Here They Are: Meet Some of NYC’s Worst Sidewalk Hogs

We asked for photos of NYC's worst sidewalk-hogging businesses, and readers responded.

By Brad Aaron

1:25 PM EDT on July 14, 2014

Manetta’s Restaurant in Long Island City. Care for a nice pinot noir and some tailpipe exhaust with your entrée? Photo: ##https://twitter.com/alter_spaces/status/487685561558519808/photo/1##@alter_spaces## — Manetta’s Restaurant in Long Island City. Care for a nice pinot noir and some tailpipe exhaust with your entrée? Photo: @alter_spaces

We asked for photos of NYC’s worst sidewalk-hogging businesses, and readers responded.

We relaxed our guidelines a little to make room for government agencies. In the arena of public institutions that show no respect for people on foot, the United States Postal Service and employees of Metro-North in Harlem deserve special recognition.

More from LIC, where pedestrian safety is clearly not a priority for USPS, which seems to be using the sidewalk on 28th Street in Dutch Kills as a loading dock. Photo: ##https://twitter.com/DutchLic/status/486331011131654144/photo/1##@DutchLic## — Pedestrian safety is clearly not a priority for USPS, which seems to be using the sidewalk on 28th Street in Dutch Kills as a loading dock. Photo: @DutchLic

Not surprisingly, car-related businesses were a major force. To the car rental firms on the Upper West Side and car dealers in the Bronx, we salute your complete indifference to people who expect to use sidewalks for walking.

And a special shout-out goes to Manetta’s Restaurant in Long Island City, where the linguine nere comes with a side of valet combat parking.

You’ll notice that several of our winners have violated the law for years in full view of NYPD, which itself may be the city’s most notorious usurper of public space for vehicle storage.

Thanks to all who participated in our search. Everyone whose photo appeared on the blog will get a Streetfilms DVD.

Bonus points to Metro-North employees for leaving residents absolutely no space on ##https://twitter.com/hessmatthias/status/460741716849741825##this Harlem sidewalk##. ##https://twitter.com/HessMatthias/status/487613495790542848##Matthias Hess## says this is a “longtime problem” in the neighborhood. — Bonus points to Metro-North employees for leaving residents absolutely no space on this Harlem sidewalk. Matthias Hess says this is a “longtime problem” in the neighborhood.

Per ##https://twitter.com/urbanresidue/status/486653899160293376##@urbanresidue##, NYPD says no action is necessary on Cambreleng Avenue in the Bronx, where car dealers have commandeered the sidewalk for years. Image: Google Maps — Per @urbanresidue, NYPD says no action is necessary on Cambreleng Avenue in the Bronx, where car dealers have commandeered the sidewalk for years. Image: Google Maps

Another persistent violator: car rental outlets and garages on W. 83rd Street in Manhattan, which ##https://twitter.com/kencoughlin/status/485457059551260672/photo/1##Ken Coughlin## describes as an “incessant pedestrian slalom.” — Another persistent violator: car rental outlets and garages on W. 83rd Street in Manhattan, which Ken Coughlin describes as an “incessant pedestrian slalom.”

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.