Comments on: Pedestrians, Bus Riders, and Cyclists Get a Better Bronx Hub

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:30:16 +0000

I had a chance to walk around the plaza with some of the people involved with developing it. Kudos to everyone involved. They're not done yet. There's more plans for the plaza: a Roberto Clemente statue, and possible sidewalk cafe style tables and chairs, etc. (After the little house, which is used by MTA bus drivers between shifts if removed). The main problem with the planters being plastic is that they are surprisingly easy to move. One person can drag a planter around by themselves. This has led local merchants, and even city workers, to move them around as they see fit, for vehicle access, snow plowing etc. It's still a work in progress! Getting local merchants to take care of the planters is important too.

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:32:43 +0000

Very cool. I've been wondering whether the bollarded lane on Melrose is intended to be a contra-flow bike lane. Cyclists think so, and are using it that way, but it's a little cryptic - there are no pavement markings or signs to confirm that it's ok to ride uptown, against traffic, for that one block. Maybe DOT is testing the theories of the late and great Hans Monderman?

By: Ian Turner

Ian Turner — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:23:04 +0000

Although planters are not as good as bollards at stopping cars, they have two important advantages for NYC: They are cheap to install, and they are a lot easier to get past the Art Commission.

As far as protecting cyclists, it's true that a speeding car can push a planter several feet, but the situation is better than it seems. Except at unusual intersections, cars will never hit planters directly into the bike lane; they will always be at an acute angle. And getting hit by a planter is a much, much better situation than getting hit by the car itself.

By: someone

someone — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:17:34 +0000

oops "not a nice situation were a cyclist TO BE IN . . . . ."

By: someone

someone — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:15:51 +0000

i just wish those planters on melrose were actually made form cement . . . they are just cheap plastic!!

i rode my bike there a couple of weeks ago and a car clearly had driven into one pushing it as far as the next planter - not a nice situation were a cyclist in the not=so-protected bike lane. a little more to the right, and the car would have hit the inlucky cyclist with the planter and lord knows what else!

By: vnm

vnm — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:13:08 +0000

A transformation that benefits the vast majority of the users of an intersection. What a breath of fresh air. Congratulations and great work to all involved.

By: Rhywun

Rhywun — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:41:59 +0000

That's similar to what I've long wished would happen to Times Square.

By: Liam Patrick

Liam Patrick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:08:13 +0000

Nice! I remember riding through there a few times during the summer - this is a big improvement.