bike boxes
Here's a biking horror story--guy got tasered.
ugh. That just did the opposite of 'make my day.' I've ridden in and out of airports before and it's no fun at the best of times.
Turning away from the cop and leaving without permission didn't help but almost worse than the tasering was the cop stomping on the guy's glasses. There's flagrant abuse of power and then there's getting even with all smart people.
he was clearly a smart guy. but i would not use him as a guide for successfully dealing with cops.
Successfully dealing with glasses-stomping cops: flatter them, thank them, do what they say.
ugh. It's true, but ugh.
moral of the story: Be nice to the pigs.
I hope the bike boxes work. Cool idea.
As an ex bike messenger and a driver, I think the boxes are stupid. They are just going to slow traffic up by allowing people that are slow and wobbly and don't understand the notion of downshifting to be in front of all traffic. Bike Lanes are nice but they also slow one's momentum on a bike with all the turning vehicles and cabbies using it to drop and pick up fares. The middle of the road is fastest. But lets be clear I think ALL avenues should have them.
modal prejudice
I've never seen a city that accommodates multi-modes like Amsterdam. Pedestrians, bikes, private cars, taxis, trolleys, buses all get along -- and each have their own sets of privileges. Of course, the private car doesn't have the same position of royalty that it has in American cities. That's the fundamental issue. Until the privileges of the private car are reigned in somewhat, everyone else is fighting for scraps.
in nyc its commercial class vehicles : busses, trucks, cabs and limos all setting the hyper aggressive tone of the traffic. like how many busses to do you see running reds? trucks asserting right of way, cabs veering across avenue lanes and limos making cheezy moves at tunnel and bridge lane reductions.
*edited* to include bike messengers
True. I've said this before, but NYC bus drivers actually floor it when they're moving towards pedestrians.
And we won't talk about my experience biking in the middle of the road in Jersey City.
and shirtless in liberty state park!
"shirt!"
That really bothers you. How can you stand going to the beach?
And it was "shirt please"--some mouthy day camp kid.
no i get a charge out of it. whats a beach?
Thanks for the LOL of the day.
ok..having lived in Amsterdam I agree it is the best city I've seen that incorporates all modes of transportation. I think that is needed rather than a scrap like a bike box. How many cars do you see in the crosswalks, clogging intersections, etc. and not getting tickets. The box is a great gesture and maybe a small step but it is still not what is needed.
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- bill 6-20-2007 9:29 pm
Here's a biking horror story--guy got tasered.
- tom moody 6-20-2007 10:09 pm [add a comment]
ugh. That just did the opposite of 'make my day.' I've ridden in and out of airports before and it's no fun at the best of times.
- sally mckay 6-21-2007 12:10 am [add a comment]
Turning away from the cop and leaving without permission didn't help but almost worse than the tasering was the cop stomping on the guy's glasses. There's flagrant abuse of power and then there's getting even with all smart people.
- tom moody 6-21-2007 12:15 am [add a comment]
he was clearly a smart guy. but i would not use him as a guide for successfully dealing with cops.
- bill 6-21-2007 12:20 am [add a comment]
Successfully dealing with glasses-stomping cops: flatter them, thank them, do what they say.
- tom moody 6-21-2007 12:24 am [add a comment]
ugh. It's true, but ugh.
- sally mckay 6-21-2007 12:41 am [add a comment]
moral of the story: Be nice to the pigs.
- mark 6-21-2007 1:49 am [add a comment]
I hope the bike boxes work. Cool idea.
- mark 6-21-2007 1:50 am [add a comment]
As an ex bike messenger and a driver, I think the boxes are stupid. They are just going to slow traffic up by allowing people that are slow and wobbly and don't understand the notion of downshifting to be in front of all traffic. Bike Lanes are nice but they also slow one's momentum on a bike with all the turning vehicles and cabbies using it to drop and pick up fares. The middle of the road is fastest. But lets be clear I think ALL avenues should have them.
- ken 6-21-2007 5:11 pm [add a comment]
modal prejudice
- bill 6-21-2007 7:29 pm [add a comment]
I've never seen a city that accommodates multi-modes like Amsterdam. Pedestrians, bikes, private cars, taxis, trolleys, buses all get along -- and each have their own sets of privileges. Of course, the private car doesn't have the same position of royalty that it has in American cities. That's the fundamental issue. Until the privileges of the private car are reigned in somewhat, everyone else is fighting for scraps.
- mark 6-21-2007 9:32 pm [add a comment]
in nyc its commercial class vehicles : busses, trucks, cabs and limos all setting the hyper aggressive tone of the traffic. like how many busses to do you see running reds? trucks asserting right of way, cabs veering across avenue lanes and limos making cheezy moves at tunnel and bridge lane reductions.
*edited* to include bike messengers
- bill 6-21-2007 9:41 pm [add a comment]
True. I've said this before, but NYC bus drivers actually floor it when they're moving towards pedestrians.
- tom moody 6-21-2007 9:47 pm [add a comment]
And we won't talk about my experience biking in the middle of the road in Jersey City.
- tom moody 6-21-2007 9:50 pm [add a comment]
and shirtless in liberty state park!
"shirt!"
- bill 6-21-2007 9:53 pm [add a comment]
That really bothers you. How can you stand going to the beach?
- tom moody 6-21-2007 9:55 pm [add a comment]
And it was "shirt please"--some mouthy day camp kid.
- tom moody 6-21-2007 9:56 pm [add a comment]
no i get a charge out of it. whats a beach?
- bill 6-21-2007 9:59 pm [add a comment]
Thanks for the LOL of the day.
- L.M. 6-21-2007 11:13 pm [add a comment]
ok..having lived in Amsterdam I agree it is the best city I've seen that incorporates all modes of transportation. I think that is needed rather than a scrap like a bike box. How many cars do you see in the crosswalks, clogging intersections, etc. and not getting tickets. The box is a great gesture and maybe a small step but it is still not what is needed.
- ken 6-22-2007 2:16 am [add a comment]