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That new Broadway pedestrian plaza, which reduced Broadway to two lanes to make room for tables, chairs, and new bike lanes, are "making city drivers miserable," the Post contends. But though two reporters were assigned to the story, they were hard-pressed get any comments from the allegedly miserable drivers in question. Oh, there is one Jason Silitsky, a New Jersey "commuter" (we bet he takes the PATH) who declares the esplanade "completely useless." On the other hand, Barbara Randall, director of the Fashion Center BID, tells the tabloid, "We haven't noticed any traffic problems. It's down two to lanes, but it's moving." And Haim Dadi, owner of Mr. Broadway Kosher, says the increased pedestrians are boosting business: "Traffic-wise, it's not good, but who cares about traffic? I care about the store."
Post Manufactures "Road Rage" at Broadway Boulevard
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2nd avenue and 47th- 1 hammarskjold plaza. 15-20 ambulances and trucks.
Info from FDNY: people on 4
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the only problem is that people tend to walk in the bike path.
Seems like Gothamist has a story about Broadway Boulevard two or three times a week. Is this because the 30+ heated comments this story is sure to generate are good for the blog - beefing up the stats or something?
Anyone driving through there is asking for a miserable time anyway. If the Jersey drivers are complaining that is only because they are horrible drivers to begin with. Anything less than three lanes wide and the odds that they will hit something go way up.
Typically if something gets 30+ comments, it means it's something people like debating. Oh, and this is part of the Mayor's plan to green the city.
take back the streets! put up a wall, make that shit permanent
central park creates some serious traffic problems too—i wish they would just mow it on over—asphalt and road signs! fuck greenery all together...
ha ha ha. oh those good-for-nothing Jersey drivers. too bad for them.
well newsflash - have you seen an ambulance or fire truck trying to get down one of these two lanes of traffic during the workday?
it's not a problem until it effects you, but believe me, this will further impede response time in emergencies - as if traffic was not already bad enough.
again, where is the environmental impact study?
and the Post is right (!) - these will be a total waste of space in the winter.
Good job on wasting money.
A lot of outdoor infrastructure is a waste of space in the winter. Seems like a red herring to me.
Drivers should be lucky to have two lanes. Close it to everything but buses and emergency vehicles. That was the best thing that came out of the subway strike.
I hate cars. But I hate foot traffic more. I like having tons of room to walk because the fat people in this city walk too damn slow. MORE SIDEWALKS!
Who the hell cares about drivers? If you drive into this city you're asking for pain. What worries me is that they haven't actually done anything to reduce cars other than to make driving slightly more annoying. That means we have less space for the autos that actually should be on Manhattan roads - the ambulances, fire trucks and cop cars. Screw out of town drivers.
""I think it is completely useless . . . It doesn't do anything for Midtown," said New Jersey commuter Jason Silitsky, 24."
I enjoy the fact that the picture in the article shows it crawling with people in direct contrast to Silitsky's idiotic comment.
I think it's great.
Maybe it'll be less crowded in Winter, but I can guarantee the smokers will be out there in droves. Now, it's packed throughout the day and well into the night. Tourists, in particular, seem to love taking a break there.
The traffic is a little more congested, but Broadway was underutilized on that stretch before the addition.
The most significant problem is the placement of the bike lane and the fact that pedestrians don't seem to recognize what it is. I think it is unfortunate that it was placed there. I understand the decision, nevertheless, it's not the best solution.
The other problem is that there are no ashtrays. The sandpaper-like ground is coated in cigarette butts. I suppose it's too much to ask smokers not to litter all over the place.
the post is the paper for the fat, stained tank top wearing native who has RIGHT to own a car and a RIGHT to drive it two blocks to the Dunkn Donuts and it's everyone else who is wrong and they should all go back to Ohio!
who took that photo? it's an awesome picture. ;)
I walk by this stretch of Broadway every day, and I've never seen a traffic jam there... not before they put this in, and not since. Most traffic is avoiding Herald Square and going down 7th Avenue, anyway. But the Post didn't bother to notice that... even though their picture shows it in full color.
You're not inconveniencing drivers if they're not there to begin with.
Fishing for credit, Zodak? I would have expected better.
I guess the haters will be commenting on this a little later this evening. Any bets on whether "thefacts" or Snoopy will weigh in on the side of cars?
As for Silitsky, what do you expect? New Jersey loves its cars more than anything. Even my NJ friends admit that.
The only way to reduce cars is to (1) provide alternatives and (2) make cars more expensive. NJ Transit has park-and-rides at its stops, and can afford to add more train service. It's the New Yorkers who are getting screwed, the ones who live so far away from a subway line that just getting to it on public transportation takes the same amount of time as the entire trip by car. And don't even get me started about Staten Island, where I live. There are traffic jams in New York because public transit fails to meet the needs of many city residents and 75% of out-of-town domestic visitors.
Bloomberg is essentially forcing the issue at the state and perhaps even national level by limiting access for cars. While it is a noble endeavor, it will be years until public transit catches up with the new demand.