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Letters to the Editor - 2014 edition

With the nice weather coming, the letters are bound to start popping up like crocuses, so I thought I'd start a new thread for this year so we can keep track of the bicycle related letters to the editor, both pro and anti, within one thread. First up, a reminder from a blind pedestrian not to buzz their dog. Really? http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2014/03/25/Spring-and-cyclists/stories/201403250168
marko82
2014-03-25 11:07:38
I want to write a letter complaining that my neighbor does not recycle all of their recyclables and leaves too many lights on, which obviously means ALL of my neighbors do this! Speaking of which, I saw my first blooming crocuses today, but I have not been out and about much. Anyone seen any blooming daffodils yet? I have heard the frogs are calling down in lower frick park.
helen-s
2014-03-25 17:57:46
Two cents added.
stuinmccandless
2014-04-24 11:47:34
@Stu good points about the HPB having a higher speed limit than other bridges. I wanted to include something about the 4 foot passing law, but I couldn't figure out a good place to put it in with a 250 word limit.
ted
2014-04-24 11:51:23
Great letter Ted!
marko82
2014-04-24 13:40:25
+1000 Ted!
screbner
2014-04-26 05:32:20
The posted speed limit doesn't mean diddly in PGH. The Homestead High Level bridge is what, 25? HPB sucks, I go out of my way to 62nd St and go back up the other side.
rice-rocket
2014-04-26 11:10:28
The sidewalk on the HP bridge is clear of debris and signs. All the construction signs are clamped onto the jersey barriers. Better view to the river from the sidewalk too....
eric
2014-04-26 20:12:43
This "national conversation" is running entirely counter to the groundswell that got the national 55 mph speed limit repealed. If cyclists were to do what most motorists did from 1974 to 1992, hardly anyone would be stopping for lights and stop signs, and everyone would be cheering them on. C.W. McCall's "Convoy" was at #1 on Billboard for three weeks in 1976, at the height of the disco movement. (I didn't have to look that up. I lived it!)
stuinmccandless
2014-07-08 12:33:09
That's a great point Stu. Funny how that works.
rsprake
2014-07-09 10:52:43
@ StuInMc C.W. McCall’s “Convoy” was at #1 on Billboard for three weeks in 1976, at the height of the disco movement. IIRC, that was when the phrase "Shoot me now," became a meme. Purely coincidental, I'm sure.
mick
2014-07-09 11:35:15
Yeah, that guy also had a column about how he hates speed cameras. Here's a tip for him, the robot won't ticket you when you don't speed, so stop complaining that it's ethical to break the law while you show disdain for cyclists doing the same.
benzo
2014-07-09 14:11:25
A new activity for us
atown
2014-07-11 13:18:38
re P-G editorial. Wow, only two comments. Oren and a guy with something positive to say. Where's the old gang?
ahlir
2014-09-02 20:12:06
I hope what Oren said wasn't perceived as negative. :( *scampers off to read what he wrote* Nope, looks pretty positive to me. (except the swipe at Ravenstahl) Maybe the lack of comments means new bike infrastructure is commonplace, more accepted and not worthy of any bellyaching?
rustyred
2014-09-02 20:47:59
I didn't pass any judgement on Oren's comment. Oren's is pretty much always the first posting, on every P-G letter I've ever clicked on. I've learned to ignore him. (I think: A man with an opinion on everything is a man with an opinion on nothing.) Perhaps, someday when I retire, I will get up very early every morning and try to pen the (very) first reply to every (?) editorial or letter in the P-G. Compete with Oren, if he's still there and as if it mattered. But I'm not ready to retire... and I'd like my opinions to mean something (at least to me).
ahlir
2014-09-02 21:33:48
Oh dear, what's the hate on Oren for? But somehow it doesn't seem right to not have Francis in there. Anyways, I'm sure my latest will bring out the haters since I dare to mention to some recent road ragers that there are other ways to get to downtown. And that they might do well to join us ;) Don't KNOW that it will run, but got the callback which happened fairly shortly before it ran last time.
byogman
2014-09-02 22:13:09
Good letter, @byogman. Made your point clearly and effectively without being snarky.
jonawebb
2014-09-03 07:42:02
Eh, I thought the last line was a ~little~ snarky. But it's in there for a good reason too. A lot of the folks who behave most egregiously toward cyclists have maneuverability envy and really need better outlets for stress. It's a win when your average driver becomes a cyclist. It's a HUGE win when an aggressive driver becomes a cyclist.
byogman
2014-09-03 08:04:28
I thought it was a good letter. And the little touch of snark at the end was perfect. It needed a little snarkiness.
swalfoort
2014-09-03 08:06:58
BTW, as to the issue about the Forbes bottleneck -- couldn't this easily be fixed? As I recall the point where Forbes goes to one lane is exactly the place where there is a lot of unused space to the right. It seems to me that a bike lane could easily be put there. That would not fix the problem of connecting Oakland to Downtown, but it would eliminate this spot where drivers get impatient. Everything else is multi-lane.
jonawebb
2014-09-03 08:52:40
Yeah, a lane there would be nice and seeing all that space unused to the right definitely brings it to mind as an easy possibility. Just getting rid of a short piece of the low concrete barrier would work and provide some nice low stress riding. The single lane section is one of the two things that had me avoiding the route for the longest time. Until I realized even the buses can pass me in the single lane section with room to spare and generally do it nicely. The other thing, the merge, is not so bad if you just are patient and ride up the middle further to get longer sight lines. But a mirror just ahead of the merge would be beneficial and also non-committal about purpose, if the city wants to stay that way... liability n'at. If not, major bonus for labeling the newly accessible empty lane and follow-on cross-hatched section for bicycles, and then adding some sharrows the rest of the way up. Anyways, the irony of my letter was drivers getting impatient even when there are multiple lanes and I'm riding the same average speed. In fact I think it's because I'm riding the same average speed, catching up, and often passing in the right lane when they got in the left lane to get past me. No fair! Right?
byogman
2014-09-03 09:34:17
Five minutes with a crowbar and we could move one of those dividers a couple feet. Like the opening in that jersey barrier under the 40th Street Bridge.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-03 12:20:46
There is a huge priority on fixing the connection via forbes / fifth for cyclists, but not yet. They are trying to coordinate this with street changes with respect to Bus Rapid Transit which has to use the same corridor. We don't miss things we don't have, but we would really miss a nice bike lane if it was put in and removed or put out of service indefinitely (See hazelwood Trail and Strip district Trail).
