Here's a way to find out if your neighborhood is kid-friendly. The website PlayaroundNYC has assembled a map charting the locations of playgrounds and their distances from major and minor truck routes. The areas that are darker in color have greater access to playgrounds that aren't surrounded by truck routes than the areas that are lighter in color. Though the map doesn't account for other variables impacting playground quality — like quality of play equipment, population density, or the availability of park restrooms — it's an interesting way to see how different parts of the city cater to children. According to the folks responsible for the map, "[i]t's unfortunate that the easiest locations to place playgrounds are on land left over from major highway construction rather than locations that are more appropriate for supporting young New Yorkers." more ›

Earlier this month, a three-alarm fire shut down traffic on the Throgs Neck Bridge. (It turned out the fire was started by a construction worker's blow torch; the bridge has been undergoing a multi-year renovation project.) Though traffic has mostly reopened, there are still some closures on the roads and ramps and the MTA is set to discuss the immediate future for drivers on the crossing. Newsday reports that trucking groups are concerned that the bridge may restrict truck traffic: "Truckers favor the Throgs Neck because it allows for a heavier weight limit, unlike the neighboring Bronx-Whitestone Bridge. The Bronx-Whitestone Bridge has a 80,000-pound truck limit. With special permission, trucks can have a total weight of up to 105,000 pounds crossing the Throgs Neck." And with bigger loads, truckers make more money. However, a civil engineer explains that "bouncing, heavy rigs can make matters worse." The MTA is holding a webcast of the Throgs Neck Bridge plan press conference at 10:50 a.m. more ›