Sophie is adorable! I especially dislike the infestation of helmetless fools on Citibikes. What drives me insane, however, is strollers propelled by people armed with phones and mommy privilege.
That sounds like a false analogy. Wheelchairs are not thrust against my shins by someone stealing the right of way or too preoccupied with a friend or a phone to watch where they’re going. Wheelchair users are doing their best to build agency.
I completely agree. I risk my life just taking a walk in my neighborhood where cars routinely run stop signs without even slowing down or looking. Sophie is lovely. I’m glad she has you to protect her.
I agree David. I too fear for my life when I’m walking across the park and need to cross at a green light and bicyclists have no respect for the light and continue at top speed.
Knowing the risk to Sophie and you I would leash her so that you can quickly pull her to safety. I would also put a neon vest on her so she stands out . I totally agree with you on all points of what bikers should do, but knowing they're not following the rules; do what you can to protect yourself and Shopie. You would be devastated if she were to get hit.
David, I totally get your frustration. We have a similar problem in Prospect Park, where crossing the street to get to the soccer fields feels like a game of chicken, as the bikers don't stop when the light changes. Worse are the streets by my house, but in this case, it's often delivery workers on electric bikes who speed through lights. I've done my share of yelling, which gets me nowhere (and scares my husband to death). Unfortunately, even scarier than bikers are the drivers who speed in this city. Last spring, a child my son's age was killed crossing the street at a crosswalk with his mother while walking to school. There are too many stories like this. I just wish everyone would slow down. Why are we in such a hurry?
I feel the same way and the optics aren't great. I'm a middle aged woman asking for the basic rules of society to be followed so people don't die. Are all of these bikers properly insured? There is no parking enforcement.
I’m a dog lover and agree people should follow the rules but as a conservative from the middle of the country I don’t understand the point of this sentence: “This is Manhattan so I suspect most of the flouters would claim to be good liberals and look down upon conservatives in the middle of the country.” Do you really look down on us and not see that as a problem?
I'm suggesting instead that the scofflaw bikers are the type of people who might look down on others with a different political outlook The two negative traits seem to go together.
And yes I hear plenty of people in Manhattan who say they can't understand the conservative viewpoint. For me, that's a flaw not a virtue.
Cities should make older, 16 and above get licenses for their bikes and buy insurance. If bicyclists aren’t willing to share the road and obey the law, then cities must address it.
The small town in Nebraska I grew up in had a law that you had to have a license plate on your bike.
The wit of the staircase. Love it. Steve Martin said the French have a name for everything.
Somehow Amsterdam does just fine without licensing cyclists and adding the cost of insurance. The difference is that there you don't see e-bikes and scooters.
I would also note that in Amsterdam they tend to be respectful of others and follow the rules. Our antisocial tendencies is why the U.S. can't have nice things.
I kind of feel I need to answer this, as someone who has lived in Holland for a good long while. Of course one cannot compare our bike-filled streets with Central Park and NYC, since really everyone here cycles, year round, mostly as a way to get from A to B. And I do not want to burst anyone's bubble but.... 1. red traffic lights are not meant for people on bicycles, is quite common. And 2. my sister has started wearing a helmet here (yes, no, that is not obligatory!) because it's just getting too dangerous on the roads and cycle lanes. I'm seriously considering it, because with scooters and the recent addition of fat bikes and other e-bikes, "road rage" is more of a danger.
Luckily we don't have adorable dogs walking there though! I can totally understand your worries and anger. (That precious time before 9am would be my "zen" moment of the day.)
Hey I get it. Bikes on walking paths are a PIA. We have a beautiful tree lined walkway around Lady Bird Lake in Austin. It's not very wide in many areas but people on bikes seem to delight in zooming around weaving in, out amongst people trying to enjoy a leisure walk. What happens to the value of leisurely walk in the park when people in bikes are treating the paths and mini raceways? If you've ever been to Boulder CO you'll see they created walk ways with 'separate' bike lanes and for the most part it works, well. But most of us don't live in Boulder.