benzo
2014-09-03 14:29:38
All true. And what a fine day that will be (years from now). But I have to say I still greatly enjoyed Stu calling out what could be done with five minutes and a crowbar. Kinda doubt it'll go anywhere, but I'll put in a 311 for the heck of it.
byogman
2014-09-03 14:56:04
Also, a couple of arrows with a can of yellow paint, once that divider is moved, would make travel easier. As it is, I can hop that barrier, but that's a dicey proposition if dark, wet or slippy.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-03 15:13:50
ticket #115685 Where Forbes ducks under the spaghetti formed by the blvd of the allies and misc ramps there's first a good bit of roadway space, and then a whole empty lane that feeds into a cross-hatched area where the traffic from the parkway enters. It's currently unusable because of a low concrete barrier. It would be quite valuable for cyclists who'd then have a part of the climb on Forbes actually be quite relaxing where now they have to either ride far to the right and worry about impatient drivers not giving safe passing distance or claim the only lane and then have to worry about road raging. For the same reason it would be a benefit to motorists. And again, you get this all with the removal of just a small section of that low concrete barrier. No, it's not the long term answer for Forbes, not by a longshot, but it's trivially easy and has a real benefit. Major bonus if you put a panoramic mirror off to the side so cyclists can see traffic coming up off the parkway more easily and if you include some signage/roadway markings to alert motorists to expect cycling traffic to join the right lane as the crosshatched section tapers.
byogman
2014-09-03 15:31:10
BTW, got the first "you were probably asking for it" response to my letter. Which I responded to. But I'm happy something like that finally got out there.
byogman
2014-09-03 15:35:42
@benzo: "We don’t miss things we don’t have, but we would really miss a nice bike lane if it was put in and removed or put out of service" This is Pittsburgh. Bike lanes appear and disappear like channels in the Mississippi in the days of Mark Twain. I think we can deal with a bike lane in an unused section of Forbes being replaced by a better connection to the BRT, when and if that happens. And in the meantime, you have a better ride west from downtown, fewer frustrated motorists, and maybe a few bike converts. You might even avoid some crashes.
jonawebb
2014-09-03 18:17:09
After looking at street view, it does seem like you could remove part of the barrier on frobes and use the old decomissioned roadway till the highway offramp. It's the high speed traffic coming off that ramp that scares the crap out of me the most. I took this route the other day and really hated it. Would love to use the old road and then have a crossing to a protected bike lane on the other side of the highway off ramp. Hope this connection can be addressed soon. I might have to try hopping the curb on to the dead space there next ride.
benzo
2014-09-04 12:00:32
I hop the curb. The big issue is that traffic from the Parkway remains at high speed, typically well beyound the "25 mph Speed Limit" sign. It's not unusual to see 60 mph traffic through there.
mick
2014-09-04 12:09:29
The potential speed of the traffic coming off the parkway is why I habitually ride toward the latter part of the crosshatched section before I even bother trying to merge. Less time in a slightly precarious lane, and longer lines of sight as compared to merging earlier. If taken to the end you're very nearly upon the point where you can easily get over through the reflectors to finish the climb on sidewalk if you're either feeling nervous, or going to cut over on Craft anyway and not in the mood for the stop and go traffic approaching the intersection.
byogman
2014-09-04 12:39:35
We need speed limit set (and enforced) to 20 mph on all streets. Then it would not matter what clothes pedestrian are in.
mikhail
2014-09-04 15:40:10
Not good: editorial cartoon in the Trib:
jonawebb
2014-09-08 07:49:40
It will be noted that the road from downtown to the airport has not been I-279 South for a couple of years now. Not that they'd know that; it's not like they work for a newspaper or something, with access to any recent information or imaginative thinking.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-08 13:33:22
The Trib's Pittsburgh office is on the North Shore, under the freeway between the stadiums. They probably don't go through Downtown, anyway. (Their main office, of course, is in Greensburg...)
epanastrophe
2014-09-08 13:40:58
But if the Trib is asking people to call Rich Fitzgerald to complain, right now would be a really good time to call him and thank him for the lanes.
jonawebb
2014-09-08 14:18:04
Are the bridge lanes affecting traffic? I'm never down that way at rush hour.
andyc
2014-09-08 15:16:04
I came across the 6th St Bridge around 9:20 this morning. No unusual amount of traffic on that span.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-08 15:50:58
As a potential retort to bike-lane naysayers about fixing potholes vs. building bike lanes. The 2014 PGH capital budget (http://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/cbo/2014_Capital_Budget.pdf) allocated $7.085 million to street resurfacing compared to $125k for bike infrastructure. That is less than 2%
rgrasmus
2014-09-08 15:52:56
Related:
For every dollar spent to build new separated bike lanes, cities could save as much as $24 thanks to lower health care costs and less pollution and traffic, according to a new study from researchers in New Zealand.
— "The Cities That Spend The Most On Bike Lanes Later Reap The Most Reward", Fast.Company
epanastrophe
2014-09-08 16:18:35
Jon, I like your reply regarding insurance. It would be interesting to have real figures on the maximum costs of bicycle-caused crashes. I imagine the property costs would be fairly low, probably no more than a thousand dollars or so (dented fender?); but injuring a pedestrian could potentially be almost as expensive as car-caused crashes (head injury?). So maybe requiring some minimal insurance for biking could be a logical argument. Of course the frequency of crashes should be figured in too, so bike insurance would probably only cost a few tens of dollars a year (assuming you dont already have auto insurance). I would buy that.
marko82
2014-09-10 09:35:58
Bicycles are covered under homeowner policies. PA (and elsewhere) has no-fault. This means your insurance pays for the damage to your vehicle. This makes sense for cars: if you smash a fender you're out +$1000. If you break your bike fender you're out maybe $14.95, or maybe just some duct-tape. Bicycle licenses get tried, then abandoned. It's easy to find stories about it, e.g.: http://bikesd.org/2012/08/city-of-san-diego-to-remove-bicycle-licensing-requirement/ Sigh.
ahlir
2014-09-10 09:49:06
The rest of the stuff, standard boring well debunked arguments. But seatbelts, I love it! Can't comment on trib stuff while at work, whatever commenting software they use has its domains blocked. But if ever there were a sign that it's someone entirely ignorant of bicycling telling us what to do...
