Comments on: Sadik-Khan Introduces the New York City Model http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:28:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49390 Larry Littlefield Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:52:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49390 (Can the politically savvy readers of Streetsblog enlighten me as to where the opposition to car-free parks is coming from, and how it might be countered?) In Brooklyn, it comes from people in areas south and east of Prospect Park who work in Downtown Brooklyn and drive to work. The entire Brooklyn political class, in other words. A tiny minority of the borough, but a solid majority of the limited number of people who count. Those on the other side, however, are also a minority, and could be potrayed as the "rich" of Park Slope -- who are packed into one bedroom apartments and ride the subway -- against the "middle class" who have parking permits, cars, suburban-type homes, health insurance, and tax-free pensions. (Can the politically savvy readers of Streetsblog enlighten me as to where the opposition to car-free parks is coming from, and how it might be countered?)

In Brooklyn, it comes from people in areas south and east of Prospect Park who work in Downtown Brooklyn and drive to work. The entire Brooklyn political class, in other words. A tiny minority of the borough, but a solid majority of the limited number of people who count.

Those on the other side, however, are also a minority, and could be potrayed as the "rich" of Park Slope -- who are packed into one bedroom apartments and ride the subway -- against the "middle class" who have parking permits, cars, suburban-type homes, health insurance, and tax-free pensions.

]]> By: AaronJ http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49388 AaronJ Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:46:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49388 Apparently there is no word in the plan about car-free parks. It remains hard for me to believe that the City is serious about any of this when it remains unwilling to take this basic, obvious, first step. Can the politically savvy readers of Streetsblog enlighten me as to where the opposition to car-free parks is coming from, and how it might be countered? Apparently there is no word in the plan about car-free parks. It remains hard for me to believe that the City is serious about any of this when it remains unwilling to take this basic, obvious, first step. Can the politically savvy readers of Streetsblog enlighten me as to where the opposition to car-free parks is coming from, and how it might be countered?

]]> By: Jeffrey Hymen http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49340 Jeffrey Hymen Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:31:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49340 I love the juxtaposition of comments five and six. Some times we are our own worst enemy. I love the juxtaposition of comments five and six. Some times we are our own worst enemy.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49328 gecko Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:35:09 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49328 A "Towards Zero Deaths Initiative" and one-half million cycling commuters emerging overnight could well provide the tipping point for morphing this city towards being truly carbon neutral or even carbon negative and a global onslaught of scale-appropriate actions to start mitigating global warming. A "Towards Zero Deaths Initiative" and one-half million cycling commuters emerging overnight could well provide the tipping point for morphing this city towards being truly carbon neutral or even carbon negative and a global onslaught of scale-appropriate actions to start mitigating global warming.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49318 gecko Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:59:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49318 Gargamel, Two years ago we did not have tornadoes in Brooklyn and Virginia. I guess we can be happy we did not have one here today. Come on everyone be happy! Gargamel, Two years ago we did not have tornadoes in Brooklyn and Virginia. I guess we can be happy we did not have one here today. Come on everyone be happy!

]]> By: Gargamel Traflaz http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49307 Gargamel Traflaz Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:50:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49307 I love playing Tuesday morning quarterback as much as the rest, but let's not forget where we were just a few years ago. I know just about any livable streets advocate in NYC would be pleased if you told them two years ago we would have a progressive city attempting innovative solutions and have the cooperation of a DOT who you didn't have to fight just to get a bike lane here or there. Nothing wrong with criticism of course, but allow yourself to be happy while wanting more! I love playing Tuesday morning quarterback as much as the rest, but let's not forget where we were just a few years ago. I know just about any livable streets advocate in NYC would be pleased if you told them two years ago we would have a progressive city attempting innovative solutions and have the cooperation of a DOT who you didn't have to fight just to get a bike lane here or there.

Nothing wrong with criticism of course, but allow yourself to be happy while wanting more!

]]> By: Charles Siegel http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49295 Charles Siegel Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:45:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49295 New York City model: when a car blocks a bike or bus lane, it is surrounded by pedestrians yelling: "Geddadaheah, ya creep!" (Joke: everyone on the list should know how much I love NY.) New York City model: when a car blocks a bike or bus lane, it is surrounded by pedestrians yelling: "Geddadaheah, ya creep!"

(Joke: everyone on the list should know how much I love NY.)

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49289 gecko Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:21:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49289 Jacob, Automobiles kill and mame to dominate urban streets in complete abrogation of civil liberties. The ultimate symbol of the dangerous, wasteful consumerism and stupidity of our time, they have no place in an immediate future dominated by attempts to mitigate and adapt to a climate change crisis of accelerating proportions. Jacob, Automobiles kill and mame to dominate urban streets in complete abrogation of civil liberties.

