Comments on: Does Times Real Estate VP’s “Joke” Betray Anti-Bike Bias?

By: william

william — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:19:49 +0000

The letter indicates that they never properly planned for bike parking, though building is just three blocks from the Hudson River Bike Superhighway! They “wanted to evaluate a couple of ideas…” Uh huh. A “green” building with bike parking as an afterthought.
I work in the building and have been told only 20 spaces, to be allocated by lottery by size of tenant. wish me luck.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:21:55 +0000

I agree with Davis, this looks like a poorly-executed attempt at humor to me.

If I worked at the Times building, I’d be more bothered by the fact that the letter doesn’t seem to be clear on whether there’s going to be more than the existing 20 spaces.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:40:14 +0000

Lisa,

Typically, when some politico or civic group wants to write off a Livable Streets advocate they’ll call you a “car hater” or say something like, “these crazies just want to rid the world of cars.” And while both of those statements may be true at times, including the “crazies” description, I think that’s where the sensitivity comes from. Basically Hussain is boiling down a pretty well reasoned, rational and detailed set of advocacy positions to “ridding the world of cars.” I’m sure he was just trying to make a joke but it comes off as obnoxious and ignorant.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:55:32 +0000

I don’t really understand everyone’s comments. Maybe he actually meant good luck. You know — being nice.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:57:16 +0000

Is it any wonder that The Times thinks the world’s only bike boxes are in Portland?

I’m thinking about buying a bunch of junked bikes and locking them to the Times Building’s facade with the thickest cables I can find.

By: MD

MD — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:23:24 +0000

I’m sure he wasn’t demonstrating an attitude of smirking condescension toward someone with earnestly held beliefs that are to the left of his own.

The Times would never do that.

By: daniel arthurson

daniel arthurson — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:03:48 +0000

Sort of ironic …this guy just built a 1.5M sq/ft building with 0 parking spaces! He clearly is doing his part to rid the planet of cars!

By: Davis

Davis — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:15:18 +0000

I’m sure he’s just trying to make a joke and it falls a bit flat and you can’t read too much into it. However, if I read anything into it it’s that we’ve got a real estate VP for a major Midtown corporation who doesn’t seem to have a clue as to just how much the Transportation Alternatives / Livable Street agenda ultimately benefits major real estate interests in this city. I mean, has Hussain looked out the window of his new building and noticed what a degraded, traffic choked, crap hole 8th Avenue is? Is he aware of how much a Jan Gehl-ish public space and transport upgrade would benefit his company’s real estate value and employee quality of life?

By: nobody

nobody — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:00:31 +0000

Actually, even after TA’s mag was renamed to “Transportation Alternatives Magazine”, until recently it had a section entitled “Auto-Free World”.

By: JF

JF — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:42:41 +0000

I will point out that T.A. used to publish a newsletter called Auto-Free New York – although it wasn’t called Auto-Free World or anything. I always admired the chutzpah of that slogan, although I think it’s safe to say that Ali-Khan doesn’t. His mentioning of it is indeed petty, mean and unprofessional. I think they should revoke the building’s “green” status just for that.

In any case, it sounds like they need a lot more bike than 20 spaces. Have fun storming the castle!

By: vnm

vnm — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 22:36:18 +0000

Where’s the humor? That’s just a jerky and pretty unprofessional thing to say. He must have been quite unnerved by the attention to the bike parking issue.

By: fdr

fdr — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:11:35 +0000

At least he wished you good luck.

By: billy bob

billy bob — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:46:54 +0000

Beyond any “anti-bike bias”, I would add some arrogance and ignorance.