byogman
2014-09-10 09:53:19
Trib still uses Facebook comments, for better or for worse. (I'm also a little thrown by the seatbelts bit. Poe's Law strikes again...) Meanwhile, some Trib commenters elsewhere are aghast that we're going to pay a competitive salary for our new bike/ped coordinator: http://triblive.com/news/allegheny/6760579-74/pro-mayor-peduto
epanastrophe
2014-09-10 10:05:09
Four cents added.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-10 11:36:44
Not wading into this one, this time. Same tired bullshit over and over. It's no so much the stupidity, but the sheer repetitiveness of the stupidity that's mind boggling. Somewhere I've seen a piece that someone put together that rebuts and shoots down every one of these hackneyed anti-statements (Elly Blue, maybe?) that can be just cut and pasted into these situations. Going to need to dig that up.
edmonds59
2014-09-10 16:45:34
The alarming (though maybe not entirely surprising) thing is that the Trib letter writer describes himself as a former State Representative. So come November, be sure to vote. And vote for competent people. It makes a difference.
ahlir
2014-09-10 17:58:21
Man you're just going to lure me in aren't you? Like a weasel to bacon.
edmonds59
2014-09-10 18:04:47
I see "John Strahs" has moved over to the Trib commentary section.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-15 11:21:07
That paywall has probably kept a lot of folks from commenting on PG.
benzo
2014-09-16 09:40:31
if anything, it makes it easier to respond mindlessly--the comments show up even if you can't see the article. (though it's no longer single sign-in, which probably does help somewhat.)
epanastrophe
2014-09-16 09:43:49
My comment on that Tribune Review letter: This video about the history of the Netherlands' bicycle infrastructure is instructive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o . Synopsis: in the 1960s and 70s, after the rising number of cars on Dutch streets resulted in over 400 child deaths by car per year, nationally, there were grass-roots protests calling for traffic calming (slowing of cars) and serious provisions for pedestrians and cyclists. They've been honing their multimodal transportation network (pedestrian, bicycle, bus, train, car) in the decades since. We should study the Dutch and adopt some of their lessons.
paulheckbert
2014-09-17 00:21:26
Also if we legalize and regulate marijuana and prostitution, Americans would be a lot less tightly wound and irritable. That should get libertarians on our side. Kind of a "Pot, pro's, and pedals" platform. Not even joking.
edmonds59
2014-09-17 05:21:13
Here's a letter asking employers for showers & locker rooms. http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2014/09/22/Biking-as-transit-won-t-take-off-until-employers-are-invested-too/stories/201409200136 I agree that this could work to help encourage more people to give cycle commuting a try, and it would benefit the runners too. Maybe multiple employers could provide joint facilities to make it more cost effective. Or maybe UPMC or Highmark could open one or two centrally located locker rooms and offer this as a service to companies using their insurance.
marko82
2014-09-22 10:26:58
Can't wait until some of the regular commenters chime in and start ranting against the all powerful, special-interest, "Shower lobby".
edmonds59
2014-09-22 12:06:53
We have a shower at my job. I've never used it though. Glad it's there. If I ever picked up running, I'd consider doing that on my lunch break.
benzo
2014-09-22 12:35:26
Relevant Rob Rogers cartoon today
rgrasmus
2014-09-24 09:26:58
Thanks for putting up those links Red. If not for those I would probably just be sitting on my deck with a coffee happily smiling at the sunshine. So thanks.
edmonds59
2014-09-27 08:08:58
I already responded to both.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-27 08:15:46
"Thanks for putting up those links Red." You're welcome! :D Huh, my Snark-o-Meter 5000 is going off. Must be defective.
rustyred
2014-09-27 08:20:10
Your snark o meter may have gone 'round the dial once. :D
edmonds59
2014-09-27 08:30:32
My comment on Yochum's "Penn Ave bike lane is bad for business" letter: When I visited Toronto last November, even though it was a windy, chilly day, I saw lots of bicycles locked in front of restaurants, lots of cyclists on the street, lots of people apparently using their bicycles for short trips of a mile or two: commuting to work, shopping, going to a movie, eating out. The evidence is that bicycles help make Toronto a more vibrant, livable city. Welcoming them can benefit Pittsburgh similarly.
paulheckbert
2014-09-27 08:58:37
Nice graphic, simple for the simpletons, to show the assbags who spout that bike riders don't pay for roads. I doubt that images can be inserted into newspaper comments, haven't tried, and the anti's surely would never follow a link or be swayed by data, but it is satisfying. Research by the Pew Charitable Trust; So gas tax pays largely for Federal highways, which bikes can't use anyway, and some state roads. So hey, they're free to stick to highways.
edmonds59
2014-09-27 09:14:07
"Nice graphic, simple for the simpletons, to show the assbags who spout that bike riders don’t pay for roads." I agree with the sentiment but I would like to suggest that if we are after civility on the roads (or in general in society) that we could do with less negative attribution to people in general even when we are angry at actions. People don't generally view themselves as bad, and they are generally extremely unreceptive to communication when they are being labeled as such. There is even a name for this -- it was in an NYT article about incivility on airplanes the other day. Let's see... ahh yes "fundamental attribution error" http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/travel/a-recipe-for-air-rage.html Anyway, I would prefer to see fewer (as in zero) such terms. We don't need to refer to individuals as "idiots, jerks, a-holes, d-bags, etc, etc" We can and should refer to actions as objectionable.
neilmd
2014-09-27 10:45:17
"So gas tax pays largely for Federal highways, which bikes can’t use anyway, and some state roads." This statement isn't correct, both in the source of funding and the usage of roads. Much federal and state funding is used for state and local road projects. Some local (county, borough, township) funding is used for state and federal road projects. Bicyclists may use all categories of roads (US, PA, SR, local) except where prohibited (portions of PA 28 as an example). Bicyclists may not use most interstates except where allowed (I-79 bridge over the Ohio River as probably the only local example). The graph would be more informative if, in addition to the percentages for each level of funding, it also included the dollar amount spent by each level of government.
offtn
2014-09-27 11:08:31
Ok neilmd, you go that way.
edmonds59
2014-09-27 12:55:15
Think about Mr. Joe Wos, who's changed his mind on the bike lanes. Which do you think convinced him -- the folks calling him an asshole or the folks encouraging him to give biking a try?
jonawebb
2014-09-27 14:01:11
I do agree with neilmd. But when I had a driver roar past me going at least 35 with a foot clearance this morning near the coop, I did yell that he drove like an idiot when I nearly caught him a the stop sign and saw his widow was open. I was glad I did not say he was an idiot.