The ultimate symbol of the dangerous, wasteful consumerism and stupidity of our time, they have no place in an immediate future dominated by attempts to mitigate and adapt to a climate change crisis of accelerating proportions.

]]> By: Jacob http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49275 Jacob Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:48:45 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49275 Let us not forget that the automobile takeover of streets did not happen overnight; a sidewalk narrowed here, a street turned one-way there. It happened so gradually at first, that no single project truly galvanized enough opposition to reverse the tide. Sometime between defeating LOMEX and rebuilding the subways, the tide was slowed. Now it is shifting the other way, and we are turning parking lots into plazas and car lanes into bike lanes. Let us build on this momentum and gradually reallocate and innovate our space. The tide is in our favor, but let's not galvanize opposition by overreaching. Let us not forget that the automobile takeover of streets did not happen overnight; a sidewalk narrowed here, a street turned one-way there. It happened so gradually at first, that no single project truly galvanized enough opposition to reverse the tide. Sometime between defeating LOMEX and rebuilding the subways, the tide was slowed. Now it is shifting the other way, and we are turning parking lots into plazas and car lanes into bike lanes. Let us build on this momentum and gradually reallocate and innovate our space. The tide is in our favor, but let's not galvanize opposition by overreaching.

]]> By: Transit Guy http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49274 Transit Guy Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:42:40 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49274 Obviously, you still want them to go further, and see more transformational rather than incremental improvements. I'm right there with you. From North Carolina, however, please recognize that we would KILL to have someone high up in NCDOT **understand** what this talented person is saying, let alone speak it. For a moment, pat yourselves on the back for how your advocacy has made a public statement like this possible in America. Don't underestimate how far out ahead of the curve you guys are right now. Obviously, you still want them to go further, and see more transformational rather than incremental improvements. I'm right there with you. From North Carolina, however, please recognize that we would KILL to have someone high up in NCDOT **understand** what this talented person is saying, let alone speak it.

For a moment, pat yourselves on the back for how your advocacy has made a public statement like this possible in America. Don't underestimate how far out ahead of the curve you guys are right now.

]]> By: Anarcissie http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49273 Anarcissie Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:32:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49273 If the city administration wants a lot of people to start using bicycles for commuting, they are going to have to do something more serious about making space for them than painting bicycle lanes which are neither observed nor enforced. So far it seems that they are going through the more obvious motions -- painting lines on some streets -- while avoiding anything substantial and therefore costly. Certainly the private automobile's position as the pinnacle of the social order of the streets has yet to be challenged. If the city administration wants a lot of people to start using bicycles for commuting, they are going to have to do something more serious about making space for them than painting bicycle lanes which are neither observed nor enforced. So far it seems that they are going through the more obvious motions -- painting lines on some streets -- while avoiding anything substantial and therefore costly. Certainly the private automobile's position as the pinnacle of the social order of the streets has yet to be challenged.

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49271 gecko Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:08:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49271 A "Towards Zero Deaths Initiative" and 500,000 cycling commuters overnight as during the transit strike would be something to really crow about. Of course, halving the mortality rate is something. A "Towards Zero Deaths Initiative" and 500,000 cycling commuters overnight as during the transit strike would be something to really crow about.

Of course, halving the mortality rate is something.

]]> By: BicyclesOnly http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49266 BicyclesOnly Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:14:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/04/29/sadik-khan-introduces-the-new-york-city-model/#comment-49266 It seems clear that when the Commish says she's following the "New York City Model," she means she will not lock herself into a set of goals or methods reflected by Copenhagen or Paris but instead will implement whatever she and the rest of the administration decide is the "New York City Model." This is consistent with the TA analysis that the extended timelines and the general incrementalism of many of the measures, without an overarching paradigm shift as to mode hierarchy, means it will be all to easy for subsequent administrations to change course. All that said, this is clearly a good program and hopefully the beneficiaries of the incremental changes--pedestrians, neighborhood residents and bicyclists--will become energized to fight for the continuation of the sustainable streets program (and the Sadik-Khan Commissionership) after Mayor Bloomberg is out. It seems clear that when the Commish says she's following the "New York City Model," she means she will not lock herself into a set of goals or methods reflected by Copenhagen or Paris but instead will implement whatever she and the rest of the administration decide is the "New York City Model." This is consistent with the TA analysis that the extended timelines and the general incrementalism of many of the measures, without an overarching paradigm shift as to mode hierarchy, means it will be all to easy for subsequent administrations to change course.

All that said, this is clearly a good program and hopefully the beneficiaries of the incremental changes--pedestrians, neighborhood residents and bicyclists--will become energized to fight for the continuation of the sustainable streets program (and the Sadik-Khan Commissionership) after Mayor Bloomberg is out.

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