Comments on: The High Cost of Free Riders http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/ 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: Ray http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-147081 Ray Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:34:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-147081 Considering that NY is a donor state, we're paying for our bridges and for those elsewhere across the USA. It's always irked me when people in the midwest and farwest boast about their "free"ways. They're not free!!! Considering that NY is a donor state, we’re paying for our bridges and for those elsewhere across the USA. It’s always irked me when people in the midwest and farwest boast about their “free”ways. They’re not free!!!

]]> By: Eric McClure http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-146151 Eric McClure Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:03:00 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-146151 <blockquote>To be fair, a lot of that money was federal.</blockquote> Federal money doesn't grow on trees, either. And since "Federal" money funds bridge work in Montana and Mississippi and Indiana and everywhere else, it's all a wash. Free bridges are an unfair tax on those who don't drive over them.

To be fair, a lot of that money was federal.

Federal money doesn’t grow on trees, either. And since “Federal” money funds bridge work in Montana and Mississippi and Indiana and everywhere else, it’s all a wash. Free bridges are an unfair tax on those who don’t drive over them.

]]> By: Jim http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-145961 Jim Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:08:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-145961 While we're on the subject, who pays for the cost of a military necessary to protect our crude supplies, the costs of global warming, the cost of air and noise pollution, and the healthcare costs associated with lack of physical activity and consequently obesity? Oh that's right, all of us. Driving a car in this country is ridiculously cheap considering the broader implications. While we’re on the subject, who pays for the cost of a military necessary to protect our crude supplies, the costs of global warming, the cost of air and noise pollution, and the healthcare costs associated with lack of physical activity and consequently obesity? Oh that’s right, all of us. Driving a car in this country is ridiculously cheap considering the broader implications.

]]> By: Manhattan User http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-145891 Manhattan User Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:56:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-145891 The cause of the wear and tear is 3 fold: Lack of maintenance - The City ignored the East River Bridges for Decades, jsut as it ignored the Transit system when it controlled it. Didn't Ed Koch coin the prhase that "Bridges don't vote" so don't spend any money on the. Truck Traffic - Heavy trucks going into Manhattan to either make deliveries or to get on the interstates. Finally and actually for the Manhattan and Williamsburg the greates factor. TRAINS. The trains crossing the bridges do a number on the structure. The Manhattan bridge actuly twists 6' everytime a train goes over it. Maybe the MTA should reimburse the City for the damage that their trains are doing to City property. The cause of the wear and tear is 3 fold:

Lack of maintenance – The City ignored the East River Bridges for Decades, jsut as it ignored the Transit system when it controlled it. Didn’t Ed Koch coin the prhase that “Bridges don’t vote” so don’t spend any money on the.
Truck Traffic – Heavy trucks going into Manhattan to either make deliveries or to get on the interstates.

Finally and actually for the Manhattan and Williamsburg the greates factor. TRAINS. The trains crossing the bridges do a number on the structure. The Manhattan bridge actuly twists 6′ everytime a train goes over it. Maybe the MTA should reimburse the City for the damage that their trains are doing to City property.

]]> By: Sam http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-145731 Sam Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:40:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-145731 "Amazingly, the source of most of the wear and tear on the bridge -- vehicular traffic -- will continue to flow for free during this construction." Actually it's the trains crossing the bridge which cause excessive wear due to a design flaw. It's a design flaw - the tracks are on the outside of the roadway. When trains cross they cause the roadway to twist far more than it would if the tracks had been placed in the center like they are on the Williamsburg bridge. http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/the_steel_sway_of_64604.aspx http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/362085/Manhattan-Bridge “Amazingly, the source of most of the wear and tear on the bridge — vehicular traffic — will continue to flow for free during this construction.”

Actually it’s the trains crossing the bridge which cause excessive wear due to a design flaw. It’s a design flaw – the tracks are on the outside of the roadway. When trains cross they cause the roadway to twist far more than it would if the tracks had been placed in the center like they are on the Williamsburg bridge.

http://www.lowermanhattan.info/news/the_steel_sway_of_64604.aspx

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/362085/Manhattan-Bridge

]]> By: Angus Grieve-Smith http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-145711 Angus Grieve-Smith Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:28:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-145711 Just wait! There's hundreds of millions about to be spent on the Brooklyn Bridge that could have been used for transit or pedestrian/bike infrastructure. Just wait! There’s hundreds of millions about to be spent on the Brooklyn Bridge that could have been used for transit or pedestrian/bike infrastructure.

]]> By: Doug http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-145701 Doug Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:15:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-145701 Amazingly, the source of most of the wear and tear on the bridge -- vehicular traffic -- will continue to flow for free during this construction. Paying subway riders will see their service cut on occasional weekends, making it challenging for some people to get into Manhattan or Brooklyn for work, errands, or fun. Bike riders and walkers will lose half of their access to the bridge. But 6,000 lb SUVS? Keep 'em coming! Amazingly, the source of most of the wear and tear on the bridge — vehicular traffic — will continue to flow for free during this construction. Paying subway riders will see their service cut on occasional weekends, making it challenging for some people to get into Manhattan or Brooklyn for work, errands, or fun. Bike riders and walkers will lose half of their access to the bridge. But 6,000 lb SUVS? Keep ‘em coming!

]]> By: Mike Epstein http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/10/30/the-high-cost-of-free-riders/comment-page-1/#comment-145691 Mike Epstein Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:11:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=81181#comment-145691 To be fair, a lot of that money was federal. But there was also a very substantial city contribution. Same thing for the other bridges, which have been extensively reconstructed over the last 25 years or so. To be fair, a lot of that money was federal. But there was also a very substantial city contribution. Same thing for the other bridges, which have been extensively reconstructed over the last 25 years or so.

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