Gothamist: Differing Opinions on Summer Streets' Success

DasYunker

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:22:31 -0500

Yes, thefacts, we should make the process more democratic by giving veto power over everything to the Community Boards... who no one elected... Yes, well done. When New Yorkers can vote out incompetent or intransigent Community Boards, then you can come back and talk about democracy. Until then, I'm going back to stenciling "Janette Sadik-Khan for SecTrans" on these Obama yard signs, if you don't mind...

evidiot

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:39:03 -0500

thefacts: Get over yourself! People showed up in droves and loved it. It was a good idea and a success, no matter how badly the DOT shoved it down the throats of the whiny NIMBYists on the Community Boards.

glennQNYC

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:42:30 -0500

Overrated IMO.

seankenney

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:34:17 -0500

> The route was only about 5 miles, not 6.9 miles. The DOT didn't say they were closing 7 miles of roads... they said there's a 7 mile "car free route". That probably includes the roads inside in Central Park.

JenChungsBra

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:12:09 -0500

If they wanted a giant bike parade then they should call it Summer Biking or something like that. Then the stupid bikers can have their day. How about Summer Biking on Saturday and Summer Streets on Sunday. The DOT web site shows kids drawing with chalk in the street. You couldn't actually do that on Saturday except in a few isolated spots because the dumbass stupid bikers who should be banned from Summer Streets took over most of the place. There were thousands of streets to bike on on Saturday but only one to stroll down.

grove

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:52:46 -0500

watch out for those unicyclists they are the real threat out there you thought 2 wheels are bad, just wait till commuting on one wheel becomes a trend, then all you pedestrians are hopeless.

Spiritof76

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:39:19 -0500

I hope this gets expanded to all Saturdays next summer, just to piss off "thefacts." Actually, #8/9, I own a bike but never ride it. That explains a lot. Who in their right mind buys a bike then never rides it? Personally, I find that once people get on a vehicle (2 or 4 wheels), they get nasty and arrogant with people who don't. Wait, "thefacts" is complaining about other people being nasty and arrogant? Pot, kettle, black.

abcohen

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:57:20 -0500

I loved it... then thought about the fact that people who live off park ave (if they're old or need medical help --- would be at risk) I'm not so sure that tying up an entire ave is the way too go... perhaps do it in segments...

kswissreject

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:19:40 -0500

hate to be one of those people, but please learn the difference between "effect" and "affect."

whitecastlerock

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:08:47 -0500

Summer Streets and the Dominican Day parade in one weekend is just too much.

grove

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:28:14 -0500

so when your walking you can't be arrogant and nasty? I agree that they can at least designate a bike lane. But to say they should ban "stupid" bikers/cyclists is a bit absurd. please reveal your ignorance a bit more.

The Edge

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:27:29 -0500

..And much lulz ensued.

Gregoire

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:26:09 -0500

Loved it. It was so great to be able to walk on that Grand Central elevated overpass. And there were lots of fun, helpful people involved with it. My only complaint were all the damned Crunch fitness stops. Is that the only outdoor activity they could come up with?

drewo

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:25:44 -0500

It did become too much of a giant bike lane. They need to have clear delineation (including barriers, I'm afraid) to separate the roadway for bikes and pedestrians.

JenChungsBra

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:11:18 -0500

I was there and the car-free streets were great. Walking down Park in the upper 60s I felt like Keanu Reeves in The Devil's Advocate when he strolls down a totally empty 57th street. The only problem were the stupid bikers. All over the place, left and right, taking away the freedom of others to stroll around as they please. It would have been nice to have gone out there and thrown a football around but you wouldn't be able to do it. I thought Summer Streets was for people to enjoy the streets, not to create an unobstructed pathway for bikers to do anything they please. They should be restricted to one part of the roadway or just banned altogether from future Summer Streets.

drchadwick1

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:59:45 -0500

I think it should be emphasized for this thing that cyclists should cruise at sane speeds and be cool to pedestrians. Otherwise, it does run the risk of turning into critical mass light. But really, the fact that it was popular with bikes and pedestrians just goes to show there's a lot of pent-up demand for car-free streets. Open up more of them, more often. Restrict bikes, if necessary, to some kind of reasonable speed limit so this doesn't turn into a bikes vs. peds situation.

