Comments on: NYC’s Next Four Years: From Good Enough to Great http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/ 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: Eric McClure http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-156361 Eric McClure Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:39:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-156361 @gecko, Bloomie's bully pulpit is already consumed with building a basketball arena in Brooklyn with 2,000 or so parking spaces. Just Google "Superdome Katrina" to see how well a big sports facility serves the aftermath of a climate disaster. ;-) @gecko,

Bloomie’s bully pulpit is already consumed with building a basketball arena in Brooklyn with 2,000 or so parking spaces. Just Google “Superdome Katrina” to see how well a big sports facility serves the aftermath of a climate disaster.

;-)

]]> By: gecko http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153611 gecko Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:25:06 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153611 Bloomberg should take the bully pulpit to detail what we must be doing to responsibly address the accelerating climate change crisis with a sense of military urgency to go green and netzero as much as possible. He need only need only describe the science, what is happening worldwide, and tell the truth. Bloomberg should take the bully pulpit to detail what we must be doing to responsibly address the accelerating climate change crisis with a sense of military urgency to go green and netzero as much as possible.

He need only need only describe the science, what is happening worldwide, and tell the truth.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153521 Larry Littlefield Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:42:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153521 "There are actually BRT systems around the world (Bogota, for example)that move 35,000 passengers per hour per direction, or as many as NYC subway lines. How do they do it?" Grade separated rights of way, that's how. "And, by the way, these systems cost a fraction of metros." Not if they are grade separated. The places that have the possibility of following Bogata's example are those that already have empty interstates serving a dead downtown. Detroit comes to mind. You'd take the already grade separated highway and turn it into BRT. “There are actually BRT systems around the world (Bogota, for example)that move 35,000 passengers per hour per direction, or as many as NYC subway lines. How do they do it?”

Grade separated rights of way, that’s how.

“And, by the way, these systems cost a fraction of metros.”

Not if they are grade separated. The places that have the possibility of following Bogata’s example are those that already have empty interstates serving a dead downtown. Detroit comes to mind. You’d take the already grade separated highway and turn it into BRT.

]]> By: curly http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153491 curly Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:10:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153491 There are actually BRT systems around the world (Bogota, for example)that move 35,000 passengers per hour per direction, or as many as NYC subway lines. How do they do it? By not being chickenshit about usurping the street space necessary to give buses efficient passage. And, by the way, these systems cost a fraction of metros. Subways are great, but so are italian shoes. We now live in a hush puppy world and can no longer buy our way out of the urban political issue of our time: who gets the streets? There are actually BRT systems around the world (Bogota, for example)that move 35,000 passengers per hour per direction, or as many as NYC subway lines. How do they do it? By not being chickenshit about usurping the street space necessary to give buses efficient passage. And, by the way, these systems cost a fraction of metros. Subways are great, but so are italian shoes. We now live in a hush puppy world and can no longer buy our way out of the urban political issue of our time: who gets the streets?

]]> By: Mark Walker http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153451 Mark Walker Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:44:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153451 Adam is right. BRT can't carry as many people as the subway. At best it can relieve overcrowding on the subway, and go places where subways don't yet reach. Adam is right. BRT can’t carry as many people as the subway. At best it can relieve overcrowding on the subway, and go places where subways don’t yet reach.

]]> By: glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153441 glenn Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:44:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153441 I would also like to see Bloomberg experiment more. It's much easier to ask forgiveness than permission when you are a lame duck. For instance, he should raise revenue from parking meters and even more enforcement of existing traffic laws. Figure out what you can do without the State legislature and just start doing it and measuring it. If someone complains, show them the results. It's a lot harder to argue with results than misplaced fears and anxiety. I would also like to see Bloomberg experiment more. It’s much easier to ask forgiveness than permission when you are a lame duck.

For instance, he should raise revenue from parking meters and even more enforcement of existing traffic laws. Figure out what you can do without the State legislature and just start doing it and measuring it. If someone complains, show them the results. It’s a lot harder to argue with results than misplaced fears and anxiety.

]]> By: Adam http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153431 Adam Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:25:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153431 Before ANYONE starts comparing BRT to subways, they serve two completely different purposes. The purpose of BRT shouldn't be to substitute for a subway, but to improve poor bus service. Before ANYONE starts comparing BRT to subways, they serve two completely different purposes. The purpose of BRT shouldn’t be to substitute for a subway, but to improve poor bus service.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153391 Larry Littlefield Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:25:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153391 At least Mr. White isn't proposing things that cost a lot of money, are beyond the city's control, or require approval by the State Legislature or a change in public employee union contracts or Congress. I ask the question again: might it be possible to create a "volunteer DOT" to do the bike lane painting? Imagine the outcry if lanes were painted even as potholes went unfilled. I would bet, based on past experience, that the Council will want to retore a few nickels to other agencies by cutting DOT more than average. That would be their contribution to the budget. Infrastructure maintenance benefits the future, and the future is very unpopular with elected officials. At least Mr. White isn’t proposing things that cost a lot of money, are beyond the city’s control, or require approval by the State Legislature or a change in public employee union contracts or Congress.

I ask the question again: might it be possible to create a “volunteer DOT” to do the bike lane painting? Imagine the outcry if lanes were painted even as potholes went unfilled.

I would bet, based on past experience, that the Council will want to retore a few nickels to other agencies by cutting DOT more than average. That would be their contribution to the budget. Infrastructure maintenance benefits the future, and the future is very unpopular with elected officials.

]]> By: curly http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153351 curly Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:42:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153351 all politics is "faustian"; some devil dancing is always required. in this case, bloomberg's hooves are way lighter than any of those other clowns who would now, as mayor, be dismantling the great changes we've seen over the past two years. all politics is “faustian”; some devil dancing is always required. in this case, bloomberg’s hooves are way lighter than any of those other clowns who would now, as mayor, be dismantling the great changes we’ve seen over the past two years.

]]> By: Peter from Stuy Town http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153341 Peter from Stuy Town Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:32:19 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153341 I agree w/Eric - Faustian bargains never end well. I agree w/Eric – Faustian bargains never end well.

]]> By: Eric McClure http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/11/11/nycs-next-four-years-from-good-enough-to-great/comment-page-1/#comment-153311 Eric McClure Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:06:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=90181#comment-153311 All that for the low, low price of the subversion of democracy! The overturning of term limits was a travesty, so Bloomberg damned well better make good on the initiatives that Paul outlines. Mayoral third terms in NYC have a tradition of going badly -- let's hope that JSK and NYCDOT manage to overcome the bad karma. All that for the low, low price of the subversion of democracy! The overturning of term limits was a travesty, so Bloomberg damned well better make good on the initiatives that Paul outlines. Mayoral third terms in NYC have a tradition of going badly — let’s hope that JSK and NYCDOT manage to overcome the bad karma.

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