Comments on: When Cycling Becomes the Norm http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pursuant http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67950 Pursuant Thu, 14 May 2009 20:53:08 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67950 Hmm, to clarify I was advocating heavy (108% to 180% in Denmark) sales taxes on automobiles over the tolls. My point was that taking a taxation policy used in a socialist country or technically democratic socialist allows one ipso facto to describe said policy as socialist. Narrowing your definition to a strictly economic definition while technically correct doesn't cover the welfare state bogeymen that are unleashed when you talk about modifying public behavior for the common good. Josef, if everything should be paid for at what the market bears, then why do fares pay only 40% of what it really costs to run the trains and why are Triboro auto tolls paying 11% to subsidize mass transit? Anyway, sometimes I wonder if we'd be better off if rates were jacked up to be self sufficient rather than pursuing low fares. The two dollar fare I pay is a huge discount to the thirty dollars I would pay for a cab or parking and offers 24 hour access. Hmm, to clarify I was advocating heavy (108% to 180% in Denmark) sales taxes on automobiles over the tolls. My point was that taking a taxation policy used in a socialist country or technically democratic socialist allows one ipso facto to describe said policy as socialist.

Narrowing your definition to a strictly economic definition while technically correct doesn’t cover the welfare state bogeymen that are unleashed when you talk about modifying public behavior for the common good.

Josef, if everything should be paid for at what the market bears, then why do fares pay only 40% of what it really costs to run the trains and why are Triboro auto tolls paying 11% to subsidize mass transit?

Anyway, sometimes I wonder if we’d be better off if rates were jacked up to be self sufficient rather than pursuing low fares. The two dollar fare I pay is a huge discount to the thirty dollars I would pay for a cab or parking and offers 24 hour access.

]]> By: Ed http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67942 Ed Thu, 14 May 2009 19:15:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67942 No rolling stop to my knowledge but they do have a 'green wave' where on certain streets if you're going a certain cruising speed they've timed the lights so you'll only see green. It's awesome. No rolling stop to my knowledge but they do have a ‘green wave’ where on certain streets if you’re going a certain cruising speed they’ve timed the lights so you’ll only see green. It’s awesome.

]]> By: J. Mork http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67940 J. Mork Thu, 14 May 2009 18:26:02 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67940 Here's a great column about motorized socialism by SB's own Alex Marshall: http://www.governing.com/column/king-road Here’s a great column about motorized socialism by SB’s own Alex Marshall:

http://www.governing.com/column/king-road

]]> By: Josef http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67939 Josef Thu, 14 May 2009 18:17:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67939 Pursuant, you want a good or service, you pay for it at the rate the market will bear, instead of having it be paid for by taxpayer dollars. That's the idea behind modern tolling/congestion pricing systems. If that's socialism, call me Stalin Pursuant, you want a good or service, you pay for it at the rate the market will bear, instead of having it be paid for by taxpayer dollars.

That’s the idea behind modern tolling/congestion pricing systems.

If that’s socialism, call me Stalin

]]> By: lee w http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67924 lee w Thu, 14 May 2009 15:04:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67924 do they have rolling stops for cyclists at stop signs in copenhagen? do they have rolling stops for cyclists at stop signs in copenhagen?

]]> By: Greg http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67918 Greg Thu, 14 May 2009 14:20:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67918 Pursuant, socialism is when the state owns and administers a nation's major industries, not when it tolls bridges. Pursuant, socialism is when the state owns and administers a nation’s major industries, not when it tolls bridges.

]]> By: gary fisher http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67902 gary fisher Wed, 13 May 2009 23:28:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67902 Like the Pitched playing field we have here for autos? You kid yourself if you think transportation in America is governed by the free market. Like the Pitched playing field we have here for autos? You kid yourself if you think transportation in America is governed by the free market.

]]> By: Pursuant http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67901 Pursuant Wed, 13 May 2009 22:59:07 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67901 Some small points. 1. Copenhagen is small. 2. Average car size is small. There is a dichotomy between the high car taxes that Dane's curse and their love of bicycles. My point being that private auto prices skew social behavior but their is a predisposition and social affinity to bicycles. While I oddly have less of a problem with exorbitant auto taxes than I do on the tolling of bridges. If such a system were presented here, it would be decried as socialist, which seems fair because it is. Copenhagen has more than just bike lanes. It has people who will respect them and an economically pitched playing field. Some small points.

1. Copenhagen is small.
2. Average car size is small.

There is a dichotomy between the high car taxes that Dane’s curse and their love of bicycles. My point being that private auto prices skew social behavior but their is a predisposition and social affinity to bicycles.

While I oddly have less of a problem with exorbitant auto taxes than I do on the tolling of bridges. If such a system were presented here, it would be decried as socialist, which seems fair because it is.

Copenhagen has more than just bike lanes. It has people who will respect them and an economically pitched playing field.

]]> By: Mike Lydon http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67898 Mike Lydon Wed, 13 May 2009 21:33:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67898 While much attention has been paid to car-free Vauban this week, this video clearly demonstrates that cars and bicyclists can co-exist rather peacefully when their is a network of dedicated space just for cycle travel. Sometimes, it requires just giving up one lane of traffic. Additionally, most motorists in Copenhagen are also cyclists, so all receive a higher level of respect. When that happens, you know you have reached the tipping point. While much attention has been paid to car-free Vauban this week, this video clearly demonstrates that cars and bicyclists can co-exist rather peacefully when their is a network of dedicated space just for cycle travel. Sometimes, it requires just giving up one lane of traffic. Additionally, most motorists in Copenhagen are also cyclists, so all receive a higher level of respect. When that happens, you know you have reached the tipping point.

]]> By: anonymous http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/05/13/when-cycling-becomes-the-norm/comment-page-1/#comment-67895 anonymous Wed, 13 May 2009 20:12:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=6127#comment-67895 cute cute

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