Interactive Journalism I

Cyclists and the City

Posted on 19. Oct, 2009 by Alexander Abad-Santos in Arts and Culture, Beats, Thomas Lin, Urban

Last week, Community Board 7 voted 28-7 on a resolution in favor of Protected Bike Lanes on Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. Unlike the bike lanes that are in place, these lanes which have been installed in Chelsea and places in Midtown, will be physically separated from the flow of traffic and are protected with special traffic lights that indicate crossing patterns.

There are plenty of statistics that assert these lanes offer better protection:

A Protected Bike Lane Traffic Light

• According to the Department of Transportation:
  • After the Ninth Avenue Protected Bike Lane was installed, injuries among all users dropped 56 percent
  • The protected Broadway bike lane between 42nd and 35th Streets brought a 50 percent drop in injuries.
• In regards to Chelsea’s Ninth Avenue, Manhattan’s Liveable Streets Organization found:
  • After the first year, crashes on that corridor were down by 41%;
  • Pedestrian injuries had dropped by 36%
  • Injuries from all accidents were cut in half; sidewalk cycling had been reduced by a “whopping” 80%,
  • Cycling traffic had increased by 57% in this period
• According NYC.gov, commuter cycling has grown 35%

And while it’s easy to get swept up in the enthusiasm for safer cyclists, it’s also important to note issues arising in other neighborhoods where these new lanes were installed:

• Small business owners in Chelsea complain of less traffic
• Businesses in Little Italy and SoHo feel like there’s less tourism
• Gothamist’s account of a firefighter opposing the Grand Street Bike Lane

Since Manhattan’s neighborhoods and traffic congestion patterns are so different, there’s no telling how these new lanes will affect the businesses and safety on the Upper West Side. Perhaps they’ll increase both business and safety?

But in general…

How do you feel about cycling in the city?  Would you be more inclined to ride a bike if protected lanes were installed?  Would you like to see them in your neighborhood?

Is it possible to work out a compromise for both businesses and bikers?

Do protected lanes make you feel safer, even if you aren’t a cyclist?

Tags: Bicycles, bike, bike lanes, CB7, Columbus Ave., Community Board 7, cyclists, Protected, protected bike lanes, Upper West Side, UWS