I occasionally visit new York, and this was long overdue I understand eco friendiness and it’s nice that it’s not cars but, it’s insane there.
for those who have never been. The sidewalks and roads are absolutely littered with food delivery drivers. There are walking areas that as a pedestrian you can’t walk because you risk getting run over by delivery drivers on bikes who only care about delivering as fast as possible to maximize their money. In a city with as heavy pedestrian traffic as NY that’s a bad combination.
I fully agree with mandated court hearings for traffic violations on them, it forces the delivery driver to lose a day’s income instead of just accounting it as a cost of the job. the previous penalties wern’t doing jack.
It sucks that non-commercial might get hit, but most bike traffic is commercial and something has to give.
This is the subheading on the article (emphasis added):
Some worry that New York City’s crackdown on unsafe cyclists leaves them facing greater consequences than drivers, even though cars cause more fatalities.
So why let drivers off the hook? You seem to care about safety, but then support enforcement that disproportionately affects those who are doing less harm? There’s no logic, it’s just vibes.
Culturally, we accept drivers causing a significant amount of death and destruction, but get so mad about anyone else. It’s not rational.
I’m not saying let the drivers off the hook, I’m just saying that bikers, from what I’ve seen there usually get ignored or just continue after fines, it’s clear the punishment wasn’t high enough. Hell I was just there in March and saw 3 people get hit and a bunch bikers just ignore the lights. (and ofc a crap ton of pedestrians as well but yea)
I’ve lived here for almost two decades and I’ve almost never had a problem with bikes.
I did once see a driver make a right turn and hit a delivery bike kid, drag him for a few feet, and then speed off. Luckily, teenagers I guess are indestructible and the kid got up and rode away after a few minutes.
If you want better bike and pedestrian safety, the solution is probably build better bike lanes. There are a lot of spots with nothing, or a painted suggestion. There’s a spot near prospect park where they expect the bicyclist to turn right, pass through a lane of traffic, and then just hang out in the center lane with all the cars. It’s a nightmare.
The cops always park in the bike and pedestrian lanes in prospect park, and it makes me so mad.
Personally I feel like if you park in the bike lane for any reason that’s not life or death, people should be allowed to do what they want to your car. Maybe move it. Maybe key it. I don’t care. It’s a hazard for everyone.
While I wouldn’t go as far as keying, I fully agree if you park in a protected lane such as a fire lane, bike lane, handicap etc any damages accumated in the lane should be the drivers responsibility.
I’m glad when someone confirms they read the post ahead of time. Makes commenting easier. It’s a tad ironic you are doing the same as you are complaining about though
Well, I can easily identify two. The standards applied to cyclists versus motorists, as well as the fact that commercial vehicles vs civilian makes no difference. At least from your description.
Separate from that is the general problem that couriers are essentially coerced into behaving so irresponsibly by corporate greed, but that’s a whole other can of worms of course.
ah that makes sense thank you, I’ll clarify it some. I didn’t specifically say so but, I don’t personally agree that it should be biker vs car enforcement based, I’m just glad they are doing /something/ about the bikers whom seem to had been just ignored previously.
As for commercial vs personal, I do think it would be better to impose stricter penalty for commercial though, as like you said there is higher incentive to cut corners/break laws, which means the same penalty doesn’t weigh as much when it’s getting you more money or making you look better for a larger company.
Thank you for the additional clarification. And naturally, potentially mitigating solutions such as bike lanes are so often demonized in our society, not because it actually causes disruptions to traffic, though; I figure it really is all about drivers getting jealous because they see people on bicycles not getting stuck in traffic (in my not so humble opinion). Not to mention how many violations of basic road safety and laws get handwaved because “they need their car”.
But I do agree that endangering pedestrians is no solution. I guess it infuriates me that real solutions are ignored/refused for such ridiculous reasons.
I occasionally visit new York, and this was long overdue I understand eco friendiness and it’s nice that it’s not cars but, it’s insane there.
for those who have never been. The sidewalks and roads are absolutely littered with food delivery drivers. There are walking areas that as a pedestrian you can’t walk because you risk getting run over by delivery drivers on bikes who only care about delivering as fast as possible to maximize their money. In a city with as heavy pedestrian traffic as NY that’s a bad combination.
