Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

sanjsrik t1_ivv3wwy wrote

So, a place only tourists and rich folks will use?

−31

Miser OP t1_ivv4k8a wrote

Replying to sanjsrik (#495,732)

You are aware us normal new yorkers use sidewalks right? Especially the one just outside penn station, the port authority, and the garden. Right?

24

TwilitSky t1_ivv4vhq wrote

The bikes and scooters seem riskier than the cars at this point.

2

MantisAnt14 t1_ivv5a6r wrote

Cyclists in NYC have death wishes.

−15

Grass8989 t1_ivv5aeh wrote

What’s the point of having a micromobilityNYC sub when everything just gets reposted here?

3

iliveoffofbagels t1_ivv5qnd wrote

I'm actually surprised to see people walking in the area between the bike lane and the side walk. There is an area east of Penn... probably going down 34th... that has and entirely protected area for pedestrians on the street, but everybody was just crowding on the side walk. I guess more pedestrian street space for me. It was like heaven carrying a roller bag and having to deal with zero people as i was walking through quickly.

81

analog_x700 t1_ivv5uvk wrote

Looks nice! Will they extend the sidewalk as well?

32

nyxnars t1_ivv5yk0 wrote

8th Ave is the black hole of midtown lol

9

bottom t1_ivv7jgw wrote

awesome !!!

love seeing positive changes.

29

Miser OP t1_ivv7nfm wrote

Replying to Grass8989 (#495,788)

I'll answer this genuinely. In the sub, we have many more posts, and great discussion, on a huge range of topics, and lots of them are little things only people genuinely interested in r/MicromobilityNYC topics would care about. Lots of things only sort of related to NYC, like design practices and news from other global cities on how they are implementing bike lanes and other bike infrastructure, and general urbanist things as well. Lots of these are of interest to the people genuinely fascinated with this stuff and never get reposted here, but then there is some stuff that is uniquely NYC related news and of general interest that an average, non bike or urbanist type person would still want to see. (Which is unarguably true, given how well these posts here in r/nyc too.)

This gives a lot of people what they want. People with a greater interest in how the city is evolving can join micromobilityNYC, people who aren't aware there are communities for this stuff and would be interested can get exposed to it occasionally, and people with only a passing interest can get the highlights of NYC centric stuff here.

17

Duchock t1_ivv9f1n wrote

I have experienced this for myself. Absolutely love it. These sidewalks are traditionally extremely crowded, especially when the theaters let out combined with construction making choke points, and the perpetual wallflowers.

Fewer cars in midtown is a win. Now we just need things worth walking to on 8th (read: please stop enabling my access to Wing Stop and Popeyes).

203

stillstriving21 t1_ivv9h05 wrote

can confirm, the normally awful walk from my grand central-area office to port authority is SO much better because of this walkway. usually it's so full of tourists who don't know where they're going.

26

TwilitSky t1_ivv9p8b wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#495,990)

Is it? People aren't following traffic laws going the wrong way and cutting off pedestrians with walk signals, riding in designated zones (gtfo the sidewalk!) and seem to have zero regard for pedestrians not even slowing at intersections. All of this often on motorized devices that can do plenty of damage in their own right.

−2

beagle_bathouse t1_ivvb9ay wrote

Replying to sanjsrik (#495,732)

I can't wait until I'm poor enough to be able to afford a $20,000 car plus gas plus insurance plus maintenance plus parking. Until then I guess my rich ass is walking/biking/taking the subway.

/s

10

SuckMyBike t1_ivvdwmd wrote

Replying to TwilitSky (#496,076)

As a Belgian, that is heavily involved in alternative mobility advocacy, I can tell you, everyone everywhere complains about the behavior of road users in their city.

NYC, LA, Houston, Toronto, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, ... Heck, even in my small Belgian city with a 100k population people think we have the worst road users.

Cars complain about cyclists. Cyclists complain about cars. Everywhere.

Studies (both in the EU and the US) that look at how often both drivers and cyclists break the law consistently find that they break the law at the same rate. Being a driver or a cyclist doesn't make one more prone to breaking the law. It's all just confirmation bias.

Turns out, it's just assholes being assholes. Someone who breaks the law while driving isn't going to magically behave when on a bicycle. And vice versa.

