Comments on: More Than Just Same-Old at Upper East Side Bicycle Forum

By: daviduxresll

daviduxresll — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:21:11 +0000

I am planning a business trip to Norway, Sweden, and Finlandin April, 10. Might anyone kindly to tell me personally how many days it will likely be,usually, for Easter holiday in these 3 countries? Thank you!

By: BicyclesOnly

BicyclesOnly — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:10:34 +0000

Bicyclists interested in seeing protected lanes installed on the Upper West Side should attend this evening’s Community Board 7 meeting, where the Community Board will consider a recent resolution by it’s Transportation Committee approving “in concept” the installation of protected lanes on Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. Here’s the info for the meeting:

6:30 p.m.
Red Oak apartments
135 West 106th Street (Columbus – Amsterdam Avenues)

By: Diana

Diana — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:47:15 +0000

I can speak to the old biddies “of a certain age.” I happen to know two of them and they’re anti-bike, not because they’re actually anti-bike, but because they are women who cling to outdated stereotypes in order to justify the fact they’ve done nothing in terms of their careers. According to these stereotypes, bikers are male, minority or at least workingclass, and therefore dangerous.

I’m also sure they live in rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments, and attend the community board meeting because such “involvement” in their community in their mind justifies their possession of a below-market rental.

otherwise keep up the good work. I agree that if there were protected bike lanes commuting by bike would quadruple. There are a lot of routes in this city where there’s no good subway connection.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:44:06 +0000

When Upper Green Side did a survey of UES residents, more than half owned bikes, while less a quarter owned cars. I think a lot of those folks just use their bike on the weekends in parks or field trips out of the city.

But still, think of latent potential market for everyday commuters. Many folks in the UES work in midtown east. And contrary to the perception, a huge percentage of commuters are in their 20s and 30s. If there were a protected bike lane from 96th to 42nd on Second Ave I have no doubt you would see a quadrupling of everyday bike commuters nearly overnight.

By: NM

NM — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:33:17 +0000

I’m really struck by the delivery/recreational bike dichotomy. If bikes are just toys, then of course they don’t have the “priority” that cars do. How can we change that perception and get the word out that most(?) of us are trying to get somewhere just like the cars? Come to think of it, I don’t even know if that’s true, but it seems to be the case. So maybe answering that question is a place to start.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:31:47 +0000

I warms by heart to hear that things are changing…the blue hairs aside…

By: Lucy

Lucy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:29:23 +0000

I am a “woman of a certain age” and totally supportive of Complete Streets, JSK, bike and pedestrian infratructure, transit, and everything else needed to re-balance urban life away from the auto-dominant present.

But I don’t know what my gender or age has to do with any of these ideas, nor do I know what it has to do with the critics you quote.

By: Brooklyn

Brooklyn — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:25:56 +0000

Lappin’s proposed law would be excellent. Fine the businesses themselves and you would see wrong-way and sidewalk riding virtually disappear overnight. Delivery guys easily make up 90% of the public’s bad perception of cyclists.

By: Sharkey

Sharkey — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:21:39 +0000

One great way to encourage motorists, politicians, pedestrians to make way for bicycles is to normalize cyclists presence as traffic. In this spirit, you are invited to the…

1st Friday 1st Amendment Ride!

Exercise your right to operate your non-polluting vehicle in the streets of the City! This Friday, October 2nd, 7pm Union Square North. More people, more fun! Spread the word.

Every month, the first Friday is the new last Friday!

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:13:58 +0000

Just for the record, Councilmember Lappin’s hearing on the bike bill is scheduled not for Wednesday, but for Thursday at 10AM. [Fixed! Thanks. -- ed.] Hope there will be a lot of people there to testify!

By: mike

mike — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:48:12 +0000

sounds promising! good job whoever got the word out.