I fully agree with mandated court hearings for traffic violations on them, it forces the delivery driver to lose a day’s income instead of just accounting it as a cost of the job. the previous penalties wern’t doing jack.
It sucks that non-commercial might get hit, but most bike traffic is commercial and something has to give.
This is the subheading on the article (emphasis added):
So why let drivers off the hook? You seem to care about safety, but then support enforcement that disproportionately affects those who are doing less harm? There’s no logic, it’s just vibes.
Culturally, we accept drivers causing a significant amount of death and destruction, but get so mad about anyone else. It’s not rational.
I’m not saying let the drivers off the hook, I’m just saying that bikers, from what I’ve seen there usually get ignored or just continue after fines, it’s clear the punishment wasn’t high enough. Hell I was just there in March and saw 3 people get hit and a bunch bikers just ignore the lights. (and ofc a crap ton of pedestrians as well but yea)
I’ve lived here for almost two decades and I’ve almost never had a problem with bikes.
I did once see a driver make a right turn and hit a delivery bike kid, drag him for a few feet, and then speed off. Luckily, teenagers I guess are indestructible and the kid got up and rode away after a few minutes.
If you want better bike and pedestrian safety, the solution is probably build better bike lanes. There are a lot of spots with nothing, or a painted suggestion. There’s a spot near prospect park where they expect the bicyclist to turn right, pass through a lane of traffic, and then just hang out in the center lane with all the cars. It’s a nightmare.
There was a video a long while ago where a cyclist got a ticket for not riding in the bike lane.
So he filmed himself riding in the bike lanes and crashing into the parked cars there and one of them was a cop.
It’s clear that politicians don’t give a fuck about cyclists.
The cops always park in the bike and pedestrian lanes in prospect park, and it makes me so mad.
Personally I feel like if you park in the bike lane for any reason that’s not life or death, people should be allowed to do what they want to your car. Maybe move it. Maybe key it. I don’t care. It’s a hazard for everyone.
Like when firefighters run their hoses through the busted out windows of cars blocking hydrants
While I wouldn’t go as far as keying, I fully agree if you park in a protected lane such as a fire lane, bike lane, handicap etc any damages accumated in the lane should be the drivers responsibility.
I fully agree, more biking accessible options becoming available wouod be good. it’s not safe from either side.
Ngl I stopped reading there. But I had to go back just to make sure your opinion didn’t matter
I’m glad when someone confirms they read the post ahead of time. Makes commenting easier. It’s a tad ironic you are doing the same as you are complaining about though
<-- A tourist.
then give that shit to those driving the motorized vehicles that weigh a few tons
Cars don’t drive on sidewalks. Well… at least not usually. Though I guess I have to admit that I’ve seen it.
I mean no reason both couldn’t be done I agree
That’s the to to lamest excuse I’ve heard for such an egregious double standard.
I’m curious what’s the double standard here?
Well, I can easily identify two. The standards applied to cyclists versus motorists, as well as the fact that commercial vehicles vs civilian makes no difference. At least from your description.
Separate from that is the general problem that couriers are essentially coerced into behaving so irresponsibly by corporate greed, but that’s a whole other can of worms of course.
ah that makes sense thank you, I’ll clarify it some. I didn’t specifically say so but, I don’t personally agree that it should be biker vs car enforcement based, I’m just glad they are doing /something/ about the bikers whom seem to had been just ignored previously.
As for commercial vs personal, I do think it would be better to impose stricter penalty for commercial though, as like you said there is higher incentive to cut corners/break laws, which means the same penalty doesn’t weigh as much when it’s getting you more money or making you look better for a larger company.
Thank you for the additional clarification. And naturally, potentially mitigating solutions such as bike lanes are so often demonized in our society, not because it actually causes disruptions to traffic, though; I figure it really is all about drivers getting jealous because they see people on bicycles not getting stuck in traffic (in my not so humble opinion). Not to mention how many violations of basic road safety and laws get handwaved because “they need their car”.
But I do agree that endangering pedestrians is no solution. I guess it infuriates me that real solutions are ignored/refused for such ridiculous reasons.