More 9th Street Residents Weigh In on DOT’s Plan

The north side of 9th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues: Always lots of double-parking.

As a resident of 9th Street who is strongly in favor of DOT’s plan, I
am disappointed that a small group of my vocal neighbors are able to
claim to speak on behalf of my neighbors and me.

I ride on 9th Street becuase i need to to leave my house, go to the Y,
the Post Office, the library, CTown, the shoe repairman etc… when i
ride on 9th street now (on a daily basis) it is always a bit chaotic –
for me as a cyclist as well as for motorists and pedestrians. I think
this plan would calm things down and increase safety for all invovled.

I am sure that DOT’s process was not ideal. It never is and that’s
something which should be addressed. City agenices, whether City
Planning or DOT, all too often think they know what’s best for a
community and draw up the plans with little knowledge of what’s best
for a community. To me, though, this does not mean that a good, solid
plan which will increase safety of motorists, pedestrians and
bicyclists alike, should be shot down.

— Comment by 9th Street Resident Too – April 15, 2007 @ 12:44 pm

I am a resident of 9th Street btwn 4th & 5th Ave, with a six yr old child, and I’ve always known this street to dismayingly be one of the most inhospitable to pedestrians. I applaud and welcome the positive changes proposed. Both my child and I have nearly been hit by cars 4 times, close enough that I banged on the car window in furious response (we were legally crossing the street on all occasions).

A bike lane could only be an asset to my rough block and is sincerely welcomed by my family. The idea that people would have difficulty doing drop offs and pick-ups as a consequence is nonsense: I’ve received DOT tickets for doing exactly that in the present scenario, so what’s the difference?

— Comment by Anna S. – April 15, 2007 @ 2:02 pm