helen-s
2014-09-27 15:18:12
Oh I yell, especially when they almost hit me. Even there however I suspect that there is more actual communication (chance of remediation) on the occasions that I manage to calmly point out that they almost made me a hood ornament. One thing I have taken to doing is to very calmly say "nice job with that [stop sign / red light] when I catch back up with cars that have rolled through them, as the fact that a huge fraction of drivers don't stop seems to be totally lost on the fine citizens who rant about cyclists going through stop signs. About half of the drivers look puzzled, about half give me the finger. I would wager any amount of money that the average / median / pick your statistic minimum speed of cars at stop signs in Pittsburgh is significantly higher than the corresponding value for bicycles. I digress...
neilmd
2014-09-27 15:52:48
Think about Mr. Joe Wos, who’s changed his mind on the bike lanes. Which do you think convinced him Well, I dunno. Maybe it was that mob of pitchfork-wielding Lycra louts massing in front of his little museum... (That would be those folding Velo-Orange pitchforks; come with Velcro straps for your rack.) (note: the above is "humor")
ahlir
2014-09-27 16:37:19
If I yell anything at a driver who gives me a hard time, it's his/her license plate. It's helpful in preserving it my short-term memory until I pull over, pull out the cell phone, and send a tweet with the details.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-27 17:33:39
"Because I couldn’t secure my bike, Macy’s, Barnes & Noble and Burgatory missed out on close to a hundred dollars worth of business." This person just sounds like an idiot. There's a bike rack 20 feet from the front door of Burgatory, and there are several sign posts in the area to lock to. There is also a pair of bike racks by Macy's directly in front of Gran Agave. That letter is just trolling bullshit written by a clueless moron. (I'm having a terrific morning, btw).
jaysherman5000
2014-09-29 07:00:38
Well, the one single bike rack next to Burgatory isn't actually that close to Macy's. I didn't know about the ones near Gran Agave. But the main point of the letter is right. Waterfront needs more bike racks. The theater is an obvious place to bike to, and there's no bike racks at all there, just the one at Burgatory (which, by the way, isn't secure -- it's attached to a couple of loose bricks). Over a year ago Sarah Petyk advised them where to put in racks. I think they started to do that, then ran out of their budget very quickly, and haven't done a single thing since.
jonawebb
2014-09-29 08:00:19
Macy's has entrances on three sides. It's possible the letter's author didn't think to circle the building looking for racks, but just looked at one or two entrances and gave up. As to the one at Burgatory, if it was loose before, maybe it was gone when the letter-writer came through? Or just rejected for being insecure? Or he was looking for a row of racks like at the Southside Works, and didn't notice a lone rack? Old thread on racks at the Waterfront. See the photos on page 2, like this one:
steven
2014-09-29 08:35:30
@jaws: I agree that the Waterfront needs more bike racks, and that this is the real purpose of this morning's letter. It just really aggravates me to see such a stupid, sensational title and poor, inaccurate description of the current state of things. It's just like the jagoff that made a thread on here that had a title accusing PNC Park of supporting unsafe cycling (presumably because the person making the thread wasn't allowed to bring their helmet into the game due to a simple miscommunication between management and personnel staffing the gates). This tactic only serves to weaken the case of the person using it by making statements that are easily disproven. In this case, when the author says there were no places to secure their bike, the argument is easily defeated by pointing out that bike racks exist EXACTLY AT THE ENTRANCE(S) OF THE PLACE(S) YOU INTENDED TO PATRONIZE. And hence, the point that "we need more bike racks" is also lost since clearly they exist but you were too blind to recognize them. This is what pisses me off about this letter, and it's probably why the P-G published it: let's show our readers how stupid and entitled cyclists are by publishing a letter from an idiot that can't recognize the very infrastructure he feels entitled to when it's directly in front of his face! I remember the thread about the lack of racks at the AMC Loews theater. That led to several of us requesting more racks there via the "contact us" portal on their website. Maybe we need to do another round of that.
jaysherman5000
2014-09-29 09:22:48
Seriously, the place could use a crapton of bike racks. Dedicate a whole parking space to corral parking about every 150 feet around the whole facility, not just a throw-the-cyclists-a-fish-to-shut-them-up staple rack in a couple of places. Seriously seriously, budget, my a$$. The place is apparently awash in money. Spend a couple dozen thousand and do the job properly. Good for this writer, coming in from out of town and stating what to him is the obvious.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-29 09:25:02
I agree wholeheartedly. I have requested racks from the theater and Giant Eagle, to no avail. Is there anything else we can do? I think the letter reflects the cyclist's experience faithfully. If you were new to the area, as he was, you'd easily miss those few racks. I don't think the PG published it to make us look bad; I doubt they know how many racks there are there.
jonawebb
2014-09-29 10:03:18
(FWIW, the letter writer has responded to a couple of the comments, including to point out that he did not write the inflammatory, misspelt headline.)
epanastrophe
2014-09-29 10:38:37
Stu wrote: If I yell anything at a driver who gives me a hard time, it’s his/her license plate. It’s helpful in preserving it my short-term memory until I pull over, pull out the cell phone, and send a tweet with the details. This is my exact technique -- I say the license plate out loud, in full voice, perhaps not shouting but loud enough for any companion cyclists to hear. I say it twice and it sticks in my memory, and I do this on every buzz-by to develop the habit so that when an "event" happens I'll be in the habit of doing it. And if there is an event, the first thing is to write it down or text it out. And then all of a sudden, it's not just me and them.
vannever
2014-09-29 10:42:54
Red posted links from a guy from Brentwood and a guy from Scott township who each claimed that the city was (more or less) being ruined by bikes. I think we folks in the city are lucky to have suburbanites to tell us how to live! Don't you?
mick
2014-09-29 11:05:01
One thing I notice on the letters and comments on both the P-G and Trib is that even if you have a lot of vocal anti-bikers, the pro-bike comments generally get the most likes. That's great. I'm sure that makes a difference when the powers that be in government see that pro-bike people generally outnumber anti-bike people even if the latter yells louder and stamps their feet more. The silliest IMO of all the anti-bike stuff is the call for registration, insurance, and fees. First because it's proven to not work. Second, Second, because it isn't enforced ever. Third, because it costs more to run than any revenue received. There's a reason why lots of municipalities around the country have eliminated their registration requirements. Why would we want to go the other way? Then there's practical reasons, such as out of city cyclists, tourists, etc. and how you deal with them. One argument that's useful against folks who want registration, which let's face it, they only want because they think it will discourage cycling, is to use a small government argument. Why in heaven's name would they want more regulation, more government intrusion, and more taxes and fees? That usually stops them pretty cold. Most of these folks are old farts who talk less taxes, smaller government, etc. etc., so using that against them can be pretty effective.
