New Yorkers Get Behind Bike Lanes

It now seems clear that the voices raised in opposition to the construction of bicycle lanes throughout New York City belonged to a vocal minority of the city's residents. According to Michael M. Grynbaum and Marjorie Connelly, "When asked simply whether New York's bike lanes were a good idea or a bad idea, 66 percent of New Yorkers said they thought bike lanes were a good idea, according to the latest poll by The New York Times. A majority in all boroughs said they thought the lanes were a good idea, with support highest in Manhattan."

"Twenty-seven percent of residents called the lanes a bad idea, and 7 percent had no opinion or did not answer."

"New Yorkers who said they thought bike lanes were a good idea cited environmental, health and safety benefits, as well as the addition of more space for bicyclists to ride. Some respondents said they were simply happy that the lanes had encouraged bicyclists to stop riding on the sidewalk," write Grynbaum and Connelly. 

"Among the quarter of New Yorkers who said they thought the lanes were a bad idea, the most commonly cited complaint was that the lanes hinder vehicular traffic. Some residents also described the lanes as creating dangerous street conditions."