The Biking Boom Breeds Discontent

[phantom power]

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and other city leaders have praised the increase in cycling for reducing congestion and pollution and making the city streets safer overall. To accommodate the surge in bike commuters, the city has installed hundreds of bike racks and roughly 200 miles of new bike lanes in the past three years, with plans for future expansion.

Yet according to a recent weeklong investigative series by Tony Aiello, a reporter with New York City’s WCBS-TV (Channel 2), the cycling boom is breeding discontent. Titled “Bike Bedlam,” the segments turned a critical eye on reckless riders who flouted traffic laws, and profiled a young father who was killed by a cyclist riding the wrong way on a one-way street in Midtown Manhattan. A former bike shop owner declared that cyclists were “way out of control.”

The reaction of the New York City biking community was mixed, with some cycling bloggers decrying the series for perceived sensationalism, while others admitting that too many cyclists were, in fact, ignoring traffic laws, often flagrantly.

“Cyclists, clean up your freaking act,” wrote Jen Benepe, a cycling blogger.

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/a-bike-boom-backlash/

[qb]

1. Um... they have cops in squad cars to ticket motor vehicle violators...

Is this problem really that hard to solve?
:shrug:

[Javaman]

7. Because that would mean

cops would have to actually exercise while working.

Can't have that now.

[wtmusic]

2. Bottom line: cops need to hand out more tickets.

Too many cyclists think they're above the law.

[keith the dem]

3. I've noticed that motorists flagrantly ignore traffic laws also

A large number just fly through the four way stop sign in front of my house, they ignore pedestrians in well marked cross walks...and how many stay below the speed limit of 25 mph in residential areas, not to mention 65 on the highway.

There seems to be a breakdown of society where traffic laws are concerned generally.

[wtmusic]

4. Back in the day, you could get a ticket for a lane change w/o signal

Haven't seen that one for years.

[Javaman]

8. That's pretty much the rule here in Texas.

it's an event when someone actually uses their turn signal.

drives me freaking nuts.

[struggle4progress]

5. Cyclists riding the wrong way up streets is an old ineradicable NYC tradition:

I remember visiting The City about thirty years ago and being warned by my host to look for cyclists going the wrong way when I crossed streets

Seemed clear enough, but apparently the reflex needs to be developed

Second day out, I cross a one way street and hear a shriek right before the cyclist going the wrong way plows into me. Little kid in the seat on the back of the bike. Nobody hurt

[NNadir]

6. As the victim of two serious bicycle accidents involving cars, I urge bicyclists

to obey traffic laws.

That said, I fully endorse bike lanes and paths where cars are prohibited entirely.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

9. Agree 100%.

I've only been involved in one serious meeting with a car, but it was enough to alter my life forever. Not that it really matters, but the motorist was cited for running a stop sign.

Having said that, it really bothers me (to phrase it in a polite manner) when I see cyclists breaking traffic laws and riding in an irresponsible manner. Too many of them seem to think that it's a big joke to obey the laws.

That's one reason that at least 90% of my rides are solo trips.