Do we have to wait for someone to die to keep rush hour traffic out of our parks
Do we have to wait for someone to die to keep rush hour traffic out of Prospect and Central Parks? https://www.change.org/p/bill-de-blasio-do-we-have-to-wait-for-someone-to-die-to-keep-rush-hour-traffic-out-of-prospect-and-central-parks?recruiter=2126780&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_facebook_responsive&utm_term=des-lg-promoted_petitions-no_msg&fb_ref=Default Sign the petition, share with your friends, call the mayor!
birdbird5
in Government 9 years and 11 months ago
9
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9 replies
anotherposter | 9 years and 10 months ago
I cannot wait for the day when non emergency and parks vehicles are banned from Prospect Park. It’s a park for god’s sake–cars with their noise, danger, and exhaust don’t belong there. I walk all over the park most mornings during rush hour and the drivers are awful. I’ve literally had to jump from a crosswalk when I had the light fully because a driver flying around a corner blowing through the light didn’t stop for me. This isn’t people trying to make the light before it turns, tons of these drivers just blatantly run the lights and go above the speed limit. Many of them go into the bike lane to pass cars actually going the speed limit. I’m young and fairly able bodied and I think it’s dangerous and crazy that cars are allowed through a park. My complaints aren’t about a one or two time incident, it’s repeated problems. I cross that side of the road several times a morning during rush hour and even doing it fully with the lights is hard–trying to not only avoid joggers and cyclists but cars. And the cars and cyclists are all bitchy about pedestrians crossing with the light.
birdbird5 | 9 years and 10 months ago
If I enter the park at grand Army Plaza how do I get to the pedestrian lane without crossing traffic? The neatist traffic light to grand Army Plaza is just before Second Street. We can look at this together. I’ll be at the third Street entrance to the park on Monday from 5 to 7 counting cars and pedestrians with transportation alternatives. I’ll be easy to recognize because I’ll be the guy in a wheelchair
cmu | 9 years and 10 months ago
You are being willfully obtuse. Cars move in one direction only, and therefore by definition the OTHER LANE is free to the T-junction inside, innit? Where does 2nd. street come into it? Last I looked, there’s a wide ped. lane, so you have about 10-15′ of buffer for your walking pleasure ALONGSIDE the car lane (not that you have to walk there exactly, but, still, in rebuttal to your statement.)
birdbird5 | 9 years and 11 months ago
really, walk in the Car Lane from Grand Army Plaza to the street light at second Street during rush hour.
cmu | 9 years and 11 months ago
You know, there’s no changing anyone’s mind. If you enter at GAP, why would you have to cross any street?…just walk on the side there’s no traffic. And near Third, there’s a light…if you’re in the park to walk, what’s the deal about walking 1/2 block to a light? If you can’t cross on a green cycle, I suppose there’s a problem,but it’s not confined to the park. I’m a cyclist, strong supporter of TA, disdain cars, love walking. but I’m tired of people who cannot accomodate others. Was recently in cities like Munich & Zurich where there are vast pedestrian plazas through which these double-articulated trams go by with NO separation and just a tinkling bell warning. Nobody freaks out, nobody petitions their pol., you just gently move out of the way (or not walk on the tracks). Can you imagine that here?
birdbird5 | 9 years and 11 months ago
I enter the park at third Street or grand Army Plaza. And I often do it with people who are disabled or children. It’s not so easy when cars are zooming to the next red light. Here’s a link to my blog post that summarizes why started this petition http://whatyourdonotknowbecauseyouarenotme.blogspot.com/2015/06/do-we-have-to-wait-for-someone-to-die.html
cmu | 9 years and 11 months ago
Mistyped previous. Not only have I visited, I used to cycle couple of times a week during this maddening rush hour. What an ordeal. Not! You can’t cross a street which has traffic lights every so often? Where do you live? Once you manage to cross that horrible stretch of car-crazed asphalt, note the 9 square miles of greenery you can revel in. Actually, I agree with you traffic assessment. I just hate it when people use hyperbolic language ;).
birdbird5 | 9 years and 11 months ago
Maybe you should try to visit the park during those hours. Try to cross the street. There is no evidence that the handful of cars that raced through the park are saving any time. Nor is there any evidence that if they were added to the streets it would cause more traffic on the perimeter of the park
cmu | 9 years and 11 months ago
No, maybe as pedestrians we can actually (gasp!) watch for cars in the period they’re allowed? Jesus, it’s 7-9am and 4-6pm (I think) on weekdays, can’t we share that humongous park for a few hours? I don’t think I’ve ever been there during this time.