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| On yer bike! New York Nimbys saddle up to fight cycle-share scheme | On yer bike! New York Nimbys saddle up to fight cycle-share scheme |
| (7 days later) | |
| New Yorkers are a famously argumentative bunch. As the former mayor Ed Koch used to say, voicing the sentiment of millions of his constituents: "You punch me, I punch back." | New Yorkers are a famously argumentative bunch. As the former mayor Ed Koch used to say, voicing the sentiment of millions of his constituents: "You punch me, I punch back." |
| But even in this rambunctious community, the current round of acrimony rippling through the city is pretty impressive. And it is all over something as benign as the bicycle. | But even in this rambunctious community, the current round of acrimony rippling through the city is pretty impressive. And it is all over something as benign as the bicycle. |
| This month, a bike-share scheme will be put into effect in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. It's a fairly standard system that residents of London, Paris and Barcelona – among many global cities – would find very familiar: some 6,000 bikes will be available to be borrowed for a fee and returned to any of 330 stations. | This month, a bike-share scheme will be put into effect in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. It's a fairly standard system that residents of London, Paris and Barcelona – among many global cities – would find very familiar: some 6,000 bikes will be available to be borrowed for a fee and returned to any of 330 stations. |
| But the imminent arrival of the Citi Bike has put many New Yorkers in a stew. Last week, about 300 residents of the West Village packed into a public meeting, in order to vent their collective spleen about bike stations that have recently been located outside their apartment blocks. This being the West Village, a neighbourhood with a long bohemian history, condoms were passed around with a note saying: "We've been screwed. Don't let this happen to you – be prepared!" | But the imminent arrival of the Citi Bike has put many New Yorkers in a stew. Last week, about 300 residents of the West Village packed into a public meeting, in order to vent their collective spleen about bike stations that have recently been located outside their apartment blocks. This being the West Village, a neighbourhood with a long bohemian history, condoms were passed around with a note saying: "We've been screwed. Don't let this happen to you – be prepared!" |
| Locals complained that bike stations will become dog urinals, and that they will put lives in danger by preventing access by fire trucks. And what about the poor doormen? Won't they have to clean up the mess? "I don't care what they do in Paris," shouted one speaker, getting the loudest cheer of the night. "I live in New York city!" | Locals complained that bike stations will become dog urinals, and that they will put lives in danger by preventing access by fire trucks. And what about the poor doormen? Won't they have to clean up the mess? "I don't care what they do in Paris," shouted one speaker, getting the loudest cheer of the night. "I live in New York city!" |
| In neighbourhoods like West Village, Battery City Park and Brooklyn's Fort Greene, the same rallying cries can be heard as locals object to the bright blue bikes and their imposing, gunmetal grey stands. It is a sign of how much more sensitive the city has become – only 60 years ago, Robert Moses could tear down entire communities to make way for the motor car, with relative impunity. | In neighbourhoods like West Village, Battery City Park and Brooklyn's Fort Greene, the same rallying cries can be heard as locals object to the bright blue bikes and their imposing, gunmetal grey stands. It is a sign of how much more sensitive the city has become – only 60 years ago, Robert Moses could tear down entire communities to make way for the motor car, with relative impunity. |
| Bike kiosks have been defaced with posters deriding the $41m sponsorship of the scheme, by Citibank. In Fort Greene, leaflets saying "residential landmark blocks are not for advertising or commercial activity" were slapped over the kiosks. Street vendors have protested that their regular parking spaces are being obliterated. The owner of a Tribeca bistro was almost arrested when he waged a sit-down occupation outside his restaurant, to prevent the installation of the racks. | Bike kiosks have been defaced with posters deriding the $41m sponsorship of the scheme, by Citibank. In Fort Greene, leaflets saying "residential landmark blocks are not for advertising or commercial activity" were slapped over the kiosks. Street vendors have protested that their regular parking spaces are being obliterated. The owner of a Tribeca bistro was almost arrested when he waged a sit-down occupation outside his restaurant, to prevent the installation of the racks. |
| Citi Bike's operators have even been accused of being discriminatory against obese people, after it was noticed that a clause in the scheme's small print prohibited riders weighing more than 260lbs from participating. | Citi Bike's operators have even been accused of being discriminatory against obese people, after it was noticed that a clause in the scheme's small print prohibited riders weighing more than 260lbs from participating. |
| Last week, the first of what could be many lawsuits against the bike stands was lodged in court by a housing co-op in Bank Street, also in the West Village. The residents of the 100-year-old building fear the value of their property will decline thanks to marauding cyclists riding on the sidewalk, knocking down older people and children. | Last week, the first of what could be many lawsuits against the bike stands was lodged in court by a housing co-op in Bank Street, also in the West Village. The residents of the 100-year-old building fear the value of their property will decline thanks to marauding cyclists riding on the sidewalk, knocking down older people and children. |
| "The bike share station will severely endanger the health and safety of the residents of 99 Bank Street," the lawsuit complains. As an olive branch, the city agreed to remove a four-bike segment from the rack, directly in front of the co-op entrance. | "The bike share station will severely endanger the health and safety of the residents of 99 Bank Street," the lawsuit complains. As an olive branch, the city agreed to remove a four-bike segment from the rack, directly in front of the co-op entrance. |
| The imminent start of the scheme, which will cost riders $95 a year or $10 for a 24-hour pass, has become a talking point in the upcoming mayoral election. "Bike lanes, I put that now in the category of things you shouldn't discuss at dinner parties," one of the front-runner candidates to succeed Michael Bloomberg, Christine Quinn, said recently. | The imminent start of the scheme, which will cost riders $95 a year or $10 for a 24-hour pass, has become a talking point in the upcoming mayoral election. "Bike lanes, I put that now in the category of things you shouldn't discuss at dinner parties," one of the front-runner candidates to succeed Michael Bloomberg, Christine Quinn, said recently. |
| With all the Nimby noise surrounding Citi Bike, an underlying truth is in danger of being lost: that the scheme is overwhelmingly supported by New Yorkers. Polls suggest more than 70% approval across the city. Advocates of the city's cycling revolution, who were out in force in Sunday's Five Borough bike tour, the biggest bike ride in the US, have come up with their own slogan to express their positive feelings: "YIMBY". | With all the Nimby noise surrounding Citi Bike, an underlying truth is in danger of being lost: that the scheme is overwhelmingly supported by New Yorkers. Polls suggest more than 70% approval across the city. Advocates of the city's cycling revolution, who were out in force in Sunday's Five Borough bike tour, the biggest bike ride in the US, have come up with their own slogan to express their positive feelings: "YIMBY". |
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