yeah, I think Mitch is picking up a bunch today.

Hey,

I picked up the cards. So what's the plan? By the way, the Park admin is somehow under the impression that we're representing the interests of all road bikers riding/training in the Park, and I don't know who else they have lined up. So we're kind of on the hook.

Re the larger topic, I don't know what others think, but I'm a bit underwhelmed with what I've seen. Getting rid of one lane of car traffic is great. But if you try to use the Park at even a moderately busy time, I don't see the new rules/signage actually making things better for us.

It used to be that we *sort of* had both traffic lanes because it wasn't clear we didn't. Now, we *definitely* seem to have just one lane. Since the other lane is not marked, it's a free for all. It was supposed to be for Park/Police first, and then for fast cycling, never for peds. But I'd expect it to end up a playground with cars driving through it.

And then the entire cycling lane isn't really that wide. We're supposed to have this narrow strip on the right margin for *fast* cycling, but it's barely wide enough for one rider, and that assumes no one veers into it. Plus, the signage makes no sense. The left side has a picture of a bike and says "slow." The right side has a picture of a bike plus two arrows. The Park says this means "fast", but I'm not sure how anyone would get that. In fact, at the last task force meeting, the Park said there was no other way to indicate "fast." Uh....how about the word "fast"? As in, slow/fast, off/on, hot/cold? Slow/two arrows???? And in North America, you pass on the left. So it's just one big lane for anyone with wheels (which includes bladers, scooters and skateboarders).

Plus, you can safely count on *no* ongoing enforcement from the 78th or Park.

So net/net, one lane of car traffic is gone (good!!!), runners/peds have more space (good), and we arguably have no more space than we ever did (bad). And the signage and enforcement, which was 99% of the problem in the first place, still sucks.

I don't expect everyone to be personally affected by this. If you're riding in the morning, I think things are going to be great. It's those of us who get struck riding anytime on the weekend and between 5PM and maybe 9PM that are impacted.

I think it's not too late to tweak the signage, which could help. If they'd do nothing more than paint the fast mini-lane with the word "fast" and maybe paint the far right traffic lane with "no peds", I think it could be a major improvement. Since we're being asked to take on lots of the outreach, it's far for us to make some constructive suggestions. But I think we need to do it now.

Sorry for the dissertation. What do others think?

I think Mitch is spot on; the disambiguation of the car lane with "no-peds" will remedy the six abreast skateboarding teenagers with radio controlled cars and "fast" lane will give us something to point at while screaming "MOVE!".

I shout "STOP!"

Posted By: Jeffrey WhiteMy major worry is that because the outer lane will be marked for vehicles -- and for most of the park's hours will not contain vehicles -- there will be strife in that lane. If it is claimed by pedestrians, a very dangerous situation will arise, with cyclists hemmed in on both sides by slower and less linear traffic.

One thing of which we can be certain is that the car lane will not remain empty during non-car hours. The question is, who will take it over?

This is our concern, Dude.

@jeff

Yep. Exactly.

No comments = no interest?

Mitch -

I think many people share your concerns, but since the lanes haven't been fully painted yet it's hard to make any conclusions. Once we engage with other cycling teams in educating park users, hopefully the new marking will work. Hopefully.

Mike this is HUGE.  If were a digital way to hoist you on our collective shoulders and shout HUZZA! we would.

Truly......

Hey Team,

Is anyone available to help with outreach to cyclists this Sunday. Please respond here and we can create a little volunteer team. See details below.

Good morning

 

As a reminder, we are we are engaging volunteers on
Sunday, July 22^nd from 10am – 12pm to stand at key
traffic lights around the Park Drive and inform pedestrians to push the
newly installed pedestrian activated button to cross and inform bikes to
“stop on red” after a pedestrian has pushed
the button.  As of now, we hope to have volunteers at the following
traffic lights in the Park:

 

–       
3^rd street

–       
9^th street

–       
13^th street

–       
Vanderbilt Playground

–       
Grecian Shelter

–       
Parkside/Ocean Avenue

–       
Lincoln Road

 

Volunteers should plan to meet in front of the
Litchfield Villa at 10am on Sunday, July 22^nd.  Please let me know if you have any questions and if you and members of your organization will be able to join us on the 22^nd.

 

Thank you for all your help.

You mean SUNDAY?

edited. thanks.

I'll see if I can make it. 

