Comments on: The Times Applauds Cycling… The Times of London, That Is. http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:30:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: WendyB http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-29308 WendyB Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:32:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/#comment-29308 Add your Bikes Belong related comments to NYC's Planyc 2030 website in February for maximum effect. Click on the Vision link on the left at <a href="http://nyc.gov/2030" rel="nofollow">nyc.gov/2030</a> The plan will be made public in late March. Help move bikes from the margins to the mainstream by voicing your opinion now. Thanks! Add your Bikes Belong related comments to NYC's Planyc 2030 website in February for maximum effect.

Click on the Vision link on the left at nyc.gov/2030

The plan will be made public in late March. Help move bikes from the margins to the mainstream by voicing your opinion now.

Thanks!

]]> By: campocat http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-29307 campocat Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:19:48 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/#comment-29307 It is a true sad fact that you have to do whatever you can to stay alive on the streets of NYC. Let face it Ped's and motorists hate eachother here. In my neighborhood families have been replaced with clusters of tourists clustered around every street corner 20 and 30 deep making it hard to walk on the sidewalk, let along ride a bike. I think it is time for fencing to seperate sidewalk from street. Maybe think about no traffic on sidestreets only on major ones like 8th st - 14th st 23rd - and so on. And go back to no parking on those streets, all cars must be put in a lot. great work Charlie... It is a true sad fact that you have to do whatever you can to stay alive on the streets of NYC. Let face it Ped's and motorists hate eachother here. In my neighborhood families have been replaced with clusters of tourists clustered around every street corner 20 and 30 deep making it hard to walk on the sidewalk, let along ride a bike. I think it is time for fencing to seperate sidewalk from street. Maybe think about no traffic on sidestreets only on major ones like 8th st - 14th st 23rd - and so on. And go back to no parking on those streets, all cars must be put in a lot.
great work Charlie...

]]> By: moocow http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-29304 moocow Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:21:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/#comment-29304 I think we have an image problem as cyclists, and I am not sure how to deal with "angering motorists" (I DON"T care) and my firm belief that running red lights in NYC is much smarter than trying to accelerate with traffic. Every block I travel without a drag racing moron next to me, is infinitely safer. I know the cops aren't protecting me, so I have to do it. I think we have an image problem as cyclists, and I am not sure how to deal with "angering motorists" (I DON"T care) and my firm belief that running red lights in NYC is much smarter than trying to accelerate with traffic. Every block I travel without a drag racing moron next to me, is infinitely safer. I know the cops aren't protecting me, so I have to do it.

]]> By: Steve http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-29302 Steve Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:12:14 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/#comment-29302 I'm a sort of in between Franky and Jim. When peds are nearby, I try to observe the law at least as well as most motorists do. Bicyclists have to avoid frightening and angering pedestrians. When I'm dealing only with motorists, it's a different story--they have their advantages, I'll use those available to bicyclists. I'm a sort of in between Franky and Jim. When peds are nearby, I try to observe the law at least as well as most motorists do. Bicyclists have to avoid frightening and angering pedestrians. When I'm dealing only with motorists, it's a different story--they have their advantages, I'll use those available to bicyclists.

]]> By: Franky http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-29301 Franky Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:02:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/#comment-29301 What baby and bathwater? When I'm riding my bike I don't obey all of the traffic laws because the vast majority of those laws were written for motor vehicles by people who have no understanding of riding a bike in the city. Likewise, our streets are designed almost entirely for motor vehicles and there are many instances where obeying these laws inconveniences me, makes me waste time and energy and, worst of all, puts me at risk. So, yeah, I'll go ahead and zip through a red light, when it's safe, to get ahead of the dangerous vehicular traffic. I'll ride on a sidewalk in the Gowanus area because there aren't many peds and the motorists drive like entitled maniacs. I'll go the wrong way down a one-way street rather than riding entirely around the block to find the street going in my direction. We don't expect peds to go one-way. Bikes don't take up a lot of space. It should b be possible for them to go two-ways too. One way streets are made for cars and trucks. So, I disagree. When the law and our city's urban design respects and accomodates and accounts for cycling, I'll obey it and stay within the lines. Til then, I'm doing what I need to do to get home in one piece. What baby and bathwater?

When I'm riding my bike I don't obey all of the traffic laws because the vast majority of those laws were written for motor vehicles by people who have no understanding of riding a bike in the city. Likewise, our streets are designed almost entirely for motor vehicles and there are many instances where obeying these laws inconveniences me, makes me waste time and energy and, worst of all, puts me at risk.

So, yeah, I'll go ahead and zip through a red light, when it's safe, to get ahead of the dangerous vehicular traffic. I'll ride on a sidewalk in the Gowanus area because there aren't many peds and the motorists drive like entitled maniacs. I'll go the wrong way down a one-way street rather than riding entirely around the block to find the street going in my direction. We don't expect peds to go one-way. Bikes don't take up a lot of space. It should b be possible for them to go two-ways too. One way streets are made for cars and trucks.

So, I disagree. When the law and our city's urban design respects and accomodates and accounts for cycling, I'll obey it and stay within the lines. Til then, I'm doing what I need to do to get home in one piece.

]]> By: Jim http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-29297 Jim Fri, 23 Feb 2007 21:13:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/#comment-29297 Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. The city should support access and safety for cyclists... AND cyclists should obey the law... AND police should ticket them when they break it. As with so many other things, our rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. I ride, recreationally, and I obey the law as if I were in a car. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater here. The city should support access and safety for cyclists...

AND

cyclists should obey the law...

AND

police should ticket them when they break it.

As with so many other things, our rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. I ride, recreationally, and I obey the law as if I were in a car.

]]> By: JK http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-29289 JK Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:42:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/23/the-times-applauds-cycling-the-times-of-london-that-is/#comment-29289 Great post Charlie. The NYT editorial writers could probably be inspired to change their tune by a mayor who made regular positive statements about cycling. Do NY Times readers know that Deputy Mayor Doctoroff is a regular commuter cyclist? Does City Hall make any effort to publicize this? No and no. Maybe cycling Senator Schumer and Doctoroff could take a ride together with some reporters and get the papers to stop equating cycling with Critical Mass. Great post Charlie. The NYT editorial writers could probably be inspired to change their tune by a mayor who made regular positive statements about cycling. Do NY Times readers know that Deputy Mayor Doctoroff is a regular commuter cyclist? Does City Hall make any effort to publicize this?
No and no. Maybe cycling Senator Schumer and Doctoroff could take a ride together with some reporters and get the papers to stop equating cycling with Critical Mass.

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