Berkeley Bump Bungle?
The residents of Berkeley Place between 7th and 8th Avenues in Park Slope are beside themselves over the appearance this week of four two brand-spankin’-new speed bumps, with eight bright “BUMP” signs to match. Didn’t know there was a speeding problem on that block? Either did the folks who live there. In fact, the person…
The residents of Berkeley Place between 7th and 8th Avenues in Park Slope are beside themselves over the appearance this week of four two brand-spankin’-new speed bumps, with eight bright “BUMP” signs to match. Didn’t know there was a speeding problem on that block? Either did the folks who live there. In fact, the person who sent in this photo said she had heard that the bumps were actually supposed to go on Lincoln Place to slow traffic outside the Berkeley Carroll School but that there was some kind of mix up at DOT. Whoops. Update: A reader is claiming that there was no bungle after all and that Berkeley was the rightful recipient of both bumps.
If the City brought back cobblestone streets, it would probably result in a drastic reduction in speeding, and maybe less pothole repair. Not friendly to cyclists, though. The City would also have to hire skilled masons to lay the cobble.
Wouldn’t you think signs like this wouldn’t be allowed in the historic district? Or is that naive of me?
In any case, we have a rather high profile preservationist on the block, so I’ll be curious to see what they think about the situation.
NSS,
My SoSlo block ass’n has debated this on and off for years. People always want it, but not in front of their house, because of the noise trucks make when they go over it. We managed to tame our block a bit by getting new “No Through Truck Traffic” signs, bigger and brighter than the old ones, with the big red circle and line through it.
If you want to do it, there is a procedure and it involves getting a percentage of homeowners to sign on and agree. Check DOT website or CB6.
It’s a courtesy from NYPD. Given that you sometimes can’t even find room to double park, the idea of settling in the night before is absurd. I am surprised that “they” are allowing alt side on bike lane sides – fire trucks often have a very hard time getting by when people are parked on the street side of the bike lane.
I have it on good authority that this is NOT the wrong block. This bump was ordered for Berkeley.
The bumps serve a purpose. Its the signage that’s the problem. It makes the street look like an alternate entrance to the Holland tunnel. And given the fact that their placement was a MISTAKE on the DOT’s part(by their own admission, the bumps should have been on the next block over, in front of the Berkeley Carroll school), I think DOT should remove them.
I still don’t understand why the double parking on alt-side of the street days is permitted/accepted. It’s dangerous and illegal. Move your car the night before/morning of like everyone else.
Berkeley also has a bike lane – the bumps are going to make alt side days on the bike lane side even more of a slalom hazard than they’ve been. Some people don’t check that the cars they’re parking opposite to are going to move & leave very little room to get past. At 12:45 to 1, when alt side ends, it’s a real hassle to negotiate that street.
We have a definate speeding problem on my block with people, cars and huge trucks, zooming down the block at dangerous speeds. There are tons of kids that are always around and it seems really dangerous.
I am wodering how does one petition the DOT to put a bump on their block? Has anyone done this?