work4bike

These videos on Youtube of cyclists and cycling in NYC do not put cyclists in a good light; it's also a little damning on NYC.

I'm a very good roadie and consider myself very adept at cycling on the roadways (with over 30-years of commuting via bike) and I even opt to cycle on roads in lieu of MUPs -- I actually like it; however, not sure how I'd like cycling in NYC

P.S. The title of the video should be: What NOT to do while Commuting on a Bike.

JoeyBike

That green bike lane is a disaster. New Orleans just started experimenting with that curbside lane. I tried it once, people were walking in it even though the sidewalk was deserted. You can't make things foolproof because the fools are so clever!

The cop "about face" in the bike lane is exactly how I hit a drunk pedestrian about 10 years ago. "OH! I forgot my teeth back at the bar!" sudden, complete 180* turn with his back to me. And near the end of the video when that cycling woman cycled next to the tractor trailer turning left! Just watching the video I was screaming "NO NO NO!"

And don't get me started about cars stopping across the "crosswalk" for cyclists. That is just tradition around here.

I would ride in the street with the taxis. That green lane is just dumb.

CB HI

You do understand that NYC has a mandatory bike lane law, right. And NYPD seems more than happy to write tickets to cyclist for not being in the bike lane or not having a bell.

noglider 

Yeah, it's crazy here. I would like to make a video, but I don't have the equipment.

1nterceptor

Been bike commuting here in NYC for 10 years now; it's not too bad.
Not as nice as Holland; a bit better than Manila.

jon c. 

Life in the big city. An entirely different 'normal' than applies to most places,

noglider 

And yet, because motor vehicle speeds are lower, you might be safer here from injury and death than in the suburbs or rural areas.

wschruba

I'd be happy to lend you a Shimano sport cam/mount. Just post it back when you're done using it--I'm not using it at the moment.

mcours2006

When you have that many people walking around and that many cars in such a small space what do you expect? Having to dodge that many pedestrians would be such a nuisance.

Gresp15C

That was the impression I got while watching. It was like everything was happening in slow motion. Of course I have no idea what it's really like, and I'd probably have to improve my skills, but I'd ride.

noglider 

JoeyBike

Did not know that. We had what they called a "sidepath law" in Louisiana for a decade. Thankfully they ditched it, for obvious reasons in that OP video. Any cyclist with sense, and the ability to keep up with auto traffic, would avoid that green pavement at all costs.

Jim from Boston

New York City Cycling -- CRAZY!!!
I previously posted:

work4bike

I would love to go up to NYC and just ride around to see what it's really like; maybe I'll do this on one of my cyclo-trips...I know I would go out into the road quite a bit in lieu of staying in the "green". According to the NYC bike laws that's an option -- I'd use that to the max... NYC DOT - Bike Smart

I know that's what I would have done in this situation (taken the middle lane) and not just because it's a Sharrow, I would have done it even in a "green lane".

SprocketPeck

I lived in New York for 5 years and I hated cycling there. I also had three bikes stolen. Once they unfastened the scaffolding I had locked up to.

Tamiya

noglider 

Casey Neistat lives in my neighborhood (or I live in his), but I haven't run into him yet. Very cool guy.

There is an increase in ridership going on. I've observed it increase over the years. I moved back into the city in 2013, and it was underway then, and I see it continue. I read that the fastest increasing demographic group is people 55 and over, and that's true. I see people in their 70s getting around on bikes, and I have to believe that not all of them have been doing it for a long time. They don't ride as brazenly as the people taking these videos, and they have somehow come to the conclusion that the hassle and danger are acceptable, so if they can do it, most everyone should consider it.

@work4bike, if you come, I'll make you brunch and give you a bike tour of the city. @SprocketPeck, what years were you here? It has gotten better in some ways, though the increased congestion makes it worse in at least one way, depending on the routes you take. Nearly every street has a bike lane or sharrows. Some of the bike lanes are good, and some are bad. It's best to do what's safe, not follow the law. NY State law requires using a bike lane or other facility where it exists, which is a very bad law, as Casey Neistat demonstrates. I hope it changes, and I think there is movement afoot to change it. Not all states have that requirement.

SprocketPeck

I just left the city a year ago. My blood was just too jumpy to commute everyday. I would see people get hit (and of course berate the driver with gusto) very often, and i would think whens my number gonna be up.that being said cycling anywhere presents a certain degree of risk.

noglider 

How do you commute now? It's driving that gets on my nerves. The city is worse than the suburbs, but I didn't like it in the suburbs, either, when I lived there. And it's arguably dangerouser than cycling.

JoeyBike

Sorry you had to leave. I know that seems like the best option at times - trust me I get it. I hope you found some place you like better!

CB HI

As examples:
One video I cannot find now, of NYPD parked blocking bike lane and giving bike lane tickets to cyclist who ride around his car.

work4bike

Wow, so much hatred and discontent in NYC. Doesn't NYC have a cycling support group? Seems they need to challenge these unlawful tickets, since NYC ordinance give clear right to leave bike lane when unsafe.


NYC DOT - Bike Smart

Excerpt:

• Use marked bike lanes or paths when available, except when making turns or when it is unsafe to do so. If the road is too narrow for a bicycle and a car to travel safely side by side, you have the right to ride in the middle of the travel lane. Bicycling is permitted on all main and local streets throughout the City, even when no designated route exists.

JoeyBike

Wow. NYC needs more murders. Cops in NOLA already have their hands full with real work. Bike lane traps would not occur to them, nor would they have the time.

Dahon.Steve

The bike lanes are not that bad! They are bad if you intend to ride above 10 mph! I use them for kick scooting with my Xootr and very rarely have issues because I'm slow. The person in the YouTube video makes it look far worse because that's his intention! He purposely rode fast in the bike lane with people all around the sidewalk to create controversy and get more hits to his video. More views means more money. It's actually very safe if you are slow and you're not making a YouTube video for profit.

JoeyBike

Yeah, that's a good point. But how much better would those lanes be without pedestrians using them a sidewalk extensions?