Pedestrians were forced to walk in the street last weekend on 99th street and Broadway as curbs were extended.
The street safety policy known as Vision Zero is manifesting throughout the city — from speed cameras to redesigned streets to bike lanes. But some changes have locals scratching their heads.
Patrick, one of our readers, noticed a temporary sign at 116th and Amsterdam proclaiming that drivers were in a “Vision Zero” zone and urging them to drive safely. “Not sure that corner is a dangerous one and it seems like a very weak measure,” he noted.
On 98th and 99th street and Broadway, orange plastic bollards blocked the entire median crosswalk, making people walk into the street, noted another tipster.
“They have completely blocked the pedestrian passageways across Broadway on both sides, forcing everyone — the elderly, moms pushing strollers, young teens — to walk in the middle of the street. This was left up all weekend at 99th St, and is currently the case at 98th. I applaud Vision Zero, but it’s absurd to create conditions that are so dangerous for the very people the plan was supposed to protect. Here are a couple of photos. Note the accident in the last. No pedestrians were hurt, but my guess is the lack of visibility caused by the barriers contributed to the accident.” (photos below)
In response to the above comment, a DOT spokesman said that “This is related to the additional curb extensions and other work outlined in our release on the improvements at 96th Street.”
Regardless of the eventual benefit, it does seem strange to block both crosswalks in an intersection, doesn’t it?
Vision ZERO is such an aptly-named program from our amateur mayor.
It looks like they could have put the bollards slightly farther out and made a pathway for pedestrians between the bollards and the Mall bulkheads.
Howard, please!
Move the bollards further and make a pedestrian-safe passageway ??!!
THAT WOULD REQUIRE THOUGHT AND INTELLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE DoT AUTOMATONS — neither of which is in their job description.
And as to the “curb extensions and other work” get ready for a months-long project with major inconvenience!
Proof: check out the “progress” on those M-34 Select Bus Service ‘curb extensions’ on 34th street. They were ‘designed’ to make it easier to board the ‘high-speed’ (!!) pay-in-advance M-34 crosstown…or Ol’ Pokey.
Progress? The eastbound-stop at W. 34th @ Ninth Ave, the ONLY ONE west of Fifth so far, is just bout done … after almost six months… although it is STILL NOT operational, leaving the M-34 to stop down the block, away from the curb, and far from those MetroCard machines!
Maybe the city should outsource the DoT’s work to India…the work would probably get done faster!
I’m dismayed that they relined so much of Broadway in the area of that intersection and not only didn’t include any bike paths at all but, there is even less space for a biker to ride safely. In fact there is no room at all to fit by on a bike. Who makes these plans?
I have been seeing so much dangerous, reckless driving around the Upper West Side lately. Speeding, red light running, cars turning through crosswalks with pedestrians who are walking with the right of way. Without enforcement from NYPD – which I haven’t been seeing, at all – I am very concerned that the next catastrophe from reckless driving is going to come soon.
As an example, yesterday afternoon a black SUV sped west through a red light across Amsterdam Ave – guessing at 40 to 45 mph. I watched a woman in the crosswalk jump back, fearing for her life, and look around at the multiple pedestrians, including kids, nearby.
There happened to be two NYPD officers stationed right there, at the JCC, who didn’t do a thing.
I don’t mean to sound like a Cassandra or a Debbie Downer, just want our cops to step up and do a more visible job here.
NYPD announced a 3-week initiative on this, after I posted. I am very relieved. Now I wish I’d asked for a few Rangers OT wins in the comments on this site as well….