ianmac47 wrote:
The racks should have been installed in the street in former parking spaces.

jmiz wrote:
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ianmac47 wrote:
The racks should have been installed in the street in former parking spaces.

Yeah, and Yvonne's husband would protest by sitting in said parking spot and get his picture taken for the paper again.

There's benefits to putting them on plazas and sidewalks. 1.) The stations are garbage collectors and the sweepers will not be able to get in there and 2.) some asshole will double park and block in every single bike in the station.

ianmac47 wrote:
The racks should have been installed in the street in former parking spaces.

Bamb00zle wrote:
Jerseymom, bodhipooh, I agree. It isn't believable DPW doesn't know these requirements - I assume it's being done under their watchful eye. So, I have to wonder if this isn't just speed hump fiasco redux.

IMHO, that was deliberate sabotage by a small group opposed to the humps in an effort to stop that initiative. Those installations were done by an outside contractor ? so what did the specifications for that job say? So many unanswered questions. And the speed humps near me are still non-compliant. The whole mess just ?disappeared? from the radar.

I hope my suspicions this time are just that ? suspicions.

jerseymom wrote:
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JCbiscuit wrote:
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jcneighbor wrote:
Saw yet another new station yesterday at the corner of Jersey Ave. and Newark. They sure put it far away from the curb -- when the bikes go in there will be roughly 1/2 of that wide sidewalk area for pedestrians.

I noticed that, too. The station is kitty-cornered, so it encroaches on a LOT of sidewalk.

It also seems like it'll hold way more bikes than necessary. It's the size of the station on Christopher Street, which is a lot more bike-friendly.

Still, I'm psyched about CitiBike, in general.

I wonder if this encroachment is an ADA violation?

"All utility poles, light posts, traffic posts, fire hydrants, and other manmade vertical appurtenances are located outside of the sidewalk path. If right of way prevents relocation of an appurtenance, the pathway width is at minimum 32? wide and the length of the restricted pathway is no more than 2?."

ADA Sidewalk Construction Checklist (From OK)

Additional Information from the Feds:

Excerpt (4.3.3 - Width)
"The widths of sidewalks not only affect pedestrian usability but also determine the types of access and other pedestrian elements that can be installed. For example, a 1.525-m (60-in) sidewalk is probably wide enough to accommodate pedestrian traffic in a residential area,but a much wider sidewalk would be necessary to include amenities such as street furniture or newspaper stands.Design width is defined as the width specification the sidewalk was intended to meet; it extends from the curb or planting strip to any buildings or landscaping that form the opposite borders of the sidewalk.Minimum clearance width is defined as the narrowest point on a sidewalk. An inaccessible minimum clearance width is created when obstacles such as utility poles protrude into the sidewalk and reduce the design width.A reduction in the design width could also create a minimum clearance width..."

Excerpt (4.3.4 Passing Space)
Passing space is defined as a section of path wide enough to allow two wheelchair users to pass one another or travel abreast (Figure 4-8). The passing space provided should also be designed to allow one wheelchair user to turn in a complete circle (Figure 4-9).

Excerpt (4.3.8 Obstacles and Protruding Objects)
Obstacles in the pedestrian environment are defined as objects that limit the vertical passage space, protrude into the circulation route, or reduce the clearance width of the sidewalk. Obstacles with large overhangs that protrude into the path of travel can be hazardous for people with visual impairments if they are difficult to detect. The full width of the circulation path should be free of protruding objects.Obstacles that reduce the minimum clearance width, such as decorative planters on a narrow sidewalk, can create significant barriers for wheelchair or walker users.

Sidewalk Guidelines - FHA

JCbiscuit wrote:
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jcneighbor wrote:
Saw yet another new station yesterday at the corner of Jersey Ave. and Newark. They sure put it far away from the curb -- when the bikes go in there will be roughly 1/2 of that wide sidewalk area for pedestrians.

I noticed that, too. The station is kitty-cornered, so it encroaches on a LOT of sidewalk.

It also seems like it'll hold way more bikes than necessary. It's the size of the station on Christopher Street, which is a lot more bike-friendly.

Still, I'm psyched about CitiBike, in general.

JCbiscuit wrote:

It also seems like it'll hold way more bikes than necessary. It's the size of the station on Christopher Street, which is a lot more bike-friendly.

Still, I'm psyched about CitiBike, in general.

iGreg wrote:
*Real problem is that folks who actually ride bikes realize the citibikes suck.

jcneighbor wrote:
Saw yet another new station yesterday at the corner of Jersey Ave. and Newark. They sure put it far away from the curb -- when the bikes go in there will be roughly 1/2 of that wide sidewalk area for pedestrians.

user1111 wrote:
HOBOKEN?Several months after its expected launch date, a planned regional bike-share program is poised to take off in Hoboken?without Weehawken.

Weehawken is the second municipality to back out of the regional bike-share program, following Jersey City's decision to ditch the plan for New York City's Citi Bike system. Hoboken and Weehawken announced plans late last year to move forward with their own system, but Mayor Richard Turner told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday that Weehawken couldn't secure the advertising required to run the program in the township. He said other issues like schools and a new ambulance are a higher priority.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... _launch.html#incart_river

Monroe wrote:
Am I missing something? How many poor people in Greenville or the West Side even have credit cards they need to use Citibikes? And isn't it easier for them to buy a cheap bike than pay for a subscription??

Sommerman wrote:
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Monroe wrote:
Am I missing something? How many poor people in Greenville or the West Side even have credit cards they need to use Citibikes? And isn't it easier for them to buy a cheap bike than pay for a subscription??

Good questions. I also wonder if as I write this, some entrepreneur is setting up a chop shop to 'personalize' these bikes.

Monroe wrote:
Am I missing something? How many poor people in Greenville or the West Side even have credit cards they need to use Citibikes? And isn't it easier for them to buy a cheap bike than pay for a subscription??

Monroe wrote:
Am I missing something? How many poor people in Greenville or the West Side even have credit cards they need to use Citibikes? And isn't it easier for them to buy a cheap bike than pay for a subscription??

ZippyJC wrote:
If there was one near Astor Place, I would have already signed up. I was dreaming of being able to commute to Path, then use it again in NYC. Oh well, hopefully they will change it and add as they go.

bodhipooh wrote:
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JcDevil wrote:
I mean, the real problem isn't just the location - it's that this is not going in across Hudson County. I understand Fulop's game, here, allying with NYC's system in an attempt to strongarm Hoboken and Weehawken into going with CitiBike as well, but there's a decent enough shot that it doesn't work, and that would be a shame, as having a single bike sharing program from Bayonne up to Edgewater would really help people get between Hudson County cities.

Not to defend Fulop, but I think he was right to pull out of the PLANNED Hudson County bike sharing system and instead choose to align with CitiBike. While a county-wide system would have been nice, there is nothing concrete there yet, while Citibike (despite its own set of problems and flaws) is a system already established and ready for prime time. There is no telling if/when the Hudson County system will actually happen, it's viability, etc. There's also the matter of JC residents trekking into NYC in large numbers. Despite what some in here like to claim to the contrary, Jersey City has a HUGE amount of residents that choose to live here because of proximity to Manhattan and the rest of NYC, and because they commute to NYC on a daily basis. From that point of view, for many/most residents, it makes sense to have aligned with a bike share system that can be used in both cities.

Bike_Lane wrote:
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Pebble wrote:
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bodhipooh wrote:
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Pebble wrote:
I'd sign up if there was a location in Bergen Hill. Unfortunately, it seems that I need to march about a half mile out of my way in order to obtain a bike.

I am very surprised that the entire area around Astor Place got overlooked when choosing where to put stations. In fact, most of Lafayette (which is seeing a large influx of young professionals) got ignored, with a single station over by the light rail station. I wonder how quickly they will adapt to the market and change/remove/add locations.

Maybe I'm looking at CitiBike wrong, but I believe it to be a means to get to and from the transportation hubs and entertainment hubs.

To clarify, someone living on Astor and Monticello is looking to go to Journal Square. They should be able to snag a bike and ride that there, park it in one of the lots here and then use a bike home later. As it stands, the person would need to walk all the way to Montgomery to pick up a bike which would be ridden for about 4 blocks.

Similarly, the same person wants to go downtown. They'd need to walk all the way down to the Liberty Park Light Rail Station to ride the bike along the bridge and across town (basically about 6-8 blocks). Or, to Garfield Light Rail and then ride it...

Point being, and I know you aren't arguing with me, is that it seems like this is mapped all wrong. Those at the Garfield Light Rail might use it for JSQ, which is great. However, those that are looking to go to the Light Rail don't seem to have an option since they won't be able to ride there nor back.

And all of that only "works" assuming bikes are available in those stations at the times they're needed. In NYC that has been a big problem. I can't find a CitiBike anywhere between 5th Ave/3rd ave/34th to 23rd after 5:30 PM on any given weekday.