Comments on: Dim Bulbs http://tribecacitizen.com/2010/01/24/dim-bulbs/ Tribeca News, Advice, and Info Wed, 23 May 2012 21:34:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Erik Torkells http://tribecacitizen.com/2010/01/24/dim-bulbs/comment-page-1/#comment-1336 Erik Torkells Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:33:28 +0000 http://tribecacitizen.com/?p=3213#comment-1336 You're right that it was an opinion, of course, although in fairness I never tried to pass it off as anything else. I figured that the post might get a conversation started—which I suppose it has, even if the response wasn't exactly what I hoped to hear. (I do, however, take issue with the notion that I "just kinda, sorta" noticed how disruptive the bus bulbs are. I've been watching their effects with dismay since they first appeared, and I trust my own eyes more than DOT statistics, if they exist on this topic.) I'm not an expert on much of what I cover, but if I limit myself to those subjects there won't be much here to read. Ideally, someone with more knowledge of these issues would contribute—and if you're ever interested in writing, I hope you'll get in touch. You’re right that it was an opinion, of course, although in fairness I never tried to pass it off as anything else. I figured that the post might get a conversation started—which I suppose it has, even if the response wasn’t exactly what I hoped to hear. (I do, however, take issue with the notion that I “just kinda, sorta” noticed how disruptive the bus bulbs are. I’ve been watching their effects with dismay since they first appeared, and I trust my own eyes more than DOT statistics, if they exist on this topic.)

I’m not an expert on much of what I cover, but if I limit myself to those subjects there won’t be much here to read. Ideally, someone with more knowledge of these issues would contribute—and if you’re ever interested in writing, I hope you’ll get in touch.

]]> By: Ira Kaplan http://tribecacitizen.com/2010/01/24/dim-bulbs/comment-page-1/#comment-1335 Ira Kaplan Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:45:51 +0000 http://tribecacitizen.com/?p=3213#comment-1335 I find it hard to take your criticism of bus bulbs and the Grand St. bike lane seriously. From what I can see, you just kinda, sorta noticed that things seem more crowded and Broadway now and that “hardly anyone” bikes on Grand St. Forgive me if I don’t give your top-of-the-head observations much credence. If you’re going to spout off, how about finding some facts or numbers to back up your talk. Broadway between Houston and Canal was a mess before the bulbs, and a mess now. You don’t make much of a case that it’s worse now and the bulbs should be deemed a failure – except that, gee, it kinda, sorta seems worse to you. I also find it strange that someone so worried about car traffic and air quality is so down on bike lanes. Again, your observation isn’t backed up by anything solid. In five minutes of looking I found a report about the Grand St. bike lane on the WNYC Web page from October that said that since the lane was installed in November 2008, “The number of injuries to cyclists, pedestrians and motorists has dropped from about three a month to about two. Overall accidents, including fender benders, declined 16 percent.” Those numbers are from the DOT, which also claimed bike ridership on Grand St. had increased 60 percent over the previous 18 months. Another report I found claimed the DOT said it counted 990 bike riders using the Grand St. path in one 12-hour period last July. That’s a far cry from “hardly anyone.” I’m not trying to say that the Broadway bus bulbs should stay, nor that the Grand St. bike lane is an unequivocal positive. I’m saying that if you want anyone to take what you have to say seriously, do a little reporting to back up your statements. Otherwise, it’s just propaganda. I find it hard to take your criticism of bus bulbs and the Grand St. bike lane seriously. From what I can see, you just kinda, sorta noticed that things seem more crowded and Broadway now and that “hardly anyone” bikes on Grand St. Forgive me if I don’t give your top-of-the-head observations much credence. If you’re going to spout off, how about finding some facts or numbers to back up your talk. Broadway between Houston and Canal was a mess before the bulbs, and a mess now. You don’t make much of a case that it’s worse now and the bulbs should be deemed a failure – except that, gee, it kinda, sorta seems worse to you. I also find it strange that someone so worried about car traffic and air quality is so down on bike lanes. Again, your observation isn’t backed up by anything solid. In five minutes of looking I found a report about the Grand St. bike lane on the WNYC Web page from October that said that since the lane was installed in November 2008, “The number of injuries to cyclists, pedestrians and motorists has dropped from about three a month to about two. Overall accidents, including fender benders, declined 16 percent.” Those numbers are from the DOT, which also claimed bike ridership on Grand St. had increased 60 percent over the previous 18 months. Another report I found claimed the DOT said it counted 990 bike riders using the Grand St. path in one 12-hour period last July. That’s a far cry from “hardly anyone.”
I’m not trying to say that the Broadway bus bulbs should stay, nor that the Grand St. bike lane is an unequivocal positive. I’m saying that if you want anyone to take what you have to say seriously, do a little reporting to back up your statements. Otherwise, it’s just propaganda.

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