Another speed bump for Uber in Pittsburgh (Penn: hotel, theatre)

[norcider]

I know there are numbers to prove the bike lane utilization; I have yet to see any that prove the claims of loss of revenue regarding small business'. Until that is proven/disproven, it's all speculation on the part of the regressive set.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by norcider

I know there are numbers to prove the bike lane utilization; I have yet to see any that prove the claims of loss of revenue regarding small business'. Until that is proven/disproven, it's all speculation on the part of the regressive set.

does that include peduto now that he wants to kick uber out?

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by norcider

I know there are numbers to prove the bike lane utilization; I have yet to see any that prove the claims of loss of revenue regarding small business'. Until that is proven/disproven, it's all speculation on the part of the regressive set.

Until they close their doors you'll likely never see any numbers.

[norcider]

Peduto isn't going to kick anybody out least of all Uber.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by norcider

Peduto isn't going to kick anybody out least of all Uber.

I don't think anyone takes him serious enough to kick any big business out. What's being said is that he wants to.

[eschaton]

It's not really true, BTW, that the benefits of bike lanes only accrue to those who ride the bikes. The most obvious example of this is that cars do not have to worry about hitting bikes, which cuts down on the number of accidents. Bike lanes actually reduce accidents beyond this a bit however, because the added visibility and barrier space. It also makes crossing the street easier for pedestrians. Here's a list of findings related to public safety after bike lanes are introduced. There's also some evidence of economic benefits for local retailers which you can see if you scroll up. This probably isn't a result of the bike lanes themselves, but the redesign of the streets calming traffic, as people are more likely to shop as pedestrians on streets where cars are going at a more leisurely pace.

[Katarina Witt]

Have any of you seen this: Uber Self-Driving Experiment In Pittsburgh Offers Lessons For An Autonomous-Car Future: : All Tech Considered : NPR ?

"Interesting".

[Enough_Already]

Originally Posted by eschaton

It's not really true, BTW, that the benefits of bike lanes only accrue to those who ride the bikes. The most obvious example of this is that cars do not have to worry about hitting bikes, which cuts down on the number of accidents. Bike lanes actually reduce accidents beyond this a bit however, because the added visibility and barrier space. It also makes crossing the street easier for pedestrians. Here's a list of findings related to public safety after bike lanes are introduced. There's also some evidence of economic benefits for local retailers which you can see if you scroll up. This probably isn't a result of the bike lanes themselves, but the redesign of the streets calming traffic, as people are more likely to shop as pedestrians on streets where cars are going at a more leisurely pace.

You must not actually see the bike lane on Penn. First it makes a cross in the strip which is dangerous. Then at many intersections cars make left turns through the bike lane. Add to that the fact that most of the people using the bike lane totally disregard traffic laws and even jump curbs onto the sidewalk terrorizing pedestrians. Get out of your ivory tower and see the real world.

On top of that, the bike lanes are sparsely used compared to the cars which would use those streets. That is a poor allocation of scarce resources.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Enough_Already

You must not actually see the bike lane on Penn. First it makes a cross in the strip which is dangerous. Then at many intersections cars make left turns through the bike lane. Add to that the fact that most of the people using the bike lane totally disregard traffic laws and even jump curbs onto the sidewalk terrorizing pedestrians. Get out of your ivory tower and see the real world.

On top of that, the bike lanes are sparsely used compared to the cars which would use those streets. That is a poor allocation of scarce resources.

I use that bike lane freqently. I was just on it yesterday actually. Soon I'm going to start riding again with my three-year old son to take him to day care, so we'll both be on it almost every day.

The strip crossing is indeed pretty dangerous, I always worry when crossing over from the shoulder on the right hand side to the left to get into it. Usually I start moving over a block or two back so I don't have a nasty surprise. My understanding is this is a temporary problem though - the bike lane will eventually be extended at least to the 31st Street bridge, where there is lower traffic.

There's generally no excuse for riding on sidewalks, because it's a crime to ride a bike on a sidewalk in a commercial area anywhere in Pennsylvania. That said, on those brief occasions when the bike lane is blocked (for example, due to a truck unloading at one of the bays which cut into the lane) I'll briefly get onto the sidewalk to get around it (though I usually get off my bike) as long as the sidewalk is clear.

A lot of cyclists do break laws. Some of these are stupid and reckless, but some of them (like slowing down and looking both ways but not coming to a complete stop at stop signs) are because riding a bike isn't the same as riding a car. That said, lots of motorists break laws too - in Pittsburgh and elsewhere. I have seen cars in downtown Pittsburgh make left and right turns directly into the walk lane while I was crossing and had the right of way dozens of times - sometimes only missing me by a few feet.

That section of Penn Avenue through the cultural district is not heavily trafficked at any time of the day. I don't see much congestion in either the morning or evening. Maybe it backs up a bit due to theater traffic later at night - I wouldn't know. Certainly the bike lane hasn't hurt the booming restaurant scene up there.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I use that bike lane freqently. I was just on it yesterday actually. Soon I'm going to start riding again with my three-year old son to take him to day care, so we'll both be on it almost every day.

The strip crossing is indeed pretty dangerous, I always worry when crossing over from the shoulder on the right hand side to the left to get into it. Usually I start moving over a block or two back so I don't have a nasty surprise. My understanding is this is a temporary problem though - the bike lane will eventually be extended at least to the 31st Street bridge, where there is lower traffic.

There's generally no excuse for riding on sidewalks, because it's a crime to ride a bike on a sidewalk in a commercial area anywhere in Pennsylvania. That said, on those brief occasions when the bike lane is blocked (for example, due to a truck unloading at one of the bays which cut into the lane) I'll briefly get onto the sidewalk to get around it (though I usually get off my bike) as long as the sidewalk is clear.

A lot of cyclists do break laws. Some of these are stupid and reckless, but some of them (like slowing down and looking both ways but not coming to a complete stop at stop signs) are because riding a bike isn't the same as riding a car. That said, lots of motorists break laws too - in Pittsburgh and elsewhere. I have seen cars in downtown Pittsburgh make left and right turns directly into the walk lane while I was crossing and had the right of way dozens of times - sometimes only missing me by a few feet.

That section of Penn Avenue through the cultural district is not heavily trafficked at any time of the day. I don't see much congestion in either the morning or evening. Maybe it backs up a bit due to theater traffic later at night - I wouldn't know. Certainly the bike lane hasn't hurt the booming restaurant scene up there.

If you think it's dangerous (and I don't know this bike lane so I can't say) for the Love of All that's Holy, don't take your kid there! It's one thing for you to take your own life in your hands, another to subject your kid to that. Find a different way or drive your car!