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The docking stations for the Citi Bikes bike share continue to pop up around the neighborhood... We've heard a few stories where cars were towed from areas where the docking stations were going in — despite the lack of warning via No Parking signs. (Gothamist has more about this here.)
These signs are up on East Second Street just east of Avenue, as EVG reader Mark White points out...
Per Mark, the signs are "taped facing straight out to the street, not at an angle for drivers POV. As you can see, they are not easy to spot and on a congested block where where is never any parking as it is, I'm sure they will be angrily torn down in no time."
And the Citi Bikes drama continues...
Updated 1:01 p.m.
As predicted, Mark notes that someone ripped off part of the No Parking notice ...
26 comments:
How many spots do these take up? They should put em on the sidewalk. Don't need 2-3 more cars circling for parking.
Not on the sidewalk! there is barely room to walk now with all of Bloombergers' parisien cafe bs taking up all the space...once again, public space is being appropriated for private business.
13th Street seems to have been given to the bikes. Passed one building where entrance has been entirely blocked by them yesterday. What happens when there's a fire? When a resident comex home with a a heavy package? DOT is out of control. Kind of like the bikers.
The no parking signs are also up on the south side of 13th Street at the south corner of Avenue A going towards Ave. B. I think it's the same day.
I saw signs on other blocks too... just west of Second Avenue on Second Street... Uh, forget where else... But several!
I saw signs on other blocks too... just west of Second Avenue on Second Street... Uh, forget where else... But several!
Don't know what it is about bikes and dogs that gets some people so unhinged.
@ Ken from Ken's Kitchen
Wait till the city announces the Dog Bike share program!
@ Anonymous 10:00 AM
Maybe they'll walk between the bikes. Maybe they'll walk around the bikes. I'm sure people will do the same thing that they've been doing when cars are parked bumper to bumper down the street, you know, walk between the cars or around the cars.
To me, cars seem to take up a lot more room. They're usually at least 10 feet in length (unless it's a smart car) and sometimes those cars are parked right up on the bumper of another car.
Don't know how I've managed till now. I guess bikes with their 1 (one) foot width is the end all to fire escape and package delivery.
Re: evilsugar25: "Not on my block"
1) It's not "your" block.
2) Station locations were announced a year ago (with public process beforehand)...not sure how this could suddenly be a surprise.
Re: Anonymous
They really put the station in front of the building's door? That must be an accident.
If, what you really mean, is that they put it in the public street in front of the building, then your argument is moot. What is someone comes home with a heavy package and both sides of street are filled with cars? What if there's an emergency?
Pretending that this is the first bike share system ever installed and that contingencies have not been worked out elsewhere is just plain silly.
@nygrump: How is this "public space being appropriated for private business"? 2 or 3 parking spots in which a private automobile—used by, at most, 4 people, but probably one—is repurposed as a space in which potentially dozens of people to use daily. That reads to me as making public space MORE public.
Personally, I'd prefer my taxes go to a public program like bike share than to subsidizing parking for the privileged few.
it is my block.
The problem - bikes, dogs, etc. - is the city is now filled with people who don't know how to live in a city. I find people have a huge lack of consideration for others in general. I don't ever remember it being this bad.
A good start. Hope this succeeds. With proper enforcement of trafflic laws for cyclists, this can be a very positive development: reduce street vehicular traffic, pollution, noise, and accidents. Better for the environment. Maybe even keep more people fit with the exercise. Why drive a car and then pay for a gym, after all....
- East Villager
@~evilsugar25 said "it is my block"
Glad to hear that - so if you could just start work on fixing the potholes and gaps in the sidewalk, arrange for trash pickup and snow removal, street cleaning, etc etc etc
Oh, you mean you live there and somehow claim ownership of the public resources of the street? Car owners have zero right to free or subsidized parking on the street - want a place to park, pay for a fucking garage. Even the biggest bike racks have taken at most 3 or 4 spaces and benefit dozens if not hundreds of people rather than the one selfish asshole car owner. Want free on street parking on front of your home? Move back to Kalamazoo
Look at these bikes taking up all this space! Ugh, they're the worst!!! Now where am I going to find public space to store my 4,000 pound car?!?!?
