Comments on: The Queensboro Meat Grinder http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Orcutt http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-5040 Orcutt Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:51:54 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/#comment-5040 Note too that 2nd Avenue is the major south-bound truck route on the E. Side of Manhattan, which contributes mightily to the chaos and gridlock around the QBB. Note too that 2nd Avenue is the major south-bound truck route on the E. Side of Manhattan, which contributes mightily to the chaos and gridlock around the QBB.

]]> By: J:Lai http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-5016 J:Lai Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:22:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/#comment-5016 brent , I too have noticed this new gate closing. It removes a potentially dangerous merge between the bike/pedestrian lane and cars, but it does so (as you said) by inconveniencing the bikers and pedestrians while leaving cars unhindered. Little things like that say a lot more about the priorities of the DOT and the city than empty public statements about encouraging biking, etc. Another issue I have noticed that is particularly bad on the QBB is the frequent presence of construction vehicles and police vehicles on the bike/ped path. The path is relatively narrow, so parking a vehicle on it creates a difficult, low-visibility passing zone. brent , I too have noticed this new gate closing. It removes a potentially dangerous merge between the bike/pedestrian lane and cars, but it does so (as you said) by inconveniencing the bikers and pedestrians while leaving cars unhindered.

Little things like that say a lot more about the priorities of the DOT and the city than empty public statements about encouraging biking, etc.

Another issue I have noticed that is particularly bad on the QBB is the frequent presence of construction vehicles and police vehicles on the bike/ped path. The path is relatively narrow, so parking a vehicle on it creates a difficult, low-visibility passing zone.

]]> By: brent http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-5014 brent Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:05:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/#comment-5014 Speaking of the QB Bridge, I cycle across every day. Since a couple weeks ago, pedestrian/ cycle entrance near 2nd ave has had the gate closed and locked. That means anyone who crosses the bridge (over a half mile) ends at 2nd ave but then has to backtrack to 1st ave. If she is heading west into the city, they now have to find some awkward means to head back to 2nd ave. What is especially frustrating is that this is all done so that the motorists unloading from the bridge will not have to bother with the hastle of slowing down or yielding to pedestrians. Why do we put up with this crap? Speaking of the QB Bridge, I cycle across every day. Since a couple weeks ago, pedestrian/ cycle entrance near 2nd ave has had the gate closed and locked. That means anyone who crosses the bridge (over a half mile) ends at 2nd ave but then has to backtrack to 1st ave. If she is heading west into the city, they now have to find some awkward means to head back to 2nd ave. What is especially frustrating is that this is all done so that the motorists unloading from the bridge will not have to bother with the hastle of slowing down or yielding to pedestrians. Why do we put up with this crap?

]]> By: Hannah http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-5010 Hannah Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:23:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/#comment-5010 I find that the traffic moves noticeably better without traffic cops. (I think the New Yorker had an article a few years ago about how machines and computer models are better than humans at traffic management.) I can tell from way up Second whether there are traffic cops on the job, based on how backed up things are. Another problem with the cops is that they tend to wave cars through without looking for pedestrian traffic, and they're usually far away from the peds in jeopardy. For example, if you're crossing east from the southwest side of an intersection and the cop is at the northeast corner, there's a good change s/he'll wave southbound traffic through without checking to see whether you're crossing with the walk signal. As a ped behind a stream of SUVs and trucks, you'll have a hard time seeing the traffic cop even if you know to look. Hannah I find that the traffic moves noticeably better without traffic cops. (I think the New Yorker had an article a few years ago about how machines and computer models are better than humans at traffic management.) I can tell from way up Second whether there are traffic cops on the job, based on how backed up things are.

Another problem with the cops is that they tend to wave cars through without looking for pedestrian traffic, and they’re usually far away from the peds in jeopardy. For example, if you’re crossing east from the southwest side of an intersection and the cop is at the northeast corner, there’s a good change s/he’ll wave southbound traffic through without checking to see whether you’re crossing with the walk signal. As a ped behind a stream of SUVs and trucks, you’ll have a hard time seeing the traffic cop even if you know to look.

Hannah

]]> By: colin http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-5009 colin Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:11:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/#comment-5009 It looks like the car driving on the crosswalk is a US Government vehicle. It looks like the car driving on the crosswalk is a US Government vehicle.

]]> By: Glenn http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/comment-page-1/#comment-5008 Glenn Tue, 26 Sep 2006 12:58:49 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/09/26/the-queensboro-meat-grinder/#comment-5008 I should add that this is a perfect example of a place where the DOT could work with local community organizations like <a href="http://www.uppergreenside.org" rel="nofollow">Upper Green Side</a> and the <a href="http://www.esna-nyc.net" rel="nofollow">East Sixties Neighborhood Association</a> to craft a new plan to safely manage and reduce traffic in that area. I should add that this is a perfect example of a place where the DOT could work with local community organizations like Upper Green Side and the East Sixties Neighborhood Association to craft a new plan to safely manage and reduce traffic in that area.

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