This is a cross post, but I couldn't resist this tid bit from a NYTimes article about a new superhighway for bikes in Cophenhagen:

Superhighway users can also look forward to some variation on the “karma campaign,” now under way in Copenhagen, in which city employees take to the streets with boxes of chocolate to reward cyclists who adhere to the five rules of cycling: be nice, signal, stay to the right, overtake carefully and, rather than let bicycle bells irritate you, do your best to appreciate them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/world/europe/in-denmark-pedaling-to-work-on-a-superhighway.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

2. A story for anyone who interfaces with the Park and the police regarding road sharing, this needs to be brought to someone's attention: At around 5:30 today cars were driving through the bottle neck at the bottom of the hill to the backside that's supposedly closed to traffic.A cop from the 78th precinct was "patrolling" (read: looking at his cell phone) the stretch near the boards, and saw these cars drive by — including a livery cab — but didn't do anything. I stopped and asked him why, and he said the cars were permitted in that stretch. When I pointed out that they weren't, he accused me of telling him how to do his job. When another car drove by without its blinkers on, he said he let it go because it could be park personel. Regardless of how any of us feel about the new configuration, if the police don't know when cars are and aren't permitted in the park, who get's what lane (and the new traffic signals) don't matter a bit.

I love that standard cop response: YOU TELLING ME HOW TO DO MY JOB?

Well, yes, b/c apparently you suck at it and don't give a shit.

Good on you for stopping and at least letting him know, although now, he probably just hates cyclists even more.

People in positions of power, or well, pretty much anyone anymore, can't stand criticism.  It's all considered insults and personal attacks.  With us or against us!

It is knee jerk response. It is pervasive and apparently unavoidable.

I passed a cyclist coming home on Sunday riding up the incline towards the finish of Grants Tomb. I had passed him on 9W and for some reason was passing him again. By this point he was obviously cramping, rubbing his thigh and having a hard time going up the hill. After I passed him, I turned around and went back and told him there was a water fountain at the top of the hill, just past the Tomb. I have fallen on that water fountain many times in times of need. I thought I was being nice. He got all pissy and said "I HAVE LYME'S DISEASE AND AM LUCKY TO BE RIDING AT ALL". I was like, "cool" and gave him the thumbs up. As I rode away I heard him say "thank you". . .

His initial response was pure knee jerk.

Weird. 

Yeah, today I had the wonderful "double flat" ride.  Multiple people (all Freds, no one in kit!) asked if I needed anything.  I just smile and say "I'm good".  Not, "No, motherfucker, I'm a BIKE racer, of course I have all my shit together, go away Fred!".  Ahhhh, the halcyon days of being a Fred and not delusionally taking amateur *racing* seriously.  I kinda miss them! ;-)

Yeah, I understood his response and have had similar run ins, so I was sure to dial it back, make sure I said that I appreciate the work he does, and stuff like that. My biggest issue though is that even before the new configuration enforcement was always a big issue, and so to witness this today, coupled with his ignorance of car-free hours was a bit disconcerting. But then again, there are always stories of people getting arrested or cited for things that aren't illegal, like drinking on their stoop or women being topless, so I shouldn't be shocked to come across an officer who doesn't know the park's car-free hours.

As for cops in the park these days, since the repaint - they're AWOL especially during rush hour when they're the most needed. They used to wait at several area for speeders or light runners but now, there are none. There is one officer at the E Lake crosswalk where the drummers hang out once or twice a week but thats it. 

No, the cops are not part of the solution, that's for sure. But we're closer to banning cars in the park altogether than we've ever been. That's the only thing that will solve these problems.

No, the cops are not part of the solution, that's for sure. But we're closer to banning cars in the park altogether than we've ever been. That's the only thing that will solve these problems.

Agreed. I just think it is unusual for them to take themselves out of a position of authority... avoiding responsibility well, yeah. 

I've been seeing police dudes on bicycles regularly... sometimes 1, sometimes 2 riding together. Well, I think their shirts said NYPD, not absolutely certain of it. I haven't stopped to chat with them, but I will do so sometime soon. 

Has anyone had any chats or incidents with these bike cops? They do seem rather well-mannered on their rigs... riding in a straight line, at least. 

Is anyone willing to organize a contingent of kissena folks to help out at this event? It is really important that we show we are active and involved in this so we can continue to have input on future park decisions and planning. I'm going to be swamped this week or I'd take it on myself.

As a reminder, our next Pedestrian Activated Traffic Light Volunteer Outreach will be Sunday, September 23^rd from 1pm – 3pm.    This continues to be an important component of our education initiative to make sure that pedestrians push the new pedestrian activated button to get a walk signal at crosswalks and that the cyclists stop at the red light.  We will again meet at the Litchfield Villa (located at (95 Prospect Park West). 

 

Please let me know if you will be able to join us.

 

Thank you again.

i'll try to be there

(have to rearrange some family commitments, but think i can do it)