Comments on: Fighting for the Right to Bike to School http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/ 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: Stovallgarrett http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-297223 Stovallgarrett Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:41:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-297223 diabetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! diabetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: simba_lover_121 http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-281905 simba_lover_121 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:05:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-281905 I know Adam he is my neighbor GO ADAM AND FAMILY and for everyone out there fighting for this cause YOU ARE AWESOME I know Adam he is my neighbor GO ADAM AND FAMILY and for everyone out there fighting for this cause YOU ARE AWESOME

]]> By: mcas http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-141971 mcas Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:24:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-141971 @Corey Bureger: So, let me get this straight-- you are saying that in Vancouver, if a parent kills their kid in their car crash, it is the responsibility of the school? @Corey Bureger: So, let me get this straight– you are saying that in Vancouver, if a parent kills their kid in their car crash, it is the responsibility of the school?

]]> By: Kaja http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-126951 Kaja Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:54:52 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-126951 I went to college in Saratoga Springs. Randy, click over to terrain view. Notice East Ave is a steep steep hill. Then Streetview the north end of North Broadway. That isn't a road, certainly not a public road. It dead-ends at Skidmore College, and they own the cow path heading north from there. Yes, you can probably mountainbike through there. It's not commuteable daily. State Route 9 is a New York State designated bike route. Bikes are to ride in the very wide gutter, or with traffic. It's totally ok, this family is doing the right thing. Apropos of little: Saratoga Springs PD were the folks who began my metamorphosis from a generally police-respecting citizen into someone who thinks they belong up against the wall. They're pretty awful as smalltown cops go. I went to college in Saratoga Springs.

Randy, click over to terrain view. Notice East Ave is a steep steep hill.

Then Streetview the north end of North Broadway.

That isn’t a road, certainly not a public road. It dead-ends at Skidmore College, and they own the cow path heading north from there. Yes, you can probably mountainbike through there. It’s not commuteable daily.

State Route 9 is a New York State designated bike route. Bikes are to ride in the very wide gutter, or with traffic. It’s totally ok, this family is doing the right thing.

Apropos of little: Saratoga Springs PD were the folks who began my metamorphosis from a generally police-respecting citizen into someone who thinks they belong up against the wall. They’re pretty awful as smalltown cops go.

]]> By: Randy http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-126811 Randy Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:36:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-126811 If the Marinos are using Highway 9 as much as possible from their house, their route to school is 3.3 miles. A simple analysis of the route using Google Maps shows that they could use a route on side streets, avoiding Highway 9 except for the last 100 yards, and their route would be only 2.9 miles. Perhaps avoiding the "dreaded" Highway 9 might help satisfy the timid school board or person(s) responsible for this rather absurd policy (no walking???). Here's the new route (from the nearest intersection): http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=43.073214,-73.776004&daddr=Nelson+Ave+to:East+Ave+to:East+Ave+to:Maple+Ave%2FUS-9&geocode=%3BFRROkQIdgESa-w%3BFcl-kQId5lCa-w%3BFcWMkQId4DOa-w%3BFSy9kQId5lKa-w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&via=1,2,3&sll=43.072799,-73.77491&sspn=0.003973,0.006899&ie=UTF8&z=17 If the Marinos are using Highway 9 as much as possible from their house, their route to school is 3.3 miles. A simple analysis of the route using Google Maps shows that they could use a route on side streets, avoiding Highway 9 except for the last 100 yards, and their route would be only 2.9 miles. Perhaps avoiding the “dreaded” Highway 9 might help satisfy the timid school board or person(s) responsible for this rather absurd policy (no walking???).

Here’s the new route (from the nearest intersection): http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=43.073214,-73.776004&daddr=Nelson+Ave+to:East+Ave+to:East+Ave+to:Maple+Ave%2FUS-9&geocode=%3BFRROkQIdgESa-w%3BFcl-kQId5lCa-w%3BFcWMkQId4DOa-w%3BFSy9kQId5lKa-w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&via=1,2,3&sll=43.072799,-73.77491&sspn=0.003973,0.006899&ie=UTF8&z=17

