November 16, 2007
The First Gridlock Alert of the Season
City officials are warning drivers that they should expect to spend more time sitting in traffic than waiting in line while holiday shopping. Today is the first of nine designated holiday gridlock days, when the city tries to head off street-clogging traffic that can frustrate even a seasoned city driver. NY1 quotes some professional drivers and visitors on how bad traffic can be around Thanksgiving and the holidays in New York.
“Oh man, traffic is hectic man,” said a driver. “I can't even get to do my deliveries. It's really hell.”We imagine those are the most G-rated comments that will be exclaimed on city streets this weekend."Aw, this is unbelievable. I come from Westchester, and it sucks,” added another.
Manhattan's borough president released a report in 2006 about "box blockers"--drivers who try to get through an intersection as a light turns red and just wind up preventing perpendicular drivers from getting through an intersection when they're ultimately stopped by backed-up traffic. Mayor Bloomberg announced a plan to crack down on box-blockers this spring. The vehicular miscreants aren't just a source of frustration to drivers; they're a hazard to pedestrians, because sidewalks become obstructed, forcing walkers to detour into crowded streets filled with drivers prone to road rage due to conditions.
WABC's Sam Schwartz, who is a former City traffic commissioner that reports under the moniker "Gridlock Sam," offers helpful advice on how to minimize or avoid traffic headaches. One can buy the city's official "Don't Block the Box" t-shirt (pictured above) here.
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"Box-blockers" are also a major hazard to cyclists.
Don't block the box would look better on a pair of panties than a tshirt.
And here I thought the Paramus mall had problems. Why don't they just tear down some of those god awful buildings and pave them over as parking lots for the bridge and tunnel people. There is hardly a decent parking lot in the Fifth Avenue and 57th street area that charges less than three dollars for six hours parking.
Fugeddaboutit, I'm doing my shopping at Roosevelt Field.
Sam Schwartz is the man. He has some great ideas on how to change traffic in the city. Too bad the MTA will never let any of the logical changes happen.
But whatever, I rarely drive around this time of year, especially when it comes to Manhattan. If I absolutely have to I'll drop the car on the west side in the numbers somewhere and go underground.
Its just not worth the pain.