Comments on: The Revolt of the Masses http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/05/21/the-revolt-of-the-masses/ Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:42:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Vin http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/05/21/the-revolt-of-the-masses/#comment-7587 Vin Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:44:09 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=896#comment-7587 While I agree that the "elitist" charge is just too easy, and generally like JSK, there IS something to the idea that bikes are "elitist" in New York. Why? Real estate values in New York generally rise the closer you get to the core. Therefore, the only parts of the city that are compact enough to make a bike commute practical - basically most of Manhattan and northwestern Brooklyn - are the most expensive. Middle-class New Yorkers generally have a difficult time affording this area. Anybody who thinks a large number of people will bike from Flushing, say, to Midtown, is kidding themselves. The city of Copenhagen is 34 square miles. The entire Copenhagen metropolitan area is smaller than the five boroughs. Comparing Copenhagen to New York is like comparing the economy of Luxembourg to that of the United States. I will admit that cycling is no more elitist than driving, and really less so. I'm generally in favor of bike lanes and such, but mass transit is the only viable large-scale transportation solution in a city like New York. While I agree that the “elitist” charge is just too easy, and generally like JSK, there IS something to the idea that bikes are “elitist” in New York. Why? Real estate values in New York generally rise the closer you get to the core. Therefore, the only parts of the city that are compact enough to make a bike commute practical - basically most of Manhattan and northwestern Brooklyn - are the most expensive. Middle-class New Yorkers generally have a difficult time affording this area. Anybody who thinks a large number of people will bike from Flushing, say, to Midtown, is kidding themselves.

The city of Copenhagen is 34 square miles. The entire Copenhagen metropolitan area is smaller than the five boroughs. Comparing Copenhagen to New York is like comparing the economy of Luxembourg to that of the United States.

I will admit that cycling is no more elitist than driving, and really less so. I’m generally in favor of bike lanes and such, but mass transit is the only viable large-scale transportation solution in a city like New York.

]]> By: Greg http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/05/21/the-revolt-of-the-masses/#comment-7416 Greg Sat, 23 May 2009 01:53:22 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=896#comment-7416 Folding bikes are indeed great. They solve that "where do you store it" question quite nicely and allow better integration with transit. Europe's experience shows nothing of the kind, btw. Bike usage holds up well during all but the most inclement weather. And with better clothing and tire tech you can improve that performance. When about half of all trips in Copenhagen are by bike (a place with real weather) I don't see how anyone can get away with calling bikes "not a solution". Bikes are cheap, address issues of health as well as issues of transportation, and are woefully under used in the US. It's time we changed that. Folding bikes are indeed great. They solve that “where do you store it” question quite nicely and allow better integration with transit.

Europe’s experience shows nothing of the kind, btw. Bike usage holds up well during all but the most inclement weather. And with better clothing and tire tech you can improve that performance.

When about half of all trips in Copenhagen are by bike (a place with real weather) I don’t see how anyone can get away with calling bikes “not a solution”.

Bikes are cheap, address issues of health as well as issues of transportation, and are woefully under used in the US. It’s time we changed that.

]]> By: Matt http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/05/21/the-revolt-of-the-masses/#comment-7410 Matt Fri, 22 May 2009 18:35:32 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=896#comment-7410 "the time required for a walk to bus to subway commute" Bikes are really good for cycling to the nearest station, locking up (or folding up), and taking the train the rest of the way. “the time required for a walk to bus to subway commute”

Bikes are really good for cycling to the nearest station, locking up (or folding up), and taking the train the rest of the way.

]]> By: Lloyd Alter http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/05/21/the-revolt-of-the-masses/#comment-7394 Lloyd Alter Thu, 21 May 2009 21:30:29 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=896#comment-7394 I just spent five days in NY with my folding bike, and never took the subway or a cab, found the bike lanes on the west side to be like superhighways for bikes, fabulous design, respectful drivers, I came away thinking that New York was a cyclist's paradise. Two years ago when I did it at the same time, I was dodging pedestrians, the bike lanes (where you could find them) were parking lots, and I feared for my life. Anyone in NY who doesn't bike is missing the fastest, cheapest and most convenient way to get around. I just spent five days in NY with my folding bike, and never took the subway or a cab, found the bike lanes on the west side to be like superhighways for bikes, fabulous design, respectful drivers, I came away thinking that New York was a cyclist’s paradise.

Two years ago when I did it at the same time, I was dodging pedestrians, the bike lanes (where you could find them) were parking lots, and I feared for my life.

Anyone in NY who doesn’t bike is missing the fastest, cheapest and most convenient way to get around.

]]> By: Russ http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/05/21/the-revolt-of-the-masses/#comment-7390 Russ Thu, 21 May 2009 16:51:20 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=896#comment-7390 One question about bicycles is whether they will ever make a significant difference in traffic patterns. A City Planning report show almost zero use of bicycles in the outer most parts of the boroughs. The distances to Manhattan, and the time required for a walk to bus to subway commute, suggests that the car is a rational choice for many. (Surveys show about ten percent drive into Manhattan, and many drive elsewhere in the region.) Finally, Europe's experience shows that bicycling is heavy dependent on the weather, and the irregular bicycle ridership causes irregular public transit volumes. Nice idea but not a solution. Instead, we need very small, electric, inexpensive, all-weather personal transport vehicles for the outer boroughs. One question about bicycles is whether they will ever make a significant difference in traffic patterns. A City Planning report show almost zero use of bicycles in the outer most parts of the boroughs. The distances to Manhattan, and the time required for a walk to bus to subway commute, suggests that the car is a rational choice for many. (Surveys show about ten percent drive into Manhattan, and many drive elsewhere in the region.) Finally, Europe’s experience shows that bicycling is heavy dependent on the weather, and the irregular bicycle ridership causes irregular public transit volumes. Nice idea but not a solution. Instead, we need very small, electric, inexpensive, all-weather personal transport vehicles for the outer boroughs.

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