Oh the optimism is overflowing - it is going to be wonderful simply wonderful... ;-)
If they put RED ARROWS on my block I'm calling the Mayor.
By the way 311 is only used if you have a trans-fat emergency.
And anon 12:56 your gonna need one of those 4,000 pound cars when we move you out of the east village.
Unless you want to move your furniture on the back of your bike?
Would've it have been a better idea for Citibank to do a citiauto instead of citibike? and then installed some electric charging stations for cars in a faction of the space taken away by citibike. and offer people rebates on new electric cars or give electric cash cards. Then just about everybody could've use it, like most of the seniors and handicapped plus you couldve use it 24/7 365 days a year no matter what the weather and without the fear of participation in one of the top three most dangerous outdoor sports... Sorry I just don't like this program at all, a good intention but total misguided......so on saying that I end my rant and vote the Bloomberg to ride one of these $101 made in china bikes for a year whenever he moved about in the city, lets see if he gets younger all of a sudden and avoids busting his ass
BB: How, exactly, do you suppose that a car-sharing program would take up less space than a bike-sharing program?
What is it about bikes that seems to make everyone lose all common sense and seethe in anger?
If the community got together, they could have come up with creative ways to place these bike stations. This divisive cars vs bike thing is an atrocious distraction from the real issues. Cars aren't going away, neither are bikes, but the silly ways they implemented the bike lanes (floating parking spots, no space to open your door without being directly in the traffic lane) and now these racks is inefficient, unimaginative and is poised to cause arguments. Like those stupid planters at intersections that serve no purpose, it is clear to those of us who commute by car Bloomberg has decided he wants to make driving and parking as difficult as possible. All this ire because he didn't get his congestion pricing plan.
As we all bicker, look how well he has distracted us from the real issues in the city such as affordable housing, efficient transit, small business vs corporate development, real estate development and zoning etc.
It's divide and conquer and we are all guilty of falling for it.
I'm not thrilled about these racks as I think there are better ways to implement them, but I will adapt to it, park farther away from work if I must and hey, maybe I'll rent a bike to get from my car to work :-)
Let's stop hating on one another and unite to support each other and use that energy for things we really care about in this our beloved NYC.
vzabuser, I rent a van when I move and hire movers, I have logic, so I don't own a car in the city. That doesn't mean I never drive, but I would never choose to live the nightmare that is owning a car or driving on daily basis in this city.
Sinestra, the planning process for this was extremely creative and probably the most community involved process that's happened in this city. And despite how many negative nancy's are commenting on here, the program has a 72% approval rating, so the disapprovers are very much in the minority.
If anyone is interested, there's a good article about the cost of free parking, ultimately free is an illusion and street parking is not a god or government given right:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/business/economy/15view.html?_r=0
I'm not suggesting a need to own a car in New York,
ANON 7:09, just that New York needs cars just a much as it needs bikes and must accommodate both!
I just wish they'd run a program that didn't require a smart phone to use..It's as discriminatory as these other restrictions (forget about trying to pay cash- or leave a cash deposit...again highly discriminatory)
Anyone renting a bike should be forced to take a quiz on their "smartphone" about basic rules of traffic first. And what about helmets? I really hope people don't get hurt.
"Anonymous said...
BB: How, exactly, do you suppose that a car-sharing program would take up less space than a bike-sharing program?"
well I was thinking it could be done like the zipcars, in unused lots...and not take a single parking space away.
lol @ 72% approval rating from some random poll and community involvement....they put the racks where ever they wanted...this program is garbage, does not help the poor, does not help the handicapped, does not help the elderly or sick..it only helps those who mostly likey are carrying a credit card, tourist and 20 -45 year olds with money who.might open an account with citibank.
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