The Dutch realized this many decades ago already. So they decided to apply the logic "if people are going to break the law anyway, it's best if they're on a bicycle, not in a car".

After all, a cyclist breaking the law and hitting a pedestrian is bad. But the pedestrian likely lives to rant about it.
But a car driver breaking the law and hitting a pedestrian? High likelihood that pedestrian doesn't live to tell the tale.

16

unndunn t1_ivve0h5 wrote

Replying to Grass8989 (#495,788)

Easy karma farming from the self-styled "urbanists" of r/nyc. Despite the fact that Miser is a hypocrite--constantly railing against car owners despite being one themselves.

−4

JadeandCobalt t1_ivve52w wrote

Replying to Duchock (#495,993)

It’s definitely been a lot better with these changes. I used to avoid 8th Ave at all costs when I bike, but now I’ll cautiously take it (though I still prefer 6th Ave). The posts separating pedestrians from cyclists weren’t there when I last used it; those should hopefully help.

27

TeamMisha t1_ivvek45 wrote

I am still salty they did not do capital improvements and physically widen the sidewalk.......... but it's better now so I gotta take it as a small victory lol. I do LOVE that now the bike lane is not in the gutter too, and though the flexible delineators are garbage hey it's something for now

19

Grass8989 t1_ivvfie3 wrote

Replying to Miser (#495,900)

Maybe a micromobility megathread is due then! Could have all of these discussions in centralized thread instead of all over the place.

−6

TheNormalAlternative t1_ivvfuop wrote

I give it a week until trucks are parked in the "extended sidewalk"

17

Miser OP t1_ivvgz36 wrote

Replying to TwilitSky (#496,274)

Building bike lanes to get all the bikes and other micromobility into the same place on the street is literally a form of controlling them and making things safer for everyone.

The point is if you replace something very dangerous and harmful with something that is only a tiny bit harmful it's a huge net win safety wise.

12

kd10023 t1_ivvh0tm wrote

As a bus driver this change is absolutely terrible

6

BasedAlliance935 t1_ivvhr3a wrote

They couldn't have used some of that extra walk space to ceeate a 2 way bike path?

1

Red__dead t1_ivvj6t7 wrote

Replying to sanjsrik (#495,732)

>So, a place only tourists and rich folks will use?

Lol, between "only the rich can walk" and "you're just jealous you're to poor to own a car", between "we need fewer bike lanes to reduce traffic" and "my elderly one-legged nan needs to drive to midtown on a weekly basis to move her furniture" - these carbrains are really starting to lose the plot over these positive changes.

Get some fresh air away from sitting in traffic huffing exhaust fumes 3 hours a day, it might do you guys some good.

7

Miser OP t1_ivvjn3y wrote

Replying to unndunn (#496,230)

Yeah that's why we want to improve the city's walking and cycling. For that sweet reddit karma. You got us.

Hey, what does it tell you that these ideas are such a reliable "karma farm?" Why is it I never see you out there making content for reddit about how we should rip up bike lanes and sidewalks for more car lanes? I hear a lot of complaining from you and a handful of others about how we want to improve the city but we literally never hear your vision. What is it, cars from one building's wall to the other?

13

unndunn t1_ivvjynu wrote

Replying to weezy22 (#496,328)

That isn't their position. Their position is that all car drivers in NYC are stupid, ignorant pricks and everything would be so much better if they ditched their cars and started biking everywhere. But not Miser though; it's okay for them to keep their car because they need it for... reasons. As if the people they routinely criticize don't have reasons of their own.

−2

Miser OP t1_ivvlyhw wrote

Replying to koreamax (#496,550)

I mean yeah, there are 1.6 million people that ride micromobility here in the city, over a million that ride it regularly. Would you say something like "every time I attack pedestrians I'm downvoted, it's so unfair."

We already have to put up with enough bs and are not interested in hearing your petty little complaints about how your neighborhood lost 3 parking spots out of thousands to make a bike lane or whatever. I assume that's what your complaint is since you've actually provided no "factual statements."

