I volunteer with Transportation Alternatives, the biking and walking advocacy group mentioned in the article. This summer I worked with the East Side Committee to spread awareness and gain support for the 1st and 2nd Avenue bike lane project, which was cut short by the city. We collected 2,500 handwritten letters from NYC residents and presented them to the city earlier this month. During my volunteer sessions I met bikers, walkers and people who were just concerned about making NYC safer. I never once met someone who said “I don’t want bike lanes.”

Bikers are asking to share the road, not “take away rights” from drivers. Biking in NYC is scary, even with the addition of bike lanes. I just want these drivers to realize that my choice to bike or walk is to help make the city a better place, not to intentionally make your car ride shittier. Oh, and to also realize that their car could crush me and my bike, so step off it.

highheelsandtwowheels:

“Expansion of Bike Lanes in City Brings Backlash”

There was only one valid argument against bike lanes by opponents in this article, that they take away parking spaces for delivery trucks. And that was only a few business owners. But everyone else, I don’t understand; especially in NYC where the public transportation is good. Why do people hate bikers so much? One woman was stated as saying “He’s taking away my rights as a driver.” These are the people I hate the most.  The people who argue it’s their “right” but have no real justification.  I guess I can’t see it because I’m on the other side.  I begin to worry that hate crimes will be committed against bikers, people in cars mowing us down for no reason, other than the perception that we are taking their right to that extra 2 or 3 feet of road away.

(Source: highheelsandtwowheels)