NYC bike lanes

[ccnyc]

As a cycling Manhattanite I'm not surprised at Bloomberg's comments. He basically hates cyclists (at least since the Republican convention in NYC). BTW, bad weather is not much of an issue here. He's out of his mind!!!
There are some bike lanes in Manhattan but they usually have double parked cars, trucks and police cars in them. Also, there is no enforcement of the bike lanes which makes them kind of useless. And they are few and far between. There is no bike lane I can use to get up to Central Park (and out of the city) from my apt without riding in crazy traffic first. Fortunately, the new head of the NYCDOT is an avid cyclist herself (Janette Sadik-Kahn) and is looking into bike lanes separated from moving traffic. Probably won't happen in my lifetime though.

Carol

[Geonz]

Engineering, enforcement and education - and not necessarily in that order because it takes all three.

Health risk ?!?!? Is he saying bikes just shouldn't be there at all? Get the cars outta there - they're the health risk. (And weather? B.S. Complete B.S.)

I could *fully* understand a sensible cycling advocate suggesting that bike lanes aren't appropriate there - that maybe sharrows would be a better option, with education and enforcement - but "health risk?"

[rij73]

I live in Brooklyn but have biked in Manhattan several times. I think Bloomberg is a fool about bike lanes. They would be great everywhere, but yes, I think they would have to be separated in some way. Otherwise, everyone will just double park right on them. That happens all the time where the lanes already exist.

There are quite a lot of bike lanes in the city. I find you have to really plan out your routes to be as safe as possible. There's a great cycling map published every couple of years, and it's on the web here: http://www.transalt.org/resources/maps It not only shows bike lanes, but also streets that are particularly wide and bicycle friendly.

Biking in the city really isn't all that bad as long as you are confident and alert. Drivers are used to bikes and are basically respectful in my experience. I'm sure to make eye contact at intersections, and ride very visibly.

[MM_QFC!]

...that maybe sharrows would be a better option, with education and enforcement - but "health risk?"

Just MHO, however I think that sharrows s*ck! Drivers don't understand them or heed them. We've had them on some Seattle streets and it seems as though the lack of a clearly painted and well-delineated line to indicate a bike lane, means nothing. I can't see them fairing any better on Manhattan's non-stop busy streets.

Also, I've ridden on the Hudson River (westside) bike path a couple of times, as it's the final leg of the Empire State AIDS ride. We re-group on the northern end of Manhattan and ride down Riverside Dr first, then pick up the bike path all the way down to finish near Battery Park. Even little bicycles on the traffic lights! It's slow going on a busy Saturday afternoon, but works better than out on the street. Just my $.02...
Mary

[Jo-n-NY]

As a cycling Manhattanite I'm not surprised at Bloomberg's comments. He basically hates cyclists (at least since the Republican convention in NYC). BTW, bad weather is not much of an issue here. He's out of his mind!!!
There are some bike lanes in Manhattan but they usually have double parked cars, trucks and police cars in them. Also, there is no enforcement of the bike lanes which makes them kind of useless. And they are few and far between. There is no bike lane I can use to get up to Central Park (and out of the city) from my apt without riding in crazy traffic first. Fortunately, the new head of the NYCDOT is an avid cyclist herself (Janette Sadik-Kahn) and is looking into bike lanes separated from moving traffic. Probably won't happen in my lifetime though.

Carol

Sorry Carol. Since you bike through the city and I don't you probably know better than I. I can only tell by what I see in the small area of a very large city. I compare it with Long Island that has nothing, only regular shoulders on the road that cars are also parked in and at least on the South Shore, not one Share the Road sign or any sign showing that bicycles belong, despite my numerous letters to officials. (although, I still continue to try, there is always another person in the line to write to )

Tulip, thanks, I will check it out.



~ JoAnn

[ccnyc]

Sorry Carol. Since you bike through the city and I don't you probably know better than I. I can only tell by what I see in the small area of a very large city. I compare it with Long Island that has nothing, only regular shoulders on the road that cars are also parked in and at least on the South Shore, not one Share the Road sign or any sign showing that bicycles belong, despite my numerous letters to officials. (although, I still continue to try, there is always another person in the line to write to )

JoAnn: I feel your pain! I've done some rides on LI and the drivers (and roads) are definitely not bike friendly. Nothing like riding on the LIE service road to get your heart rate up quickly.

Carol

[madscot13]

what are sharrows?

I've been to NYC only a few times and only in the winter. It must be a city thing that NYC doesn't get as much snow as you would assume. It is wicked cold and windy but it doesn't look like too bad of a mess. Maybe in the Twin Cities we have antsy plowers that are on the job quickly but I bike commute (bikomute) all year long.

what would it take to make the City a nice place to ride?

[MM_QFC!]

"Sharrows" are described as shared lane pavement markings; the markings are intended to help cyclists better position themselves on roadways where bicycle lanes are the recommended treatment, but which cannot be striped for varying reasons. They seem to be confusing for drivers and riders alike.

Also, a pic of the bike trail I referenced in a previous post...from northern end of Manhattan on west side along the Hudson all the way to the Battery.

[minan]

There are some bike lanes in Manhattan but they usually have double parked cars, trucks and police cars in them. Also, there is no enforcement of the bike lanes which makes them kind of useless. And they are few and far between.
Carol

As someone who lives in Manhattan and commutes from the Upper West Side to Soho, I'm encouraged by the new bike lanes they're creating in my parts of town. There's a new bike lane along Prince Street, badly needed - and surprisingly, the cars have been staying clear of it. There's a whole new traffic pattern along broadway between Houston and Canal, where there's just one big bus lane that cars are not allowed on (and that cyclists/messengers enjoy riding when there are no buses). And cars really stay off that - I bet the cops have been ticketing a lot.

I guess I'm just lucky. It would be great to have it like this for the rest of the city.

Also OT, how many other NYCers are posting here on this board? Doesn't seem like there's too many.

[ccnyc]

I guess I'm just lucky. It would be great to have it like this for the rest of the city.

You ARE lucky.
I live in Murray Hill and there is NOTHING. The East side Greenway/bike path ends around 32nd street and below that you need a mountain bike/hybrid to negotiate it. I'd have to ride on First Ave to reconnect with the Greenway/bikepath going North (which isn't really ideal for cyclists anyway, it's more of a scenic walkway along the East River). AFAIK there are no East/West bike lanes in midtown.

I'd be so happy if I could find a safe way to get to CP during the week. I just won't ride in midtown weekday traffic.

Carol

[rij73]

I'd be so happy if I could find a safe way to get to CP during the week. I just won't ride in midtown weekday traffic.
Carol

Have you tried going on 21st to Broadway? I'm not sure I'd be brave enough, but there are bike lanes the whole way.

See http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/nyc-bike-map/ for the best online map.

[ccnyc]

Have you tried going on 21st to Broadway? I'm not sure I'd be brave enough, but there are bike lanes the whole way.

See http://www.nycbikemaps.com/maps/nyc-bike-map/ for the best online map.

That's a great map. Unfortunately, I'd have to ride downtown in traffic to get to the 21st street bike lane and aagainst traffic on Broadway (which goes through Times Square ) to head north to Central Park. If you look at the map the area between 23rd to 90th streets & 6th Ave to FDR Drive is a bike lane wasteland.


Carol