October 20, 2011 - New Yorkers Back Bike Rental Idea 3-1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Back Mayor On Smoking, Salt, Calorie Count Word format New York City voters support 72 - 23 percent a plan to rent up to 10,000 bicycles from lots around the city, and say 59 - 34 percent that they want a bike rental lot in their neighborhood, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But voters are split on BIMY (Bikes in My Yard), as 46 percent want more bike lanes in their neighborhood and 48 percent are opposed to more local bike lanes, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Support for the citywide bike rental plan ranges from 78 - 17 percent in Manhattan to 52 - 42 percent on Staten Island. Support for neighborhood bike rental lots ranges from 66 - 25 percent in Manhattan to 48 - 44 percent opposed on Staten Island. Younger voters are more supportive of bicycle initiatives. While 45 percent of all New York City voters say they would rent a bike for a short ride, 60 percent of voters under 35 plan to take a spin. "Is it NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) or BIMY (Bikes in My Yard)? New Yorkers like the latest idea Mayor Michael Bloomberg is peddling, a 10,000-bike rental program, and they even want bike rental lots in their neighborhood," said Maurice Carrroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "As we have found in months of polling, New Yorkers say 58 - 37 percent that bike lanes are good because riding is greener and healthier, rather than bad because they block traffic. But only 31 percent of voters think bike lanes are widely used and voters are split on whether they want more bike lanes in their own neighborhood. "Enthusiasm for these cycling initiatives is strongest among the young." The New York City law requiring fast-food restaurants to post calorie information is "useful," voters say 79 - 19 percent. There is strong agreement among all gender, age, racial and borough groups. Voters also say 70 - 27 percent that the Bloomberg administration is "correct" to encourage restaurants to use less salt. Again, there is strong support among all groups. By a smaller 50 - 45 percent margin, voters support a suggested ban on using Food Stamps to purchase sugary soft drinks. Republicans support the suggested ban 52 - 45 percent, while Democrats spit 48 - 48 percent. Independent voters support the possible ban 57 - 38 percent. Voters under 35 years old oppose the ban 53 - 46 percent, and voters over 65 years old oppose it 51 - 40 percent. Voters 35 to 64 years old support the ban. While New York City voters support these three initiatives, they split on the big picture as 49 percent say government shouldn't get involved in people's eating and drinking habits while 47 percent say government has a responsibility to get involved. Democrats support government involvement 51 - 44 percent, while opposition is 62 - 37 percent among Republicans and 52 - 44 percent among independent voters. Voters say 85 - 12 percent that the city's anti-smoking campaign is good for people's health, with strong agreement among all groups. But by a smaller 52 - 44 percent margin, voters support a ban on outdoor smoking in New York City parks and other locations. Overall, New York City's anti-smoking campaign is not too much government interference in people's lives, voters say 63 - 35 percent. All groups agree, although agreement on Staten Island is a too-close-to-call 51 - 48 percent. The Bloomberg Administration's focus on smoking and eating habits is not "nanny government," voters say by a narrow 48 - 44 percent. "New Yorkers are split on the question of 'nanny government,' the idea that City Hall might be intruding on their personal lives," Carroll said. "But they like - a lot - a couple of the things that critics complain is 'nanny' government: making restaurants post calorie counts and urging less use of salt. That ban on outdoor smoking? A bare majority backs it." From October 12 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,068 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3 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, Virginia 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. 