New York’s Hometown Paper Doesn’t Get How New York City Streets Work (Amsterdam: 2013, construction)
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I think I’ve figured out why, when it comes to allocating space on New York streets, the Daily News opinion team tends to take a position that’s completely at odds with making the city a better place. The problem is that the Daily News opinion team doesn’t understand how city streets function.
Quote:
There’s a finite amount of street space in New York City, and if you’re serious about reducing traffic injuries, improving access to jobs, and maximizing the economic potential of our streets — if you want to tackle the obstacles that stand in the way of those goals — then you have to reallocate some of that limited space to walking, biking, and transit. Sidewalks need to be wider and traffic lanes need to be narrower to reduce injuries. Dedicated transit lanes and safe bike lanes need to be in place so people can travel without jamming the streets and delaying other people. In the spatial sense, street design and transportation policy really is a zero-sum game.
Former Bogotá Mayor Enrique Peñalosa puts it like this: ”You can have a city that is very friendly to cars, or you can have a city that is very friendly to people. You cannot have both.” To pretend that you can just give something to every mode of transport and say you’ve made everyone’s lives better is to ignore a core truth about how city streets work.
Last edited by nykiddo718718; 06-03-2013 at 07:44 PM..
You can have a government and city which is "friendly" in regard to the FREEDOM of its people; or, you can have a city and government which dictates and controls the peoples' freedom.
In a Free society, government's job is to guard and enhance FREEDOM!
In a Free society, one has the right to ride a bike, and one has the rght to drive a car. In a free society, government does not elevate one right above the other. In a free society, an individual has the right to CHOOSE!
Unfortunately, there are those who would take our freedoms, in order to *make* a society of *their* desire. They would elevate their freedom above that of all others.
The worst of this kind are Socialist and Communist. The remaining, are those who would impose *their* version of eutopia upon us all. The "Deciders"!
Streets were originally designed as multi-use spaces, primarily for transportation. In the mid to late century they became unfairly devoted to automotive traffic. This century we will put the pedestrian first, while allowing for multi-mode transportation.
Maybe if people didn't put so much garbage (like all these posts) on the sidewalks you'd have more space to walk there and stop going on and on about an anti-car tirade.
Streets in the USA are for cars.
Bike at your own risk.
If they start ticketing bicyclists who don't follow the rules of the road, and jaywalkers as much as they ticket auto drivers they might have some money to start implementing some of said plans.
Coltrane wants to be free to get stuck in a gridlock for hours on end.
Streets were built for transportation. And not everybody can drive a car to work in NYC.
Given the limited space we live in, the city cannot build more roads, and the existing ones wouldn't be able to handle a substianlly increased amount of traffic. So in the end we need to accomodate and embrace more efficient transportation options.
For a 5-8 mile commute, a bicycle is simply the most efficient method.
Maybe if people didn't put so much garbage (like all these posts) on the sidewalks you'd have more space to walk there and stop going on and on about an anti-car tirade.
Streets in the USA are for cars.
Bike at your own risk.
If they start ticketing bicyclists who don't follow the rules of the road, and jaywalkers as much as they ticket auto drivers they might have some money to start implementing some of said plans.
Only a fool wouldn't want improved streets. The status quo is not working...
The more people that take mass transit, the more people that bike, the more people that walk, the more people that can drive efficiently.
The changes are happening before your eyes, and New Yorkers know our congestion is a huge problem (and we're tired of it). City planning today in NYC is heavily focused on pedestrian/transit/bike infrastructure/construction finally.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 30to66at55
Its amazing how you poor carless schlubs in NY chimp scream that they are your streets. Sorry...they are for cars. Go into you smelly subway.
Funny thing is I used to drive a new 3 series BMW. I decided to sell it considering it was absolutely useless in Midtown and now that I temporarily live in the East Bronx I still don't need to drive. Everything I need is local, I work in Midtown, and I hang out Downtown.
Quote:
Originally Posted by likeminas
Coltrane wants to be free to get stuck in a gridlock for hours on end.
Streets were built for transportation. And not everybody can drive a car to work in NYC.
Given the limited space we live in, the city cannot build more roads, and the existing ones wouldn't be able to handle a substianlly increased amount of traffic. So in the end we need to accomodate and embrace more efficient transportation options.
For a 5-8 mile commute, a bicycle is simply the most efficient method.
Our arteries are already beyond capacity. For example, today I rode from Midtown to the East Bronx. Rush hour traffic was literally at a stand still as far as Longwood/Hunts Point...
On the positive side, I noticed a lot of people riding Citi Bikes. And I mean A LOT.
Last edited by nykiddo718718; 06-05-2013 at 05:21 PM..
I agree. If you look at a country like Holland, everyone rides bikes, and the weather is horrible! Traffic calming is very advanced there.
Contrary to popular belief. The two cities known for a high bicycle transit mode share; Amsterdam and Copenhagen, became auto-centric during the mid-century. The people decided to make a change; they grew tired of the pollution, congestion, collisions, and expensive infrastructure like freeways. They also wanted to restore their pedestrian friendly streets and maintain the urban fabric.
They changed. We can change too. We are already ahead of the game. NYC's density and mixed use, urban construction makes it very walkable right now. It takes urban/pedestrian/transit/bicycle oriented policy to enhance our liveability.
Last edited by nykiddo718718; 06-05-2013 at 08:47 PM..
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