marv
2014-09-29 13:21:34
Ben's comment to John Strahs on his bike finding ability is hilarious.
jonawebb
2014-09-29 13:30:10
Went to check bike racks after work -- http://app.endomondo.com/workouts/416364357/4740379 These are racks I have found https://imgur.com/a/sCwm7 UTC Time: 00:30:29.00 N 40 23' 25.797" W 79 55' 3.189" -- accross Burgatory at Bar Louie -- you can see one bike still locked to a poll since bike rack was occupied before. Just two racks... And a little bit more on other side. PS All images have GPS tag in EXIF data. Rack at Macy got twice since I did not use flash first time. So there is no bike rack at Burgatory and just two racks in vicinity. UTC Time: 00:42:47.00 N 40 24' 31.998" W 79 54' 54.858"
mikhail
2014-09-30 00:55:53
Our own complains that theater does not have enough tacks: http://localhost/mb/topic/tell-me-where-to-put-bike-racks-in-the-waterfront/page/2/#post-296138 http://localhost/mb/topic/tell-me-where-to-put-bike-racks-in-the-waterfront/page/2/#post-296146 SVTC and Sarah in personal with River Front did excellent job to install racks. It just not enough on weekends. Could we scout the whole WF and create a layer on google maps with location of all racks and appropriate polls? Would it be useful?
mikhail
2014-09-30 06:57:32
"The silliest IMO of all the anti-bike stuff is the call for registration, insurance, and fees. " That's an emotionally driven argument... reminds me of fighting with my siblings as a child. The undefined idea of "fairness." I'm not opposed to the idea of insurance seeing as it isn't difficult to pull up examples of a cyclist hitting a pedestrian and seriously hurting or killing them. That scenario isn't entirely unlike an uninsured motorist in my opinion. Of course, different discussion. Just pointing out that this one is not as easy to just write off. The registration, idea of plates, other fees... that's just a bs argument and goes back to what is perceived as fair. I think a good reproach to such a statement would be the Socratic method. Why would such a fee be useful? To what end? Perhaps you just want cyclist to pay for the sake of paying? I don't know, that would be my approach. It all goes back to the misconception that cyclists are getting something for free, when in fact cyclists are doing everyone a favor by using less of the shared resources. Outsiders/suburbanites think that riding a bicycle is some self-righteous act as opposed to an economical decision. Perhaps they never stopped to think about how much it actually costs to own a car, or two, or three. Never mind the cost of parking which increases exponentially in the city.
headloss
2014-09-30 09:22:29
Also, in my opinion, the real problem isn't a lack of bikeracks at the Waterfront but a not so great layout all together. Until this latest non-controversy courtesy of the Post-G, I didn't even know the Waterfront had a Macy's. That is actually kind of impressive, since I've been over there at least a dozen times in the last two months and have made several visits to Lowes, Target, and GiantE. It's a goofy layout as is designed and apparently there is more to it than I ever realized.
headloss
2014-09-30 09:26:56
yeah, Macy's, along with Starbucks, the movie theatre, most of the restaurants, and all the little high-end clothing stores you'd typically find in a higher-end enclosed mall are all over on the other side of the bridge, in West Homestead. I'm a little surprised you'd never noticed, but I suppose if you'd only ever come down to the big-box side of things, especially if you came from over at the Rankin Bridge end, it's certainly conceivable.
epanastrophe
2014-09-30 09:57:57
I think the insurance issue is equally bogus. People are confusing insurance with liability, and collision insurance with comprehensive. When you have an accident, in a car or on a bicycle, you are liable for any damages you cause. It is just that you are far more likely to injure yourself or damage your own bicycle than to hurt anyone else or damage another vehicle if you are riding a bicycle. So the state doesn't require you to carry collision insurance, the way it does for motorized vehicle owners. Any damage you cause -- say a broken window in a car -- will probably be something you could pay off, over time, if you have a job. But, in any case, as I explained in my comment, personal injury liability protection in homeowners and renter's insurance covers you anyway.
jonawebb
2014-09-30 10:06:39
Likewise, the carcentric view of requiring bicycle license plates is so that the drivers can call the police and have rouge cyclist ticked (since they have their license plate number!). Good luck with that... Even with helmet-cam video of offending motorists we (as a community) have trouble getting the police to enforce the driving laws for dangerous/aggressive drivers. Plates are a red herring. ON THE OTHER HAND, I would be more than willing to get insurance, license and plates if the state/local governments were required to spend transportation dollars as a percentage of ride mode. Since Pittsburgh has a bicycle ride share of about 2%, they would have to spend 2% of their transportation budget on bicycle infrastructure. Do you think the haters want to go there?
marko82
2014-09-30 10:28:57
@ marko82 I would be more than willing to get insurance, license and plates if the state/local governments were required to spend transportation dollars as a percentage of ride mode. Since Pittsburgh has a bicycle ride share of about 2%, they would have to spend 2% of their transportation budget on bicycle infrastructure. I love it!
mick
2014-09-30 10:32:11
"But, in any case, as I explained in my comment, personal injury liability protection in homeowners and renter’s insurance covers you anyway." Agreed. No guarantee that a person on a bike has said insurance though... @buffalo, the only time I don't cross the Rankin Bridge is b/c I am either driving 837 TO the Rankin Bridge or I'm on the bike path.
headloss
2014-09-30 10:35:10
Regarding license plates, I say we should stay ahead of the critics and start using them now. For this, I suggest we follow the lead of Garmin-Sharp pro rider Lachlan Morton:
chrishent
2014-09-30 13:56:39
Or we could do what about 1 in 5 cars do: Block all the metadata on the plate, such as the state it's from, and then plop a trailer hitch ball in front of it so you can't see it anyway.
stuinmccandless
2014-09-30 14:11:26
Licensing and/or registration may be the dumbest of them all. Proven over decades to be ineffective, unenforced, and cost negative. Oh yeah, that's the law we want implemented.
marv
2014-09-30 14:42:07
Who wants a pair of these to block their plate?
rustyred
2014-09-30 14:44:53
I've got it! A front-only license plate!
stuinmccandless
2014-09-30 15:23:03
If I'm going to voluntarily put a plate on my rack, it's going to be an image of a car and a bicycle and read "4ft is the law."
headloss
2014-09-30 16:04:58
If I’m going to voluntarily put a plate on my rack, it’s going to be an image of a car and a bicycle and read “4ft is the law.” Ladies and germophobes, we have a winner!
