For the people who are not familiar with that street, it isn't just some random block that has been barred from traffic -- it runs through a complex called Ruppert and Yorkville Towers, which was a Mitchell-Lama project occupying two entire blocks from 90th to 92nd Streets and from 2nd to 3rd Avenues. Blocking off 91st Street from vehicular traffic was part of its architectural plan. It is adjacent to a park with a playground and was intended as a pedestrian walkway, not necessarily a place for children to play. The apartments in that complex are great, btw.

http://www.thecityreview.com/ues/thirdave/ruppert.html

Unfortunately, the owners bought out of the Mitchell-Lama program, and Ruppert Towers became condos (although I believe some sections still offer low-rent affordable apartments). However, it seems to me that residents in the complex have every right to be included in discussion about the use of this pedestrian-only street which runs through the property (think of it as similar to the streets that run through Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village), and to fight it if they deem that necessary.

The problem with New York's bike lanes appears to be that the dept of transportation does not communicate with the NYPD. The DOT paints the lines but has no control over what happens if they are not used properly. The NYPD doesn't give a shit about what lines are painted on the street or who uses them for what purposes.

I wrote a letter of complaint to the DOT last year about the bike lane on Adams Street, near the Marriott in Brooklyn, which is completely unusable because government employees use it as their commuter parking lot. DOT wrote back to say they forwarded my complaint to the police department because it was an enforcement issue. Police department wrote back to say that there was nothing they could do because the DOT had not painted or signed it clearly enough.

Whatever.

#24 says "the bikers can save their energy for the BIGGER issues (i.e. ...jaywalking pedestrians....etc.)."

Jaywalking Pedestrians? This is New York. In your *dreams*.

DOT is not actually planning to stripe a bike lane on that street. They are planning to leave the pedestrian street as is.

#4 is an asshole but I still hate cyclists.

I get and appreciate Gwinny's point but what makes those tenants on that block so special/important/powerful that they get to make decisions like this? It's worth asking.

As a cyclist, I can certainly understand the neighborhood's fears of bikes riding through there (especially when it's not used as a street per se), just the same way I get annoyed when I'm walking through Central Park and a bike sideswipes me on the pedestrian paths where they aren't allowed.

My feeling is: it's really easy for cyclists to go 1-2 blocks north or south to get to where they need to go. Let them keep their play area and the bikers can save their energy for the BIGGER issues (i.e. more bike lanes, crackdowns on jaywalking pedestrians and illegally parked cars, etc.).

I wanna close Saint James Avenue between 90th Street & 88th Street in Elmhurst. People try to avoid Corona Avenue & Broadway & then drive at 40 or 50 mph on the street to avoid traffic. They deserve the slowness of Broadway in Queens for fucking up the world for the past 100 years.

This street is great!

We should close off many more manhattan streets, just like this one.

Viola! Less congestion, with no tax!

I went to the Community Board 8 meeting where Transportation Alternatives presented the plan for painting bike lanes on 90th (west-bound) and 91st (east-bound) street. The plan presented there was not technically for a bike lane to be painted on 91st between 2nd and 3rd aves, rather that that block would be the unpainted, undesignated continuation of the 91st street bike lane. So cyclists would not have any area set aside for them and would have to maneuver (uphill!)through the people using the play street. Even when the TA rep made these points, the residents of those highrises who had shown up in force were ready to wring someone's neck over the perceived marring of their private oasis. Their sense of entitlement to the block was astounding. They threatened to physically prevent cyclists from using that road. When will people understand they have to share the roads...

What's the big deal about painting a bike lane on this street or any other street in this City? I live close to the bright green bike path in Cobble Hill/Brooklyn Heights and cannot tell you the number of time I have seen cars parked or driving on it. It doesn't make any difference. This city just doesn't give a crap about bicyclists. If it did, drivers would get ticketed for parking cars on bike paths. However, I have never seen that happen. Not even in Brooklyn Heights where there is a traffic cop on every other block.

most of u have no idea what this "street" is really like.
#1 is 100% right on this situation.

"I'm with them. The residents of that block and surrounding area should have control over how their street should be. In fact, I there should be more streets like this. I'm an UWSider, and this might be the coolest thing about the upper east side."

A completely ridiculous (and un-democratic) attitude.

It's called living in a city and living around other people. This island is plenty privatized enough. And remember, bicycles are clearly preferable to car traffic.

I just posted comment #4 and realized that because I had posted as a guest there is no name or contact info. I am John Mark Rozendaal. jmrozendaal@yahoo.com

#12 has a point about # 4. I'm wagering that the "Lance" who he assaulted was not riding on the sidewalk or on the grass, appropriate places for small childiren to play. What can you say about a person who lets his child play in the traffic and then beats up an athlete and calls him a homophobic epithet? That's a scary guy.

At this point the city cannot do too much for cyclists. There are many places in the city designated for pedestrians, and many places designated for automobiles. However, when the city puts a bicycle lane in a street, motorists park in it or drive in it. When the city puts a bicycle lane in a park, people walk in it, stand in it, party in it, let their small chldren play in it.

Yes I've seen LOTS of near misses, close calls between bicyclists and pedestrians, and so far careless pedestrians are absolutely always at fault.

Yeah, I want my street blocked of from vehicular traffic. Look, they make tons of money, they have better police service, their streets are cleaner than most, they live a few blocks from Central Park and still they need to havea private street. Give me a break! Make this street a regular street open to cars, and since that will never happen as someone is greasing someone, well then that fact that it will be a bike lane street is great and keep your spoiled brat out of my bike lane (although I have no reason to bike there) or he might get hurt!

I used to ride up this street regularly with no hassle from anyone. And I didn't often run into kids playing in the middle of it. Don't think this should be a huge issue.

As for cyclists tear-assing through it. They can already do that if they want. Why not delineate a path so at least everybody knows where they can go and kids and residents won't play in the lane.

I'm with them. The residents of that block and surrounding area should have control over how their street should be. In fact, I there should be more streets like this. I'm an UWSider, and this might be the coolest thing about the upper east side. I'm jealous in fact, I wish MY street was closed off to cars and bikes.

hey #4 you must be a super role-model for your kid. I hope he realizes what an asshat his father is and dosent grow up to be just like you.

i've almost been run over by an overzealous cyclist, so i can understand why parents might be a bit concerned. however, unless this place is privatized as some have suggested in the comments, what can you do (other than complain). another idea would be to landscape it and designate it as a city park, perhaps. seems somewhat silly to me to have closed it to vehicular traffic and left it paved.