Pragmatism and realism rule in a taxi riding city.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/bus_bike_aves_broch_18_taxi.pdf

This is the text of the wack  NYC Department of Transportation pamphlet called "Learn the lanes" and given to taxi drivers around a year or so ago. Things have not worked out the way the DOT thinkers had thought.

1- Taxi drivers are going to stop for passengers where the passengers (customers) are, and not here Janet Tsadik-Khan imagines they ought to be.
2- Taxi drivers do not control the passenger doors.
3-The taxi driver dows not control the length in time needed to a pick up or drop off. That is determined by the passengers who have control of the doors and therefor control over the time  the car will move. The credit card swipe technology also factors in here..

When this pamphlet first came out summonses rained down on the taxi drivers. That these summonses are much rarer now shows a pragmatic realism by the enforcement on the street, and not any reality based decision by our official dream world planners.

Yield to cyclists when turning

Pickup/drop- off in the floating parking lane

Look for cyclists when

crossing the bike path

Stop in a bus lane only to quickly pick up or drop off passengers at the curb

Bike Lanes: Rules and EnforcementNew York’s streets are designed to ensure that everyone—drivers, pedestrians and cyclists—has a safe, appropriate place on the road.• It is illegal to drive, park or stop in bike lanes or paths. ($115 fine)• Yield to cyclists when turning.• Leave a safe distance when passing cyclists.•

“Dooring” kills. Look for cyclists before opening your door.Bike Paths:A “floating” parking lane separates cyclists from moving cars. See inside for more information.Bike Lanes:Painted lines and striped buffers separate bicycle and vehicular traffic.Bike Routes:Painted bicycle symbols and chevrons indicate shared lanes.

Bus Lanes: Rules and Enforcement 

Drivers must stay out of an active bus lane except to:• Make the next available right turn or • quickly drop off or pick up passengersIf you drive, park, or stand in a bus lane during hours of operation you face fines ranging from $115 to $150. The City enforces bus lanes with video cameras and increased police enforcement.A curbside bus laneis a travel lane for buses at the curb. Parking and standing at the curb are not allowed during the hours the bus lane is in effect.An offset bus laneis a travel lane for buses one lane away from the curb. This makes parking and standing at the curb still possible.

Para información en español, por favor visite www.nyc.gov/brt o llame al 311www.nyc.gov/dotLearn the LanesBike and bus lane rules every taxidriver should knowwww.nyc.gov/dot

On Streets with a Protected Bike Path:

How do I drop off/pick up passengers?Stop in the floating parking lane to pick up or drop off passengers. Do not stop in the mixing zone or block the crosswalk.How can I turn across the bike path?Use a “mixing zone” to merge into a bike path and turn across it. Obey turn signal arrows if available.Where can I park?Park in the “floating” parking lane. This lane separates cyclists from moving vehicles.Make a right turn from the curbside bus laneYield to cyclists when turningPickup/drop- off in the floating parking laneLook for cyclists whencrossing the bike pathStop in a bus lane only to quickly pick up or drop off passengers at the curbOn Streets with a Bus Lane:Where do I make a right turn?Enter the bus lane safely toward the end of the block you are turning from.

How do I pick up or drop off a passenger at the curb?Stop in a bus lane only for the time it takes a passenger to enter or exit the vehicle and get safely onto the sidewalk.If possible, arrange your pick up or drop off where there isn’t a bus lane — across the street, or on the side street, for example.