From
He’s grappled with teacher unions, gun sellers and public pensions, but as his third term heats up, it’s becoming clear what Mayor Bloomberg’s most visible legacy will be — remaking, or rather undoing, the city’s streets.
He’s squeezed out cars in favor of floral planters, OK’d “pop-up” cafes and bike lanes, but the pedaler-in-chief saved the crown jewel of changes for last — a public-rental program deploying 10,000 bicycles to 600 sidewalk kiosks. The initiative, which will be the third-largest in the world, behind Paris and Hangzhou, China, will be tested this summer, and rolled out in 2012. Critics say it’s community sentiment be damned.
“Do people have any say in this? They have to walk somewhere,” said Andrew Albert, transportation co-chair of the Upper West Side’s Community Board 7, about the large bike racks the city plans to install pretty much everywhere.
Since when did people think they have ANY say in anything that happens in this city once Bloomie makes his mind up.
ReplyDeleteIf Bloomberg makes a decision, you just nod your head in agreement and continue working like a good little serf.
"cars in favor of floral planters, OK’d “pop-up” cafes and bike lanes, but the pedaler-in-chief saved the crown jewel of changes for last — a public-rental program deploying 10,000 bicycles to 600 sidewalk kiosks"
ReplyDeleteI like all these things! Once again the NY Post and I disagree.
As for the bike-share program, there’s been little squawking so far. Perhaps because few details have been released.
ReplyDeleteHaving "few details" never stops the Post!
More cars, fewer bikes!
ReplyDeleteFaster traffic, more lanes!
No more cycling around neighborhoods!
Let's turn the sky grey with the car exhaust of progress!
Citizens of Manhattan unite against the Jackal of City Hall!
Look, I hate Bloomberg for being a developer's mayor, stadium-lover and kleptocrat as much as the next person. But however much I dislike his catering to the rich, his passion for a bikable, walkable city is teh awesome. I live right off of First Avenue and I love the way he's given it a bike lane and bus lane, even though I don't bike and I don't ride the bus. He respects the city's streetlife, and he's prioritized people over cars. Give credit where credit is due.
ReplyDeleteThis will make it more difficult for me to find a place to park for dinner in the East Village!
ReplyDelete@Grieve, have you tried parking on East 6th street? There should be a lot of spots open since Mara's has closed.
ReplyDeletewhy the Frankenstein reference? i don't get that part.
ReplyDeleteIt's great but I wish he would do something about the Nypd harassing cyclists and giving them bogus tickets. Last night I was given a summons for riding on the sidewalk when I was stopped and not even peddling!
ReplyDeleteI will herald the arrival of Johnny Appletack to NYC !
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I completely support this initiative, along with the increased bike lanes and bus rapid transit lanes (which I hope will eventually lead to implementation of light rail and modern trolleys throughout the city).
ReplyDeleteHowever, please make sure the bike racks for this system do not take away pedestrian space! Pedestrian space is already too limited, especially with the artificially narrowed sidewalks of the village, already blocked by meters, signs, newspaper boxes, and garbage.
- East Village Slav
"Waaa, I'm a pedestrian, don't take away my sidewalk space!"
ReplyDeleteMy impression has always been that pedestrians in NYC walk wherever they want, traffic and orderliness be damned. So, you'll just have to keep walking in traffic and in the bike lanes like you already do. Shut the fuck up!