Comments on: Bill Thompson, Business Owners Decry Phantom Bike Lane

By: The Opoponax

The Opoponax — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:13:35 +0000

“I have been struck by a cyclist every year because they ride on the sidewalks.”

And, as a cyclist who NEVER (everevereverever) rides on the sidewalk, I hit a pedestrian approximately once a week because pedestrians would rather dick around with their blackberries than look both ways before they jaywalk. Bells make no difference. Screaming “HEY YOU! GET OUT OF THE WAY!” does nothing. Luckily I ‘hit’ these peds at miniscule speeds, similar to the impact you would get if a fellow pedestrian ran into you on the sidewalk.

Between the Lemming effect and the fact that a lot of pedestrians prefer walking in bike lanes to walking on sidewalks, I’m starting to figure out why certain pedestrians seem to think cyclists have it out for them. Because THEY’RE the ones breaking the traffic laws.

By: scared of cyclists

scared of cyclists — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:00:10 +0000

I take every opportunity to harp on this because, it seems, as cyclists you want more and more and are unwilling to follow rules yourselves. I have lived in the West Village for 6 years and have been terrorized by cyclists the entire time. Bike lanes? Who cares, you make your own bike lanes by riding on the sidewalks. This is not only illegal, but dangerous. I have been struck by a cyclist every year because they ride on the sidewalks.

Also, I have no sympathies when a cyclist is killed when I see so many of them zipping in and out of cars, riding in the opposite direction of traffic, not stopping at stop signs and not obeying traffic signals – all illegal and all contributing to your death. And why is it so difficult for you to stop your bike and SIT at a red light and not circle around in the crosswalk like sharks? You act like you’ve got a battery on there that will die if you don’t keep your wheels in motion.

I am not pro-car, I would be very happy to eliminate most of them from NYC. But I’m pro-pedestrian. And I simply can not support a culture that has no consideration for the safety of those who choose to use two feet instead of two wheels.

By: The Opoponax

The Opoponax — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:53:11 +0000

Considering that Thompson can’t even be arsed to advertise against Bloomberg, I’m not sure the whole “zomg but who votes for THE GREEN PARTY?!” thing is really apt in this particular situation.

Bloomberg is going to win whether people like us vote for him or not. I’d rather cast my vote for someone whose platform actually reflects my values than hold my nose and vote for an equally tokenistic candidate.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:27:59 +0000

And Rev. Billy has gotten what results?The Naked Cowboy seems to be a big fan of car-free Times Square too.

I’m not a single issue voter and I wouldn’t switch my vote over a single paragraph in one newspaper, but I certainly would love to hear more learn more about all the candidates positions on livable streets issues.

By: The Opoponax

The Opoponax — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:51:07 +0000

For those who are appalled by Thompson’s stance against human-friendly streets but don’t want to vote for Bloomberg, why not consider voting for Reverend Billy? His campaign is pro-livable streets, otherwise liberal, and not a proto-fascist term limits violator. They’ve been pretty visible at SummerStreets, too, and Rev. Billy has often worked with bike advocacy groups.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:16:36 +0000

It really would be interesting to pin Thompson down, at a similar forum but with less hysteria, and get him on the record explaining exactly where he stands on expanding the bicycle network, pedestrian malls like Broadway Plaza, or whether would even continue Summer Streets. If Thompson’s position is that bike lanes in Astoria and Manhattan have been “a nightmare” I suspect Janet Sadek-Khan probably wouldn’t be his first choice for DOT Commissioner.

I’ve been seriously considering voting for Thompson but, if it means going back to the way things were eight years ago, I’ll probably wind up voting for Bloomberg again.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:23:08 +0000

Today's City Room writes about how Staten Island retailers are suffering, but interestingly enough, the new Greenbelt bike path isn't blamed.

By: Lincoln

Lincoln — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:36:15 +0000

The Villager is not anti-bike as Peter Flint suggests. The Villager supports creating more bike lanes and making the city more bike friendly, whenever and wherever possible. Read our past editorials. However, if Little Italy merchants are upset about a bike lane on Grand St., we will cover it — fairly and objectively — as a news story, because it is news.

By: BikingViking

BikingViking — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:34:29 +0000

It doesn’t make any sense… the bike lane hasn’t reduced the number of parking spaces. If the cabbies were grabbing a quick slice and the bike lane is preventing them, that means they must have been double parking. Last time I checked not legal.

By: gecko

gecko — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:56:30 +0000

Coming up Third Avenue 5am this morning to Grand Central Station to catch a train it was apparent that having a cycle track on Third Avenue or any of the major Eastside avenues going uptown is truly a life-and-death issue.

By: M

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:59:12 +0000

Precisely, Cliff, precisely. Nobody issues tickets for bus lane violations, let alone a bike lane violation. Speaking as though cab drivers are the most traffic-law-conscious individuals in the city is nothing short of hilarious.

By: Car Free Nation

Car Free Nation — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:35:22 +0000

What about the Grand Street bike lane pisses people off so much? Is it that it’s different, maybe a little confusing for drivers?
I’m disjointedness with this reaction, since the Grand Street solution is perfect for so many streets in the city.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:22:54 +0000

Anyone who would argue that their business lost its trade because cabbies are unwilling to stop briefly in a bike lane obviously doesnt’t get out into the real world all that much. When was the last time you saw a cab hesitate to use a bike lane as a pick-up/drop-off/temporary parking spot? That said, I am disappointed that Thompson would chose to catagorize (some) bike lanes as “nightmares.” Once again it seems that the inability to envision the use of public space in a less car centric manner completely eludes people.

By: The Opoponax

The Opoponax — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:03:14 +0000

The funny thing is that, because only certain streets have bike lanes, and because traveling by bike keeps me aboveground rather than hurtling below street level on the subway, I’m much more likely to NOTICE businesses I didn’t before if they’re on my bike route.

By: Undecided

Undecided — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:01:10 +0000

Re: #3

I completely agree. Though I appreciate some of the things that Bloomberg and Sadik-Khan have accomplished, I’ve been no fan of the way he muscled his way through term limits, and was very receptive to hearing what Bill Thompson had to say this year. This certainly doesn’t help his case.

By: gecko

gecko — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:19:13 +0000

Bleeker Street has a wonderful bike lane and seems busier than ever. These bikes lanes are transforming the city to a much nicer place. Kind of wonder where these people are coming from who don’t like them. Maybe they should get out more.

By: Ian Dutton

Ian Dutton — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:17:34 +0000

With respect to this story, a thought surfaced tonight at a local meeting (accompanied by a laugh): maybe bike lanes in close proximity to Wall Street caused last year’s global economic meltdown!

Someone call Fox 5!

By: Clarence Eckerson Jr.

Clarence Eckerson Jr. — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:55:19 +0000

Personally I really can’t stand that bike lane on the BQE. It’s bad for business.

By: Stand Here

Stand Here — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:37:56 +0000

t (comment #7) No Standing, No Stopping and hydrant parking spots are actually what park and dash shoppers use because the rest of the curb is always full.

By: t

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:39:58 +0000

Where’s all the outrage about the “No Standing” zones scattered throughout the city? Don’t those do more to harm in-and-out auto traffic and quick runs for slices than bike lanes?