And retrofitting towns for the advances in society aren't always practical or sensible in the long run. We give up something -walking/running/pushing a stroller on a sidewalk to get something- allowing bikes to allow electric bikes that have very little noise and go as fast as a car and potentially don't see the consequences of these changes-run over a person/dog/stroller. Sometimes maybe progress and "equity" isn't helpful or good?
We talk about this all the time here in Canada! (And Sophie is the sweetest btw!) My Stanley is a handsome but somewhat opinionated Border Terrier who is never off leash where it is clearly prohibited but other dogs ARE and terrorize both of us. I feel fearful each and every time we walk in case an off leash dog gets in our faces, whilst the owner is either oblivious, obnoxious or not even present. The idea of dealing with a dog fight -on my own, as a slight woman - is extremely frightening and the rules (clearly posted everywhere) are, dogs must be leashed at all times where we walk. That's WHY we walk there! Why should my own rights/life be constantly impacted by others who just ignore them? I don't think this is me being a curmudgeonette lol and I wish fines would actually be issued, instead of just threatened.
I do like the rule that before 9 am dogs can be off leash. There was an infamous incident about a woman violating the leash law in Central park that had racial repercussions.
There seems to be an increasing amount of “hurry” in life and this has translated into some individuals establishing their own norms and also insisting that we accept them. Sadly society pays the price.
Bikes are a problem in London, too. In my area, the local Council has set up bike lanes as being good for the environment, but it means when you get off a bus, you are straight into a bike lane. It's a hazard that should have been predicted.
*please note - I was riding on the bike pathway of the west side highway. The above reads to be a bit confusing!
The phones really have exacerbated this issue.
Sophie is adorable! I especially dislike the infestation of helmetless fools on Citibikes. What drives me insane, however, is strollers propelled by people armed with phones and mommy privilege.
People walking with or without strollers and looking at their phones so it is up to those not looking to avoid collisions.
Same over here. Even cyclists stare at their phones while moving. The amount of attention required on the part of the rest of us is exhausting
If you thought of strollers as wheelchairs, would they still bug you?
That sounds like a false analogy. Wheelchairs are not thrust against my shins by someone stealing the right of way or too preoccupied with a friend or a phone to watch where they’re going. Wheelchair users are doing their best to build agency.
thx 🙃🙃🙃🤗🤗🤗😘😘😘😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰
I completely agree. I risk my life just taking a walk in my neighborhood where cars routinely run stop signs without even slowing down or looking. Sophie is lovely. I’m glad she has you to protect her.
I agree David. I too fear for my life when I’m walking across the park and need to cross at a green light and bicyclists have no respect for the light and continue at top speed.
Knowing the risk to Sophie and you I would leash her so that you can quickly pull her to safety. I would also put a neon vest on her so she stands out . I totally agree with you on all points of what bikers should do, but knowing they're not following the rules; do what you can to protect yourself and Shopie. You would be devastated if she were to get hit.
Thanks Linda. I'm very watchful and careful. But I appreciate the suggestion.
David, I totally get your frustration. We have a similar problem in Prospect Park, where crossing the street to get to the soccer fields feels like a game of chicken, as the bikers don't stop when the light changes. Worse are the streets by my house, but in this case, it's often delivery workers on electric bikes who speed through lights. I've done my share of yelling, which gets me nowhere (and scares my husband to death). Unfortunately, even scarier than bikers are the drivers who speed in this city. Last spring, a child my son's age was killed crossing the street at a crosswalk with his mother while walking to school. There are too many stories like this. I just wish everyone would slow down. Why are we in such a hurry?
I feel the same way and the optics aren't great. I'm a middle aged woman asking for the basic rules of society to be followed so people don't die. Are all of these bikers properly insured? There is no parking enforcement.
Crossing the street with the light in your side is not longer a zone of safety. it's a real deterioration.
Then it's compounded by being a middle aged woman and the "Karen" pejorative. If I say something will I be filmed and blasted on the internet?
I’m a dog lover and agree people should follow the rules but as a conservative from the middle of the country I don’t understand the point of this sentence: “This is Manhattan so I suspect most of the flouters would claim to be good liberals and look down upon conservatives in the middle of the country.” Do you really look down on us and not see that as a problem?