6

unndunn t1_ivvml2c wrote

Replying to Miser (#496,489)

lol, you don’t propose any ideas either. You just bitch and moan using sanctimonious language to criticize car owners for holding back what you deem as progress. Much like all the other “urbanists” whose only idea is “cars = bad”. And the rest of r/NYC laps it up because it’s easy to criticize a class you don’t belong to.

−4

09-24-11 t1_ivvnbdy wrote

Replying to unndunn (#496,230)

I own a car and also support a more pedestrian and bike friendly city. I even support making it more difficult to own a car and support a tax on car owners even if it harms my own self interest.

It’s almost like you have have multiple views at once.

6

NYST8 t1_ivvpmj3 wrote

MoARRRR!

12

billiam632 t1_ivvpxbi wrote

Replying to unndunn (#496,646)

I am in the car owning class and I can say micromobility is fantastic. Cities should be designed for pedestrians and suburbs for cars.

Also I see plenty of ideas being proposed in the micromobility sub

10

koreamax t1_ivvpypp wrote

Replying to billiam632 (#496,821)

So, hey. I don't mean to sound rude but you're making this the epitome of a comment section is micro mobility. A reason I criticized it initially and didn't buy the inclusiveness in the previous comment

6

billiam632 t1_ivvq4di wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#496,025)

I don't really see the point in this. Can't someone say that bikers are notorious for refusing to follow even the most basic of traffic laws all around nyc without someone pointing to cars as well? Yes we all know cars are terrible for the city but bikers need to follow the rules and stop putting themselves at risk.

2

Interesting_Banana25 t1_ivvsfxt wrote

It’s amazing to see old pictures of traffic in Manhattan and see how much better things are now.

8

surpdawg t1_ivvupfg wrote

This is stupid. We need to eliminate sidewalks and raise the speeding limit to 55.

−9

Mdayofearth t1_ivvuzuz wrote

Now, how do we get bikers to stop biking in the pedestrian space, in the wrong direction; and get pedestrians from standing in the bike lane waiting for the light to change.

13

unndunn t1_ivvw17w wrote

Replying to billiam632 (#496,836)

There’s always a half-dozen people who pop up to say “I own a car and I think bikes are great”, as if that somehow refutes anything. Newsflash: I own a car and I want better bike infrastructure as well.

The difference is I don’t look at cars and their owners like they’re some kind of diseased lepers who must be vilified and bled dry, if not exterminated altogether.

4

freeradicalx t1_ivvwcmo wrote

Holy crap. I regret moving away before this happened. This was always in like my top three highest priority bike infra improvements for the whole city. Congratulations, it's been a long time coming!

Though I would give it about two weeks before 50% of those outside bollards are gone.

3

zeno t1_ivvwef9 wrote

That was the dreaded Port Authority pedestrian commuting artery. The sheer volume of people walking south made cycling uptown almost impossible at rush hour. Good job DOT

2

arsbar t1_ivvwpom wrote

Replying to 09-24-11 (#496,690)

A tax on cars might not even hurt your own self-interest if you’re willing to pay a bit for less traffic (classic example of a pigouvian tax).

−3

freeradicalx t1_ivvy1cd wrote

Replying to TwilitSky (#496,076)

The solution is to formalize accommodations for motorized micro-mobility. Scooters and ebikes and mopeds exist, and they are very well-adapted for city travel, so we need to give them designated street space if mixing them with other traffic is dangerous.

1

George4Mayor86 t1_ivvzgtt wrote

Replying to TwilitSky (#495,774)

Getting bumped by a 140 pound guy on a scooter is much, much preferable to getting killed by an idiot texting and speeding in a multi-ton car.

Yes we should enforce good street use on smaller vehicles, but in terms of potential for injury it’s apples and oranges.

1

silenc3x t1_ivw00wh wrote

Need bollards or something to prevent cars driving down it, not plastic ones. But it's certainly looking great so far.

5

York_Villain t1_ivw2pwd wrote

/u/Miser

Is there chatter about how to regulate batteries? I don't want a manual bike. Currently the #1 thing holding me back from buying an ebike is the worry that my building will up and disallow them. Traveling on an ebike in protected or semi-protected bike lanes is so damn nice.

1

nickthib t1_ivw2qkb wrote

Hopefully those flexposts are stronger than the ones on Queens blvd, because drivers have flattened about half of them where I live.

