Off to Antarctica

I’ve been meaning to write something here about biking in New York, now that

I commute to work every day. Yes, it’s true: I’ve taken a full-time job at Roubini

Global Economics, the public face of which is writing Economonitor.

Although Stefan is writing

it at the moment, since I’m on holiday

until December 26. Expect pictures of penguins upon my return!

I will leave you with one question, though, about the new bike route stencils

which first appeared in Brooklyn

and have now turned up on the Lower

East Side. Reports Streetsblog:

Design-wise, I was surprised to see the stencils placed along the side of

the travel lane. My impression, based on conversations with DOT, was that

the markings would be placed right in the middle of the travel lane. At first

glance, it seems to me that this design still sends the message that cyclists

are supposed to squeeze between parked and traveling vehicles rather than

asserting a right to the middle of the lane. DOT tells me, however, that the

stencils are placed so that if a cyclist is riding directly on top of them

they will be just far enough out in the street to avoid being hit by the opened

door of a parked car.

Which is exactly where I try to ride anyway, whether I’m on one of

these newfangled bike routes or not. Does this mean that if I bike a car door’s

away from parked cars on any other street, I’m breaking the law, which says

that I "may ride as near as practicable to the curb"?