It’s a common sight at Manhattan intersections: An impatient or oblivious pedestrian edges a step or two onto a busy avenue well before the light changes. This is clearly irrational behavior, because it involves trading a much-increased risk of getting hit for a chance at making it to the other side mere milliseconds before the people who waited on the sidewalk.1But it’s also a weird sort of public service. By encroaching on the roadway, these daredevils/numbskulls are forcing drivers of cars and trucks to slow down and be more careful, making it safer for everyone else.

A few months ago, while waiting (on the sidewalk) to cross Lexington Avenue during the morning rush hour, I witnessed a new form of daredevil/numbskull behavior: A well-dressed, helmetless young man barreled by on an electric Citi Bike, weaving between two city buses while staring intently at his phone. I remember shaking my head at how risky this was — and I’m somebody who frequently bikes on the streets of Manhattan.

QOSHE - E-Bikes Aren’t Making New York Any Deadlier If You’re Walking - Justin Fox
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E-Bikes Aren’t Making New York Any Deadlier If You’re Walking

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27.03.2024

It’s a common sight at Manhattan intersections: An impatient or oblivious pedestrian edges a step or two onto a busy avenue well before the light changes. This is clearly irrational behavior, because it involves trading a much-increased risk of getting........

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