July 9, 2006
Where The Box Blockers Roam
Gothamist can't so much drive (well, this part of Gothamist) and yet even we know that one of the basic principles of driving in the city is "Don't Block The Box." It's a simple rule for a complicated city and it can make all the difference in keeping traffic flowing, especially in the grids of Manhattan. But in order for a rule to be effective, we've always thought, it is a good idea to actually enforce it.
And enforcement of the box rule, according to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, is exactly what isn't happening in our fine metropolis. "Not a single ticket was issued to impatient driveers who clogged 10 of the city's busiest intersections during a recent survey period" on June 26. In numbers: Over a nine-hour period at 10 of Manhattan's top intersections 3,044 cars blocked the box and despite cops being positioned at the same corners not one of the offending drivers received the $45 ticket they were due. If they had the city would be $136,980 richer. The busiest blocked intersections were 60th and Second Avenue (822 cars in the box over the nine-hour survey) followed by Delancy and Essex (755), 125th and Lex (424), 38th and Ninth (363) and 57th and Third (351).
Now, we're not saying that cops should be wasting their time writing a bajillion tickets for box blockers in the middle of a traffic jam - that's just an easy way to make more traffic. But isn't this one of those situations where the cameras that are being installed in traffic lights could be useful? Take photos of the offending license plates and send the drivers a bill. If the box-blocking was unavoidable a ticketed driver could request the camera's videotape and argue it in court. But what do we know, we can't drive...
'My daily commute today' by hbomb1947 via Contribute.
|
Coming home from my job in East New York everyday, I was constantly stuck at an intersection where people "blocked the box". I would be forced to just sit through light cycle after light cycle staring at an empty road in front of me, impeded by just a few douchebag drivers. (And I do believe in this situation the term 'douchebag' is entirely appropriate.) I actually started to develop homicidal tendencies. I would imagine just plowing through those cars...once I was just about to get out and physically stop the cars from jumping into the intersection...then I remembered I was in East New York.
Ok, to sum up, this kind of bad driving behavior can push normally peaceful elementary school teachers to extreme acts of violence. Consider yourself warned.
but that would require the police to do their job.
that whole picture taking thing makes too much sense! That's why it will never happen.
Actually, I think cop enforcement would be better than automated tickets. It *is* a judgement call as to whether the driver could have reasonably expected to clear the box or not. And a camera shot doesn't show whether traffic cleared 10 seconds later or caused minutes of gridlock.
People are actually sort of polite if you wait at the stop line for the box to clear. They only honk or cut around you, like, 10% of the time.
Where've you been, Garth? I've been saying this for years. As for the whole "unavoidable" excuse, that's bunk. There's no such thing as unavoidable. Common sense says if you can't be absolutely sure you get out of the box when the light changes, you shouldn't move into it in the first place. Just look at the stopped traffic past the box. Is there room or isn't there? It's not rocket science. Even state law says this, not that most drivers can remember any laws five minutes after they get their drivers' licences. The only time you can proceed into an intersection and stop is if you're waiting to make a left turn. And if any asshole honks at you from behind for not driving into the intersection, that's too bad for them.
I have a friend who was blocking the box. He was given a ticket for going through a red light instead. I wonder if that's the reason why there aren't many blocking tickets.
Is Delancey and Essex really worse than Delancey/Kenmare and Bowery? Is that possible? Also i am betting the study suffers from the omission of places in brooklyn like the Flatbush/Atlantic/4th ave intersection or Tillary street and Flatbush avenue.
xq,
of course they omitted brooklyn. it's a manhattan only study.
I've been talking about cameras to catch these douchebags for years. But yes, it just makes too much sense and would pay for itself in a day. Our government & police just aren't that smart.
As a pedestrian, I like to enforce my own fines. When cars block the crossing I make sure my heavy luggage bashes their precious pieces of junk. Don't like it? Well, stop blocking.
It's manhattan because Howard Stringer is BP of Manhattan, get marty to do a study if you want brooklyn included.
but you're right, downtown brooklyn can be just as bad.
I would be scared to walk on any streets that access a tunnel or bridge, just too many cars and they turn without notice. and the street is much wider, taking longer to cross.
Why do we have to keep looking for more ways to fine people? I get fined enough with the BS parking tickets. How about letting cops solve crimes instead of collecting bills? The city doesn't get that money anyway, the state does.
yet the cops ticket cyclists...
I always thought "Don't Block the Box" had sexual undertones.
FYI get ur own brooklyn: The Manhattan BP is Scott Stringer. Howard Stringer is a big TV exec now with Sony, formerly with CBS.
I nominate Hudson St near the Holland Tunnel for the Block the Box award. Same issue as Margaret (last comment) - drive straight down Franklin (heading East) and stop at Hudson. Watch all the yellow cabs, black cars, and jerks sit in the intersection. Stare at empty Franklin St on the other side for 3 or 4 light cycles.......