The only relevant law is that the NYC Police can do whatever they want to whomever they want, with no repercussions. 

2017 Budget 5.2 Billion

The rule about using bike path/lanes if provided becomes murky in Central Park because, 1) there is a bike path but 2) cars are not allowed in Central Park. Should there even be a designated bike lane in Central Park? Removing that lanes would probably make things more clear.

Phil Maronilla said:

The rule about using bike path/lanes if provided becomes murky in Central Park because, 1) there is a bike path but 2) cars are not allowed in Central Park. Should there even be a designated bike lane in Central Park? Removing that lanes would probably make things more clear.

Once they decided to give you a hard time, there's probably very little we can do to prevent a NYC police officer from doing so.

Phil does bring up an important point..., once the road is no longer for cars, what do you do with all the car related infrastructure that was in place, do you still follow it, remove it, adapt it to how the road is actually used?

Also, somewhat related, without cars the asphalt should last longer, but now, once a tough winter takes its toll..., what motivates fixing the road?

eloy said:

Phil Maronilla said:

The rule about using bike path/lanes if provided becomes murky in Central Park because, 1) there is a bike path but 2) cars are not allowed in Central Park. Should there even be a designated bike lane in Central Park? Removing that lanes would probably make things more clear.

Once they decided to give you a hard time, there's probably very little we can do to prevent a NYC police officer from doing so.

This can not be stressed enough.

Has ramfications way beyond our little bike lane infractions
“In the US, police training lasts on average 19 weeks,” while “in much of Europe that would be unthinkable. In Germany, for example, police train for at least 130 weeks.

eloy said:

Phil Maronilla said:

The rule about using bike path/lanes if provided becomes murky in Central Park because, 1) there is a bike path but 2) cars are not allowed in Central Park. Should there even be a designated bike lane in Central Park? Removing that lanes would probably make things more clear.

Once they decided to give you a hard time, there's probably very little we can do to prevent a NYC police officer from doing so.

Phil does bring up an important point..., once the road is no longer for cars, what do you do with all the car related infrastructure that was in place, do you still follow it, remove it, adapt it to how the road is actually used?

Also, somewhat related, without cars the asphalt should last longer, but now, once a tough winter takes its toll..., what motivates fixing the road?

I'll go further.

In NYC, as per traffic laws, if one deems the bike lane too dangerous, one can leave the bike lane.  Here's the quote, "If there are marked bike lanes or bike paths, then you should use them whenever possible. The only time a biker should not use a marked bike lane is when making turns or if it is unsafe to use."  If I find it unsafe to be in the bike lane, I don't have to be there.  And I found it unsafe.

As for the road being closed, I've been arguing this for  years.  once the road is closed, the traffic lights are irrelevant, as they're for open roads.  

And, yes, I've been long concerned about the NYCDoT letting the roads go to waste.  However, I was a bit heartened that sectors of Central Park have been replaced this year.

JP
I call your NYS traffic laws and raise you NYPD shift sergeant DGAF attitude about cyclists.
http://gothamist.com/2018/08/22/bike_lanes_have_laws.php
 

Dan Reiners said:

JP
I call your NYS traffic laws and raise you NYPD shift sergeant DGAF attitude about cyclists.
http://gothamist.com/2018/08/22/bike_lanes_have_laws.php
 

Blood boiling. 

Come on JP. Cops being ignorant of the written law and making shit up out of thin ass-air ain’t nothing new.

Monstrous.

Jules said:

Come on JP. Cops being ignorant of the written law and making shit up out of thin ass-air ain’t nothing new.

doesn't make it go down any easier.  

mugwump said:

Jules said:

Come on JP. Cops being ignorant of the written law and making shit up out of thin ass-air ain’t nothing new.

doesn't make it go down any easier.  

True that. I reached #outrageoverload some time ago.

Jeff asked me to share this with the club. 

Dearest friends and family,

It is with a defective heart that I must inform you that I will have that fixed on Wednesday at Stanford. Open-heart surgery. Specifically, a “valve-sparing aortic root replacement” with a “bicuspid aortic valve repair.” Don’t ask me, ask Google.

But, wait, you say, isn’t your first child due Sept. 20? Indeed. Life comes at you fast.

So here’s how it’s gonna go for me:

Day 0 - Wednesday, Aug. 29

Dr. Woo and his team will put me under, shave me “chin to toes” (to quote the PA), put me on a heart-lung and other machines, split my sternum, stop my heart, repair my defective aortic valve, replace part of my aorta with some polyester hosing (permanent press cycle, please, like Grandpa’s slacks), and close me back up. It should take around six or seven hours open to closed. I will wake up, shaved, with many tubes sticking out of me a few hours later in intensive care. 

Day 1

I’ll start walking around.

Day 2

I’ll move out of intensive care.

Day 3 or 4

I’ll walk out of the hospital and go home to regrow my body hair and sternum. I’ve already ordered some luxe chill-wear.

Day 12 or 13

I will eat at a fast casual restaurant and be able to lift 10 pounds.

