New York, NY – No space in your cubicle for a bike? Council member David Yassky and transportation groups want to mandate that commercial buildings in the city provide indoor bike racks.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
With gas prices what they are and environmentalism on everyone’s mind, more New Yorkers are taking to the streets on two wheels.
“Thousands of people in this city want to bike to work,” said Yassky, “but they can’t do it if they’ve got to worry about their bikes being stolen or ruined by the weather. New Yorkers want a greener city, and they’re ready to help us build one. We’ve got to make sure we’re enabling their efforts.”
To do that, Yassky introduced the Bikes in Buildings Bill (Intro. 38). The bill would require commercial buildings to provide bicycle access for workers while leaving it up to the landlord to decide whether and how it would accommodate visitors’ bikes.
“The strength of this bill is that it recognizes the unique ability of landlords to decide how to accommodate bikes in their own buildings,” Yassky said. “This is something every building can do without negative consequences.”
Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives joined Yassky on the steps of City Hall to rally for passage of the bill. “It’s astounding that New York City’s commercial buildings allow strollers and handcarts indoors, but frequently refuse bicycle access,” White said.
According to a Department of City Planning study, 70,000 bikes are stolen in New York City each year, making the lack of safe indoor bike racks the principal deterrent to those who would bike to work.
Currently in the Council, the bill has the support of more than 30 out of 51 council members. Yassky and bill supporters hope that it will pass the Council at year’s end.
while at it. force my landlord to either make a parking lot in the basement or on the roof of my building. ( Valet parking wouldn’t be bad either) dont you agree shimon and Robert
government telling us what to do it starts with how to cross the street now its bike racks
vote republican and you might just get smaller goverment who wont pry into your everyday life
to anon 2:18
don’t we have now a republican gov. so they make us all the problems then maybe we should change to democrats
shimon and robert who might that be am i missing something?
This is great news.
What the heck does the landlord have to provide space for bikes maybe legislate
for indoor parking for cars, how about keeping the bike in the apartment.
yeah because 8 years of republicans really made our government and debt size smaller. are you mentally deficient?
And where shall we put the bike racks? How about giving us 10 feet of the City sidewalk so we can extend the hallway to accomodate this CRAP !
Mayer
You sound so bright. The New York Council is controlled by the Democrats. Wasington has nothing to do with it.
It might be a good idea, if they allow the landlords to pass all the costs to the tenants. The original lease price does not reflect this charge. But then the same Democrats will claim that Goverment shouldn’t make the tenants pay. Ha Ha Ha…….
too mayer
are you nuts our governer is a democrat comon know your politician
2:54 this is for commercial buildings. I can keep my bike in my apartment when I;m home, but where do I park it when I get to work? .
If more of us would bike instead of drive the city would be a better place for everyone. If I was a landlord I would rather provide space for bikes than cars, you can park 20 bikes in one parking space.
BTW I do bike to work most of the time.
Typical democrat garbage. If tenants really wanted bike racks the market would provide them! Does the government need to tell landlords to provide toilets? Doors?
Building were neither built nor designed to accommodate bicycles. I can see the storage of bicycles getting in the way of the means of egress and causing a violation of local fire codes. Landlords will receive violations or be sued if someone gets hurt.
This is a great benefit for bikers. Now when I bike to work, I constantly have to run out and feed the meter or I have to move my bike on alternate side parking days. I even got a parking ticket the other day because I parked too close to the curb. It will all but solve the double parking problem that plagues our busy streets. The landlord of the building that I work in will only allow bikes in the building, the employees will work on the sidewalk locked to a lamppost. When it rains, I can open my umbrella and shoin.
I hear the debate rumbling in the upper hollow chambers. I’m going to add my two cents to this debate. If we weren’t so hell bent on constructing subway tunnels for east siders to go 4 or 5 miles and instead built a bike tunnel then they could still get to work in a reasonable time and work off some pounds. Bike tunnels, while initially costly, would pay for themselves in reduced traffic on the city streets, less pedestrian bicycle accidents, no car fumes for bicyclists to breathe in or taxicab windows to smash. An express lane for bike messengers. Access to PATH and LIRR railways via the bike lanes. Tunnels could be built under Central Park and next to existing subway lines. Bicyclists would be protected from the weather elements and bicycle parking could be built in. It would work in the outer boroughs as well. We would augment current mass transportation with underground tunnels for bikes. I think that we should start a grass roots referendum to add bike tunnels. Think, in Williamsburg you wouldn’t worry about the ladies riding around, you can’t see them through the cement.
Awesome. For those upset about this, you are becoming the minority. The writing is on the wall, take a look at LA, Chicago, and any other large US city.
This is great news for us bikers
Another stupid law by stupid politicans! Talk about a wasted law.
this is ridiculous, 70,000 bikes don’t cost nearly as much as will the real estate taken up by these bikes. so whats the gain?
Maybe they can make a room for my kid’s carriages and rollerblades too.