4

York_Villain t1_ivw2wvf wrote

Replying to P0stNutClarity (#495,749)

That's already been approved and in very very preliminary phases. It'll look just like 1st and 2nd avenues. If I remember correctly though, it'll run from 59th street and up. I guess it's because of the Queensboro lanes that are there.

Manhattan needs better crosstown bike lanes running from east to west. Off the top of my head, I don't know of any that are protected.

24

CactusBoyScout t1_ivw33y1 wrote

Replying to analog_x700 (#495,816)

Yeah all of the recent changes to NY’s streets that take space back from cars have been done in temporary ways (paint, plastic bollards, temp barriers, plastic planters). It’s like they want the next mayor to undo it.

2

York_Villain t1_ivw3oad wrote

Replying to BasedAlliance935 (#496,397)

I don't know. Unless it's really well spaced out like it is along the west side highway, I hate two way bike lanes. They're cramped as fuck and kind of scary.

Plus....a lot of people aren't 'trained' to look both ways at a one-way intersection.

3

ardvarkforce t1_ivw4b5e wrote

Looks like a solid improvement, although I would have preferred additional sidewalk as well. Driving a bus would probably suck though, they need way more dedicated space than they're currently allotted.

3

Miser OP t1_ivw5obb wrote

Replying to York_Villain (#497,512)

Unfortunately the battery issue might be a little beyond my area of expertise. I attended an event a little while back with a Council Member that talked a bit about how the City Council was very aware of it, and also most members weren't in favor of any legislation to prohibit personal electric vehicles, or for allowing city agencies to do that. (Especially since so many industry/delivery and working class people and jobs depend on it now.) But they also didn't really have any answers.

So the government probably isn't our problem, and it's also probably not individual buildings or landlords we have to worry about but actually insurance companies that may force them to act. Frankly I have no idea how this is going to play out, but I have a feeling there will be pretty stringent certifications coming for batteries, which would be good. We just need to get a few years down the road and let the industry mature and fix the issue like they did for other Lithium ion products that used to have this problem and keep any bans to a minimum, and also remind people that fires with personal electric vehicles even now are very rare, and when they do happen its not really happening to high end ebikes or scooters, it's happening to the really cheap mopeds and ebikes whose manufacturers cut corners.

2

unndunn t1_ivw60jc wrote

Replying to unndunn (#497,666)

Someone asked about why this sub gets spammed with micromobilitynyc shit all the time. I responded. Of course, you people can’t handle getting called out. 😂

5

orgoworgo t1_ivw7f4n wrote

Woah this is actually improving my life, which one of my elected representatives was responsible for this?

21

aforty t1_ivw9fkm wrote

Oh, it’s beautiful.

4

brianvan t1_ivwaxd5 wrote

Replying to CactusBoyScout (#497,538)

It’s not the reason.

If it becomes the kind of project where they have to relocate physical parts of the street itself (rather than things painted on, bolted on or plopped down) it becomes a giant, unwieldy thing requiring NYC’s capital construction agency to step in, plus the underground utilities to be accounted for (and relocated when needed; if you have to move sewers, you also have to touch phone lines, gas lines, electric lines, steam lines, maybe even subway infra)

Such a project takes years to budget and execute.

I believe “things should be different” but it’s a system that includes century-old pipes and telecom stuff dating back older than any of us, and it’s always been extremely poorly organized, and there’s strong political resistance to fixing it (the utility companies are private-sector corporations that cooperate very poorly with public-sector interests & are governed by Albany) so its never going to be easy or cheap to dig up, regrade and reconfigure a Manhattan roadway.

In light of this, DOT’s approach is reasonable.

23

unndunn t1_ivwc6wk wrote

Replying to breadman1010wins (#497,968)

Ok, you’ve said “coping” like half a dozen times in this thread. Do you actually have anything substantive to say, or should I just block you right now and move on with my life?

5

CactusBoyScout t1_ivwcb21 wrote

Replying to brianvan (#497,966)

I understand it’s complicated and costly. But they did it in Times Square and they could at least announce plans or intentions to do it other places.

It’s fine if their current approach is meant to be some temporary test. But once they’re done testing these things and haven’t found any big issues they should move on to planning something more permanent like an actual widening of the sidewalk.