I too was disturbed by that sentence. I consider myself to be a good liberal and I don’t look down on anyone.
I'm suggesting instead that the scofflaw bikers are the type of people who might look down on others with a different political outlook The two negative traits seem to go together.
And yes I hear plenty of people in Manhattan who say they can't understand the conservative viewpoint. For me, that's a flaw not a virtue.
He's not endorsing the snobbery, but criticizing the hypocrisy behind it.
Cities should make older, 16 and above get licenses for their bikes and buy insurance. If bicyclists aren’t willing to share the road and obey the law, then cities must address it.
The small town in Nebraska I grew up in had a law that you had to have a license plate on your bike.
The wit of the staircase. Love it. Steve Martin said the French have a name for everything.
Je ne sais quoi.
Somehow Amsterdam does just fine without licensing cyclists and adding the cost of insurance. The difference is that there you don't see e-bikes and scooters.
I would also note that in Amsterdam they tend to be respectful of others and follow the rules. Our antisocial tendencies is why the U.S. can't have nice things.
I kind of feel I need to answer this, as someone who has lived in Holland for a good long while. Of course one cannot compare our bike-filled streets with Central Park and NYC, since really everyone here cycles, year round, mostly as a way to get from A to B. And I do not want to burst anyone's bubble but.... 1. red traffic lights are not meant for people on bicycles, is quite common. And 2. my sister has started wearing a helmet here (yes, no, that is not obligatory!) because it's just getting too dangerous on the roads and cycle lanes. I'm seriously considering it, because with scooters and the recent addition of fat bikes and other e-bikes, "road rage" is more of a danger.
Luckily we don't have adorable dogs walking there though! I can totally understand your worries and anger. (That precious time before 9am would be my "zen" moment of the day.)
Amsterdam handles its bicyclists well.
You would love Germany. I would be worth more than your life to break the rules!
I would never want Sophies fear and loathing!
Hey I get it. Bikes on walking paths are a PIA. We have a beautiful tree lined walkway around Lady Bird Lake in Austin. It's not very wide in many areas but people on bikes seem to delight in zooming around weaving in, out amongst people trying to enjoy a leisure walk. What happens to the value of leisurely walk in the park when people in bikes are treating the paths and mini raceways? If you've ever been to Boulder CO you'll see they created walk ways with 'separate' bike lanes and for the most part it works, well. But most of us don't live in Boulder.
And retrofitting towns for the advances in society aren't always practical or sensible in the long run. We give up something -walking/running/pushing a stroller on a sidewalk to get something- allowing bikes to allow electric bikes that have very little noise and go as fast as a car and potentially don't see the consequences of these changes-run over a person/dog/stroller. Sometimes maybe progress and "equity" isn't helpful or good?
That's a good point.
Walking in a park should be a time to just enjoy nature and the people you're with. That sounds like a perilous situation in Austin.
We talk about this all the time here in Canada! (And Sophie is the sweetest btw!) My Stanley is a handsome but somewhat opinionated Border Terrier who is never off leash where it is clearly prohibited but other dogs ARE and terrorize both of us. I feel fearful each and every time we walk in case an off leash dog gets in our faces, whilst the owner is either oblivious, obnoxious or not even present. The idea of dealing with a dog fight -on my own, as a slight woman - is extremely frightening and the rules (clearly posted everywhere) are, dogs must be leashed at all times where we walk. That's WHY we walk there! Why should my own rights/life be constantly impacted by others who just ignore them? I don't think this is me being a curmudgeonette lol and I wish fines would actually be issued, instead of just threatened.
Big sigh!
I do like the rule that before 9 am dogs can be off leash. There was an infamous incident about a woman violating the leash law in Central park that had racial repercussions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park_birdwatching_incident
There seems to be an increasing amount of “hurry” in life and this has translated into some individuals establishing their own norms and also insisting that we accept them. Sadly society pays the price.
Bikes are a problem in London, too. In my area, the local Council has set up bike lanes as being good for the environment, but it means when you get off a bus, you are straight into a bike lane. It's a hazard that should have been predicted.
Those bike lanes next to buses and taxis are scary!