mick
2014-09-30 16:53:47
my comment on the TR letter "License, insure bicycles" (http://triblive.com/opinion/letters/6846372-74/streets-bicycles-bicyclists#axzz3EnwqwFb9) --- Perhaps we can learn from cities that have tried bicycle licensing. Toronto passed laws in 1935 requiring licensing of all bicycles. But in 1957, the city ended bicycle licensing, concluding that "licensing of bicycles be discontinued because it often results in an unconscious contravention of the law at a very tender age; they also emphasize the resulting poor public relations between police officers and children”. Toronto has reconsidered licensing several times since then. “The major reasons why licensing has been rejected are: • The difficulty in keeping a database complete and current; • The difficulty in licensing children, given that they ride bikes too; • Licensing in and of itself does not change the behaviour of cyclists who are disobeying traffic laws.” http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=0be4970aa08c1410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
paulheckbert
2014-10-01 12:16:23
Always good to have more fodder against the registration argument. I think that the bike license plate with the 4 ft rule is great. I have a sticker on my rear fender that says "4Ft Please. It's the Law" with a picture of a car giving a bike space in yellow. However, I don't always use my fender AND if you can read that sticker you are way too close. Also, a sticker like "Watch for Bikes" for my car would be great. I see the ones for motorcycles all the time but an Amazon search doesn't bring up many similar products. In fact, there are just as many anti-cycling bumper stickers as pro-cycling ones.
mjacobpgh
2014-10-01 13:08:03
Stickers too! My other car is a bike, watch for bikes, pump tires not gas, etc etc I would definitely buy some.
mjacobpgh
2014-10-01 14:43:43
Did BikePGH stop distributing stickers? I have some from last year. My cargo bucket is plastered in them.
andyc
2014-10-01 14:54:49
I added a comment to the article: Babcock Blvd from Millvale to Northway Mall has several different personalities. Some is wonderful to bike. Some is just plain scary. The scariest part is the 0.6 mile from the corner of Three Degree up to Northway. Posted 35, ambient 45 mph, no shoulder, no sidewalk, in some places no space even to stand still on foot. But there is an easy way to make it walkable and bikeable: Make the road one car lane each direction. Easy physically, harder than heck politically. I say, go for it.
stuinmccandless
2014-10-14 02:52:54
I suburbs will go the way the city has: Put some bike lanes in where it will least offend motorists as a starter. Then, in a few years, they will put something that bicyclists can actually use. Maybe. If we are lucky. And there isn't a big bike lash. Many (uh ... all maybe?) of those threatening in public forums to dis-elect our glorious mayor because he put in a coupla bike lanes are voters from the suburbs. "Outside? That's where insects come from isn't it?" - S. Wrbican
mick
2014-10-14 11:11:21
BTW, the letter mentions an epidemic of car-vs-bike accidents. That may be, but on a brighter note we've had 0, count 'em, 0 cyclist deaths in the Pittsburgh area this year. Probably just a statistical blip, but good news nonetheless.
jonawebb
2014-10-15 10:46:48
@chrishent - I may recommend Fiks Reflective instead (http://www.ridewithfiks.com/) It's a Pittsburgh-based startup.
rgrasmus
2014-10-15 11:52:51
This really leads me to wonder, how low is the lowest common denominator, really? What person on a bike, approaching a horse, would NOT think "hey, this large animal might be skittish, perhaps I should approach it with a bit of caution". Nothing against you Red, but the link again proves to me that people are effing stupid, and it is just not possible to lay all the stupid on drivers.
edmonds59
2014-11-03 12:42:50
I've never come up behind a horse (yet) on my bike on a trail, and when I do, I'll be cautious, because I know they're skittish animals. Actually, what I learned: *swishy tail* means they're especially skittish. Also, who the hell rides past a person down on the trail and doesn't lend assistance?! Holy crap!
rustyred
2014-11-03 13:10:30
I've encountered equestrians on the GAP around Rockwood, on the Montour Trail, and on the Little Ohio Trail. I've never seen an equestrian riding with ear buds in. I always stop way back and talk to the rider, and wait for a nod before passing the horse. If I can't get their attention by talking, I'll make a soft-shout "hello", and only use a bell as a last device. I've never had to use the bell. Generally if they're riding on a bike trail, the horse-rider ^should be^ anticipating cyclists.
vannever
2014-11-03 13:22:02
Everyone needs education on how to ride safely. Where would these people learn about how to safely approach equestrians on a bike? I wasn't really aware that horses spooked so easily, since there were amish families driving horse and buggys in the farmlands around my hometown on roads with 55mph traffic. If I didn't read articles about mountain biker / equestrian conflicts while perusing various bike blogs, I would have had no stinking clue. When I started mountain biking, I did some research, because that's what I do when I start a new activity. However, a lot of people don't go out of their way to learn more because they don't even know that there are things they need to know. I think this is the same reason people hop on bikes and ride the wrong way down forbes ave in oakland, they just don't know. Rail trails tend to be one of the best places for new riders, people re-discovering riding, and people uncomfortable riding in traffic. Are there materials available at trailheads to inform them of how to behave on trails shared with equestrians?
benzo
2014-11-03 15:46:04
I looked at the ATA site, which seems to have teh most complete information on the GAP. All they say about horses is In addition, sections of the trail system are open to equestrians. Horses are permitted only on the grassy areas between Boston & Connellsville; Rockwood & Garrett; Frostburg & State Line. Perhaps when I went along the trail, there were signs describing how to deal with horses. What I recall, though, is just signs saying where the horses were not permitted. And that's it.
mick
2014-11-03 16:26:02
You cannot expect a horse and rider to be fully in control of things, any more than you can expect a bike rider to be fully competent in operating on the street. Just because they're there does not imply they know what they're doing. This is all good stuff to know. I grew up with horses nearby but the conflict was motorcycles rather than bicycles. If you think a cyclist or bike bell might spook a horse, imagine what a 250cc two-stroke dirt bike might do. Throw in an unleashed St. Bernard who barked at and chased after every horse that went by, and you rapidly find out who your friends aren't.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-03 16:48:54
Benzo's question is spot on; if the trail puts newish cyclists next to horses, which is no longer a common occurance, a little bit of advice would go a long way.
vannever
2014-11-03 16:56:18
There will continue to arise occasions when reasoning things out on-the-fly without an instruction sheet will be necessary.
