Sandy

Gas Station Gridlock Snares Buses, NYPD Resources in Washington Heights

If yellow cabs and livery cabs can't get gas, that's a problem, especially when train service is limited and buses are packed. But many of the cars in this line, which clogged one lane of Broadway from 168th to 174th Street in Washington Heights this afternoon, were private vehicles.

By Brad Aaron

3:45 PM EDT on November 1, 2012

If yellow cabs and livery cabs can’t get gas, that’s a problem, especially when train service is limited and buses are packed. But many of the cars in this line, which clogged one lane of Broadway from 168th to 174th Street in Washington Heights this afternoon, were private vehicles.

I counted 11 NYPD personnel, including auxiliary officers and TEAs, assigned to this mess. In addition to occupying a traffic lane — most drivers were parked, engines off — the line kept buses from moving and forced passengers to wade into the street to board.

At the gas station, on Broadway at 174th, five TEAs assumed the role of service station attendants, directing drivers to gas pumps.

In other news from Upper Manhattan, buses were standing room only today, while this afternoon ridership was normal to light on the 1 train. There was a report on Twitter this morning that NYPD was enforcing the HOV-3 restriction on vehicles entering the Henry Hudson Parkway from Riverside Drive at Dyckman Street, presumably to catch drivers attempting to dodge the rule by using the Harlem River bridges. We’ll try to verify that tomorrow.

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

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