From the NY Times:
The Bloomberg administration, facing unexpected resistance from the City Council over its plan to bring a large-scale public bike-sharing network to New York, agreed on Friday to hold hearings with politicians and community leaders before the program is up and running.
The move by City Hall came after weeks of increasingly heated discussions over whether the administration had wrongly excluded the Council from the planning stage of the project, and it clears the way for the city’s Transportation Department to award a contract to an operator for the program, known as bike-share, as early as next week.
Bike-share, a signature project of Janette Sadik-Khan, the transportation commissioner, has already been met with concerns about the placement of thousands of bicycles and dozens of rental kiosks in parks and on sidewalks and streets.
But the latest challenge came from an unexpected place: the usually compliant Council, some of whose members said they believed the administration was trying to steamroll the plan without going through the proper legislative channels.
At issue is whether a bike-share network, which would be run by a third-party vendor, should be considered a franchise, defined as the use of city-owned property to provide a public service. Any franchise must be authorized by the Council, which was not consulted when the city issued its call for vendors last year.
8 comments:
It doesn't matter; it's a done deal.
Hospitals closing, schools overcrowded, zoning is a joke, sewers backed up, the lights flicker, 311 a joke, Sanctuary City tunes in my airshaft at 2 AM and these assholes are worried about bike lanes.
I am glad to see Weprin trip-up made an impression.
Gotta say, I despise Bloomberg & his tactics but I would absolutely THRILLED to see a bike sharing program in NYC - as I'd LIKE to bike into Manhattan but am worried about the bike being stolen once I lock it up on the street.
The only downside is that this program might be financially detrimental to mass transit.
recently the media printed some bike riders deaths on the streets of nyc. is this due to the increased promotion,by Sadie Khan, of biking in the city streets ?
could this foolish government action be labeled "A DEATH WISH " ?
The only downside is that this program might be financially detrimental to mass transit.
Don't worry. Bike were a big craze in 1900. They were all but gone by 1920. In between was the opening of the transit system.
Bike use will continue to be trivial, and when the shit hit the fan and its a choice between cute trusfundanistas riding to work on Treks and people getting fed
guess who will be out in the cold trying to get to sleep as the diesels power up outside their windows in Arris lofts.
Well, it's not taxpayer money. So at least, monetary wise, we'll be able to measure if this is a mistake or not. But at least it's not coming from my pockets.
who do you think is paying for the many millions of dollars ,(about 46 million) of bike lane /pedestrian walk construction at Bridge Plaza,Queens and Manhattan / Brooklyn bike lanes ?
and wait for the auto death libel suits against (you) nyc, dot, that took place at the bridge exit detour,this year.
Of course the Council should have some input. It sure looks and smells like a franchise. Placement of bike racks, costs to the City and consideration of advertising revenue ought to be reviewed by the Council.
Two other issues the Council should review: In other operations by the anointed provider (like Washington DC), people without credit cards cannot use the bikes. There are a heck of a lot of people in this City without credit cards who, I'm sure, would want to use the bikes. Also, there's no provision for helmets... just a recommendation that riders wear them.
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