I have just today registered on Streetsblog.org.
You may remember me from the transalt.kotlet.net message board , which no longer exists.
My email is hotbike "at" hotmail.com.
I live on Long Island. My most recent trip to Manhattan was on Friday, 3rd of October, 08.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/photo_0016.jpg
I took a three speed bike into Penn Station via the LIRR. I have enough lights on the bike.
I rode on 34th street to get to the Waterfront Greenway. I did not have any problems with any motorists, except I was blocked by cars waiting for the lights to change.

I am trying to figure out how to start a new thread here, at this site.
I have posted this as a reply to an existing thread, because I can't figure out how to start a new thread.

As someone has ridden along the Greenway at all times of day and night, I really fault the Parks Department for not remedying the following hazards north of 96th Street:
1. Lack of lighting or reflective paint/devices along the Cherry Walk
2. Failure to complete the West Harlem Piers link in a timely fashion (as per above)
3. Lack of lighting or reflective paint/devices on the path segment running by the Amtrak rails somewhere between 155th and 168th Streets--it's pitch dark at night
4. Lack of barriers (or even signage) at the old Grecian temple parking lot, which resulted in a night spent in the ER

The only living beings I see in that park are flocks of geese milling around. It's totally bizarre they haven't found a way to open that park all summer. The least they could do is to put up a sign informing passersby of their progress.

The needed parts appear to go on the pier. Why not move this Rent-A-Fence about 10 feet to the west so that cyclists can take advantage of a safe bike route? It would be a real tragedy if someone was injured while we wait.

I too saw that the Piers were listed on the Open House New York website, as well as the Parks Department website, to be opened last weekend. But lo and behold, when we went up there on Saturday afternoon, there was no one there and we saw everything fenced up much as seen in the picture above. Quite disappointing, as it looks very nice and it's hard for us to get up there.

From what we could tell, the park is finished except for one of the piers, which doesn't have a railing down its length. I'm guessing this is what the Spectator is referring to, and is probably the reason why the park hasn't been opened yet. Curious to hear what the powers that be have to say re: a real opening date.

The only reason I can think to not open this is so that the contractors can park their trucks on the bike lane. The railing being constructed is on the new pier, nothing to do with the bike lane.

This week these weird rolling steps arrived, parked on the bike path. perhaps for a ribbon cutting? I say we tear down those fences and ride the path!