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May 24, 2007

Less Parking, More Sitting for Dumbo

The small triangular island bounded by Pearl Street, Water Street and Anchorage Place in Dumbo, heretofore used for parking, will become a pedestrian plaza that will be managed by the local BID. After a study by Pratt grad students launched the idea, DOT and CB2 jumped on board, with the latter approving the plan unanimously at its Transportation and Public Safety Committee last week. DOT says that the model for the project will be the Willoughby Pedestrian Plaza (which, frankly, has always left us a little underwhelmed). How 'bout some wifi—then we'd really be talking! But whatevs, it'll have to look nicer than a bunch of cars, right? Of course, this will only intensify what is already arguably the worst parking situation of any neighborhood in Brooklyn. Cue the obligatory nasty comments directed at anyone who drives a car.
New Pedestrian Plaza is Cleared for Big Tryout [Courier] GMAP
In DUMBO a Parking Lot Will Become a Piazza [Streetsblog]

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Are you kidding? Car drivers put a smile on my face. Their easy-going 3 point turns on one way streets, their good-natured honking for no particular reason, and how they show us what living la vida loca is really about with their synchronized near-collisions at every intersection. Gridlock and exhaust fumes is what this city is all about, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 9:43 AM

Why do people who live in such close proximity to the city need cars. Place in the country? Keep car in the cheapestlot,
bicycle to the lot. You can still park in the outer edges of the boro. Owning a car in the city is idiotic. You want luxury, hire a car for the day. You want cheap, hop on the subway.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 10:02 AM

railing agaisnt cars to Americans is like railing agaisnt sex or food. It's one of the few pleasures left. Naturally there will always be those, the uber-self-righteous, who feel that we don't deserve to be happy and therefore we should deny ourselves every convenience. Forget about it.
Fortunately Americans are pragmatic and and ignore sermons from the self-annointed holies who live lives of ascetic oneness with the urban universe.
In other words, go screw yourself.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 10:09 AM

Well, Mr. B, you did say "Cue the obligatory nasty comments directed at anyone who drives a car." Anybody want to post about the TRIAL pedestrian plaza itself?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 10:16 AM

having a car in any urban area should be inconvenient and expensive - no free parking anywhere

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 10:17 AM

I haven't ever had an issue parking in DUMBO when I visit, but perhaps it's better on weekends and after 6:00 on weekdays (that's when I typically go). I'm sure that will change as all the new residents start pouring into the new buildings.

As for the new plaza…should be a great addition to the neighborhood. Some more “green” will certainly liven things up. I recall there was talk of a green market at that triangle also?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 10:33 AM

there are few places that I like cars, but this is one of them. it's gritty and nasty and a little haphazard and I've never been 100% sure that it was legal -- just like dumbo used to be.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 10:35 AM

I was dragged kicking and screaming back into car ownership when we moved to Brooklyn. Didn't want it, don't like moving the goddamned thing back and forth for alternate-side revenue generation, and yes, it is fricking expensive. But here's the thing: We are renovating a brownstone, and doing much of the work ourselves. Taxis, Zipcars, car services just don't cut it when you regularly need to haul lumber, cement blocks, etc. Not that I'm apologizing. But I use the subway over the car every time I have a choice, especially when going to the city. It's faster--period.

Posted by: bob999 at May 24, 2007 10:52 AM

Are you kidding? Are they serious about the dinky terra cotta pots with ferns?
My SUV can turn those into red gravel in a NY minute.
Last time I was on the subway, the cattlecar was so crowded that I could hear everybody's I-pods then somebody farted, what a pleasure that was. Never again. Mass transit is for the masses. enjoy!

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 11:22 AM

Let me get this straight. I shouldn't take the L because it's too crowded. I shouldn't drive because that's elitist or irresponsible or something.

Am I supposed to walk everywhere?

I don't have kids, I don't have a boyfriend, I don't have a summer share. I have a car and Mets tickets. I use one to get to the other, and yes, I'm willing to pay my share of the burden that my driving imposes on the rest of you people.

Oh, and you high and mighty pedestrians, try putting down the g.d. cellphone while you cross the street. Having spent a lot of time driving and walking in this town, I find impatient and inattentive pedestrians to be as annoying as drivers.

And cyclists? Don't even get me started. Show me a single bike rider who obeys traffic laws, and I'll start showing a little more sympathy. But in the meantime, every time I see one run a red light or ride head on into traffic, I kinda secretly hope someone makes them regret their arrogance.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 11:37 AM

Good question, I think the sermon givers just expect you to be where you need to be and to just stay there.

Posted by: anonymous at May 24, 2007 11:43 AM

Its tragic all the people run down by pedestrians each year.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 11:54 AM

the bicyclists are the worst. such arrogance. they are a particular menace on the Brooklyn bridge walkway and in the Parks. My near misses have not been with cars but rather with cyclists who get into an endorphin high or something and think they are gods.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 12:29 PM

if you think the cyclists are wild on the Brooklyn Bridge...try walking the Manhattan Bridge. They think it is some sort of freeway.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 12:40 PM

Green space is nice but this is a loud, kinda dirty spot. Who is going to sit there? Especially when you can walk another block to the beautiful waterfront parks? I don't really get the point. I hope they are not trying to make DUMBO appear less "industrial" because if they do, they'll wreck it.

