Cyclists Without Regard for Anyone or Anything in Park Slope

illig wrote:
now i admit, this may have something to do with the fact that i look both ways before crossing, but i assume everyone does that, right? right...?

Oh, it happens. Plenty. I had 2 near-misses last week, 1 with a cyclist on the sidewalk coming around the corner in front of Castillo De Jagua, and another when I was crossing the crosswalk (with the light) at 8th ave (bike not having the light, and having a douchebag hipster on top of it).

I think someone is just following squindar around on their bike

I guess they're after me, too. Although I've actually been hit by a car (guy had to be texting or something), cyclists tend to come close a lot more often. I've explained how this is possible elsewhere, and alas, the bike lane on PPW won't completely change that - for some reason a lot of people still like to ride on the street in spite of the bike lane. Maybe the bike lane is considered "training wheels". Anyhow, if the bike lane hasn't done much for my safety vs. bikes, it has slowed vehicle traffic down a good bit, which is nice. Folks seem much less likely to play dragster in their beaters with only a one lane margin for error.

vidro3 wrote: I think someone is just following squindar around on their bike

I considered that possibility, but if that's the case, they are a master of disguise.

Cars and trucks are vital to this city, bikes are not. Maybe you should move to Iowa and ride your bike in the country and leave the big city to cars and trucks.

I think there's room for all 4: cars, trucks, bikes, and pedestrians. We all just have to be more aware of each other and some of us need to be a little less careless. I would hope to never come off sounding like one of the "anti-bike" or "anti-car" people, because I see plenty of dumbass pedestrians, too. Especially now that people can't be bothered to look up from their texting long enough to realize they're walking into a busy street with oncoming traffic.

Worst thing I've seen on the street in the slope? A guy on a skateboard, riding downhill through the 8th Ave intersection against the light, talking on a cellphone, while carrying an infant. I wish I was making that shit up.

I'm shocked that I managed to go 45 years without getting hit by a bike.

my office is in williamsburg. I walk between Union Ave and Kent Ave on the east and west, and Broadway and North 7th Street on the south and north sides.

In other words, right through the fucking heart of hipster-cyclist-burg.

I can recall a few instances when bikes startled me but not one where I was endangered.

On the other hand, at least once a day, and usually twice while crossing Marcy ave at Metropolitan ave, I am literally risking my life.

what's my point? That I am better at walking than you? Well, yes, that is true but in addition I think that so many people have become so inured to the constant danger that cars pose to pedestrians that they hardly see it anymore. On the other hand, cycling has seen a huge increase in the past few years that I can see how some people are disconcerted or surprised by having to look out for them.

eh i kinda lost my energy. someone say something outrageous for me to get indignant about.

Aquamann wrote: i think you are definitely better at walking than me.

Don't give up hope, I'm sure you excel at something Aquamann.

BornnbredBrooklynite wrote: Down in Southern Brooklyn (for the yuppies aka, "where?" they took out a lane along Gerritsen Avenue. (500 bonus points for any yuppie that knows where the avenue gets its name from without looking it up.) Now traffic is backed up daily along Avenue T and U. There is a firehouse there and it can be impossible for them to get out of the house. It was done on the fly, no community input, no nothing. Ridiculous. Bike lanes cause accidents.

Don't get me started on crappy bikers. Oh and 20 mph driving? Yeah..good luck with that.

I lived on E. 8th and T for two years. No place I've ever walked did I feel more like I was taking my life in my hands just to cross the damned street. Stop signs? What stop signs? My 1-way residential street was regularly treated like a speedway.

Anything that succeeds in slowing down traffic along U and T should be considered a heavenly MIRACLE.

vidro3 wrote: I think that so many people have become so inured to the constant danger that cars pose to pedestrians that they hardly see it anymore. On the other hand, cycling has seen a huge increase in the past few years that I can see how some people are disconcerted or surprised by having to look out for them.

EXACTLY!!!

Please copy this to your clipboard and paste it in to every comment thread and message board where the evil-cyclist horse is being beaten to death.

squindar wrote: Bike rider was 4 years old.

Just another example of someone spinning the news to suit their views. According to the article, the judge "rejected a motion to dismiss the case because of Juliet’s age, noting that she was three months shy of turning 5 when Ms. Menagh was struck, and thus old enough to be sued."

Come on, you're making it sound like this was perpetrated by some innocent four-year-old when in reality she was more like a five-year-old, and thus deserves whatever brutal treatment she gets during a lifetime in prison.

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=Carnivore][quote=BornnbredBrooklynite]Bike lanes cause accidents.

You keep repeating this, but do you have any data to back up this claim?

Such data would have to include info vis a vis injuries sustained to bikers on roads without bike lanes. I think Portland's Dept of planning could help out here. They are often cited as doing the most in the US to encourage safe biking and driving.

Lots of traffic calming there
Check out this link:
http://bikeportland.org/2010/07/27/despite-pbot-data-opposition-to-holgate-bike-lanes-remains-37031

Sorry. The link I meant to post isn't working. Google Portland Bike Lane data and go to the 5th item down, which is a pdf with data on the topic.
Specifically look at pages 13-19.

Why is the media so biased against shirtless people? How is it relevant? It just foments more hatred toward shirtless people. No doubt this will only result in some unfortunate shirtless person being attacked in retribution.