Welcome

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! This is a new project that I’m launching as an outlet to commiserate with other NY/NJ commuters experiencing the same outrageous delays and cancellations.

Please don’t get me wrong – I am absolutely a public transit proponent! Years ago, I studied abroad in Denmark for a college semester, and witnessed firsthand their superior transportation infrastructure. Admittedly, they are a much smaller country than the United States, and everything is much closer together. That said, their residents also benefit from a well-planned transportation infrastructure which prioritizes the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, making it a very bike- and walk-friendly country.

Back here in the United States, my home town calls itself pedestrian-friendly because the law gives pedestrians the right of way, requiring motorists to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks (how progressive!). Major intersections remain without pedestrian signals (walk lights), forcing pedestrians to trust drivers to stop or to wait until traffic subsides (if it does) before crossing. Instead of utilizing the berm of the road to create a safe biking corridor, city planners utilize that space for parallel parking spots, prioritizing driver convenience over the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

This forces cyclists (and those using similar forms of transportation, like scooters) to take their chances riding on single-lane roads past parked vehicles, and make a judgement call on whether they are more likely to hit an opening car door (and should ride closer to the center of the lane) or be hit by a distracted driver (and should ride closer to the right side of the lane). Far too often, cyclists find both of these options too risky and choose to ride on the sidewalk to keep themselves safe from motorists, putting pedestrians at risk.

All of this screams for much-needed transit reform and investment in the United States. And we are certainly seeing progress, with areas increasingly converted into pedestrian plazas and bicycle networks being established and extended in major metropolitan areas. However, with the majority of metropolitan commuters relying on public transportation (trains, busses, light-rail, ferries) for at least a portion of their daily commute, and the extreme transit delays disruptions many riders have been facing in recent months, clearly much more must be done to keep our cities moving.