30. 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 Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp A lot 31% 28% 31% 33% 31% 31% 34% 30% 18% Some 34 36 35 35 35 33 36 28 40 Not much 22 21 22 20 21 23 20 27 24 Nothing at all 12 15 12 12 12 13 9 14 16 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ A lot 22% 38% 31% 31% 21% 22% 30% 40% 34% Some 33 28 40 35 38 37 37 29 32 Not much 21 21 21 25 21 27 20 21 20 Nothing at all 24 11 8 9 20 15 13 10 11 DK/NA - 1 1 - - - 1 - 3 TREND: 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? Oct 20 Jul 28 May 12 2011 2011 2011 A lot 31 38 37 Some 34 34 37 Not much 22 15 16 Nothing at all 12 12 10 DK/NA 1 1 1 31. 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. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp A) Good thing 58% 42% 64% 53% 56% 60% 58% 60% 61% B) Bad thing 37 54 31 42 39 34 35 33 36 DK/NA 5 4 5 5 5 6 6 7 3 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ A) Good thing 55% 58% 66% 53% 47% 66% 64% 56% 49% B) Bad thing 38 38 29 40 50 32 34 38 42 DK/NA 7 4 5 7 3 2 3 6 10 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. Oct 20 Jul 28 May 12 Mar 18 2011 2011 2011 2011 A) Good thing 58 59 56 54 B) Bad thing 37 35 39 39 DK/NA 5 7 5 6 32. Based on your own observation, are the bicycle lanes being widely used or not, or don't you know? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Widely used 31% 21% 38% 24% 32% 31% 25% 35% 35% Not widely used 40 49 31 53 43 37 41 31 44 Don't know 28 30 30 23 24 32 33 33 21 REFUSED 1 1 1 - 1 - 1 - - AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Widely used 22% 42% 34% 26% 17% 40% 35% 30% 19% Not widely used 40 33 40 42 55 41 44 43 28 Don't know 36 25 25 31 28 19 19 27 50 REFUSED 2 1 - 1 - - 1 - 3 TREND: Based on your own observation, are the bicycle lanes being widely used or not, or don't you know? Oct 20 Jul 28 May 12 2011 2011 2011 Widely used 31 29 26 Not widely used 40 42 44 Don't know 28 28 29 REFUSED 1 1 - 33. New York City is starting a program allowing people to rent bicycles. This will add 10,000 bicycles to New York City streets and create parking lots for bicycles. Do you support or oppose this program allowing people to rent bicycles in New York City? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 72% 57% 77% 69% 74% 70% 65% 78% 79% Oppose 23 39 18 25 22 24 27 17 19 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 4 6 7 5 2 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support 78% 71% 78% 68% 52% 87% 78% 69% 55% Oppose 18 22 17 28 42 12 19 26 36 DK/NA 5 7 5 4 7 1 3 6 9 34. Would you rent a bicycle to take a short ride around New York City or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 45% 38% 49% 42% 50% 41% 39% 49% 55% No 53 62 49 57 48 57 59 51 43 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 - 2 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 43% 46% 50% 44% 36% 60% 54% 42% 25% No 53 53 49 53 62 38 46 57 70 DK/NA 3 1 1 3 2 2 - 1 4 35. Would you want a bike rental lot in your neighborhood or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 59% 50% 62% 57% 62% 57% 57% 62% 63% No 34 46 32 34 31 37 34 33 32 DK/NA 7 5 6 9 7 7 9 5 4 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 56% 62% 66% 56% 44% 70% 65% 59% 44% No 40 34 25 35 48 26 30 36 45 DK/NA 4 4 9 9 8 4 5 6 11 36. Would you like to see more bike lanes in your neighborhood or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 46% 39% 48% 45% 45% 48% 39% 47% 57% No 48 58 46 52 49 48 54 51 40 DK/NA 5 3 6 2 6 4 7 2 3 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 45% 45% 53% 45% 36% 56% 54% 44% 32% No 45 50 40 53 61 39 45 52 58 DK/NA 10 4 7 2 3 5 1 4 10 37. Do you think the New York City law requiring fast-food restaurants to post calorie information is useful or not useful? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Useful 79% 67% 85% 73% 80% 78% 75% 83% 79% Not useful 19 30 13 25 17 21 23 16 19 DK/NA 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Useful 78% 74% 84% 79% 81% 84% 85% 78% 72% Not useful 18 24 14 19 19 15 14 21 24 DK/NA 4 1 2 2 - 1 1 1 4 TREND: Do you think the New York City law requiring fast-food restaurants to post calorie information is useful or not useful? Oct 20 Feb 18 2011 2010 Useful 79 84 Not useful 19 16 DK/NA 2 1 38. Do you think the Bloomberg administration is correct to encourage New York City restaurants to use less salt in food preparation or don't you think so? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes/Correct 70% 59% 76% 65% 69% 70% 63% 79% 72% No/Not 27 39 21 30 26 27 34 19 23 DK/NA 4 1 3 5 5 3 3 2 5 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes/Correct 75% 68% 74% 67% 54% 75% 70% 67% 67% No/Not 21 29 21 29 45 21 27 29 29 DK/NA 4 3 5 4 1 4 2 3 4 TREND: Do you think the Bloomberg administration is correct to encourage New York City restaurants to use less salt in food preparation or don't you think so? Oct 20 Feb 18 2011 2010 Yes/Correct 70 77 No/Not 27 21 DK/NA 4 2 39. There is a proposal to not allow people to use food stamps to purchase sugary soft drinks. Do you think that is a good idea or a bad idea? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Good idea 50% 52% 48% 57% 48% 53% 53% 45% 51% Bad idea 45 45 48 38 48 43 43 50 45 DK/NA 5 2 4 5 4 5 5 5 4 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Good idea 50% 49% 52% 52% 43% 46% 56% 58% 40% Bad idea 42 46 44 44 56 53 41 38 51 DK/NA 7 5 3 4 1 1 2 5 9 40. Which comes closer to your point of view: A) It is government's responsibility to discourage unhealthy eating and drinking habits, OR B) The government shouldn't be getting involved in people's eating and drinking habits? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Gov responsibility 47% 37% 51% 44% 47% 46% 45% 50% 41% Shldn't get involved 49 62 44 52 49 49 51 46 52 DK/NA 4 1 5 3 4 4 4 4 7 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Gov responsibility 37% 49% 54% 48% 24% 41% 53% 50% 45% Shldn't get involved 59 47 38 50 75 51 46 47 52 DK/NA 4 4 8 2 1 8 2 3 3 41. Do you support or oppose banning outdoor smoking in New York City parks and other locations? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 52% 41% 57% 50% 48% 56% 48% 62% 52% Oppose 44 58 39 44 46 41 49 36 41 DK/NA 4 1 4 6 6 3 3 2 7 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support 55% 49% 54% 55% 41% 50% 52% 58% 48% Oppose 41 46 42 39 59 42 46 41 45 DK/NA 5 4 4 6 - 7 2 1 7 42. Do you think New York City's anti-smoking campaign is good for people's health or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 85% 82% 87% 85% 85% 85% 85% 90% 82% No 12 16 10 11 12 12 10 8 16 DK/NA 4 2 2 4 3 4 5 2 2 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 82% 87% 88% 82% 79% 87% 87% 84% 80% No 16 9 9 16 12 11 12 14 13 DK/NA 3 4 4 2 9 3 1 2 7 43. Do you think New York City's anti-smoking campaign is too much government interference in people's lives or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 35% 39% 33% 36% 37% 34% 35% 29% 46% No 63 58 66 62 61 64 63 70 51 DK/NA 2 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 42% 30% 30% 40% 48% 30% 31% 38% 45% No 57 67 66 60 51 68 66 61 53 DK/NA 1 3 4 1 1 1 3 1 2 44. Some have said that the focus on smoking and eating habits by the Bloomberg administration represents nanny government. Do you agree or disagree? