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edk5 t1_iuoto5d wrote

An aggressive ticketing campaign against this across the city would help (and generate some revenue!).

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HappyArtichoke7729 t1_iuoyfhh wrote

LMAO

But seriously, short of law enforcement, umm, enforcing laws, I mean without that, the only effective option is just to start kicking the mirrors off cars when they do this. When they get tired of buying mirrors OR when the police start enforcing laws, then this will stop.

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jersey385 t1_iurbwm7 wrote

The sarcasm comes from waiting for the bus at the bottom of the hill on Newark where the protected bike lanes are frequently ignored and the sidewalks are used. I feel like it’s about 50/50 sidewalk Vs bike lane. Given the zero enforcement policy of pretty much anything in JC that’s not likely to change.

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oekel t1_iurrxxm wrote

People are choosing the bike lane instead of the sidewalk because it’s often futile to get drivers to stop at 7th street so you can cross the street to use the correct bike lane

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HappyArtichoke7729 t1_iurefgz wrote

When the police don't enforce laws, citizens have to. When cars are parked in bike lanes or sidewalks, maybe they should occasionally lose a mirror.

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jersey385 t1_iurfge6 wrote

I personally don’t have an issue with that but there have been times I’ve been lectured by my friends on destruction of peoples property. The incident had to do with an egg to a windshield and I’ll leave it at that and yes I’m working on anger issues.

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HappyArtichoke7729 t1_ius8719 wrote

I would agree with all that....

...if we had a police department that enforced laws.

We don't. Times, they are-a-changin'. We have to enforce laws ourselves.

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jersey385 t1_iup2maq wrote

We have perfectly good sidewalks for those bikes!

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kulgan t1_iup4zdn wrote

It is illegal to ride on the sidewalk and pedestrians hate it. It's also dangerous.

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mcar91 t1_iupib2o wrote

Cyclists scare the crap out of me and my dog when the zoom down the sidewalk on Palisade.

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kulgan t1_iupiunr wrote

Call your council person and tell them you want protected bike lanes.

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mcar91 t1_iupizgy wrote

I honestly rather deal with the sidewalk cyclists than have all the parking on Palisade taken away. 🤷🏼‍♂️

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jgweiss t1_iuqx5zx wrote

don't worry, I'll call on your behalf

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kulgan t1_iupjawq wrote

I'd rather not die if I want to get somewhere.

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jersey385 t1_iupjqfk wrote

Is it really???? That was more sarcasm.

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kulgan t1_iupp6a7 wrote

I thought there was a good chance of that, but it's indistinguishable from what I've been told by people in cars.

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JCwhatimsayin t1_iuoypuk wrote

I'm all about keeping the bike lanes clear, but technically these are not official bike lanes...YET. This was a temporary test using wash away paint.

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cb2-0-0 OP t1_iup2kmu wrote

So they aren't real bike lanes? They are a trial run for real lanes?

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vocabularylessons t1_iuphv9g wrote

Basically. Similar idea as the Newark Pedestrian Plaza, they piloted / did a test run with weekend / temporary closures for a while before fully committing. Of course, you can't really pilot a bike lane if people park in it. But the markings and signage are there, so the city has to be really aggressive about ticketing people.

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cb2-0-0 OP t1_iuqnsqn wrote

Interesting. I wouldn't have known that, but good to know. Thanks

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mcar91 t1_iupi09b wrote

This was a short experiment. They were temporary lanes. I’m not quite sure what ~3 days of having a 2-block bike lane is going prove as an experiment, though. I only know this cuz I chatted with some bike activists who were gathered around there over the weekend.

I live on this block and barely saw it used.

As much as I want cyclists off the sidewalk and I want it to be safer to get around the Heights on a bike, I really don’t want a bike lane for the whole length of Palisade.

I rather see raised crosswalks to prevent speeding and make crossing safer while preserving parking. It’s already difficult to park near my house and paid off-street parking is really difficult to find. When I said this on Twitter, I was immediately yelled at to pay for parking. I have to assume by someone who never tried to find parking to rent in the Heights cuz they’d know it’s pretty damn hard to accomplish.

