DQ - Darwinian Quotient in Central Park

Sometimes people can surprise you

2012-08-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

I had some errands to run today and some insoles to test so i spent more time in the park than i have been. I think i was there for all of an hour and a half, total throughout the day. I made sure to stop at every red light and always yield to pedestrians, even if they walk when it says "dont walk". Some pedestrians were clearly shocked by my courteousness. I didn't take their pictures, no need to embarrass them.

Someone told me central park is like a zoo. The problem is - a zoo has cages and the animals can't escape. This is more like open field and do what you want. I had way too many pictures so i had to pick the good ones. Some of these are on par with other, some are better despite being one single offense. Wrong direction in the lane of traffic seems worse than in the bike lane (pure physics, 30mph car * mass of car= its momentum. If you are driving AT it, the energy dissipated upon impacted increases. Same collision with a cyclist, in the bike lane? a lot less mass, and thus energy to dissipate. It will still hurt like hell, but you'll survive). what are your thoughts? favorite picture from all posts so far? post a comment.

Kinda at a loss - pedestrians eager to move, runner in the bike lane (he was dancing, it was disturbing honestly)

All I can think of is anarchy. Skateboarder, and Bicyclist in right direction, Runners the other. but Why?

1: Isn't it great that they have this bike lane just for us? 2: yeah, its so nice to have the park all to ourselves.

Skateboarder: can you tell me which way to get to the nearest cab? oh wait - here comes one right at me about to hit me! (not really, but middle of the lane going the wrong direction?)

The light was green for cars. Good thing no one got hit. Where is the ticket for pedestrians impeding the right of way of a vehicle? (yes that is a ticket, but only 1 YTD has been given in central park)

wow - this park is so beautiful. Why is that big suburban SUV speeding in my direction? oh wait, that light behind me is green for cars!

please, leave me alone, i'm having a blonde moment. I know the cars are going the right way, i can handle myself.

The unposted rules of riding (And running) in central park

2012-08-27T11:16:00.002-07:00

Long overdue!
I searched the various central park and nyc.gov websites to get official rules of riding in central park. Maybe even a simplified map. There are conflicting statements on different websites and even on the same website. I decided to markup a map of central park to show where the rules vary and at what times of day. The biggest "real" question (in my mind) is:
1) do traffic signals apply equally to all park users?
2) do traffic signals apply on when a given drive section is closed to traffic?

If the answer to item 1 is no (ie pedestrians/joggers don't need to use cross walks or pay attention to walk/don't walk signals) and the answer to 2 is "yes", then no matter what time of day, a cyclist must stop at ALL red lights and give pedestrians the absolute right of way, even if the cyclist has a green light. I don't necessarily see how that makes sense because cars would not be expected to do that when the drive is open to traffic (no would pedestrians expect them to). Either way - the first steps in a safer park are educating people what the basic rules of the recreation lane(s) are and making sure they are used appropriately at the right times. Check my other posts to see how frequently and flagrantly they aren't ignored Main Blog Page

I think that will be debated and played out over time but below is a clear map for those who aren't clear on how it works - hopefully groups like CRCA, NYCC and NY Road Runners will socialize this with their constituents and make sure we all start sharing the park better.

August 24th - the notable darwinian candidates

2012-08-24T13:54:00.001-07:00

August 24th
After a long ride (85 miles and 7500 feet of climbing) yesterday, today was a rest day, a perfect time to take care of some errands and do random sampling in central park. Much as I suspected, the same offenses are committed all the time, and I'm starting to see trends as to location more than time of day.

To keep things interesting and brief, i'll pick the best pictures of the day... for your enjoyment.

Bikes going the right direction, but in the runners lane, bikes going the wrong direction in the traffic/bike lanes, and a jay walker on his cell phone. Brilliantly chaotic.

So this kid is quite talented, probably under the age where he is required to wear a helmet, but don't worry, he has one. It is guaranteed to protect his handlebars when he falls doing this kind of stunt. But don't worry, his backpack will cushion him.

Skateboarders own the world, don't they?

This one is the winner - guy on the left jogging with a soccer ball to practice, yet in the bike lane next to traffic. Bikes in the cross hatches near traffic to avoid him and the ONCOMING cyclists (that one in grey shirt has his arms folded, not even on the handlebars and no helmet). In the distance there are two more in the wrong direction. An Evolutionary event in the making.

Darwin would be proud - August 22nd

2012-08-22T15:05:00.002-07:00

A short one hour test .....

Today was a pretty standard day in the park in terms of what i think one would see. One challenge is that i definitely miss some pictures (have to stay safe myself), some don't come out right so i can't score them and obviously its only things that occur near where i am at a given time (ie not the other side of the park). So there is some built in sampling/error to the measurement but it results in under-reporting the reality. Over time, the scoring system will be more mature and the variables such as time of day/week/month, weather, sample size/time will be the determining factors as to the DQ.

Total DQ numerator = 11.5+3+4+4+4+4+28+4+7+12

DQ per minute = 1.3583333

DQ per mile = 4.527777

Mother and Child, wrong direction in the runners lane, mom without a helmet. Say a prayer for the child. 2 points each for wrong direction (but blame is attributed to parent), 2 points each for wrong lane, 2 bonus points =10* 1.15 danger factor= 11.5 (but average per person is 5.75)

Good thing there were no cyclists in the bike lane only some runners for the cabs to hit... (3 points for the cab driver)

Let's go the wrong direction, and why bother with a helmet = 2+1 =3*1.333 danger factor for location = 4 points

Our parents never taught us how to share. I can't assign points and reward selfishness.

I'm in a rush to get to the hospital after i get hit by a cyclist for standing in the crosswalk when it says dont walk and then go complain about it to the cops and media. 2 pedestrians, 2 points each = 4 points

Us to - we need to get hit - please! - 2 pedestrians again, 2 points each = 4 points

Pedestrians - walk whenever, wherever you feel like it. Cyclists - you should stop at GREEN lights too = 8 pedestrians, against traffic crossing, flagrant violation - 2 points each to start, 1.5 bonus points each for the flagrancy. 16+12=28

Obviously she's like to walk in the middle of the street all the time. Hope she doesn't try that in midtown. Ok - she might be following the lead of the people crossing at green at the crosswalk in the distance. But it does take talent. 4 points.

I think both of these people are confused as to which lane is for bikes and which is for runners. Or they don't care.

Just the wrong direction, in the runners lane (wrong side of Central park) and no helmet = 2+2+1=5 + 2 bonus points = 7 (no danger factor, that side of park closed to traffic)

Today's points winner - wrong direction, no helmet, cell phone in right hand, looking behind him, all of this in the part of the park with cars = (2+1+2+2, +4 bonus points) * 1.333 location danger factor, = Total score of 12

The Darwinian Quotient in Central Park

2012-08-18T22:01:00.001-07:00

The daily news and other media in NYC have publicized the pedestrians injured by cyclists in Central Park. One doesn't need to spend much time in Central Park to see multiple flagrant violations of park rules, disregard for common sense and safety by ALL constituents of the park. Sometimes, the combination of unsafe things being done by a person or group of people at the same time is noteworthy enough that they deserve a nomination for a Darwin Award - close to selecting themselves out of the gene pool. Documenting these behaviors, scoring them on a point scale for each issue and dividing the total number of points over the sampling time/miles in the park will provide a "Darwinian Quotient" for central park for the ride. By sampling at different times of the day and over weeks and building readership of the blog, the facts as they occur will be evident and the city as well as its residents will have the opportunity to reduce the DQ over time.