edmonds59
2014-11-04 07:11:19
"Benzo’s question is spot on; if the trail puts newish cyclists next to horses, which is no longer a common occurance, a little bit of advice would go a long way." The same question I brought up is applicable to drivers knowing how to operate around cyclists. This is why we need mandatory drivers license retesting occasionally, at least with a written test that they have to take to renew their license that focuses on newer laws and has some refresher questions on older laws to ensure people are aware of the regulations they are required to follow.
benzo
2014-11-04 10:39:47
^THAT. A thousand times, that.
stuinmccandless
2014-11-04 14:08:26
Hell, as a bonus, since something like 80% or more of cyclists drive, this would be beneficial in informing them how to operate legally and safely as well.
benzo
2014-11-04 17:02:23
Haha! All evidence indicates that Francis Kilinsky is a bored, elderly asshole with absolutely nothing better to do.
edmonds59
2014-11-05 11:43:48
Hey, Mr. Edmonds59! (If that's your real name), As a bored elderly asshole with absolutely nothing better to do, I find your statement to be unfairly insulting. I demand a apology. There are thousands of my ilk and we resent being associated with the likes of Kilinsky.
mick
2014-11-05 11:57:24
Lol, I'm certain you have many better things to do, you are a contributing member of society! And being the icon of the Mick International Fan Club must be somewhat time consuming.
edmonds59
2014-11-05 12:09:57
We should apparently close all parks and playgrounds since they aren't used at night or during the winter as much, either. Perhaps we could turn them all into parking lots?
mjacobpgh
2014-11-05 12:19:15
Uggh. Despicable.
edmonds59
2014-11-05 12:35:05
We should apparently close all parks and playgrounds since they aren’t used at night
Three words: midnight demolition derby!
jonawebb
2014-11-05 12:36:33
There are quite a few streets in the city where not a single car will travel down it for 15 minutes at a time. Some of those with a name of "Way", maybe upwards of an hour or two between travelers. So we should close them, too?
stuinmccandless
2014-11-05 17:31:37
Today at 6 pm, on a quick roundtrip from downtown to the Strip that covered the entire length of the Penn cycle track, saw 10 cyclists and 2 skateboarders on the lanes, plus a few other cyclists on Smallman. I guess we all see what we want to see. Kinda like how I always see bike-hating drivers as 50-somethings who are wheelchair-bound because of extreme obesity.
chrishent
2014-11-05 18:48:58
Riding in the city is starting to feel a bit like driving: traffic jams; slow riders in front of you; precedence issues at intersections... What is the world coming to? Maybe I should just check out that whole Hikikomori thing. But anyway, re @chrishent's comment: 1) we have lots of 50+ riders. Some day you too will be one. 2) I periodically see motorized wheelchairs in lanes (or just on the street). Seems ok to me. Those things are damn fast. Hope I never need one, though. 3) There's lots of riders who consider themselves overweight. Heck, I keep meaning to lose some pounds. There's even obese riders, though maybe not morbidly so. (Aren't there tri- or quad- cycles out there that would let larger people just get around?)
ahlir
2014-11-05 19:40:32
@ahlir, I was merely referring to cyclist-hating drivers, or rather my own distorted view of them. Of course I realize that there are plenty of 50+ old riders out there, and I don't have a problem with that. The more the merrier!
chrishent
2014-11-05 20:10:28
The real value of the Penn Avenue lane will be more obvious to the yinzers when the usage rate rises as it connects to the point, hopefully further into the strip, and there's a bikeshare. In the meantime we'll hear a lot of grousing about this and the other couple cycle tracks and that grousing will intensify over winter. I plan to keep getting my lunch groceries in the strip because the produce is cheaper. But to the extent I can be part of the crew showing this being used, now and into the winter, that makes me happy.
byogman
2014-11-06 05:55:26
In today's PG Random Acts letters: A fallen bicyclist found a lot of help On a recent Saturday afternoon, I had a bike accident dodging a bus that pulled in front of me, and I hit the ground at the intersection of Centre Avenue and North Craig Street in Oakland. Thankfully, I was not too badly injured, but I was very shaken up by the fall. I am incredibly thankful for the help of the people who were around at the time — about a dozen people came over to make sure that I was all right. I especially appreciate the compassion of two men who stayed with me for about 15 minutes to talk and care for my scrapes. Their care for me really helped me deal with the shock of such a traumatic accident. I was reminded once again of the goodness of humanity, and I am proud to be a Pittsburgher. MICHAEL URICH Ross http://www.post-gazette.com/news/portfolio/2014/11/06/Random-Acts-of-Kindness-Good-folks-abroad-solved-dental-issue/stories/201411060063
rustyred
2014-11-06 08:14:09
So, what bells actually fit on 31.8 handlebars, and what bike shops actually stock them? No, really, I can never seem to find a bell that fits modern road bars actually in stock at any bike shops.
benzo
2014-11-25 16:49:23
"on your left" is just annoying (especially if you're on a bike and the voice behind you sound stressed or out of breath). Why is this person speeding on what's typically some recreational path/trail? There's any number of streets out there for you, like Beaver or River, (and Baum, 5th and Penn if you're tough enough) And bridges, on the deck. There will always be enough room to pass silently (take the lane, etc). Should cars honk when they pass you by? That would be annoying, wouldn't it? Get some cojones already. But at least get a bell. It's more civilized. Also slow down already. What's the hurry if you're on a people trail and it's not 6am? A personal note: I always feel uncomfortable riding the SS Trail between the 16th-Smitfld: there's so many peds, and often with children; anything over maybe ~6mph just feels wrong. The parallel streets are actually more pleasant if you're riding through.
ahlir
2014-11-25 21:05:16
I had completely opposite experience with bell... I was riding on my folding bike and got to the point where three ladies completely took Jail Trail. No ear buds but extensively talking to each other. Bell did not help until last possible moment. And exactly at this moment all three of them just jumped high. And their faces were, well, like lady pointed in the article -- split second "panic attack" ones... I apologized and continued. 3 seconds later they started to laugh almost uncontrollably showing amount of stress. :(
mikhail
2014-11-26 21:29:19
I sort of hate the bells. I get used to them in Europe because they are quite common but the sound is isotopic. ding comes from anywhere. On your left or occasionally on your right is quite specific. I only say that if circumstances prevent a wide pass, basically always if there is a dog, etc. I usually say "bicycle on your left" and of course it is my responsibility to make sure I am at a paCE where if everything goes wrong I can brake and stop as necessary.
