The article critiques the auto-centric design of urban spaces, particularly in Manhattan, arguing it's detrimental to the quality of city life. It highlights the frequent misconceptions that empty bus and bike lanes are wasted space, emphasizing that this emptiness signifies efficiency. Buses and cyclists navigate urban environments swiftly, contrasting with the congestion suffered by drivers. The piece is part of Streetsblog's 'Car Harms' series, aimed at raising awareness about the hidden costs of prioritizing cars in urban planning.
One measure of the pernicious dominance of cars on urban streets - even on Manhattan streets - is how often you don't even notice them.
The fact that the bus and bike lanes are 'empty' is a feature, not a bug.
The bike lane looks empty because cyclists move efficiently: they don't get stuck behind other cyclists making turns and they don't double-park at the curb.
The bus lane looks empty, but it is really full of buses - up to 130 an hour, with bus passengers outnumbering passenger and for-hire car occupants two to one.
Collection
[
|
...
]