]]> By: Merijn http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-123441 Merijn Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:57:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-123441 All the way from the Netherlands, Europe, where cycling is ubiquitous. Here there are annual campaigns to keep the Dutch cycling. I wish you all the cycling best in NY state. This is how it looks like here: http://images.google.com/images?oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=fiets%20naar%20school&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi All the way from the Netherlands, Europe, where cycling is ubiquitous. Here there are annual campaigns to keep the Dutch cycling. I wish you all the cycling best in NY state.
This is how it looks like here:
http://images.google.com/images?oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=fiets%20naar%20school&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

]]> By: Heather http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-120931 Heather Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:50:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-120931 This is getting ridiculous, first they complain the kids are getting fat, they ban healthy food by resricting all sorts of food products.... My sons school doesn't allow any nut products of any kind. No seeds or highly alergenic foods. So forget sending whole grain bread because they often have seeds on them, no raw almonds, no sunflower seeds, no pumkin seeds , watch the salad dressing because if it has seeds or soy in it it is banned. No citrus fruits, no tuna salad. ... so they tell them they have to excersize more but then ban walkign to school or biing to school. Yeah that makes sense. This is getting ridiculous, first they complain the kids are getting fat, they ban healthy food by resricting all sorts of food products….

My sons school doesn’t allow any nut products of any kind. No seeds or highly alergenic foods. So forget sending whole grain bread because they often have seeds on them, no raw almonds, no sunflower seeds, no pumkin seeds , watch the salad dressing because if it has seeds or soy in it it is banned. No citrus fruits, no tuna salad.

… so they tell them they have to excersize more but then ban walkign to school or biing to school. Yeah that makes sense.

]]> By: JJ Daddy-O http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-120851 JJ Daddy-O Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:02:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-120851 I grew up in NYC and starting in about second grade, I walked the 4 blocks to school every day alone or with other kids. This was across three busy avenues: Amsterdam, Broadway and West End. Starting at age 12 I took two city buses each way across Manhattan to Jr. High. I always marveled at my suburban cousins who had to be driven everywhere by their parents. I grew up in NYC and starting in about second grade, I walked the 4 blocks to school every day alone or with other kids. This was across three busy avenues: Amsterdam, Broadway and West End. Starting at age 12 I took two city buses each way across Manhattan to Jr. High. I always marveled at my suburban cousins who had to be driven everywhere by their parents.

]]> By: CKM http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-119201 CKM Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:59:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-119201 At the same time, kids are obese and schools are trying to force them to do more exercise.... At the same time, kids are obese and schools are trying to force them to do more exercise….

]]> By: Corey Burger http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118991 Corey Burger Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:57:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118991 I don't know about US law, but here in the province of British Columbia, the school is actually responsible for students after they leave their own property until they get back on it after school ends. This doesn't justify these insane policies, however. I don’t know about US law, but here in the province of British Columbia, the school is actually responsible for students after they leave their own property until they get back on it after school ends. This doesn’t justify these insane policies, however.

]]> By: W. K. Lis http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118911 W. K. Lis Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:37:47 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118911 I guess they could rewrite the song "Harper Valley PTA" around the fight to allow bikes to school. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOZPBUu7Fro I guess they could rewrite the song “Harper Valley PTA” around the fight to allow bikes to school. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOZPBUu7Fro

]]> By: vnm http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118901 vnm Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:05:59 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118901 Not . . . in . . . car . . . cannot . . . understand . . . Not . . . in . . . car . . .

cannot . . . understand . . .

]]> By: Jim Mearkle http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118871 Jim Mearkle Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:33:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118871 Coincidentally, the Transportation Research Board's weekly newsletter had this in it today: School Bicycling and Walking Policies: Addressing Policies that Hinder and Implementing Policies that Help http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/media/file/barrier_policy_tip_sheet.pdf I think Yehuda Moon said it best: http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-04-29 Coincidentally, the Transportation Research Board’s weekly newsletter had this in it today:

School Bicycling and Walking Policies:
Addressing Policies that Hinder and Implementing Policies that Help

http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/media/file/barrier_policy_tip_sheet.pdf

