Comments on: The Known Unknowns of New York City’s Streets http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:08:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: gwadzilla http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-27376 gwadzilla Wed, 24 Jan 2007 02:56:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/#comment-27376 here in Washington DC there are traffic surveys being done as said the planning is for cars the planners do not measure the bicycle nor do they plan for the bicycle funny we are a country that has a fuel crisis and an obesity epidemic two issues that feed each other yet they snuff all other options the streets of DC are neither bicycle nor pedestrian friendly here in Washington DC there are traffic surveys being done
as said
the planning is for cars
the planners do not measure the bicycle nor do they plan for the bicycle

funny
we are a country that has a fuel crisis and an obesity epidemic
two issues that feed each other
yet they snuff all other options
the streets of DC are neither bicycle nor pedestrian friendly

]]> By: Fritz http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-27372 Fritz Wed, 24 Jan 2007 00:25:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/#comment-27372 > <i>How is that anything remotely close to common sense, let alone best practices?</i> It's How Things Are Done. I was on the Transportation Advisory Board of my mid-size Colorado hometown. The city paid for LoS studies and constantly counted traffic. When I asked for data about cyclists, pedestrians and public transit users, however, that data is non-existant. I tried to get the city to count these other modes of transportation on Bike To Work Day -- I even came up with ideas on how to fund these other traffic counts. There was plenty of "Hmm, that would be a good idea and we need to know this stuff," but actual execution was like pulling teeth. > How is that anything remotely close to common sense, let alone best practices?

It's How Things Are Done.

I was on the Transportation Advisory Board of my mid-size Colorado hometown. The city paid for LoS studies and constantly counted traffic. When I asked for data about cyclists, pedestrians and public transit users, however, that data is non-existant. I tried to get the city to count these other modes of transportation on Bike To Work Day -- I even came up with ideas on how to fund these other traffic counts. There was plenty of "Hmm, that would be a good idea and we need to know this stuff," but actual execution was like pulling teeth.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-27371 Kevin Tue, 23 Jan 2007 23:38:23 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/#comment-27371 The DOT traffic counts give equal weight to a car with one person in it as to a standing-room-only accordion bus? Are you freakin' kidding me??? How is that anything remotely close to common sense, let alone best practices? I guess it's a good policy if you like taking the simple, easy way out of a problem and affixing it with a patina of "science." Actually, this is so unbelievable that I seriously don't believe it. Where is the evidence that the City DOT doesn't give extra weighting to buses and at least SOME consideration -- if only on occasion -- to cyclist throughput and the quality of the pedestrian experience? The DOT traffic counts give equal weight to a car with one person in it as to a standing-room-only accordion bus?

Are you freakin' kidding me???

How is that anything remotely close to common sense, let alone best practices?

I guess it's a good policy if you like taking the simple, easy way out of a problem and affixing it with a patina of "science."

Actually, this is so unbelievable that I seriously don't believe it. Where is the evidence that the City DOT doesn't give extra weighting to buses and at least SOME consideration -- if only on occasion -- to cyclist throughput and the quality of the pedestrian experience?

]]> By: Clarence http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-27358 Clarence Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:40:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/23/the-known-uknowns-of-new-york-citys-streets/#comment-27358 I suppose Houston Street is another great example. Right now it is undergoing some massive retooling, some of which are downright unbelievable if you live in the area and are a pedestrain or bicyclist. But it often makes you wonder when DOT made their observations where they were or what time of day they made them. Did they even stand out there on a weekend? What that methodolgy was used? If you take a look at this video we shot well over a year ago... http://www.nycsr.org/nyc/video-view.php?id=7 You can see clearly just how many pedestrians rely on the traffic island, and yet many of the islands are being cut in half to accomodate left hand turn lanes. Where will the people stand now? NOTE: This footage wasn't even shot around any holiday shopping seasons. It is far worse then. I suppose Houston Street is another great example. Right now it is undergoing some massive retooling, some of which are downright unbelievable if you live in the area and are a pedestrain or bicyclist.

But it often makes you wonder when DOT made their observations where they were or what time of day they made them. Did they even stand out there on a weekend? What that methodolgy was used?

If you take a look at this video we shot well over a year ago...

http://www.nycsr.org/nyc/video-view.php?id=7

You can see clearly just how many pedestrians rely on the traffic island, and yet many of the islands are being cut in half to accomodate left hand turn lanes. Where will the people stand now?

NOTE: This footage wasn't even shot around any holiday shopping seasons. It is far worse then.

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