Today’s Headlines

  • Kelly Hurley, 31, Struck By Truck Driver on 1st Ave Last Week, Has Died From the Injuries (News, DNA)
  • Will Broadway in Midtown Go Car-Free More Than Six Hours a Year? (AMNY)
  • Starting in September, Boarding the Staten Island Ferry Won’t Feel Like Such a Crush (DNA, Post)
  • NY Waterway Will Make Its Hoboken-Midtown Service Permanent (Post)
  • David Dinkins Keeps Skipping Out on His Deposition for Hitting a Delivery Cyclist and Fleeing (Post)
  • An MTA Bus Burst Into Flames By Grand Central This Morning (AMNY)
  • The Struggle to Get the 1st Precinct to Take Action Against Placard Abuse (Trib Citizen)
  • People Are Up in Arms Over DDC’s Handling of the Pelham Parkway Reconstruction (BxTimes)
  • Di Napoli: Port Washington Line Gets Less Reliable When Mets Fans Head to Citi Field (News)
  • There’s Already a Transit Fantasy Map for Rikers Island (News)

More headlines at Streetsblog USA

  • Vooch

    My wife was nearly wacked last night by a TLC SUV ( Über?) in a mixing zone on the First Ave. PBL at 25th.

    it was bad enough that she spent 20 minutes bawling to recover

  • r

    No statement from Bill de Blasio on the young woman who was killed on 1st Avenue. I guess when you’re on a stationary bike at the Y you don’t think that much about getting hit by a truck.

  • kevd

    I didn’t used to have a problem with uber and other ride sharing apps.
    but it does seem to result in EVEN MORE distracted / incompetent and reckless for-hire vehicle drivers than Yellow cabs.
    Which is really saying something.

  • Larry Littlefield

    I’d rather see Broadway (and Park) turned into two-way “bicycle boulevards,” with bicycles taking the lane and passing through, motor vehicles blocked from traveling through at intervals, but motor vehicles allowed local access (20 mph speed limit).

  • AMH

    That ReThinkNYC map has been around for at least a year. It’s definitely worlds better than what is being planned right now.

  • Vooch

    didn’t latest stats suggest 10% of motor traffic in CBD consists of empty FHVs ?

  • nanter

    He’s too busy defending the corporate publicity stunt “fearless girl.” He needs to move on to his future failures in national politics and make way for a mayor who works for NYC.

  • Vooch

    3 additions to your great idea

    1) bollards at cross streets
    2) paid cross street car storage
    3) 15 MPH limit on cross streets.

  • JudenChino

    Sorry to hear. Thankfully she’s physically ok though I can understand the emotional/psychological toll it can take. One thing I always do is wear a camera when I ride. Especially given that this was a TLC vehicle, she could’ve gotten the driver in a lot of trouble.

  • JudenChino

    These half measures are so weak. They should shut down Bway for 2 full weeks in August from 57th to 14th street. The world wouldn’t end. And man, the pedestrian traffic would be insane. In a good way. These, 6 hour closures on a Saturday are so lame.

  • Just a suggestion about the way to describe this: “open up Broadway”, not “shut down Broadway”.

  • AMH

    Good God, hope she’s ok. I am really too afraid to ride those bike lanes anymore, winding up in the kill zone every two blocks.

  • Vooch

    thanks

    the TA plan ( published on streetsblog today ) would solve 80% of the issues

  • WalkingNPR

    When you consider cell phone distraction is inherent in their operating model, it’s no wonder. Just look at all the junk popping up on drivers’ screens in the gifs in this article–an article, I might add, touting Uber’s new safety features!

    https://newsroom.uber.com/safety-on-the-road-july-2016/

  • AMH

    Just read it and it’s great. Really encouraging to see a CB pushing DOT to make real safety improvements.

  • Flubert

    I’m not aware that a 20 mph limit applies anywhere. Nor with phased lights on one-way roads why it should. That said I know of a few very limited areas where the limit is 15 mph, and others are signed as 25 mph. Otherwise the default is 35, no? That’s in any event the de facto limits.

  • Flubert

    Maybe ask the businesses there that need deliveries?

    Or the disabled people and seniors who live there and who need special transport?

    Or the residents and businesses who would like emergency vehicles to be able to access their building?

    Or buildings with driveways and garages on Broadway?

    Or anyone who wants to take a cab or Uber?

  • JudenChino

    What’s the thing, like, every block on Broadway . . . what are they called? Oh, other streets. Yah.

  • Flubert

    Doesn’t help if the building access is on Broadway.

  • JudenChino

    I spotted one above ground parking lot (no below ground) that only had access to Bway between 42nd and 14th. You could have controlled access shared streets where vehicles can only go 5mph, like as in the Super blocks in Barcelona. Or you permit the owner to redevelop. That spot was right next to a subway station so, as the owner, I’d rather have a 40 story tower, then a parking lot, which would be a windfall. The city could do stuff like that if they’re serious about making the city better for pedestrians and straphangers. You haven’t identified an actual problem. The incentives for driving in this city are still way too strong for those who can afford to pay to park. London and Paris are surpassing us by leaps and bounds. Paris is expanding subways and pedestrian access at a massive rate while we’ll still be arguing about parking spots for privately owned vehicles in densely populated neighborhoods with excellent transit. It’s embarrassing from a so-called world class city.

  • Flubert

    Remarkably few major roads globally have been closed to traffic, and for the reasons I gave. And just a few buildings that have driveways or parking garages render the idea moot, because to stop that vehicular access to their own building would be a government taking, requiring substantial financial compensation.

    Occasional closings, say on Sundays or Holidays, are viable however and should be encouraged. I feel sure that if you show some willingness to compromise and not get everything you want, others would extend the same flexibility to you.

  • JudenChino

    Broadway isn’t a major road. Below 42nd street is has low traffic volume. Paris just closed their FDR equivalent. Congrats on completing your first year property class. Did you miss the part that the City could permit an above ground parking lot to be redeveloped at a higher value. As I mentioned, that would have the potential to be a tremendous windfall. Do you even live in the City? This notion that you need to be able to drive up to the front of each and every inch of the CBD is a fallacy. So long as there are side streets (blocks are short on Broadway), then vehicles could still get close to all lots and make deliveries. Occasional closings, say on Sundays or Holidays isn’t really doing anything to address the structural issues at play. It’s a joke.

    Oh, and you’re one to talk about “compromise and flexibility.” I said 2 weeks. I didn’t say shut it down forever completely and never permit a motor vehicle on it ever again. I think a shared streets concept would be most ideal. Ban thru traffic; 5 mph speed limit. You see this in a lot of places in Europe. You have a subway line that runs the whole length of Broadway in Manhattan. You don’t need to drive.

  • JudenChino

    I’m not aware that a 20 mph limit applies anywhere. It applies in certain residential neighborhoods. However, the default speed limit in NYC is 25 mph unless otherwise noted. It is not 35 mph. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d6b791303e16416b8156631b9ad49c9d240b4625ed489e692f18d3a88f9d8abd.png l

  • Flubert

    Cops will generally not ticket in a 25 mph area unless you are going over 35. The “prevailing speed of traffic” principle tends to outweigh any technical limit

  • Flubert

    I’m glad that you realise that closures on major thoroughfares like this should be temporary.

    Oh, and I don’t know anywhere in Europe with a 5 mph limit. Have you watched Top Gear?