Bikes and Pedestrians in NYC parks

homeowner · October 2014

@mike_dunlap I find it really sad that a lady is horribly mugged, beaten and people here are freaking out. Another lady got run over by multiple cars on Flatbush over the summer and people here were tripping over themselves to defend the drivers i.e. her killers. It's sad when our neighbors will condone one type of violence, which ended in a death which was likely a homicide, and condemn another. You are right however this attitude of callousness and victim blaming is slowly but surely becoming uncouth. Sometimes change is scary and even enlightened people who in other situations would be progressive will scream against it. However, Brooklynian is not the world and the calls for reform have become so strong that despite what some might think the wheels of change are in motion.

For the record I condemn ALL acts of violence against my fellow citizens.

@newguy88, are you therefore suggesting that the biker who hit and killed the woman in CP should be charged with murder? According to all reports, the biker was clearly aware that a collision was imminent and rather than swerving, stopping or falling, he yelled "get out of the way" several times before striking her. Does this failure to act meet your definition of violence against an innocent person, and if not can you explain how this is different?

nothinlikeabklyngirl · October 2014

John McEnroe rants against 'lunatic' cyclists in Central Park: http://pagesix.com/2014/10/21/john-mcenroe-rants-against-lunatic-cyclists-in-central-park/?_ga=1.196329580.1965030224.1401028033

mike dunlap · October 2014

@mike_dunlap I find it really sad that a lady is horribly mugged, beaten and people here are freaking out. Another lady got run over by multiple cars on Flatbush over the summer and people here were tripping over themselves to defend the drivers i.e. her killers.

One key difference is that the muggers did what they did intentionally whereas drivers in most cases didn't intend to kill their victim.

But the results are the same: dead people, wrecked lives, destroyed property, etc. So this - putting intentions aside and focusing on the results - is where my amazement at what you describe comes in: many people have no interest in doing the only things proven to reduce such deaths. Why? Because those things would cause them the most minor inconveniences (many of which actually don't even materialize after such changes anyway).

mike dunlap · October 2014

John McEnroe rants against 'lunatic' cyclists in Central Park: http://pagesix.com/2014/10/21/john-mcenroe-rants-against-lunatic-cyclists-in-central-park/?_ga=1.196329580.1965030224.1401028033

"I love to mountain bike."

Ha. This is an automatic within any Boomer rant against cyclists (and it is almost always car-addicted Boomers who go on these rants). Gotta cite your bike cred... the funny thing is that it's always non-commuting bike usage they cite (e.g. riding around Prospect Park). It's also so transparently phony most of the time.

These ranting Boomers hate bike commuters. They want streets entirely to themselves and are totally cool with all kinds of traffic violence, often opposing even the most minor changes to street infrastructure and laws proven to reduce fatalities.

whynot_31 · October 2014

I am not sure why we are discussing bike commuters or motor vehicles on a thread about parks.

homeowner · October 2014

John McEnroe rants against 'lunatic' cyclists in Central Park: http://pagesix.com/2014/10/21/john-mcenroe-rants-against-lunatic-cyclists-in-central-park/?_ga=1.196329580.1965030224.1401028033
"I love to mountain bike."

Ha. This is an automatic within any Boomer rant against cyclists (and it is almost always car-addicted Boomers who go on these rants). Gotta cite your bike cred... the funny thing is that it's always non-commuting bike usage they cite (e.g. riding around Prospect Park). It's also so transparently phony most of the time.

These ranting Boomers hate bike commuters. They want streets entirely to themselves and are totally cool with all kinds of traffic violence, often opposing even the most minor changes to street infrastructure and laws proven to reduce fatalities.

So what are the minor changes in biking infrastructure that would reduce fatalities in parks that you would support? If reducing the number from 2 to zero was possible through the implementation of speed bumps, signal enforcement, ticketing etc. would that be an acceptable reduction?

mike dunlap · October 2014

So what are the minor changes in biking infrastructure that would reduce fatalities in parks that you would support? If reducing the number from 2 to zero was possible through the implementation of speed bumps, signal enforcement, ticketing etc. would that be an acceptable reduction?

I was referring to changes outside the park in response to posts referencing injuries and other issues there.

I'm fine with the parks as they are now, although Central Park will be even better when cars are removed completely - but for the occasional maintenance / police / emergency vehicle - as they eventually will be. As you note, serious injuries and fatalities to pedestrians caused by cyclists are extremely rare in the parks.

whynot_31 · October 2014

Many bikers are ok with how the parks are now, and were opposed to the changes that were enacted in Prospect Park a few years ago.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/nyregion/changes-planned-for-prospect-park-loop.html

I expect the pro ped forces to state the redesigns were insufficient, and that additional changes are needed.

This quote in the article is what it is about to them:

“I certainly applaud any changes that will make Prospect Park safer for all,” he said in a statement. “But it’s also important to keep in mind that none of the accidents that spurred the creation of this task force involved an automobile, so I am not convinced these changes are the solution.”

In these situations, peds prove their point by simply writing such statements down and letting time elapse.

Then, bikes end up prohibited in some parks, and their use restricted in others.

Winter is coming, by keeping everyone inside, it will likely help the public forget about the situation until the spring.

whynot_31 · November 2014

Lots more bike enforcement coming to Central Park:

http://awalkintheparknyc.blogspot.com/2014/11/central-park-speed-limit-to-be-lowered.html

http://a841-tfpweb.nyc.gov/dotpress/2014/11/central-park-loop-drive/

Bikes and Pedestrians in NYC parks

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