foods doing 1800 cars an hour in Brooklyn is just plain disgusting. They try to cultivate a reputation of being environmentally friendly[1] and sensitive to their neighborhoods, and this is how they conduct business in the 2nd densest county in the U.S.? Unfortunately all too many Park Slopers and Carroll Gardeners will eat the green roof right up with a spoon. Notes: 1. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/issues/commitmentgreen.html 2. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/communitygiving.html The bike parking at Bedford Ave. is huge. Besides being useful for cyclists, the symbolism of giving car space directly to cyclists is just tremendous.

Whole Foods doing 1800 cars an hour in Brooklyn is just plain disgusting. They try to cultivate a reputation of being environmentally friendly[1] and sensitive to their neighborhoods, and this is how they conduct business in the 2nd densest county in the U.S.? Unfortunately all too many Park Slopers and Carroll Gardeners will eat the green roof right up with a spoon.

Notes:
1. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/issues/commitmentgreen.html
2. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/communitygiving.html

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