Otherwise we end up with situations like the Willoughby Open Street where some powerful city insider got all the barriers removed one day with no input from anyone and it took a big public outcry to bring them back. Real physical changes are much harder to undo on a whim.

5

brianvan t1_ivwczgq wrote

Replying to CactusBoyScout (#498,027)

The Times Square thing was not done as a fully permanent installation on the first run. What was done in the end was EXPENSIVE (tens of millions) and still isn’t perfect (bike lane sucks) and is still getting substantially dug up and rebuilt often (subway entrance expansion at 42nd). It’s good that they did it… but it sops up a discouraging amount of money to do things like that. Madison Square/Flatiron, reconfigured years ago, is still mostly paint + plastic + original curbs.

But you’re right; permanent changes should be budgeted now. If they’re not, it’ll take much longer to get to the point that you can do them (the construction itself goes pretty quickly; all the preparation takes forever)

8

CactusBoyScout t1_ivwdgai wrote

Replying to brianvan (#498,079)

Yeah it just feels like this massive tease that they gave Times Square such a nice, permanent, pedestrian-focused redesign more than a decade ago and really haven’t done anything like it since in other places. Just plastic bollards and paint for the most part.

4

GoddamntCharlie t1_ivwdqdm wrote

So if there was enough traffic to fill 5 lanes, where is it going to go with only 2 lanes?

3

ABrusca1105 t1_ivwf9oz wrote

Replying to BasedAlliance935 (#497,528)

I never understand why they must make all the bicycles go the same way as cars. Many bicyclists will just not go over an entire avenue just to go a certain direction. There's plenty of space for two lanes.

1

Palaiologos77 t1_ivwfevm wrote

The changes on Lexington have been nice too.

2

weewcy t1_ivwmkgk wrote

I ride a bike on the 8th almost every day and while it’s still not perfect, the bike lane helps a lot.

3

turndownfortheclap t1_ivwmwcb wrote

Shall we give Eric Adams some props yet? Or is he still our least favorite black nyc mayor

−3

Methuga t1_ivwngfp wrote

Replying to Duchock (#495,993)

Now if we could just get the dumbass cyclists who pretend like they have no idea the bike lanes shifted a lane to the right. I've almost been run more times since they made this shift than in the entire year before it.

8

Methuga t1_ivwnmwg wrote

Replying to ABrusca1105 (#498,188)

That's definitely what it is. When the change first happened, you'd see everyone still crowded on the regular sidewalk, then one brave soul would confidently step out and walk, then you would see more people slowly file out onto the new lane behind him/her. Not everyone's gotten the hang of it, but at least between 40th and 50th, it's pretty well used now

23

billiam632 t1_ivwonrv wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#498,681)

Except I cannot understand someone who takes additional effort to actually dismiss someone who is getting upset about it. That is the mind of someone who I cannot understand whatsoever.

Like okay you think I am being dramatic. What does that make you?

1

Charlian64 t1_ivwqume wrote

Replying to Duchock (#495,993)

Shout out to my new favorite sandwich spot in the background of this shot, Al Antico Vinao. Incredibly tasty Italian meats and cheeses, if a touch pricy (what isn't around there).

2

ericje t1_ivwvkmb wrote

Replying to Methuga (#498,673)

They should make it an actual sidewalk. In some places it's very easy for bikes to bike there, which they'll do if pedestrians are blocking the actual bike path. Like in front of the New Yorker hotel, where they designed it such that people get out of cabs right on the bike path 🙄.

2

Kongressman t1_ivwyiqw wrote

Great, now there’s only two lanes of traffic for first responders like firefighters and ambulances…

Honestly, r/micromobilitynyc is so toxic. Let’s see all those cycling advocates praising bike lanes when it’s 10F with snow. How are you going to solve that problem when the snow trucks can’t even get in to clear it???

−3

OverlordXenu t1_ivx1nse wrote

Replying to Mdayofearth (#498,431)

that doesn't mean the bike lanes have to follow car traffic. there are plenty of two-way bike lanes, and even bike lanes that flow against car traffic.

seems like there was enough space here for a two-way bike lane, which means you'd have fewer people salmoning.