I think Yehuda Moon said it best:

http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-04-29

]]> By: Kim Wiley-Schwartz http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118761 Kim Wiley-Schwartz Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:55:13 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118761 Getting involved with Safe Routes to School can really help work through these problems. There are folks in all corners of the country advocating for safe walking, biking and strategic placement of schools to do just that. If you are in New York, we'd love for you to help us get schools moving by participating in "We're Walking Here NYC" in honor of walk and bike to school day on October 7th. Check it out ((www.walkingschools.org)) Getting involved with Safe Routes to School can really help work through these problems. There are folks in all corners of the country advocating for safe walking, biking and strategic placement of schools to do just that. If you are in New York, we’d love for you to help us get schools moving by participating in “We’re Walking Here NYC” in honor of walk and bike to school day on October 7th. Check it out ((www.walkingschools.org))

]]> By: Chris http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118741 Chris Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:46:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118741 In Chicago, the city's Bike 2015 Plan includes as an objective the establishment of bikeways to schools (http://www.bike2015plan.org/chapter1/chap1_obj4.html), so maybe there is hope. In Chicago, the city’s Bike 2015 Plan includes as an objective the establishment of bikeways to schools (http://www.bike2015plan.org/chapter1/chap1_obj4.html), so maybe there is hope.

]]> By: Andy B from Jersey http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118731 Andy B from Jersey Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:42:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118731 You all do realize that the most dangerous part of the journey to school is between that car door (of the parents dropping off their kids) and the school house door. In most places, the mile walk Johnny takes to school is statistically safer then the last 100 yards! You all do realize that the most dangerous part of the journey to school is between that car door (of the parents dropping off their kids) and the school house door.

In most places, the mile walk Johnny takes to school is statistically safer then the last 100 yards!

]]> By: Mike Lydon http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118721 Mike Lydon Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:16:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118721 ...Meanwhile, the collective health of our ascending generations becomes ever more grim, and ever more expensive. I feel about as good subsidizing care for early onset diabetes and asthma as I do seeing my tax dollars fund new highways. Clarence has it right: ludicrous. . Hey, has anyone checked Kunstler on this one? As a Saratogan, I feel like he would be all over this. …Meanwhile, the collective health of our ascending generations becomes ever more grim, and ever more expensive. I feel about as good subsidizing care for early onset diabetes and asthma as I do seeing my tax dollars fund new highways. Clarence has it right: ludicrous. .

Hey, has anyone checked Kunstler on this one? As a Saratogan, I feel like he would be all over this.

]]> By: Omri http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118701 Omri Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:08:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118701 Part of the problem is that building a school is expensive, and the cheapest option for any small city or suburb is a vacant lot on the edge of town on the side of an arterial, with a design from the templates that Jim Kunstler publishes on his site. (Easiest for acquiring the land, easiest for construction logistics, et cetera.) And then it does get more dangerous to walk or bike there. Part of the problem is that building a school is expensive, and the cheapest option for any small city or suburb is a vacant lot on the edge of town on the side of an arterial, with a design from the templates that Jim Kunstler publishes on his site. (Easiest for acquiring the land, easiest for construction logistics, et cetera.)

And then it does get more dangerous to walk or bike there.

]]> By: Andy http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118691 Andy Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:07:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118691 I wonder why they think cars are a better option. I guess every thinks they are an above average driver with an above average safe car. If it's got airbags and seatbelts it must be safer than biking right? But it's not and there's statistics to prove it. I wonder why they think cars are a better option. I guess every thinks they are an above average driver with an above average safe car. If it’s got airbags and seatbelts it must be safer than biking right? But it’s not and there’s statistics to prove it.

]]> By: Diana Fingal http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/09/15/fighting-for-the-right-to-bike-to-school/comment-page-1/#comment-118671 Diana Fingal Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:00:08 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=47601#comment-118671 I remember begging my mom to let me walk to kindergarten by myself. This was in 1970 and it was more than a mile from home along a really busy street. She let me go but told me if I walked there, I'd have to walk home too. I did and lived to tell about it. Yes, my mom would be arrested for that today. I am thankful I developed good habits and am still riding my bike to work. It is so disturbing to see the paranoia, especially when the statistics don't support the alarm. I remember begging my mom to let me walk to kindergarten by myself. This was in 1970 and it was more than a mile from home along a really busy street. She let me go but told me if I walked there, I’d have to walk home too. I did and lived to tell about it. Yes, my mom would be arrested for that today. I am thankful I developed good habits and am still riding my bike to work.
It is so disturbing to see the paranoia, especially when the statistics don’t support the alarm.

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