thefacts

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:38:56 -0500

Actually, #8/9, I own a bike but never ride it. I am a plebe who walks or uses mass transit most of the time. But that is irrelevant. My point is DOT pushes things undemocratically down people's throats. DOT ignored the community and rammed this through as a fiat accompli. If this is so popular, why did they sneak it through? Answer that. That m.o. is simply WRONG, even you must agree with that!! As far as Summer Streets this weekend, there were some conflicts between pedestrians and those on wheels. (in this case, two wheels) It was not specifically a bike event, but the cyclist advocates, as is their habit, usurp it as their own and act entitled and get nasty and personal against anyone who has an opposing opinion . Personally, I find that once people get on a vehicle (2 or 4 wheels), they get nasty and arrogant with people who don't. Take the DOT Commissioner and you as an example.

zodak

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:33:15 -0500

i think thefacts owns a parking garage, they are the only people who were negatively affected, everyone else had a great time. like Alex said, who the hell is up that early driving around with such high gas prices?

grove

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:13:38 -0500

the facts - I am guessing you are not a bike rider

jenspellnogood

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:08:15 -0500

nanny bloomberg has short legs so when he counted it added 2 miles to the total. 1 pm was way too early, it should start later and end later; 10A - 9P would be interesting.

Judge Smails

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:50:46 -0500

@StrideRight, yeah, I was wondering the same thing... Even if you count the E 72nd Street connector to Central Park, you're still at 4.8 miles or so. I emailed them asking where they got the other 2 miles from. Not holding my breath for an answer, but it would be interesting to know. I doubt they calculated incorrectly... Maybe they count the Brooklyn Bridge? I biked it early Saturday morning and it was fun.

thefacts

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:49:45 -0500

"What's hip today, will soon become passé." If this was such a good idea, why did DOT not go through the normal channels that the other City agencies do, and get the approval of the effected Community Boards? Because they tried that in the spring and it failed. Instead of Lafayette and Park, DOT proposed closing Prince Street in Soho for weekends during the summer. Scores of residents and businesses attended to demand they Not do it and DOT removed that proposal. DOT substituted this scheme instead without going to the effected community boards this time. This is what DOT thinks of Democracy, shoving their pet projects down the throats of the communities involved without any input. As a matter of fact, CB#1 did comment on it, and OPPOSED the Summer Streets proposal. DOT came to the remaining community boards and presented it as a fiat accompli with no community input. Such is how the DOT does things. Shame, shame, shame.

brandonz

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:24:25 -0500

Seriously... it is ridiculous that it ends so early. Why not go until nightfall?

Alex

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:08:48 -0500

Who's awake at 1pm on a saturday? I live in between park and lex, and I totally missed it.

kencam

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:55:44 -0500

This was a great event. The usual belnd on knuckleheads who can't deal with shared spaces and the vast majority having fun. Only the end was less that smooth. NYPD officers starting shutting down 10 minutes early on Park Ave in the 60's, trying to shunt cyclists onto the sidewalk. A senior officer allowed me to proceed on Park as I may legally do at all times. They need to train all of the cops for next Saturday.

StrideRight

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:51:09 -0500

The DOT/papers got it wrong. The route was only about 5 miles, not 6.9 miles. The mapquest route from the Br Bridge exit, to Park and 72nd reads 4.65. (The route actually ended just inside Central Park at 72nd and 5th.) From: 1 Centre St, New York, NY 10007 To: Park Ave & E 72nd St, New York, NY 10021 DIRECTIONS -------------------------------------------------- A) 1 Centre St, New York, NY 10007-1602 US ------------------------------------------------- 1.Go NORTHEAST on CENTRE ST toward CHAMBERS ST. (0.7 miles) 2. CENTRE ST becomes CLEVELAND PL. (go 0.1 miles) 3. CLEVELAND PL becomes LAFAYETTE ST.(0.7 miles) 4. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto 4TH AVE. (go 0.2 miles) 5. 4TH AVE becomes UNION SQ E. (go 0.2 miles) 6. UNION SQ E becomes PARK AVE S. (go 0.8 miles) 7. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto PARK AVE TUNNEL/PARK AVE. Continue to follow PARK AVE. (go 0.5 miles) 8. Turn RIGHT to stay on PARK AVE. (go 1.5 miles) 9. Turn LEFT onto E 72ND ST. (go 0.0 miles) 10. End at Park Ave & E 72nd St -------------------------------------------------- B) Park Ave & E 72nd St, New York, NY 10021 US -------------------------------------------------- >> TOTAL DISTANCE: 4.65 miles