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My perspective on this is a little different because I ride a bike in NYC and I do not order delivery food, ever. Thus, I only experienced the negative external
by fnfjfk 3y ago
My perspective on this is a little different because I ride a bike in NYC and I do not order delivery food, ever. Thus, I only experienced the negative externalities of these apps on cycling in NYC, and I don't care about delivery food becoming more expensive or whatever.
With the possible exception of the people that ride the new gray Citibike e-bikes, delivery riders are almost unquestionably the worst behaved "cyclists" in NYC. I put "cyclists" in quotes because half of them are just riding mopeds now.
- They ride in whatever direction is most optimal, one-way streets be damned. This is called "salmoning" and it is universally loathed.
- They don't even slow down for red lights half of the time. Look, I know, it's NYC, almost everyone Idaho stops or Idaho slow-rolls, there's even a proposed law to officially legalize it now, but they really take it to another level.
- They have no awareness when starting, they will just fly into a bike lane without checking over their shoulder. Also includes right/lefts on red (also not legal, but everyone does it, and it's pretty much fine if you at least check), they do not check for something riding down the bike lane with the light.
- Less relevant since it's summer currently, but usage of lights at night by these riders is maybe 50% at best. They also wear black a lot... so black bike, no lights, riding the wrong way in a bike lane. Fun!
- The mopeds. Mopeds are unambiguously banned on bike lanes and especially on the bridge bike lanes, but it's impossible to ride over one of the East River bridges these days without being passed aggressively by a gas moped, not even an electric one (which are still banned!).
I don't know if this will make them behave better. I don't see why it would, if they can still maximize profit by putting everyone else in danger.
- barbazoo 3y ago> They ride in whatever direction is most optimal, one-way streets be damned. This is called "salmoning" As someone living next to a Salmon spawning creek, this put a huge grin on my face, I love that term.
- bradleyjg 3y agoI’m not sure if it’s worse for us or you, but as a pedestrian I couldn’t agree more. Ten years ago I thought the macho, aggressive sport riders were bad but they are nothing compared to all these illegal mopeds. The NYPD should just seize every single one without a license plate (and while they are at it all the cars with paper plates and those with license plate obstructors.)
- mountainofdeath 3y agoI agree. I've seen all of the above and more. I've seen full-on motorcycles in bicycle lanes going the wrong direction. I've seen them ride right through a crowded sidewalk, I was in China recently and it struck me how wide the bike lanes were and mopeds were allowed but everyone generally followed traffic signals.