They mentioned that the president was going to end the program to limit cars in New York City, and that he also mentioned removing bike lanes as they are ‘a safety hazard’.
Wow! I’ve biked NYC, and love the bike lanes, and feel that city need MORE, not less bike lanes! What is this hangup of some in power to believe that bike lanes are safety hazards? If anything, they help insure safety for cyclists! The train up the west side of Manhattan is AWESOME!! Getting onto the city streets is a potluck of hassles and frightening moments, I was ‘pushed’ by a cab once!
They are NOT a safety hazard!! Ontario Canada has declared war on cyclists by removing bike lanes too. Sad, tragic…
One, take everything Mango Mussolini says with a tablespoon of salt.
Also, there is this: "**Any effort to end the program would wind up in court where it has been successfully defended in the past, said Danny Pearlstein, a spokesman for Riders Alliance, an advocacy group for public transportation users. “Congestion pricing has been in the courts in multiple states, and it wins every time because the program was so carefully and thoroughly vetted by multiple federal agencies,” Mr. Pearlstein said. “There’s no taking that back in spite of the political winds.” Finally, i am fairly certain the Oval Office cannot dictate what state governments do with bike lanes. I could be wrong, tho.
I guess my angle was more ‘politicians in general’ seeing bike lanes as a big negative.
Again, riding in NYC is amazing with all the bike lanes and accommodations that have been made to keep them safe. The idea that cars should rule a condensed and over car populated area and calling it ‘safer’ just boggles the mind. Heck, just after we left from a 5 Boros ride, a horse drawn carriage was rear ended, killing the horse. If anything, anything that helps limit the number of cars and trucks is a GOOD thing for both cyclists and pedestrians, and makes the city a little more SAFER. But ‘common sense’ is never as common as is should be, sadly…
I wish there were more bike lanes in the city I live! I’ve seen some cyclists treking along a really busy county feeder road to the town, and people are always getting into accidents because ‘people’. I was on a ride that the leader wanted to ride a couple miles on that route ‘because it was quicker’. I and several other riders chose a safer less hectic route.
The whole bike lane ‘war’ seems to be another angle of the actual war that many feel they are fighting against cyclists already. But I get it, delete this if it’s too political. I guess I was just shocked that someone would kill a good thing in NYC out of ignorance or spite, or something…
Yeah, but he’ll just do what he always does and threaten to take something else away if NYC doesn’t comply. Something like, “I can’t force you to remove it, but if you don’t, I’ll remove all federal funding for XYZ”.
Ironic that the people who scream about freedom of movement, and not wanting an EV because “it has less freedom”* are against people having the freedom to choose their transportation method.
Never been to NYC, not really interested. But it always looks from a distance to be a great place to live if you don’t want to feel pressured to drive for everything you do.
*Because being restricted to only one fuel is freedom? EV’s can charge off electrical power generated in any number of ways
Latest development: trump has unilaterally declared that the congestion plan is dead, and the NY governor is not having it. Bike NYC released a statement, and so did the White House, and the governor. (Trying to not be political and cover the issue)
So stay tuned? Having ridden in New York, as I said, the congestion is horrific. Something needs to be done, and while not perfect, any restrictions on driving would be met with histrionics and flailing of chests. And cyclists are just ignored and collateral damage yet again.
Having recently visited NYC from out west, being able to take mass transit everywhere with ease was mind-blowingly wonderful. I’ve experienced it before in europe and new york, but it still gets me every time after spending too long out here where it’s nonexistent (though Tucson does have pretty great bike infrastructure by US standards). I don’t understand the pushback. Who in the world likes being stuck in traffic?
I don’t think it’s about stuck in traffic as much as it is ‘telling me how/when to get around’, which seems to involve petrochemicals nearly completely. People were protesting bike trails and bike lanes here, and I found one of the most vocal people didn’t even live here!! Astounding that a single voice and have such a huge effect on people. And that ‘voice’ was well funded too, sending out mailers to the whole area last October. There seems to be an undertow in this country that wants people to drive more, drink more, smoke more, and an audience to oblige. Since money is speech now, it looks like anyone can get a megaphone?
