Today’s Headlines

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.

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).

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

3 additions to your great idea

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

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.

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.

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/

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.

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

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.

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.

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