Motorcycling in NYC: What's It Like?
This past Saturday, we headed to the International Motorcycle Show with one mission in mind: to find out what it’s like to be a motorcyclist in NYC.
(Left to right) Niki, Emily, and Elise tell us about their experiences riding in NYC. Their message to the general public: PUT DOWN YOUR PHONES when behind the wheel.
So what’s it like riding in the City of Dreams? According to most respondents, it’s exhilarating…but often terrifying. Between ruthless taxis, reckless texters, and rampant potholes, NYC streets host a slew of hazards just waiting to take out those on two wheels. What’s worse is that many motorcyclists feel that lawmakers and law enforcement officials view us as the enemy, rather than as citizens who deserve to be protected and served.
As motorcyclists, none of this is news to us. But what we did want to dig into was: Which of these issues are most important to us, and how do we, as motorcyclists, want to see them addressed? Well, here are the major themes that we found:
Jason is a fiber-optic technician who called attention to the dangerously poor road conditions in NYC.
Lane-splitting is among the biggest issues that we have with regard to law enforcement in NYC. Almost every person interviewed brought up this issue. Currently, lane-splitting is illegal in NYC. Even though it is more dangerous for motorcycles to sit in traffic, cops are unforgiving in this area. There even have been videos showing police officers stopping highway traffic in order to bait motorcyclists. This is all despite the research and examples from around the world that show that lane-splitting (aka filtering) is an effective means of traffic decongestion. Plus, when enacted and enforced correctly, filtering is far safer for all vehicles on the road, not just bikes.
Collectively, local motorcyclists are asking that NYC lawmakers reconsider their position on lane-splitting and allow us to do so safely at low speeds. Rather than making us out to be villains for moving out of harm’s way, we ask that the NYPD/DOT help us educate people to be better drivers and look out for motorcyclists who are carefully moving between cars.
NYC has a real problem with potholes. No one is surprised by this, but it’s important to remember that potholes pose a much greater threat to the safety of those on two wheels than to those on four. This also goes for metal plates that are put on the road during construction. One suggestion that was offered on Saturday is for NYC to require that metal plates and potholes be spray painted with visible lines around any change in surface materials. Even if the roads aren’t perfect, pointing out the hazards will help motorcyclists to see them early and act safely and preemptively.
Motorcycle checkpoints = undue profiling. We motorcyclists understand the purpose of checkpoints. We might even be on board with them if they were carried out appropriately - pulling over every third vehicle, including cars and trucks. As it stands, these “Vision Zero” checkpoints target motorcyclists exclusively, whether or not riders are breaking the law. Moreover, a number of interviewees pointed out that checkpoints often are positioned along commuter routes, targeting those who are more likely to actually pull over and obey the law. So, not only do checkpoints disproportionately target motorcyclists, but they target law abiding motorcyclists.
Because of these occurrences, motorcyclists are being made to feel criminalized simply for being on two wheels. This is creating a chasm between motorcyclists and law enforcement. Worrying about unwarranted checkpoints also distracts riders’ attention away from their ride, and therefore makes the streets less safe for everyone. There was a general consensus that motorcycle checkpoints should be abolished.
Motorcycles reduce congestion, and therefore should be exempt from congestion pricing. Research has show that not only do motorcycles keep traffic flowing, but also that if more people rode, it would actually reduce congestion exponentially. When compared to cars, motorcycles take up ¼ of the physical footprint, are more fuel-efficient, and emit less carbon dioxide. And, if NYC supported filtering/lane-splitting rather than criminalizing it, motorcycles would actually be a legal solution to the city’s traffic problem. With all these things considered, motorcyclists are baffled that the government wants to charge us congestion fees, when we are one of the few viable answers to the problem.
GET OFF YOUR PHONES! In addition to asking about people’s thoughts on laws and law enforcement, we also asked what motorcyclists wanted the general public to consider when thinking about us. The main message? Put down your phones and stop texting. Almost every person we interviewed pointed out that inattentive drivers are one of the main dangers we face on the roads: people sitting on their phones in traffic, texting at red lights, or checking Facebook while cruising at speed. Guys, this not something to be taken lightly. This is our lives, the lives of your neighbors, your friends, your family. Your text can wait, please please please please please put down your phones when you’re behind the wheel.
PSA: Motorcyclists are real people living real lives. One final, resounding message that we heard from all of you is, we’re all just people trying to live our lives. Most of us are simply trying to get from point A to point B - from home to work to home again. We’re not hooligans trying to terrorize the streets, we’re not trying to show off or look cool (well, some of us may be…) We’re not all versions of the same stereotype. Rather, as one interviewee stated, there’s as much diversity among motorcyclists as there is diversity in the world. It’s part of the beauty of the community, and it’s something we wish everyone could see.
Robert , who works in the motorcycle industry, brought out outsider’s perspective to riding in NYC.
It was a real treat talking to you all at IMS and hearing what you had to say. You made many more interesting points, which we’ll compile and send out in the coming weeks. At the moment, we’re collaborating with the New York Motorcycle Safety Council to approach policy makers, urban planners, and law enforcement to help make our city streets safer for everyone. If you want to get involved or have further ideas, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us. And keep an eye out soon for video content showing all your beautiful faces!