From the NY Times:On his weekly radio program on Friday morning, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said he opposed allowing commuters to bring bicycles onto subway cars, even if the Metropolitan Transportation Authority permits it.
“I know bicyclists will now ring the phones off the hook, but they are just too big, particularly at rush hour,” he said of the bikes.
“I just don’t think they should allow it,” he added.
It was an unexpected cycle screed from a mayor known as a vigorous champion of mass transportation and bicycle rights.
Why do you need to take the train if you have a bike anyway?
25 comments:
"Why do you need to take the train if you have a bike anyway?" Gee, I dunno, mechanical problems, weather, being tired, etc. Plus, you can get pretty far with a bike and a train. Come on, use some common sense!
The Mayor's comments are unfortunate, and show that despite the administration's support for bicycling, he still doesn't really get it. Thankfully, the Mayor doesn't run the MTA.
Why do you need to take the train if you have a bike anyway? ?
I soppose for people that live in places like Jersey, Whitestone, Maspeth, Glendale the closest rail-line can be miles
Uh oh, the NYC Alliance Biker Brigade is frothing.
How about the teenagers with homemade mini-cycles who shared a subway ride with me.
One of them wanted to fire up his bike inside a subway car with locked front and back end doors. Fortunately, a sensible peer suggested carbon monoxide poisoning for all was not a good idea. Human barbecue anyone?
Pardon me, let me clarify.
1) Why do you need a train when you have a bike? There is a bike lane on the Queensboro Bridge.
2) Why are we installing bike racks near all the train stations if people are going to take them on the train with them?
Why not provide a special subway car for bikes, elders, those who prefer standing...
"1) Why do you need a train when you have a bike? There is a bike lane on the Queensboro Bridge.
Again, crapper: fatigue, mechanical breakdown, ability to cover more distance, etc.
2) Why are we installing bike racks near all the train stations if people are going to take them on the train with them?"
Most bicyclists do not take their bikes on the train (I avoid it if I can). Additionally, unfortunately many office buildings do not allow people to take bikes up into their offices (even if their employer allows it), so many folks ride to the subway, lock up there, and then ride the train the rest of the way. Installing bike racks at subway entrances also helps prevent bicyclists from locking up places they shouldn't, like trees and the subway entrances themselves. Of course, in many places, there aren't enough racks to meet demand.
This whole issue of bicyclists on subways really is a non-issue, however. Overall, it doesn't seem to be a problem. Most bicyclists seem to use common sense -- most aren't trying to cram their bike into the L train at rush hour, for example. The current MTA policy makes sense -- bike access to subways is 24/7/365 on all lines, however, not recommended during rush hours, and on certain lines. I'm not sure why Bloomberg continues to bring this up (this is the second time he's said this) -- maybe because he only rides the 4/5/6, which as we all know, is very crowded during rush hours. Still, I think he needs some enlightenment here on what the reality is, and on some policy changes that could make things even better.
Why do you need to take the train if you have a bike anyway? ?
I soppose for people that live in places like Jersey, Whitestone, Maspeth, Glendale the closest rail-line can be miles
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Take the damn bus. Dont be assholes with this whole bike thing.
I for one do not want to work next to a sweaty person who decided its cool to bike 5 miles on a July morning.
Or someone tracking mud all over the place because they thought an office setting was perfect place to dry out their things after a 30 minute ride in the drizzle.
Get real people.
The self indulgence of you kids is incredible, but now you are going to have to compromise in the adult world.
Take the damn bus. Dont be assholes with this whole bike thing.
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Stooges for the developers. Just an excuse for the gullible kids to be shorehorned into overcrowded communities without having the city worry about infrastructure costs like transportation or adding to the carbon footprint.
If the mayor is interested in something, its to take our communties away from the people and give it to developers to make money.
Littering the landscape with your bikes just gets in everyone's way, and endangers pedestrians.
Grow up and get real! And stop being a tool of the developers!
Don't many bikes fold up these days? I would think if you were to ride a subway with one, at least you can get one that doesn't take up that much room.
"I for one do not want to work next to a sweaty person who decided its cool to bike 5 miles on a July morning."
Hell yeah!
There's no better way to decide matters of public policy than to solicit the personal worst-case-scenario potentials of anonymous blog commenters!
I too have my share of people on trains to whom I don't like to sit next - people with strollers, people who smell, fat people, loud people, and people who read the Post. Let's ban 'em!
why would they be on the train if they like to ride a bike? exercise is important.
Glad we spent all this money on bike lanes so these folks can hop the train anyway and make everyone else's commute more stressful.
Please let the massive liberals take their bikes on the train.After all,it's all about them.You know,THE real New Yorker's who have resided here for a good 2-3 years.............assholes!
"Please let the massive liberals take their bikes on the train.After all,it's all about them.You know,THE real New Yorker's who have resided here for a good 2-3 years.............assholes!"
Wow, you're making a lot of sense.
This whole issue of bicyclists on subways really is a non-issue, however. most aren't trying to cram their bike into the L train at rush hour, for example.
Leave the bicyclist alone - I saw two for all of last year - this is a none issue and Bloomberg is wrong on this issue as he is for many simplton ideas he come up with!
he should ride his bike and ill run his ass over
Common Sense.... if you can't fit don't get in, bikes don't fit! They should put bike racks on the back of the train.
I have mixed feelings on this. Bicycles on the subway or rail is a real pain in the @ss, but Americans are more larded then ever.
Perhaps the solution is for all concerned to use good judgement.
Bicyclists should avoid taking public transportation during peak periods of travel and try to stay within the physical limits of their bodies and bicycles so they don't unnecessarily impinge on others.
Non-bicylists can avoid acting like dictators and use all due care when sharing the road with bicyclists.
Bicyclists should avoid taking public transportation during peak periods of travel and try to stay within the physical limits of their bodies and bicycles so they don't unnecessarily impinge on others.
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Like the comments on biking in on a hot or rainy morning, bikes are impractical and not needed for most of us - the public transit system in the region is not really that bad.
I agree with the comments that the rise in popularity with bikes among the developers is just a wooley brained idea to bring more people into a community and think that it will have no impact on the transporation infrastructure.
It is impractical and the money is more wisely spent on firehouses, hospitals, police, and schools - and yes, busses and trains.
I think there are two constituencies for bikes: transportation and physical fitness.
With the rising toll of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, back problems, joint problems, bicycles have their place.
Not to mention, public transportation sometimes strikes.
The same commenters here who regularly whine about property rights seem to have ZERO respect for other people's transportation rights. The ultimate NIMBYs!
The trains are there to move people to their jobs or other destinations. If you're in a wheelchair, you should have an accommodation so you can ride safely and comfortably. Anything else that has wheels should be banned: bikes, strollers, massive suitcases, shopping carts, and anything else that's not a commuter.
Yeah, ban strollers on the subways!
Like, really... what's the constituency for strollers??? Only every mother in the city!
And bicyclists? I bet THEY don't vote!
Some of y'alls heads is hollow and rattlin' with a couple dried beans.
Because you can make a bike into a weapon of mass destruction. "Ahh, so the truth comes out"
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