Register for a great Open Data Week event at
@cornell_tech
! Hear and discuss how open data can help us better understand and improve
bike lanes and city streets. Attend in-person or virtually, in conjunction
with
@BetaNYC and
@NYCAnalytics
https://t.co/3xaDHEAE6N

— Conor Lyman (@ConorLyman)
March 9, 2022

The Cornell Tech
Urban Tech Hub
at Roosevelt Island is
hosting an in-person and virtual meeting
on:

Using Open Data for a Safer and Improved Cycling Network in NYC

According to
NYC Open Data:

March 11 at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Free 

Did you know New York City has the oldest bike lane in America, and one of
the largest bike networks, plus bike share programs in North America?
🚲 

The Covid-19 pandemic introduced hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to
this bicycle infrastructure for the first time. This session highlights
student research from Cornell Tech that explores the intersection of open
data and how the City can enhance multiple generations of infrastructure
improvements with a focus on safety. 

Join us to learn how to use open data to understand the past and present,
while building a safer future for all in New York City. This hybrid session
will be introduced by the City’s Chief Analytics Officer, Martha Norrick,
and is organized by the Cornell Tech
Urban Tech Hub….

… All in-person attendees are invited to join us for a closing reception
at Granny Annie’s Bar & Kitchen, 425 Main St, New York, NY 10044 (on
Roosevelt Island). We look forward to seeing you! 

Click here for more info and to register
for the event.

Did you ever think people would be coming to Roosevelt Island for drinks?
https://t.co/T6gPeiHeeR

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland)
March 9, 2022

How about using some of that Open Data to doing something about the unsafe bike
lane on the Roosevelt Island Bridge?

I have been advocating for this and will continue to push.

— Julie Menin (@JulieMenin)
March 10, 2022

Julie Menin
is the NYC Council Member representing Roosevelt Island.

I can attest to that issue as well as if you try riding over on certain
bikes aka a road bike the grates will pop the tires. Multiple tires blown
just by riding over.

— Stevie White (@arj2002)
March 10, 2022

The gap is big enough that a small person could potentially slip through.
All the way down to the river surface.

— BikeQNS (@BikeQns)
March 9, 2022

A Roosevelt Island resident and bike rider reported Saturday February 26:

I’ve been in touch with DOT regarding the flex posts coming down and
blocking the bike lane in great numbers. I tried reporting through both RIOC
systems but that didn’t work, so I went through 311/DOT. They responded by
putting up these huge orange barriers that fall over into the bike lane (and
everywhere else), further obstructing it (north lane):

And now the south lane looked like this on Thursday and Friday:

I’ve reported at least 3x in the last several months. Seems the old flex
posts are due for removal and replacement, stat.

When I’m not caught completely unaware of the fact that the bike lane is
blocked by debris of the system that was designed to protect me,

 

I take the bridge lane. This is my right as a cyclist in NYC, but
inevitably, cars blow by me on the bridge as they can’t be bothered to
follow me across.

From my perspective, riding a pedal-assist cargo bike with 2 kids on the
back for school runs, this is a hazardous situation we can’t afford to
ignore. 

At the very least, we should have signs that alert drivers that cyclists
have the right to take the bridge lane. And, RIOC should respond to tickets
filed in some way – even if to say it’s DOT’s responsibility and provide
link to the form for DOT. If the condition can’t be immediately corrected,
signage warning cyclists the lane is blocked would be prudent.

On March 2, the Roosevelt Island bike rider added:

An update today from the Bike Rider: