Taking Back the Streets, One City at a Time
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.15.06
We love ideas that make our cities more vibrant, more fun, more public- You can live in smaller, better spaces when the city is your living room. We read in the New York Times that in many cities, there are organized midnight bike rides- "the streets are empty, and the world is our oyster". In New York, the environmental group Time's up started the ride as an antidote to drinking and spending money in bars, and to promote contact with nature. Speaking of Central Park at night-"you probably woudn't go alone, but you are with all these people, and then you end up at this beautiful, serene place" (but sorry, we would go for a beer after!) in New York, LA, Boston and other cities; see list in ::New York TImes
While riding the subway the other day, we were so excited when Lori and Kevin of NewMindspace sat down right opposite us. They are busy hiding 5,000 easter eggs around Toronto's trendy Kensington Market for a monster easter egg hunt on Sunday. Each egg has a message inside- they gave us one that said "listen to the radio." We will treasure it always, a token from two kids who treat the city as a giant communal game board. We are always surprised that they haven't been arrested for having too much fun in a public place. Join them in the ::Easter Egg Hunt.
Cyclists are part of the problem. I never got hit by a car, but I duck cyclists a lot. They cannot decide if they should be on the street or sidewalk, they go the opposite way on one way streets and do not stop at lights.
When they fix their own issue, then they can talk about taking back the streets
Midnight rides are great! Haven't done one in a while, but I have been doing 7am Sunday rides here in Chicago. Broad daylight, and you'd think the city had been evacuated.
Also, I do Critical Mass when I can. Like a big, fun parade of bikes. Block traffic? Sure, but it's only a couple hours once a month. Cars do it all day, every day. Imagine if we all were driving a Suburban when we did it. Ha!
Alvin,
have you considered that much of the confusion for cyclists comes from the fact that their is no place for us? Many cyclists feel forced onto the sidewalks because in thier view it is safer than riding in a dangerous car dominated street.
Cyclists are subject to the same regulations as cars with reguard to stoplights and one way streets.
while I ride I do obey most traffic laws with a few bent rules and exceptions. First, with a bicycle's 360 degree field of view, ease of stopping, and momentum which is hard earned I roll through stopsigns and lights after cheking that the coast is clear. Second, I will sometimes ride in what could be seen as an aggressive way between lanes among cars to keep myself out of the grinder.
Regarding bikes and curb-hopping, Albert Howell wrote a good article for the globe and mail on the subject- Revelations of a curb-hopper
See?!
This is what I, Spudnuts, was saying in that Portland thread last month (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/people_of_portl.php). Everybody is in the bars, the movie theaters, the malls, or on the sofas in Portland at night. I bike at night and the only people on bikes are the occasional commuter and a hell of a lot of homeless people. And the Zoo Bombers now and again. Other than that the streets are 99% bike-free at night and I'm not just talking during the rainy winter. I'm talking on the most gorgeous summer evening.
Zip.
I LOVE this "midnight" bike idea.
This link is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn about pratical cycling, including how to ride on roads safely and considerately.
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/
My bike hurts my butt. Someone needs to invent a goose down bicycle seat!