Bekologist

A link to a pdf of a memo from the NYC office of the Mayor yesterday.




(the letter continues at the link) 3/21/2011 NYC office of the Mayor Memorandum on public support for street plans, bicycling stats


The letter offers unequivocal support for bikeplan, mentions adaptability of plan, mentions pedestrian fatalties by bike decreased in the years cycling in New York City doubled.

The letter disputes the claims the bike network is unpopular and debunks the hysteria being fed in New York about micreant bicyclists wreaking havoc on the cities pedestrians. It suggests better planning for use of public space in New York City has reduced conflicts between pedestrians and bicyclists, not exacerbated them.

crhilton

Nice summary. Thanks for the link.

randya

they must have forgot to tell NYPD

Bekologist

well, there's still salmon swimming against the stream there and a dwindling culture of traffic jamming ala Kevin Bacon in Quicksilver.

randya

Pucher and Buehler say NYC still has a long way to go

"New York is a special case. Not only is New York by far the largest of the case study cities, but it has the most mixed record on cycling policies and accomplishments. Although cycling has almost doubled in New York City since 1990, it lags far behind the other case study cities in almost every respect. It has the lowest bike share of commuters, the highest cyclist fatality and injury rate, and the lowest rate of cycling by women, children, and seniors. New York has built the most bikeways since 2000 and has been especially innovative in its use of cycle tracks, buffered bike lanes, bike traffic signals, bike boxes, and sharrowed streets. Yet New York has almost completely failed in the important areas of bike-transit integration and cyclist rights and falls far short on bike parking and cycling training. Moreover, the refusal of New York’s police to protect bike lanes from blockage by motor vehicles has compromised cyclist safety. New York has much to learn from the other case study cities, which have implemented a far more comprehensive, integrated package of mutually reinforcing policies to promote cycling."

prathmann

And I didn't even see a mention of the bicycle theft issue except peripherally in regard to secure bicycle parking. When lock makers name their best products for NYC it's an indication of the problem there and I expect that fear of theft is a major deterrent to utility bicycling in the city.