5

FarFromSane_ t1_ivxu2so wrote

Replying to GoddamntCharlie (#498,139)

Oh man what about all the cars that use Broadway! What about all the cars that used to use the (now bike lane) lane on the Brooklyn Bridge! What about all the cars that use all the lanes on 1st Ave, 2nd Ave, 3rd Ave, 5th Ave, 6th Ave, Lexington, Madison! We can’t possibly add bike lanes, bus lanes, and more pedestrian space in exchange for some car lanes! What about all the cars that use the elevated West Side Highway! What about all the cars that drive through Central Park! Obviously once space has been surrendered to cars it can never ever be taken back, that’s unthinkable. (everything mentioned here was not for cars, then given to cars, then taken back)

5

Patrick_Sazey t1_ivxyy7t wrote

Now bikes have a superhighway sidewalk to ride on.

1

Warpedme t1_ivy1bax wrote

Replying to George4Mayor86 (#497,365)

While I completely agree with your point I'm laughing at "140lb guy". That's like a preteen weight. Adult men are going to be 150 minimum for a super skinny dude and a fit or chubby guy will be ~200lbs.

1

Warpedme t1_ivy20wh wrote

Replying to SolitaryMarmot (#496,940)

And increase tolls for cars everywhere there are tolls in the city, And increase traffic police enforcement of all road laws for both private cars, commercial vehicles, scooters bikes and every other vehicle. Fines should be changed to a percentage of last year's income as reported on their tax return so they punish everyone equally.

If they dedicate the extra income from just those for public transit, we could all ride free on our new mag Lev subways.

2

Warpedme t1_ivy2uoe wrote

Replying to BasedAlliance935 (#497,528)

Bikes and every other form of vehicle should be required to go in the direction of traffic only. So on a one way street, they could only go that one way. By all means, if there's that much bike congestion, add a second lane just make sure it follows the same one ways as every other vehicle is required and also make sure there are traffic cops ready to physically tackle and ticket anyone going the wrong way.

1

The_Wee t1_ivy8cx1 wrote

Replying to iliveoffofbagels (#495,812)

I have seen this behavior even during quieter times at street fairs. I a walking up Lexington in the middle of the empty/barricaded street. People still walking on the sidewalks.

2

huebomont t1_ivylajn wrote

Replying to mapoftasmania (#500,809)

They absolutely can widen sidewalks (in many cases the current sidewalks are far narrower than they used to be.) Plenty of streets way narrower than this. FDNY’s guidance isn’t based on anything but being too lazy to analyze in detail any real potential problems and taking the shortcut of “the status quo needs to stay the same”.

The intent with all painted sidewalk space is that it’s a footprint for future capital projects to build in concrete with a curb. The city just doesn’t have the money to do it because pouring a little concrete costs a billion dollars here thanks to corruption and graft.

3

eekamuse t1_ivz5iy1 wrote

Replying to orgoworgo (#497,765)

Good question. We give them hell for the things we hate. We need to give them props for this. And more importantly, vote for them, so they keep doing good things.

I'm in awe. It's just so good.

14th street is great, but no bike lane. Now this. Keep it going NYC

3

DaBrooklynGirl t1_ivzqyxi wrote

Anyone know why individual mopeds don’t seem to need license plates? I was almost run last night on Vessey by a delivery guy who paused across the cross walk and the took off cussin me for being in a pedestrian lane that clearly instructs bicycles and rollerbladers to”Yield to Pedestrians”. When I turned to try and catch his plates his moped had none.

1

WTC-NWK t1_ivzzrii wrote

Still ugly as fuck, like most areas of midtown

0

_allycat t1_iw8r9v9 wrote

Replying to iliveoffofbagels (#495,812)

Lots of confused tourists. Some areas are definitely more clear also like the spaces with tables and chairs. Doesn't help with confusion or feeling safe when bike's commonly ride through.

3

Wowzlul t1_iwaglq4 wrote

Replying to CactusBoyScout (#498,979)

If I take a cab I'm always struck by how much more open the avenues feel. Even in midtown traffic there's ample space given for each car (with ~1.5 people per) to have a larger buffer on all sides than any pedestrian can enjoy.

You also get that impressive "canyon" look that's impossible from the sidewalks.

1