Day 40-50

I’ll be able to ride in the front seat of a car, bear weight with my arms, go to work, ride my bike, and resume my strict regimen of stomach sleeping. My heart will be essentially like yours, with the exception of my polyester aortic root, which will outlive us all somewhere as litter or something. 

Those are the details people tend to ask about when they hear about this, but that isn’t the important stuff at all. The important stuff is how my irreplaceable, indefatigable, impossibly pregnant Jill will navigate this family through, and give birth to our daughter in the midst of it all. That, and how much love and help and care and appreciation she’ll get from all of us.

Love,

Jeff

Jules said:

Jeff asked me to share this with the club. 

Dearest friends and family,

It is with a defective heart that I must inform you that I will have that fixed on Wednesday at Stanford. Open-heart surgery. Specifically, a “valve-sparing aortic root replacement” with a “bicuspid aortic valve repair.” Don’t ask me, ask Google.

But, wait, you say, isn’t your first child due Sept. 20? Indeed. Life comes at you fast.

So here’s how it’s gonna go for me:

Day 0 - Wednesday, Aug. 29

Dr. Woo and his team will put me under, shave me “chin to toes” (to quote the PA), put me on a heart-lung and other machines, split my sternum, stop my heart, repair my defective aortic valve, replace part of my aorta with some polyester hosing (permanent press cycle, please, like Grandpa’s slacks), and close me back up. It should take around six or seven hours open to closed. I will wake up, shaved, with many tubes sticking out of me a few hours later in intensive care. 

Day 1

I’ll start walking around.

Day 2

I’ll move out of intensive care.

Day 3 or 4

I’ll walk out of the hospital and go home to regrow my body hair and sternum. I’ve already ordered some luxe chill-wear.

Day 12 or 13

I will eat at a fast casual restaurant and be able to lift 10 pounds.

Day 40-50

I’ll be able to ride in the front seat of a car, bear weight with my arms, go to work, ride my bike, and resume my strict regimen of stomach sleeping. My heart will be essentially like yours, with the exception of my polyester aortic root, which will outlive us all somewhere as litter or something. 

Those are the details people tend to ask about when they hear about this, but that isn’t the important stuff at all. The important stuff is how my irreplaceable, indefatigable, impossibly pregnant Jill will navigate this family through, and give birth to our daughter in the midst of it all. That, and how much love and help and care and appreciation she’ll get from all of us.

Love,

Jeff

If people are looking for ways to help, there is a meal train here.

Update on Jeff is good news.

The procedure was a success, he's awake and talking.  PT will have him walking around soon.

Jules said:

Update on Jeff is good news.

The procedure was a success, he's awake and talking.  PT will have him walking around soon.

He's home and catching up on Vuelta stages now.

So the cyclist killed yesterday in Bushwick was artist Devra Freelander. 

RISD graduate, she had made some truly beautiful pieces. Her last instagram talking about heading out to Iceland this Thursday.

This is honestly heartbreaking, and now wondering what can we do as individuals and as a club to better this world and the NYC cycling support and infrastructure.

eloy said:

So the cyclist killed yesterday in Bushwick was artist Devra Freelander. 

RISD graduate, she had made some truly beautiful pieces. Her last instagram talking about heading out to Iceland this Thursday.

This is honestly heartbreaking, and now wondering what can we do as individuals and as a club to better this world and the NYC cycling support and infrastructure.

That is horrible. Kissena alum Erika Tarte was also from RISDY.

From a support perspective I think having clubs and race organizers support lobbying and lobby organizations seems the most obvious. I never understood why Transportation Alternatives was not more effective.

Host a Grand Fondo and raise some dough, dammit.

Jules said:

eloy said:

So the cyclist killed yesterday in Bushwick was artist Devra Freelander. 

RISD graduate, she had made some truly beautiful pieces. Her last instagram talking about heading out to Iceland this Thursday.

This is honestly heartbreaking, and now wondering what can we do as individuals and as a club to better this world and the NYC cycling support and infrastructure.

That is horrible. Kissena alum Erika Tarte was also from RISDY.

From a support perspective I think having clubs and race organizers support lobbying and lobby organizations seems the most obvious. I never understood why Transportation Alternatives was not more effective.

Host a Grand Fondo and raise some dough, dammit.

If every cycling or even pro-cycling celebrity that is 1 or 2 degrees separated from NYC got involved I'm sure it would be massive.

doing a ride is highly cathartic, and last week the rides for Robyn Hightman appeared quite special... what I think I am asking, honestly, do a fondo, it could raise awareness, but raise money to do what what exactly with the money? 

Pay lobbyists to put pressure on politicians. Or fund politicians directly who advocate for better enforcement/infrastructure. Or fund class action suits against the DA for failing to do their jobs.

This "educating drivers" thing is largely nonsense as far as I can tell.

NYC is still the place where if you want to kill someone without consequence you only need to use a motor vehicle.

Also it strikes me as painfully self evident but if the police had to commute to work by bike the city would look very different.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/jul/03/ten-common-myths-about-bike-lanes-and-why-theyre-wrong?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Food for thought