Moving Beyond Bikelash: Aaron Naparstek's keynote presentation, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Golden Wheel Awards, July 16, 2014.
Bikelash is a normal and natural part of a 21st century American city's evolution. As your city begins to make its streets safer and more comfortable for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders; as your city begins to move away from the idea that streets are the sole domain of motor vehicles; some people in your city will begin to freak out about the changes that are happening on their streets.
This freaking out process is known as "Bikelash."
18. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
2005 NYC Mayoral Campaign
There shouldn’t be a
tax on worshipping.
People shouldn’t have
to pay to pray. People
shouldn’t have to feed
the meter to worship.
30. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
In 2005 we kicked off a community process.
Park Slope Civic Council
Forum on Traffic and Transportation
March 2006
31. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
We created GAPco and ran community workshops.
Grand Army Plaza Coalition
Visioning Workshops
Summer 2006.
32. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
We Engaged Danish Urban Designer Jan Gehl
“If Frederick Law Olmsted could see how Grand Army Plaza
is treated today — with all the asphalt and the little islands
with pedestrians jumping like Eskimos from floe to floe —
he would be rotating in his grave endlessly.
- Jan Gehl, June 2006.
38. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
The impact of the redesign was dramatic:
Surge in the number of people
biking on PPW.
Speeding went way down:
From 74% of cars to 20%.
Sidewalk cycling disappeared:
From 46% of cyclists to 3%.
Car traffic volumes and travel
times stayed the same.
Crashes resulting in injuries
down 63%.
Popular. 70%+ approval.
Photo by Dmitry Gudkov
41. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Not your typical group of neighborhood NIMBYs.
Former
Deputy Mayor
Norman Steisel
Former
DOT Commissioner
Iris Weinshall
45. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
A major litigation firm takes NBBL's case "pro bono."
As a former federal
prosecutor, I've
never seen
something like this.
51. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
STRANGLED BY BIKES
TRANSPORT COMMISH IS OUT OF CONTROL
WRATH OF KHAN!
BICYCLE BIGWIG'S BLIZZARD BLUNDER
BLOOMBERG PUTS BIKES BEFORE COPS
TWO-WHEELER INVASION:
A NEW CYCLE OF CRIME?
53. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Bikelash is emerging as a 2013 mayoral campaign issue.
Rep. Anthony Weiner
Remember this guy?
When I become mayor,
you know what I'm going
to spend my first year
doing? I'm going to have
a bunch of ribbon-
cuttings tearing out your
f*#king bike lanes.
55. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Meanwhile, in Toronto…
Roads are built
for buses, cars,
and trucks, not
for people on
bikes.
It's no secret.
Cyclists are a
pain in the ass
to the
motorists.
Mayor Rob Ford
56. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Meanwhile, in Toronto…
Roads are built
for buses, cars,
and trucks, not
for people on
bikes.
It's no secret.
Cyclists are a
pain in the ass
to the
motorists.
Yes I have
smoked crack
cocaine.
Mayor Rob Ford
60. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Disappointing signals from the 2013 mayoral field
For me the jury's out.
I think it's worth
assessing what the
impact has been on
traffic…
What was not done right is
a deeper consultation with
community residents. This
has been an endemic
problem with the
Bloomberg approach to
bike lanes.
On Car-Free Times Square: On Prospect Park West:
67. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
“What is our objective in
this city? To stigmatize the
use of cars? Do we want
Brooklyn to replicate
Amsterdam?”
Bikelashers want to portray you as the outsider.
68. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Louise Hainline, Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes
We will never be Amsterdam;
never be Copenhagen.
We are never going to be
Portland!
Opponents want to portray you as the outsider.
71. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Show what it's all about:
Safe streets for kids, seniors, families, everyone.
April 10, 2011: We Ride the Lanes. 700 participants.
115. @naparstek #bikelash @sfbike
Remember what it was like when we started Streetsblog in SF?
Bikelasher Rob Anderson and his attorney leaving the courthouse.
Photo: Bryan Goebel, June 22, 2010