Open Thread Wednesday 3/26/14

By on March 26, 2014 8:40 am in Brooklyn Heights

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • neighboronhicks

    disingenous seems to be improperly used in this situation. you’d also not be in a position to characterize the inner workings of my own mind, so i’m not sure how you got to that word, however, i can understand the offense taken by you at being described as a troll. with that being said, it appears from this string that the “name calling,” which i assume to be the characterization of “troll” as it is used in Internet vernacular would be accurate:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    I believe the word “failing” is the wrong word. Yes, they are struggling with money, but that is not the only measure of success. If it was, millions of companies would be considered “failing.” They have about 90,000 annual members. It’s been going up every month since the program started. I expect that number to hit 100K this summer. This is far more riders than the program anticipated I believe.

    The issue comes with daily membership, which is expected. This is where they expected to make their money. Coming from other countries, biking in NYC is scary (even for locals!) The program is less than a year old and I believe hasn’t really had time to grow yet. It’s been a rough winter for everyone. Bitter cold, blizzard days-no one will bike in that..hell, they barely drive in that. So to judge, or call the program “Failing” at this point in the game is very premature.

    I personally think the program needs to expand to upper Manhattan (this will help Central Park get more people riding) as well as outer neighborhoods. I remember places like Sunset Park were asking when they would get their bikes since the R train is still under construction.

    If I am wrong on any of this, please correct me.

  • DIBS

    I bet you’re very impressed with yourself a lot of the time. Fun to be with as well. You didn’t address “hypocritical”

    Maybe you could now add something to the discussion of whether or not the property owner had the right to remove the tree or not or whether it “belongs to the community.”

  • neighboronhicks

    unsubscribe.

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    This guy knows his stuff.

  • DIBS

    Really??? A chain store???

  • MonroeOrange

    no its a mom and pop pharmacy, but he owns other pharmacies as well, so not sure if that would be described as a chain store…but not a duane reade type one.

  • Guest

    Oh man another pharmacy? We have City Chemist, CVS, Duane Reade and Rite Aid.

  • DIBS

    With an old tyme soda fountain???

  • DIBS

    I thought not.
    Q.E.D.

  • neighboronhicks

    you win so hard. most wins ever. i am now a republican. thanks, mom.

  • DIBS

    unsubscribe

    You’ve added nothing here.

  • MonroeOrange

    and don’t forget Gristedes (Sloans) has one too.

  • DIBS

    Oh yeah, right across the street. and CVS is a block away.

  • DIBS

    At least I’m not known as the “Citibike loon”

  • Phormyka

    Jack has best brunch in Heights for sure! 2 words- Monte Cristo

  • MonroeOrange

    Not a loon…all my points have been proven valid…see article below i referenced.

    but then again..i don’t mind that label either!

  • MonroeOrange

    While I appreciate your point of view, you missed much of mine and Joe A’s past discussions…I said all along the winter ridership would be awful, to which he and other readers responded i was a fool!

    Those ‘millions’ of companies, with the exception of the internet apps, that get bought for billions with no revenue, are failing and will fail, if they don’t make money from the products they deliver. So failing is the correct word. It is utterly ridiculous that with 41m in sponsorship money, not to mention annual signups and daily users, that this program can’t support themselves… 6,000 bikes at 41m is almost $7,000 per bike! and on top of it, the bikes and stations are poorly maintained! I wonder how much the exec are paying themselves…where did all this money go?

    I agree, i’ve been saying all along, if they are going to call this alt transportation, then they need to make available in other neighborhoods, not just tourist friendly areas.

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    I read this NYTimes article after posting, which is a great piece.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/nyregion/as-citi-bike-approaches-anniversary-worries-abound.html?hp

    As a suporter of Citibike, the last paragraph makes me happy:

    “If it’s not working, it’s because there hasn’t been either the right partners, the right structure, the right overall commitment from all parties,” said Kevin P. Ryan, the founder of Gilt, an online shopping site, and a member of the partnership. “Point is, it’s solvable.”

  • Davidsoul

    Can we talk about the fact that the middle elevator at the Clark St. station is now going to be closed for 3 weeks? The last two rush hours have been awful. How is a three week repair even possible? Are they putting in an entirely new elevator? The MTA is kicking BH residents while they are down (Court St. R), repeatedly.

  • MonroeOrange

    I hate to burst your bubble, but you should not be happy that a member of the partnership said that. It shows a clear lack of foresight and planning by these members.

    ‘Right Partners': they got 41m from citibank. Not going to get a better partner than that!

    ‘Right Structure and Commitment': the city gave them prime spots in Manhattan and BH!

    They should not be blaming the ‘parties’, they should be looking at themselves.

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    I am sure they are looking at themselves, but they also wanted to keep a positive spin on the article, which you can’t criticize them for, at least in my opinion.

  • MonroeOrange

    They are trying to hide the fact that they wasted millions…of course they are spinning it.

  • Eddyde

    Without a financial report one cannot make any valid judgement on why Citibike is having money trouble or that funds were perhaps squandered. The start-up costs must have been enormous and they did suffer a huge loss of equipment from Hurricane Sandy. Also, I seriously doubt Citibank would have donated that much money with out complete financial disclosure from Citibike.

  • MonroeOrange

    I would think you would want an elevator that works well, no matter how long it takes. 3 weeks isn’t that long. And from someone who has been stuck in the elevator and had to be evacuated through the top, i can believe that they are having issues.

    You can always walk down the stairs, very pleasant 6 floor walk up…and beautiful!

    ….sounds like you just moved to NYC..welcome!

  • Eddyde

    “they wasted millions” Please provide proof?

  • MonroeOrange

    They are out of money less than a year in with only 6,000 bikes, at a min of $7,000 per bike….The proof is they ARE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY!

  • Eddyde

    That’s not proof.

  • MonroeOrange

    lol….okay…good luck to you, sounds like you need all the luck you can get.

  • Eddyde

    Just as I expected, you dodged answering the question.

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