The Power of a Painted Line: Bike
Lanes vs. Car Lanes
New York City
is inhabited by about 8 million people. It has hard to avoid conflict with a
city filled with so many thriving different ideas and opinions. This is no
different when it comes to urban development and the debate on bike lanes
versus car lanes that take place in the streets of the Big Apple. Scattered
throughout the city, we’ve all been introduced to the “cheap power of painted
lines” (Davidson, 2012) that make the bicycle lane what it is. The number of bicyclists in
the city has doubled. Whether you are a pedestrian, driver, or cyclist, anyone
and everyone has something to say about the increasing amount of bike lanes.
It’s a
typical Monday morning for Joe. He’s getting ready to go to work in the office.
He takes a shower, drinks his cup of joe (no pun intended), puts on his suit,
heads out the door, and hops on his bike and peddles to work? While this seems
almost absurd for this business man to ride a bike to work, this morning routine
is starting to become not so unfamiliar to many New Yorkers. Instead of driving
a car or taking a cab or train during rush hour, some people are opting to cycle
their way to work. This was made possible by Mayor Bloomberg, who is a fan of
the bike lanes. In the hopes of constructing a seamless transportation system
for the people of the city, Bloomberg believes that bike lanes will provide a
safe and efficient way to cut across Manhattan as well as help alleviate the
unavoidable traffic that highways and tunnels have to offer. Bloomberg has even
pushed for the expansion of bike lanes throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. For
example, more than 200 miles of bike lanes have been created in the city in the
past three years (Cassidy, 2011). Expansion continues where there will be four new pairs of
one-way bike routes between Eight and First Avenues on 39th, 43rd,
48th, and 54th Streets (Davidson, 2012). The bike-share program in
Crosstown was set and launched on July of this year. Other plans of expansion
also hope to reach the west of New York where midtown routes can meet the river
so that people from New Jersey can just get on a ferry and hop on a bike to
their destination (Davidson, 2012). Plans of expansion are also moving westward because of the
construction of new offices and residential towers. Some may say this is due to
gentrification, which is the process of renewal and rebuilding that accompanies
the middle class and displaces the poorer residents.
In an
effort to create a multi-modal future, and of course help promote healthy and
eco-friendly ways, many people support the creation of bike lanes. For example,
in a New York Times poll, 66% of people favored bike lanes and 2/3 of people in
a Marist poll also favored the lanes (Collins, 2012). Bike lanes give people more options
with their commute. Harriet Tregoning, the director of the city’s Office of
Planning, believes that “bike lanes enhance the vitality of street life for
city residents, not just suburban commuters” (Cater, 2012). He also believes that the
creation of others modes of transportation makes it possible for businesses and
restaurants to open in many different places in the city. If a person does not
drive or the train does not travel around that area, bike lanes will help build
a bridge for these businesses, therefore, having some effect and contribution
on the economy. Although bike lanes are causing traffic, the blame should not
only be put on the bike lanes alone. Improvements on the environment or on mass
transit can also be made to help prevent traffic.
In Dan
Collins’ article, “New York City’s Bike Lane Brawl”, he states, “the most
politically important fact about New York: everything is occupied. Do anything
that takes up space-and you are elbowing somebody else out of the way” (Collins, 2012). In
this case, it is the motorists or the drivers who feel like they are being
elbowed. Unless it is a shared lane, there is less space on the streets for
cars. Four lanes have been reduced to three and three lanes have been reduced
to two, therefore causing traffic congestion. While this is happening of
course, where cars are bumper to bumper in traffic, there is a mockingly, lonely,
empty bike lane next to them. Not only are the vehicles on the road angered by
the existing bike lanes, but also are store owners. This is because it is
illegal to drive, park, or stop in bike lanes or paths, otherwise there is a
$115 fine. Since this rule has been enforced, it makes it harder for
delivery trucks to park and unload for stores. Bill de Blasio, who is the
running opponent to Bloomberg, challenges Bloomberg and his plan to make the
city bike-friendly. He calls the plan “radical” and believes that the city should
go slower and the communities should have a say on whether they want their area
to be bikified (Collins, 2012). I disagree with de Blasio. Being born and raised in New
York, I don’t believe that New York City will ever slow down. If it were to
slow down, it would not make New York City what it is today, which is
innovative, ever-changing, and improving. There would be no progress in the
city if it were to slow down. Caroline Samponaro of Transportation Alternatives
responded to what de Blasio said, and stated that what he said was not true and
that every bike lane has gone through a community process. Opponents to bike
lanes also argue that these lanes make it impossible to find parking, because
of the dozens of parking places that have been removed due to these lanes. Lone
Anderson, chief spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic believes that the creation of
bike lanes have also helped fuel the “war on drivers”. He has seen it through
the 1.6 million parking tickets that have been issued every year and the increasing
automated enforcement, such as red light cameras, and speed cameras (Cater, 2012). This “war
on automobiles” that Anderson speaks of did not just start during the 21st
century. When cars were first made, many people welcomed it with hostility,
because back then streets were for people, not for cars. Thies, a local
cyclist, stands up for the opposing side and says when one orders a refrigerator,
it’s not delivered on a bike, it’s delivered on an automobile. He believes that
cars are essential to the economy and that they are the predominant form of
transportation in America (Cater, 2012).
From my
experiences in the city and getting familiar with the bike lanes, I personally
am in favor of them. I believe that they widen the options for traveling to or
in the city. They are convenient for people who cannot drive or afford the
commute on the train or bus. The view of the city and simply taking in the breath
of New York life is also a plus. Although I understand that bike lanes can
sometimes be the cause of traffic, I believe that they help organize the
streets, so that bike riders would not have to compete for road space with
cars. The bike lanes also provide safety and decrease traffic fatalities. Especially
during rush hour, it is very dangerous for bikers to be on the same roads as
cars. Cars will suddenly swing into your lane, oblivious to your presence. It
is like having near-death experiences every morning. A few years ago, before
bike lanes were created, a few of my friends and I decided to bike to the city
from Queens. Once we got to the city, it was very difficult trying to compete
with the cars on the road. It felt as if it was me against them, and any minute
they would run me over. I also agree with Samponaro when she said that New York
City has a hard time with change phenomenon (Collins, 2012). Although I do believe that New
Yorkers are in general initially resistant to change, they also have a growing
acceptance and a way of looking forward, and I believe that the idea of bike
lanes is a way of looking forward.
Bike lanes
are either looked at as a gift from God or a nuisance. While they provide an
eco-friendly, healthy way of transportation, they have also caused more stress
on the city’s traffic as well. Reflecting on my experiences in New York, I
believe that bike lanes have helped people commute in a different fashion. Not
only are they burning off calories, but they are also at the same time able to
enjoy the view of New York. Although they have cut off existing lanes and are
causing traffic, I believe that with every situation, there is always sacrifice,
and traffic is simply unavoidable in New York City. Both sides of the coin have
been explored. No matter the topic at hand, not everyone can be pleased. Although
it seems almost impossible for bike activists or motorists to see eye to eye on
the emerging multi-modal future, for now, they will just have to agree to
disagree.
References
Cassidy, J. (2011,
March 08). Battle of the Bike Lanes.
Cater, F. (2012, October 19). Motorists To Urban Planners:
Stay In Your Lane.
Collins, D. (2012,
August 23). New York City's Bike Lane Brawl.
Davidson, J.
(2012, May 31). New York Plans a Bike Lane Solution to Crosstown Traffic.
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