Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Matt Choi's avatar

You're touching on something which is much trickier than any policy or planning effort- the culture of driving/biking in a given place. Being on the road in NYC is combat, it's almost dogma that a bike lane is worthless if it's not protected by concrete. When I was in London and Paris I was shocked how much of the bike infrastructure is not grade or barrier separated- The culture of driving and biking is simply calmer and more respectful (in the case of London the largest traffic camera system in the world also helps keep cars at or below the speed limit). I have no idea how we foster something like this in NYC, but I increasingly think it's the root of a lot of our problems.

Expand full comment
Unset's avatar

"It is easy to dismiss this all, absent a death toll, as a moral panic. "

Lots of people have no idea how easy it is to sustain a life-ruining brain or spine injury that might make you wish you were dead. To say nothing of how horrific it is to have your jaw shattered, or lose half your teeth. Death is not the only seriously bad thing that can happen in life. I have to work not to wish dark things on these dismissive people.

Expand full comment
12 more comments...

No posts