On the subject of drivers, I've noticed that 90% of DUMBO drivers on weekends have no clue where they are going.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 1:05 PM

hate to point out the obvious but pedestrians and cyclists aren't contributing millions of pounds of carbon dioxide into the air we breathe.

there are those that will embrace the current really exciting (not to mention profitable) movement towards a greener earth and then there are the really stupid and ignorant people on the planet.

seems as though the readers of this site are more the latter.

anyone who would say that a parking lot is a better way to keep dumbo "real" is an utter moron.

Posted by: anon at May 24, 2007 1:29 PM

They should do this (or preferrable something more attractive) on the little triangle on Washington Ave/St. Marks in Prospect Heights across from the police precinct.

Posted by: chip at May 24, 2007 1:31 PM

12:40, not that it's enforced by anybody, least of all the pedestrians, but bikes are supposed to be on the north pathway and pedestrians on the south

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 1:37 PM

Just to speak on behalf of cyclists--you have to understand that we, too, are dealing with pedestrians and drivers who break the law all the time. Agressive driving is the norm here and in order not to be killed, cyclists have to be fairly assertive as well. In a perfect world, drivers would all signal and not drive or park in bike lanes. Joggers would leave the bike lanes to cyclists as well and not abruptly jaywalk between parked cars. Part of living in this crazy city is being flexible about the rules--that's just survival. I've been on all sides of the aisle, as it were, understand the frustration, but as much as I try to be respectful of drivers, I've been nearly killed by too many assholes to count.

Posted by: anon at May 24, 2007 2:14 PM

So to recap: the pedestrians don't like the drivers, the drivers don't like the cyclists, and the cyclists don't like anybody.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 3:16 PM

3:16, it's like paper, rock and scissors. drivers kill bicyclists, bicyclists maim pedestrians, pedestrians complain about everybody.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 3:20 PM

People move around too much. They should stay home more and conserve carbon dioxide. There's too much traveling in NY. Ridiculous. Stay home, get fresh direct, become a blog addict.
SAVE THE PLANET!

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 3:36 PM

northside of Manhattan bridge is under construction, photog tourists on the B Bridge are the true menace: ban the Leica!

Posted by: baer at May 24, 2007 4:13 PM

ban the Leica!
lika the ban!
ban everything!
SAVE THE PLANET!

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 5:01 PM

Drawings like this are such a farce. No trees, cars will be honking and spewing exhast, homeless guy will be camped out. Bet the City can call this a park.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 5:44 PM

I thought the Brownstoner family had a car? Haven't you mentioned your drives to various neighborhoods?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 5:47 PM

I thought the Brownstoner family had a car? Haven't you mentioned your drives to various neighborhoods?

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 5:47 PM

where does it say he claimed he didn't have a car????

and having a family and having ONE car is not a big deal. espeically when we've got ms. single gal up there that needs her car to get to a mets game and to make her feel better about being single or whatever it was she was trying to convey. or not convey as the case may be.

Posted by: anon at May 24, 2007 5:59 PM

I agree with the Willoughby Pedestrian Plaza being underwhelming. They didn't repave the street with cobble stone or anything. They just put down some cheap looking picnic tables, some potted plants to close off the area and called it a day. Good old MetroTech.

Posted by: Anon at May 24, 2007 6:06 PM

Pedestrians are also evil. Ever crossed against the walk light? Smooth move, you just clogged up traffic, causing more idling while the car waits for your jaywalking hindparts to clear an intersection = more pollution that necessary.

Jaywalkers should all be mowed down and/or paralyzed for their self-centered arrogance.

In fact, anyone who breaks the rules, regardless of transport mode, should be shot. This is a civil society. People shouldn't behave like idiots. Those who do should be removed.

Posted by: xoxoANP at May 24, 2007 8:42 PM

On certain intersections in Brooklyn you can pick off the pedestrians like flies -even if you don't want to.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 9:05 PM

as a cyclist and car owner and pedestrian, a couple of observations.

Cities which are geared toward cycling are somehow the most appealing (i.e. Amsterdam, Copenhagen etc. and because they have proper bike lanes have few conflicts between pedestrians, cars and people.

Frankly I find it easier most of the time to drive between Clinton hill and Manhattan than to take the subway...the only thing that presents me from doing this every time is difficulty parking (weekdays only) and a sense of guilt. I will no longer commute into Mahnattan by bike...too dangerous.

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 9:49 PM

Amsterdam and copenhagen are good role models fo new york. combined they have the pouplation of, what? the upper west side?
when i hear new yorkers talking about copenhagen or berlin or stockholm i think, yeah, those places are pretty damn white, not too many mexicans and black folks there. lots of blondes, good sex, no catholic or jewish guilt,
lets be more like those sun-deprived places, they are so unlike us. they are acually whiter than white. that's what brooklyn should be a huge, sprawling, uber-copenhagen!

Posted by: Anonymous at May 24, 2007 9:57 PM

Wait, black people don't like bicycles now? Someone forgot to tell me.

The commenter who pointed out the need for cyclists to be assertive to survive is pretty much correct. I am often almost mowed down by SUV drivers yapping on cell phones, and I frequently have to deal with jaywalkers too. Some mutual respect would go a long way.

By the same token, the lycra-clad Lance-wannabes in Prospect Park need to chill and recognize that the park drive is a shared space. And don't get me started on people who ride on the sidewalk or against traffic -- drives me NUTS to see that.

Second the call for proper bike lanes to reduce conflicts.

Posted by: ed at May 25, 2007 9:31 AM

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May 24, 2007

Less Parking, More Sitting for Dumbo

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