Poll: Give Us Your Tired, Your Bike Lanes, Your Walmart (Update: Bikers Brag)
By Matt Chaban July 28, 2011 9:35 am
reprints
Our colleagues at the Politicker dig into a new Quinnipiac poll, which has some interesting results for us over on the real estate desk, namely Bike Lames and the Walmart-osaurus.
In other poll news, bike lanes are growing more popular with New Yorkers as 59 percent say that are good because they are greener and healthier, an uptick of 3 percent from a previous poll in May.
The poll also asked about Walmart, who are trying to locate a store in New York City over the objection of some in the City Council. Over 60 percent of New Yorkers say they should be allowed to do so.
There’s a lot more analysis on whether New York should pressure its public employees to fork over more in wages and benefits—their neighbors think no. Read more at the Politicker.
Update: Transportation Alternatives sent out a quick release crowing about the new bike lane numbers.
“New Yorkers are savvy people. Despite months of misinformation and fake controversy, a growing majority of New Yorkers support these street safety improvements. That’s because anyone can see that bike lanes are good for all New Yorkers. Separate spaces for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers keep everyone out of each other’s way and out of harm’s way.”
Here’s a thought. The bicycle backlash exploded over the winter, when the lanes were rightfully empty. Now, even with the mercury passing 100 some days, more people are actually out there using the lanes and liking them. And/or as time goes by, those who were critical of the lanes increasingly realize they will not kill them. Now if only they would get out of the way.
