Comments on: Poll: NYC Blames Bloomberg for Failure to Deal With Traffic http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:06:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Uptown T http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-26819 Uptown T Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:21:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-26819 I really think that pedestrians are a serious contributor to traffic issues. It is nearly imposible to make a turn at busy intersections during the short time that a light is green because there are too many pedestrians. I have seen a few intersections now where they give the green arrow to turning cars however, pedestrians do not follow the dont walk sign and feel that if the traffic parallel to them has a green light then they have the right of way. I think that if more regulations and consequences were placed on pedestrians, you would see at least a minor improvement in traffic jams. I really think that pedestrians are a serious contributor to traffic issues. It is nearly imposible to make a turn at busy intersections during the short time that a light is green because there are too many pedestrians. I have seen a few intersections now where they give the green arrow to turning cars however, pedestrians do not follow the dont walk sign and feel that if the traffic parallel to them has a green light then they have the right of way. I think that if more regulations and consequences were placed on pedestrians, you would see at least a minor improvement in traffic jams.

]]> By: trafficproduction.com » http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1309 trafficproduction.com » Mon, 14 Aug 2006 04:08:05 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1309 [...] Poll: NYC Blames Bloomberg for Failure to Deal With TrafficStreetsBlog, NY - Aug 7, 2006… 59% of New Yorkers say the mayor is doing only a fair to poor job of reducing traffic jams and delays on city streets, highways and bridges. … [...] [...] Poll: NYC Blames Bloomberg for Failure to Deal With TrafficStreetsBlog, NY - Aug 7, 2006… 59% of New Yorkers say the mayor is doing only a fair to poor job of reducing traffic jams and delays on city streets, highways and bridges. … [...]

]]> By: SoHoSean http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1060 SoHoSean Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:59:53 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1060 Some people have expressed interest in that concept but I think many would not approve. It would be the first street in NYC with such a distinction, right? An experiment can't hurt. I just fear that it would further devolve core SoHo into a shopping mall and further erode the residential character. After all, some 9,000 people live in SoHo. I think that car owners are so wed to their vehicles, they would still come downtown by car and just clog the surrounding blocks until a broader approach is adopted, not just closing Prince. We both agree, I am sure, that tolling the East River Bridges, funding mass transit more, and making public parking too difficult for visitors permanently would help the problem. Some people have expressed interest in that concept but I think many would not approve. It would be the first street in NYC with such a distinction, right? An experiment can't hurt. I just fear that it would further devolve core SoHo into a shopping mall and further erode the residential character. After all, some 9,000 people live in SoHo.

I think that car owners are so wed to their vehicles, they would still come downtown by car and just clog the surrounding blocks until a broader approach is adopted, not just closing Prince.

We both agree, I am sure, that tolling the East River Bridges, funding mass transit more, and making public parking too difficult for visitors permanently would help the problem.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1057 Aaron Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:40:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1057 Well, forget the illegal peddlers then. I still think one of the best thing that could happen for the neighborhood's livability is getting the traffic out of Soho. I used to live on Thompson bet Spring and Broome so I'm well familiar with the issues you describe. I don't see SoHo returning to the cool, quiet artist's colony it was in the early 80s. As for where would the traffic go -- most likely it would simply disappear. We'd almost certainly find that many of the drivers traveling into SoHo on weekends could be using other modes of transport if encouraged. I say try a Car-Free Prince and Spring Street on a few nice Sundays in Spring and Summer. Give it a shot. See how it works for all parties.... Well, forget the illegal peddlers then.

I still think one of the best thing that could happen for the neighborhood's livability is getting the traffic out of Soho. I used to live on Thompson bet Spring and Broome so I'm well familiar with the issues you describe. I don't see SoHo returning to the cool, quiet artist's colony it was in the early 80s.

As for where would the traffic go -- most likely it would simply disappear. We'd almost certainly find that many of the drivers traveling into SoHo on weekends could be using other modes of transport if encouraged.

I say try a Car-Free Prince and Spring Street on a few nice Sundays in Spring and Summer. Give it a shot. See how it works for all parties....

]]> By: SoHoSean http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1052 SoHoSean Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:38:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1052 The peddlers are illegal. The vast majority do not have permits and the few that do are not permitted on Prince Street sidewalk because it is too narrow and does not allow the required amout of ' 8-feet pedestrian clearance' as required by law. To close off streets to accommodate illegal peddlers is not a good idea. In fact, the residents of SoHo would like a bit of peace and quiet, not more activities that promote our community becoming a bazaar or mid-East souk. And where would the cars that are banned from Prince go? To Spring Street and make that thoroughfare worse? Until we ban cars in NYC that is not a good idea. I can think of no other residential community that has to put up with the crowds that we have had to endure for the past ten years. It benefits the merchants (legal and illegal) and the tourists, but makes this neighborhood very unpleasant to reside. Who wants to fight through throngs on the street to go to a deli to buy a quart of milk on the weekend? The peddlers are illegal. The vast majority do not have permits and the few that do are not permitted on Prince Street sidewalk because it is too narrow and does not allow the required amout of ' 8-feet pedestrian clearance' as required by law.