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Agree 44% 52% 39% 48% 48% 40% 41% 42% 51% Disagree 48 46 52 44 46 49 50 50 42 DK/NA 9 2 9 8 6 11 9 8 6 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Agree 49% 42% 38% 44% 60% 43% 37% 43% 51% Disagree 43 47 57 46 32 46 58 51 38 DK/NA 8 11 5 10 8 11 5 6 11 45. Police have recently been criticized for secret surveillance of Muslim gathering places. Do you think the police are justified in doing this or not justified in doing this? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Justified 52% 81% 45% 60% 51% 53% 60% 37% 56% Not justified 40 19 46 32 40 40 31 54 42 DK/NA 8 1 8 8 9 7 9 9 2 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Justified 46% 52% 49% 57% 62% 45% 51% 57% 59% Not justified 46 39 44 35 33 50 41 37 32 DK/NA 8 9 7 8 5 5 8 6 9 46. How serious is the problem of police officers fixing tickets - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Very serious 40% 28% 44% 38% 38% 42% 25% 58% 39% Somewhat serious 24 19 24 23 22 25 27 18 27 Not too serious 20 34 18 21 22 19 25 13 20 Not at all serious 7 11 6 8 9 6 8 7 7 DK/NA 9 8 8 9 8 9 14 4 7 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Very serious 50% 43% 30% 43% 29% 34% 44% 42% 37% Somewhat serious 21 21 31 20 29 22 22 25 27 Not too serious 14 19 18 26 29 27 21 17 18 Not at all serious 11 6 6 7 11 9 8 9 4 DK/NA 4 12 14 5 2 8 6 7 13 TREND: How serious is the problem of police officers fixing tickets - very serious, somewhat serious, not too serious, or not at all serious? Oct 20 May 12 2011 2011 Very serious 40 38 Somewhat serious 24 26 Not too serious 20 17 Not at all serious 7 8 DK/NA 9 11 47. If you had a friend or relative who is a police officer, would you ever ask that person to try to fix a ticket? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 22% 33% 20% 21% 26% 18% 22% 15% 31% No 76 67 79 75 71 80 76 85 65 DK/NA 2 - 1 4 4 1 3 - 4 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 17% 21% 20% 22% 39% 38% 22% 19% 8% No 79 76 78 76 58 59 75 79 89 DK/NA 4 2 3 1 3 3 3 2 2 TREND: If you had a friend or relative who is a police officer, would you ever ask that person to try to fix a ticket? Oct 20 May 12 2011 2011 Yes 22 20 No 76 78 DK/NA 2 2 48. Do you think sightseeing helicopter flights should be banned from the air over New York City or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 28% 29% 28% 28% 24% 32% 33% 21% 25% No 66 69 65 64 69 63 60 75 71 DK/NA 6 2 6 8 7 5 8 4 4 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 27% 23% 29% 34% 34% 16% 25% 35% 36% No 69 70 62 63 63 79 71 60 53 DK/NA 4 7 9 3 3 5 4 5 11 49. Do you think sightseeing helicopter flights are too dangerous or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 32% 27% 34% 31% 26% 37% 35% 26% 35% No 62 68 59 64 67 57 58 69 59 DK/NA 6 5 7 5 7 6 8 5 5 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 34% 29% 28% 37% 35% 20% 31% 37% 41% No 62 62 63 60 60 76 64 58 46 DK/NA 4 9 8 3 4 4 5 5 13 50. Do you think sightseeing helicopter flights are good for New York City tourism or not? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 68% 77% 65% 70% 73% 64% 64% 74% 67% No 25 20 28 24 19 30 28 19 30 DK/NA 7 3 7 6 8 5 7 7 3 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 66% 68% 68% 69% 66% 76% 74% 64% 59% No 29 21 25 27 31 20 22 32 27 DK/NA 4 10 7 4 3 4 5 4 14 51. Do you currently have bike lanes in your neighborhood? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 54% 54% 52% 59% 60% 49% 60% 48% 46% No 44 43 45 40 38 48 37 51 53 DK/NA 2 3 3 1 2 3 3 2 2 AGE IN YEARS............ Brnx Kngs Man Qns StIsl 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 34% 60% 62% 55% 37% 47% 59% 56% 53% No 61 39 34 44 59 52 41 41 44 DK/NA 5 1 4 1 4 1 1 3 3 Demographic Summary