neilmd
2014-11-26 21:42:03
I usually do a "hello... On your left" or "pardon me, on your left" at least it gives them some time to react by giving them a greeting or courtesy before the on your left part, seems to get better acknowledgement. Of course I'll say this about 3 times loudly to a jogger wearing headphones and then just slowly follow them a few bike lengths back until it's clear to pass... It really scares the shit out of them sometimes when they look back and realize someone has been following them for a bit. I'm not really sure of a better solution, I'm not trying to pass them in unsafely, and I'm not trying to be seen as that crazy jerk that's yelling loud enough to break through full volume earbuds.
benzo
2014-11-26 21:59:54
I forgot... always say "thank you" when you pass, preferably with eye contact if you can manage it. That's for peds; bikers can just deal with it. Habitual bikers shouldn't be on the crowded trails. They should be on the streets, which are more fun anyway. Why are you biking? It's for you, not for others. Right?
ahlir
2014-11-26 22:19:28
When people go out in public they need to behave like they are not the only living thing on the planet, and be aware of what's going on around them. Walking, biking, driving, boating, Segwaying... Or else stay the fk home. I have 0 patience for idiots who wander through life oblivious of their surroundings.
edmonds59
2014-11-27 08:37:36
Ha! my favorite was the escalator. You get trained to move when you hear a bike bell. I was working indoors in a room with other people, I was standing at a copier, copying stuff. One of the other employees text notification on her phone was a bike bell. She got a text and I stepped to the right.
rustyred
2014-11-27 09:15:28
@Benzo, Kindred keeps one or two stem-mount bells in stock, I believe; the one I got I think had to be ordered, but their turnaround is usually pretty quick.
epanastrophe
2014-12-01 16:42:15
I think it's weird that such a basic item like a bell that will fit a modern bike, which should be as common as inter-tubes and rear blinkies, is something I have to ask about how to find. However, if I had a 20 year old bike with narrow bars, I could find a bell that fits at damn near any shop.
benzo
2014-12-02 09:59:30
Interesting letter there, MJacob. Author/driver closes with "I hope I never kill a cyclist." Me too. I sort of thought that went without saying.
swalfoort
2014-12-17 09:38:01
I think I actually know John Matusz. I used to work with a man by that name at Westinghouse. Anyway, two cents added.
stuinmccandless
2014-12-17 09:40:48
I don't mind people posting some of their objections to biking such as adherence to laws and bike lights. However, it would be nice if the PG stopped publishing drivel that they are well aware is patently false like the taxes commentary. Also, I know many users here are suburbanites, so I don't mean to offend. However, when someone says how I, as a biker and driver and someone employed in Pittsburgh, don't pay taxes for a local city road when they don't live in the city, I take issue. The comments section has your usual anti-bike trolls.
mjacobpgh
2014-12-17 09:46:30
He saw a bike in a park - how frightful! And I think the PG prints this drivel because they probably get so few letters-to-the-editor submitted by normal people. Just like the online comments, there are probably a few dozen active people who send in letters constantly, and there are lobbying groups etc. sending them form letters, but not too many one-offs from regular readers. Sure they probably get hundreds of letters when a hot topic is in the news (conflict kitchen), but in between they probably get very few "new" letters or topics to print.
marko82
2014-12-17 10:13:20
Oh, absolutely. When they know something will generate clickbait-ish web traffic they run with it. Bikes vs cars is always good for some web traffic. For a while, they had numerous letters debating the merits of cloth diapers.
mjacobpgh
2014-12-17 10:16:02
Not an editorial page LTTE, but page A-2 of today's paper has a brief story about a helpful cyclist in the Random Acts of Kindness column: Bicyclist Got Down, Dirty to Help Avoid Street Flood It was pouring rain on Dec. 16 as I was in my car, waiting to make a left turn at the intersection of Beechwood Blvd and Fifth Avenue. A young man dismounted his bike and lifted many small armfuls of soaking leaves that were clogging the sewer drain to my left. His effort freed the sewer entry for draining and avoided "ponding" across Fifth Avenue. This gentleman must have been thoroughly soaked and muddy. I send him a thank you on behalf of the many people who were en route to jobs and schools, and the city public works department would thank him as well. Anne Bowes Point Breeze
stuinmccandless
2014-12-25 08:18:53
re @J Z 's post: That's weird. Where are all the hater comments?
ahlir
2015-01-12 20:41:46
To me, spin class will always mean sitting in American literature after a night of drinking.
edmonds59
2015-01-13 08:09:37
most of the commentary will somehow focus on bikes The article barely does but, yes, the comments are practically all about the bikes. I was actually surprised. But fortunately the biker community was up to the challenge. I would say that the majority of comments were bike-friendly, while the others did not reflect kindly on the temperament or mental acuity of the authors.
ahlir
2015-01-18 18:03:12
jonawebb
2015-02-17 12:39:20
I obviously don't know how to correctly add a link.......... The link was meant to be a separate sentence...."This gives a short overview of the program. The 2015 report shows $6,929,830 distributed to the City of Pittsburgh."
offtn
2015-03-24 08:34:13
@offtn, thanks, I didn't know about that. PS Researching this, it would be more accurate to say less than a third (about $6M out of $20M) of the Pittsburgh Public Works Operating Budget comes from the liquid fuels tax. The rest is paid from sales, income, and property taxes, which we bikers pay.
jonawebb
2015-03-24 08:36:31
my comment on that TR letter: We need less tax money going to expensive porkbarrel projects that enrich construction companies and more going to inexpensive projects that make the city more pleasant. For example, millions of dollars were spent excavating a hillside to make the ramp from Route 28 to Route 8 near Etna slightly gentler. Waste of money! Half a billion dollars were spent on the North Shore Connector so that Pittsburgh's meager subway could be extended a mile. Walk the bridge! It's prettier than a dark tunnel! Meanwhile, work is happening now to add a protected bike lane on the 6th Street Bridge. Excellent! Let's do more of this! Bike lanes and trails cost on the order of $100 thousand per mile, while freeways cost on the order of $10 million per lane-mile - that's 100 times more expensive. The few million dollars that have gone into Pittsburgh's bicycle trail network in recent decades are a tiny fraction of the cost of the North Shore Connector. But the bike & pedestrian expenditures have done far more for the revival of the city's reputation and the improved quality of life here than the porkbarrel projects. James Graff has it exactly backwards. Bike lanes are one of the wisest uses of tax dollars around. I wish that all of my tax dollars were spent this wisely.
paulheckbert
2015-03-24 11:08:52