To close off streets to accommodate illegal peddlers is not a good idea. In fact, the residents of SoHo would like a bit of peace and quiet, not more activities that promote our community becoming a bazaar or mid-East souk. And where would the cars that are banned from Prince go? To Spring Street and make that thoroughfare worse?
Until we ban cars in NYC that is not a good idea.

I can think of no other residential community that has to put up with the crowds that we have had to endure for the past ten years.

It benefits the merchants (legal and illegal) and the tourists, but makes this neighborhood very unpleasant to reside.

Who wants to fight through throngs on the street to go to a deli to buy a quart of milk on the weekend?

]]> By: Aaron http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1039 Aaron Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:55:39 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1039 I say, keep the vendors since they add to the area's community and commercial life and get rid of the huge amount of space that is set aside for people to park their cars on Broadway, Prince and Spring. Let pedestrians have that parking space. In fact, why not try a car-free Prince Street some nice summer Sunday afternoon and see how that works out? Let the vendors line up in the middle of Prince and let pedestrians have the rest of that space. I say, keep the vendors since they add to the area's community and commercial life and get rid of the huge amount of space that is set aside for people to park their cars on Broadway, Prince and Spring. Let pedestrians have that parking space.

In fact, why not try a car-free Prince Street some nice summer Sunday afternoon and see how that works out? Let the vendors line up in the middle of Prince and let pedestrians have the rest of that space.

]]> By: clarence http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1038 clarence Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:40:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1038 Oh yes, SoHoSean is correct. I meant to say above Canal Street when I sent to Aaron, not below. It is somewhere between Canal and Houston and I will take his word it is Pince and Spring (although the whole street was like that between Canal and Houston, just couldn't get it all on video from my perch. Oh yes, SoHoSean is correct. I meant to say above Canal Street when I sent to Aaron, not below. It is somewhere between Canal and Houston and I will take his word it is Pince and Spring (although the whole street was like that between Canal and Houston, just couldn't get it all on video from my perch.

]]> By: SoHoSean http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1021 SoHoSean Wed, 09 Aug 2006 00:39:14 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1021 For the record, I believe that the photo is not Broadway below Canal Street, rather Broadway between Prince and Spring Streets in SoHo. And as bad as the traffic is, those illegal street peddlers on Broadway also make it difficult and dangerous for pedestrians to navigate. A friend was struck by a car's side mirror on Prince Street because he had to walk on the street due to abject sidewalk congestion from the street peddlers. For the record, I believe that the photo is not Broadway below Canal Street, rather Broadway between Prince and Spring Streets in SoHo.

And as bad as the traffic is, those illegal street peddlers on Broadway also make it difficult and dangerous for pedestrians to navigate.

A friend was struck by a car's side mirror on Prince Street because he had to walk on the street due to abject sidewalk congestion from the street peddlers.

]]> By: Phil http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1011 Phil Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:14:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-1011 It's time for Bloomberg to start congestion pricing in NYC. It's time for Bloomberg to start congestion pricing in NYC.

]]> By: Upper Green Side » Survey Finds Voter Discontent on Traffic Congestion http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-999 Upper Green Side » Survey Finds Voter Discontent on Traffic Congestion Tue, 08 Aug 2006 01:56:55 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/07/poll-nyc-blames-bloomberg-for-lack-of-attention-to-traffic/#comment-999 [...] Some new survey data on the Mayor’s performance on a wide variety of issues find particular voter discontent on traffic congestion and transit times through the city. As reported on by Streetsblog, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign survey of 800 New Yorkers revealed that: 59% of New Yorkers say the mayor is doing only a “fair” to “poor” job of reducing traffic jams and delays on city streets, highways and bridges. On only one other issue, increasing the stock of affordable housing, does the Mayor receive a higher net negative rating (60%). [...] [...] Some new survey data on the Mayor’s performance on a wide variety of issues find particular voter discontent on traffic congestion and transit times through the city. As reported on by Streetsblog, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign survey of 800 New Yorkers revealed that: 59% of New Yorkers say the mayor is doing only a “fair” to “poor” job of reducing traffic jams and delays on city streets, highways and bridges. On only one other issue, increasing the stock of affordable housing, does the Mayor receive a higher net negative rating (60%). [...]

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