Here’s a TV Story With a Two-Wheeled Perspective on Biking in NYC

This story from the New Jersey-based TV show “Chasing News” is meant to have a light touch, but it does a better job explaining how streets work than most “straight” news reportage.

Correspondent Tamara Laine talks with safe streets advocates Ollie Oliver and Janet Liff about the need for protected bikeways on Fifth and Sixth avenues. She even goes for a ride on a Citi Bike to see firsthand how dangerous it is to dodge open car doors and double-parked vehicles.

The piece goes off on a tangent toward the end, but all in all it’s pretty great. Seriously, did you ever see Marcia Kramer on a bike?

We’ll be back on our regular publishing schedule Tuesday. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend, everyone.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

STREETSBLOG USA

The $600 Protected Bike Lane

By Angie Schmitt |
The first step to creating safer, more inclusive streets is to question the wisdom and permanence of the way things are. Here’s how folks in Minneapolis are helping people make that mental leap. The above video shows footage of the “pop-up” protected bike lane created by a community group called Bikeways for Everyone  during a […]
Atl_relay_rides
STREETSBLOG USA

Bike-Share and Open Streets: A Perfect Match

By Stephen Miller |
Open streets events, or ciclovias, give people a new way to explore their city's streets. Without cars on the streets, they're a natural opportunity for people who don't usually ride a bike to hop on two wheels -- and that's precisely why it's important to include bike-share systems in the mix, says Stefani Cox at the Better Bike Share Partnership.
STREETSBLOG USA

Rescuing New Ideas From the Purgatory of Old Bureaucracy

By Ben Fried |
Your city may have a complete streets policy. Your mayor may say all the right things about making streets work for walking, biking, and transit. But if the inner workings of government — city budgets, agency protocols — aren’t set up to enable big street design breakthroughs, all you’ll get are scattershot improvements. Writing for Network blog Broken Sidewalk, Chris […]

Upper East Side Bike Lane Meeting, or Surreal Performance Art?

By David Meyer |
If you ever go to an Upper East Side community board meeting about bike lanes, bring some popcorn. Last night, the Manhattan Community Board 8 transportation committee called the bluff of crosstown bike lane opponents. After a parade of people spoke against DOT’s plan to stripe bike lanes on their blocks, even though they support the […]