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When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

toddwschneider.com

21–30 of 294 posts

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#21
post #2

what citi bikes need is a reward system to get riders to transfer bikes from plenty to empty areas. [edit] i meant to use Citi bike as a generic term.

In London they have teams of people unloading truckloads of bikes to places where all the lots are empty. I don't know how cost effective it is but it seems to be working pretty well

same here, but it's nice to know you're needed.

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#22
post #3

Do people use bikes to get anywhere faster? I would use one to save on emissions and/or get some much needed exercis edit: so many replies! I guess I stand corrected, although the more I think about it, the less I'm surprised. I live in Japan, obviously known for its public transport. Interesting to note though once I travel abroad, thanks for the replies everyone :-)

I do, for sure. It's the only sane way to get around Boston without going totally insane.

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#23
post #3

Do people use bikes to get anywhere faster? I would use one to save on emissions and/or get some much needed exercis edit: so many replies! I guess I stand corrected, although the more I think about it, the less I'm surprised. I live in Japan, obviously known for its public transport. Interesting to note though once I travel abroad, thanks for the replies everyone :-)

Absolutely - it's fair to say that in many cities bikes will often get you there faster (or at least, more reliably) than vehicles at rush hour (and for a lot of journeys, most other times too.)

If I had to prioritise the reasons I cycle to work, speed and cost would come above the other things you mention - although they're nice bonuses.

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#24
post #4

As a pedestrian crossing the straw in NYC, you will typically wait for cars to stop, then walk about 2/3 of the way into the street, then peer into the bike lane to make sure no bikes are coming, then complete your crossing. Most of the bikers, from my experience, do not follow rules such as stopping at a Stop sign or for pedestrians or at their own bike designated stop lights. It may be nice to bike in the cities pa…

A million times this! I live in Chicago and am an avid biker (been doored by a cab, right of passage i guess?) I am one of the few who stops at stop signs and slows down or stops at cross walks to watch for pedestrians. I attend my local alderman's meetings to push for more protected bike lanes which we are now getting, but my fellow bikers are making us all look bad wrt following the rules of the road. I can't tell you how many times I've almost gotten hit crossing a cross walk by a biker flying down the street without looking or stopping for pedestrians. We are now at the point where bikes are truly getting to share the road, but we are forgetting that we don't just share with cars, but with pedestrians as well. That fact seems to elude most bikers and they are operating like they have total impunity when riding. I'd love to see cops out ticketing bikers for blowing through cross walks with pedestrians present, I'd love to see big fines for running red lights; lord knows our city needs the revenue.

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#25
post #6
post #4

As a pedestrian crossing the straw in NYC, you will typically wait for cars to stop, then walk about 2/3 of the way into the street, then peer into the bike lane to make sure no bikes are coming, then complete your crossing. Most of the bikers, from my experience, do not follow rules such as stopping at a Stop sign or for pedestrians or at their own bike designated stop lights. It may be nice to bike in the cities pa…

And if you do follow the rules on a bike you often end up sitting in traffic with the cars anyway.

Exactly, because both the rules and, even worse, the infrastructure are made for cars, and only shoehorned for bikes afterwards.

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#26
post #3

Do people use bikes to get anywhere faster? I would use one to save on emissions and/or get some much needed exercis edit: so many replies! I guess I stand corrected, although the more I think about it, the less I'm surprised. I live in Japan, obviously known for its public transport. Interesting to note though once I travel abroad, thanks for the replies everyone :-)

My girlfriend started commuting by bike last year and cut her travel time by almost half. There are real savings to be had in congested cities.

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#27
post #4

As a pedestrian crossing the straw in NYC, you will typically wait for cars to stop, then walk about 2/3 of the way into the street, then peer into the bike lane to make sure no bikes are coming, then complete your crossing. Most of the bikers, from my experience, do not follow rules such as stopping at a Stop sign or for pedestrians or at their own bike designated stop lights. It may be nice to bike in the cities pa…

It's a similar situation in Philly, every day I watch bikers run red lights and stop signs or speeding in a 25.

I've yet to see a cop pull over someone on a bike

Re: When Citi Bikes Are Faster Than Taxis in New York City

#28
I would love to bike, but the major issue is that every single person I know who's biked for more than 1 year has gotten into some type of accident (around 10 people), whether car, car door, or poorly maintained road. These are all 30s and work-at-the-office types so maybe they're not the most coordinated, but they are also not doing stupid shit.
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