Central Park T.A. Rally

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Anonymous's picture
Anonymous

For those not aware/not involved with Transportation Alternatives, there is a rally on Monday, 10/24, at 72nd and Central Park West starting at 4:45 pm. At the rally, they will collect their 100,000th signature on a petition for a car free Central Park and be asking our lovely bike unfriendly mayor for a 3 month trial closure to cars next summer. There will be local news coverage and speeches from supportive local politicians.

T.A. has requested that cyclists come in their gear and walk their bikes in the march starting at Central Park West and 72nd and ending at the Tavern on the Green area.

Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
a small lesson in persuasion

Dear Mr Car Free,

Whether it is in fact true or not (***I'm not passing judgement***), to publicly refer the mayor as bike unfriendly is really not a wise thing to do if you want to influence public policy with respect to bicycles. Additionally, folks may feel a stronger connection with your message if it came from a person using a real name.

Anyway good luck on achieving your goal. I wish you the best and you already have my signature.

Sincerely,

Me

Anonymous's picture
Matt P. (not verified)

so let's assume the park is closed all day, every day this summer. i imagine the resulting celebration would bring more users to the park. i don't know about you, but i find it exasperating to ride a bike in the park on a summer day. some cyclists are flying around at 25mph, others are toodling at 11mph. then there are the walkers, joggers, strollers, dogs, etc.

is there a plan for actually dealing with an increase in non-motorized use of the park? are we going to see new lane lines painted? is someone going to actually enforce the use of the joggers' lane?

actually, i find it efficient to work out on my bike in the park while traffic is flowing. the cars keep the pedestrians out of the roadway.

Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
excellent points (nm)
Anonymous's picture
Fixer (not verified)
Enforce what?

"There are no rules, other than cars being banned during ""car-free"" hours. Oh yeah, and the 15 mph bicycle speed limit...

If someone wants to run, walk, dance or crawl right down the middle of the loop road at 7:15 PM on a warm spring evening, that's perfectly OK. Runners are not required to use the running lane, walking is not prohibited on the loop.

Might make your ""training"" a bit more exciting, but that's life in the Big City, Skippy."

Anonymous's picture
Zoetemelk (not verified)
My undestanding is Bloomberg is the one who reduced car

"entrances in the park in increased car free hours? Is this not accurate? (not being facetious here) With regards to Central Park bike hours Bloomberg has done more than any other mayor to my knowledge. Why exactly is he ""bike unfreindly"" I am not sure if his overall bike policy in the city is that good though?

"

Anonymous's picture
Joe Soda (not verified)

"He is bike unfriendly because although he and his apologists wax eloquently on his ""commuting"" and, according to a picture in the paper, he has a bike hanging on the wall in City Hall (though that might be a trophy, like a stuffed elk head), he can't or won't control his police force in their--or his--vendetta against Critical Mass.

Banning cars from Central Park is not a bike issue. It is a proper use of the park issue.

But then there are still people who believe he is a Democrat."

Anonymous's picture
Bill Vojtech (not verified)
Vendetta?

Is it Mike or the cops? Do you think the Mayor has nothing better to do than orchestrate a vendetta against critical mass? Hubris!

I don't like critical mass. I guess I must be anti-bike. Why am I a member of the NYCC?

Anonymous's picture
Joe Soda (not verified)

"""Hubris!"" What exactly do you mean?

I don't think it takes that much time to ""orchestrate a vendetta against critical mass"". He just has to give the word, or not give the right word, and the thing is ""orchestrated"" by those whose job it is to ""orchestrate"" things in the administration.

Speaking of tying up traffic and inconveniencing the motoring gods, there was a column in the paper today lamenting the lack during the last 4 years of a traffic-stopping-congesting-rallying point for out of control adolescents and their parents-tying up the city's resources PARADE DOWN THE CANYON OF HEROES.

Go White Sox."

Anonymous's picture
Bill Vojtech (not verified)
Hubris explained

I doubt that critical mass or any bike org even appears on Mike's radar scope. They do however annoy the cops who don't need to get the word from on high to crack down. Don't look for conspiracies when it's not necessary.

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
Thank you... (nm)
Anonymous's picture
Joe Soda (not verified)

If you believe that the Mayor doesn't know about Critical Mass...I mean, really, can't you come up with a better argument than that? I doubt that there's much going on here that you know about and he doesn't.
A Mayor making, or not making, executive decisions is the way the job of Mayor is supposed to work, not the definition of a conspiracy.

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
Response

"I sincerely the doubt the mayor goes into any meeting and asks ""what is the status of the Critical Mass situation."" If he does, we need a new mayor."

Anonymous's picture
Joe Soda (not verified)

Mass arrests, court cases dismissed, front page stories, city sued...and he is unaware?

Who says he has to ask? I assume he is told.

Anonymous's picture
Bill Vojtech (not verified)
And I'm sure...

"He's aware and that he does not care, one way or another about critical mass. The old saying, ""don't sweat the small stuff"" comes to mind. And believe me, when you're running this city, critical mass and their antics are small stuff."

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
Thank you (nm)
Anonymous's picture
Roscoe Geo (not verified)
mayors & bikes & CP

Some 40 years ago John Lindsay closed Central Park to automobiles weekends and evenings. Bloomberg along with his predesesors merely followed along.

Anonymous's picture
Car Free (not verified)
Original Post

My original post was meant to generate attendance at an important rally for park users, not to generate a thread.

The lack of an organized showing by the NYCC at this rally once again demonstrates the futility of this club regarding local issues that affect cyclists and reinforces my decision to let my membership lapse.

Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
good grief

"NYC already has a *dedicated* bicycle advocacy group: it's called Transportation Alternatives. You posted this message < 24 hours before the event and for one that occurs on a weekday at a time when many are working. What kind of a response could a reasonable person hope to expect?

If you don't want to ""generate a thread"", then don't a post here. It's a message board, that's what people do here and elsewhere. Moreover don't post here if you are going to publicize your event while slamming the club using its resources. That's really poor form.



"

Anonymous's picture
Car Free (not verified)
Message Board

"I guess since we have a ""dedicated bicycle advocacy group"", other bicycle groups are off the hook of having to support issues of bicycle/recreational advocacy in New York City. Give me a break.

Do you know what a message board is? It primarily to send information. It is based on the old bulletin board that people put up informational messages on. Ever see a discussion on a bulletin board message board?? See what is says at the top of the page, message board, not discussion board or chat room.

I am a member of Transportation Alternatives and the NYCC. I do not work for T.A. and posted that message on my own, not for T.A. The rally was not my event and as long as I am a paying member of this club, I damm well will use the MESSAGE BOARD to send messages."

Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
Do you know what a message board is?

"The sole purpose of this board is to foster dialog among those who share a love for cycling whether they are NYCC members or not.

Taken from the 1st paragraph of the NYCC Message Board Rules

And in case you are going to take me to task what the word dialogue means, click here or here


Ever wonder who put the ""reply"" button in the message board software? For the answer, try selecting ""view source"" within your IE web browser and have a look at the top of the page.


"

Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
"""other bicycle groups are off the hook"""

"On this club's webiste home page you will find:
NYCC takes issue with NYC policy
verbiage plus a link to:
Letter to the Mayor
"

Anonymous's picture
mike (not verified)
the mayors bike unfriendly policys

"with the City's removal of locked bicycles at subways stations,
the new signs at union square park ""stating no rallys or gatherings allowed without a permit"" and the continuing cm arrest,
i would go with the original poster stating the mayor has exhibited bicycle unfriendly policy"

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
Its the Law... (nm)
Anonymous's picture
mike (not verified)
?

whats the law? that denies freedom of speech , right to assemble.
but than again if you cant post under your name, i expect as much on this message board

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
Please...

"Mr. ""mike"" everyone knows who I am -- check this week's ride listing. How does locking a bike to a Subway exit deny freedom of speech."

Anonymous's picture
mike (not verified)
i will do the same

if the board members and members do not think attendance by NYCC at these events is importannt. i joined NYCC after carol ignited the NYCC to take a position against mayor bloomberg recent bike unfriedly actions

Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
cavil, cavil and more cavil

Did you not read our club President's letter to the Mayor? Its only been on the home page for the past couple of months. To advertise the event so close to it happening and then complain here afterwards is folly. Funny thing is he did not post any details of what took place at the event - an opportunity forgone. It's even more folly to lend any immediate credibility to an anonymous posting hysteric.

Reading Mr Anon's (Car Free) comments, he gives me a very amateurish impression of himself and by extension these events that are spoken of. Speaking for myself, I'd be less inclined to attend such future events.

Anonymous's picture
EToainShrdlu (not verified)
This really, really burns my brakes!

"By inclination, I do not like to agree with Peter O'Reilly. He once had the hubris to say my posts, with which he did not agree, ought to be on my own blog, not the NYCC message board. Then he had the paternalistic chutzpah to offer to help me set up a blog. Then he got huffy when I sent him a private communication starting in graphic expletives what he could do with his offer.

So you can imagine how infuriatingly offensive I find it to discover I am in total agreement with Peter on all of the above. Yes, it's true you can use the message board to send messages, (""Lonely racing saddle seeks action-loving Serotta,"" or ""A-18 ride cancelled due to Krazy Glue spill on 9W."")

However, the true life of the board, and the thing that keeps bringing people back to survey the posts — including your dreary little announcements the likes of, ""Mass Gathering In Central Park To Tell Mayor Mike Somethingorother"" — is the action and commentary and re-action.

It's like a ""wardrobe malfunction"" at the Superbowl It may be in less than perfect taste, but it builds an audience, generates conversation, and makes the world a livelier place.

Anon, go stuff a presta-valve 32cm racing tire in one of your bodily cavities and inflate it with a Road Morph.

Or as Marshall Tito used to say, ""I don't have time for technicalities. Just take him out and shoot him.""

Your Pal,
Etoain Shrdly


"

Anonymous's picture
<a href="http://www.OhReallyOreilly.com">Peter O'Reilly</a> (not verified)
As a kid, I rode a Ross, not a Huffy

"That's not quite correct what you wrote in the 1st paragraph. I'll let others be the judge how good your gift-for-fiction is. If you want to read the entire context of the discussion, including what I wrote, then click here:
http://www.nycc.org/mb/Thread.aspx?B=1&T=1034&TP=1#Msg3895

Concerning your private communication to me, since you brought it up publicly, is it ok if I post it here as well? It's most flattering, isn't it? It's no small bother and nothing to get ""huffy"" about, right? Hey pal, please tell me it's ok to do so and I will be more than obliged."

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
Post It! (nm)
Anonymous's picture
A.Q. (not verified)
Pass the popcorn please (nm)
Anonymous's picture
Etoain Shrdlu (not verified)
Post it.

"Never take a compliment lying down, right Peter?

Well, I have no fear of anything I have written, even things written over two years ago and mailed privately, in response to your instant mail popping up all over my computer screen during work hours. By all means feel free to post our exchange. Just remember that it contains a most interesting analysis of your behavior and that I am well founded in the black art of psychoanalysis.

""This guy Freud, he had nothing on Shrdlu.""
-- Nivesky the Police Inspector"

Anonymous's picture
John Z (not verified)
You really want it posted? (nm)
cycling trips