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cb2-0-0 OP t1_iuqnw8y wrote

I'm just one person, but I did use the lane as I bike on Palisade every day. I know it wasn't there long, but I did use it. I will admit that bike lanes for such a short stretch didn't make much sense, but I will take something over nothing. Just my two cents.

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jgweiss t1_iuqxl6l wrote

make that two. I used it at least 3 times on Saturday (did not know if it was up yet on Friday, and I left for a vacation on sunday) to get to bread and salt + modcup. it wasn't much but shows that we can get around safely in the heights, if the right people just allowed us to.

tbh to me the answer is bike lanes on the sidewalk, next to the curbside parking, grade-separated from cars. extend the sidewalk 3 feet and built a 5 foot painted lane with a small curb..parking stays, cyclists can't cross the curb onto the sidewalk, and I don't have to get buzzed by SUVs on my bike all day.

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cb2-0-0 OP t1_iuqxxs5 wrote

Palisade is such a dangerous road for bicyclists/pedestrians and something has to be done to make it safer. I say that as a daily bike rider and pedestrian on the stretch of Palisade from 139 up to Riverview Park.

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mcar91 t1_iur4sd0 wrote

I love this plan.

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jgweiss t1_iur6s9a wrote

every time I pass the new courthouse under construction I get mad that they are building this huge front yard and sidewalk on central ave, with 0 provision to consider cyclists when there is ample room to show off how good grade-separated lanes can be. that is, if I'm not getting honked at or cut off by some construction worker from the suburbs taking his f150 to the courthouse jobsite (anecdotal, but a true story nonetheless).

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mcar91 t1_iur9gsc wrote

Totally. I would happily make smaller sidewalks if it meant giving cyclists ample space and maintains road space for parking.

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DSMK2 t1_iut931a wrote

I feel like there's barely enough casual bike culture in JC for any bike lanes to show results. People need to get themselves bikes first too, against pressure from a car-centric environment (and having little experience biking in the first place). I don't know if Citi Bikes do much for that.

Biking on the road feels unsafe (sharrows and signage don't really help), and consistently seeing bikers on the sidewalk reinforces the idea that "oh it's fine to bike on the sidewalk"... Despite me consistently experiencing a lot of them coming from behind without warning.

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[deleted] t1_iupst4r wrote

[deleted]

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cb2-0-0 OP t1_iuqo2dq wrote

Not to be that person but why should parking be the priority anyway? People have cars as a matter of fact, sure, but does that make the needs of people who don't have cars less worthy/valuable?

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hxc-ufoz t1_iur8tu1 wrote

It goes both ways. The needs of cyclists are not necessarily more important than those of car owners, especially if they are in the minority.

No need for abstractions about who gets what and how. It should be voted on by the community, as well as allowing us the option to propose a better solution

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[deleted] t1_ius1bi4 wrote

[deleted]

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cb2-0-0 OP t1_ius1yxs wrote

Nah, I wasn't coming at you. Just thinking out loud, asking questions for everyone on the thread in general.

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go-for-Banjo t1_iusbuxa wrote

Well I don’t have kids, but my taxes still go to funding “your” child’s public education. See how easy it is to twist your argument?

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mcar91 t1_iupv1kb wrote

I like the idea of raising the price of a parking permit and using that money for transit and infrastructure.

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Public_Minute_805 t1_iuriawg wrote

The problem is that people then ask for protection, which starts as the little flexi-posts but those get knocked down, so the city puts in Jersey barriers. Which are then a road hazard so they put six crash barrels in front of each one (and one on the rear for good measure) and the block starts to look like a NASCAR track that is pedestrian-hostile.

​

We can't have nice things.

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go-for-Banjo t1_iusbe52 wrote

I’d rather them fix all the bumps on palisade near reservoir Ave! No point putting a bike lane that is essentially made of speed bumps!

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edgertor t1_ivbulcm wrote

i have really wanted to get static cling stickers made that say something like "when you park in the bike lane you endanger a biker's life" or something catchier. and slap them on every damn car i go by. i love that it'll infuriate them but be harmless.
dm me if you wanna team up on this project.

or maybe something shame-ier

(this is what i mean by a static cling sticker https://www.stickermule.com/products/static-clings )

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edgertor t1_ivbuo0k wrote

i mean every damn car PARKED IN THE BIKE LANE

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