May 12, 2011 - New Yorkers Concerned About Terror And Ticket Scam, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Like Bike Lanes, But Few See Cyclists Using Them Word format New York City voters are worried about another terrorist attack here, but they are more confident than ever that the city is ready and they approve 89 - 8 percent of the way the NYPD is handling terror, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Voters approve 71 - 17 percent of the job Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is doing, his highest approval rating in any survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. White voters approve 81 - 6 percent, while black voters approve 64 - 24 percent and Hispanic voters approve 61 - 25 percent. Some 24 percent of New York City voters are "very worried" about another terrorist attack here, while 43 percent are "somewhat worried." Another 22 percent are "not too worried" and 10 percent are "not worried at all." A total of 72 percent of women are worried, compared to 61 percent of men. New York City is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack, voters say 57 - 36 percent, the highest confidence level ever measured on this question and up from 49 - 45 percent in a May 24, 2010, Quinnipiac University poll. Today, women are confident 53 - 39 percent while men say the city is ready 62 - 32 percent. There is little or no difference among Republicans, Democrats and independent voters. "It's close to unanimous: Voters give New York cops high marks for staying on top of terrorism," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "We're still worried that terrorists might hit the city again, women more than men, but more than ever, we think we're ready." Police officers fixing traffic or parking tickets is a "very serious problem," 38 percent of New York City voters say, while 26 percent say it's "somewhat serious." Another 17 percent say "not too serious," and 8 percent say "not at all serious." A total of 54 percent of white voters say very or somewhat serious, compared to 74 percent of black voters and 74 percent of Hispanic voters. Only 20 percent of New York City voters admit that they would ask a friend or relative who is a police officer to try to fix a ticket, while 78 percent say they would not ask. "Me? Ask a friend to fix a parking ticket? We're shocked - shocked - that you would ask. Still, New Yorkers think that the ticket-fixing scandal is serious," Carroll said. Bike lanes "are good because it's greener and healthier for people to ride," 56 percent of New York City voters say. Another 39 percent say bike lanes "are bad because it leaves less room for cars which increases traffic." Support for bike lanes ranges from 62 - 35 percent among Manhattan voters to 53 - 40 percent among Queens voters. Only Staten Islanders are opposed, 54 - 40 percent. There is almost no gender gap on the question. Based on their own observations, only 26 percent of New York City voters think bike lanes are widely used, while 44 percent say they are not widely used and 29 percent don't know. "We sort of like bike lanes but few of us see any sign that they're heavily used," Carroll said. From May 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 962 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld Approve 71% 78% 67% 76% 81% 64% 61% 71% Disapprove 17 7 19 15 6 24 25 20 DK/NA 13 15 14 9 12 12 14 9 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 70% 69% 72% 72% 70% 70% 71% Disapprove 22 18 12 19 9 17 16 DK/NA 9 13 16 10 21 13 13 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as Police Commissioner? APPROVE....... DIS.. High Low High May 12 Mar 16 Nov 23 Jun 30 May 12 Jan 16 Jan 16 2011 2011 2010 2010 2011 2007 2007 Approve 71 67 67 66 71 52 52 Disapprove 17 20 19 20 17 34 34 DK/NA 13 13 14 14 13 14 14 13. How much have you heard or read about the expansion of bicycle lanes in New York City - A lot, some, not much, or nothing at all? Tot Rep Dem Ind A lot 37% 42% 35% 39% Some 37 31 37 37 Not much 16 21 16 13 Nothing at all 10 6 11 10 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom A lot 27% 43% 42% 32% 29% 40% 34% Some 31 36 38 42 35 36 38 Not much 30 11 13 14 21 15 17 Nothing at all 12 9 6 11 14 9 10 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 - - 1 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ A lot 28% 35% 44% 41% Some 39 41 36 33 Not much 18 15 14 16 Nothing at all 15 8 5 9 DK/NA - 1 1 1 14. As you may know, there has been an expansion of bicycle lanes in New York City. Which comes closer to your point of view: A) This is a good thing because it's greener and healthier for people to ride their bicycle. or B) This is a bad thing because it leaves less room for cars which increases traffic. HEARD OR READ Q13.. Tot Rep Dem Ind LotSm NtMchNothing A) Good thing 56% 43% 64% 51% 54% 63% B) Bad thing 39 54 32 44 41 32 DK/NA 5 3 4 6 4 5 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom A) Good thing 61% 56% 62% 53% 40% 55% 58% B) Bad thing 37 39 35 40 54 40 38 DK/NA 3 5 3 6 7 5 5 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ A) Good thing 66% 66% 52% 44% B) Bad thing 32 30 44 47 DK/NA 1 3 4 9 TREND: As you may know, there has been an expansion of bicycle lanes in New York City. Which comes closer to your point of view: A) This is a good thing because it's greener and healthier for people to ride their bicycle. or B) This is a bad thing because it leaves less room for cars which increases traffic. May 12 Mar 18 2011 2011 A) Good thing 56 54 B) Bad thing 39 39 DK/NA 5 6 15. Based on your own observation, are the bicycle lanes being widely used or not, or don't you know? HEARD OR READ Q13.. Tot Rep Dem Ind LotSm NtMchNothing Widely used 26% 5% 32% 24% 27% 22% Not widely used 44 68 38 46 49 33 Don't know 29 27 29 29 24 45 REFUSED - - - 1 - - Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Widely used 18% 36% 24% 26% 6% 26% 25% Not widely used 40 37 56 42 53 46 43 Don't know 42 26 20 31 41 28 31 REFUSED - 1 - 1 1 - - 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Widely used 32% 35% 26% 12% Not widely used 45 38 48 51 Don't know 23 28 25 37 REFUSED - - 1 - 32. How serious is the problem of police officers fixing tickets - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld Very serious 38% 30% 43% 31% 24% 49% 50% 35% Somewhat serious 26 26 23 32 30 25 24 23 Not too serious 17 18 15 17 21 14 10 20 Not at all serious 8 15 6 9 9 4 9 11 DK/NA 11 11 12 11 17 9 6 11 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very serious 58% 35% 29% 41% 31% 33% 43% Somewhat serious 21 30 25 25 24 29 23 Not too serious 12 15 21 16 25 19 15 Not at all serious 6 7 5 10 16 10 6 DK/NA 3 13 21 8 4 10 13 33. If you had a friend or relative who is a police officer, would you ever ask that person to try to fix a ticket? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld Yes 20% 25% 18% 24% 24% 15% 21% 21% No 78 71 79 74 72 84 76 75 DK/NA 2 3 3 2 4 1 4 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 10% 24% 19% 20% 31% 26% 15% No 89 73 79 77 68 72 82 DK/NA 1 3 2 3 2 2 3 34. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling -terrorism? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld Approve 78% 43% 88% 76% 73% 89% 79% 79% Disapprove 19 53 9 20 24 6 18 17 DK/NA 4 5 3 4 3 5 3 4 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 86% 77% 77% 80% 54% 73% 82% Disapprove 12 20 20 16 35 24 14 DK/NA 2 3 3 5 11 3 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling terrorism? May 12 May 24 2011 2010 Approve 78 65 Disapprove 19 29 DK/NA 4 5 35. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are handling terrorism? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld Approve 89% 98% 89% 89% 95% 86% 86% 93% Disapprove 8 1 8 8 3 11 9 5 DK/NA 3 1 3 3 2 3 5 3 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Approve 88% 87% 92% 90% 88% 90% 89% Disapprove 8 10 6 7 6 8 8 DK/NA 4 3 2 3 5 3 4 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the New York City police are handling terrorism? May 12 May 24 Feb 3 2011 2010 2006 Approve 89 85 75 Disapprove 8 11 17 DK/NA 3 4 8 36. How worried are you about another terrorist attack in New York City - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld Very worried 24% 32% 22% 21% 20% 22% 33% 29% Smwht worried 43 53 43 41 48 37 43 40 Not too worried 22 11 24 26 23 23 14 22 Not worried at all 10 4 11 12 8 17 9 9 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 1 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Very worried 29% 21% 20% 25% 34% 18% 29% Smwht worried 38 44 43 45 44 43 43 Not too worried 18 25 25 21 15 24 21 Not worried at all 14 10 11 8 7 14 7 DK/NA - - 1 1 - 1 - TREND: How worried are you about another terrorist attack in New York City, very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all? (*asked 3/18/03 & 3/19/03 before bombing of Baghdad) (**asked 3/22/03 & 3/23/03 after bombing had begun) May 12 May 24 Feb 3 Apr 10 Mar 25 Mar 25 2011 2010 2006 2003 2003** 2003* Very worried 24 35 23 29 33 42 Smwht worried 43 34 40 37 34 33 Not too worried 22 20 22 21 16 16 Not worried at all 10 11 14 13 15 8 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 37. Do you think New York City is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack, or not? Union Tot Rep Dem Ind Wht Blk Hisp HsHld Yes 57% 57% 57% 60% 63% 55% 46% 52% No 36 36 36 33 27 37 51 43 DK/NA 7 7 7 8 10 8 3 6 Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl Men Wom Yes 63% 53% 55% 60% 63% 62% 53% No 31 39 36 34 34 32 39 DK/NA 6 8 9 6 3 6 8 TREND: Do you think New York City is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack, or not? (*asked 3/18-19/03 before bombing of Baghdad) (**asked 3/22-23/03 after bombing had begun) May 12 May 24 Feb 3 Jul 20 Apr 10 Mar 25 Mar 25 2011 2010 2006 2005 2003 2003** 2003* Yes 57 49 32 41 44 46 37 No 36 45 59 50 47 46 53 DK/NA 7 6 9 10 9 7 10
