By Carol Tannenhauser
Concern is building in the lower West 70s about the possibility of the placement of a “deliverista” e-bike charging station and rest stop at the vacant newsstand south of the 72nd Street and Broadway subway station.
The Parks Department has identified this location for the charging station and rest stop, although the design process has not yet begun. Mayor Eric Adams, with the support of Senator Chuck Schumer, is planning to build three of these “hubs.” This is the only one on parkland. Others are planned for Williamsburg, Brooklyn and City Hall.
The W. 71 Street, W. 72nd Street, and W. 73rd Street Block Associations sent a joint letter to Community Board 7, which was already aware of the proposal and scheduled a joint meeting of the Transportation and Parks & Environment Committees to discuss it, ask questions, and provide feedback.
Unfortunately, the meeting is on Valentine’s Day, February 14th at 6:30 pm. However, the community board has arranged for you to provide your feedback by email in advance. Do not put it in the WSR comments. Share your feedback here. Feedback is due by next Friday, February 10th at 12 pm.
And if you want to attend the virtual meeting on Tuesday, February 14th at 6:30 pm, register here.
City Councilmember Gale Brewer weighed in with a letter to Parks Commissioner Susan Donoghue stating that “it is essential that a representative from the Administration be present at the February 14 meeting, as well as representatives from the management company and Los Deliveristas Unidos/Workers Justice Project. If the Administration is serious about making this location a successful place for the hub, I urge you to meet with community members who know the area before the meeting and on an ongoing basis.”
This is absolutely using public property to benefit private businesses and as such, should not be allowed. If the restaurants were paying some HUGE sum to the City to hire sufficient personnel to maintain this space, it could be considered. But otherwise it is simply a land grab by private enterprise for-profit biz into public space.
If you ever order take out food, you should be ashamed of yourself! These people do the impossible so we don’t have to cook 21 times a week. They get paid peanuts have no place to use a restroom or charge their bike. This is the City being humane. It is rare. Leave it be and don’t order take out unless you rescind your criticism!
We can have a public restroom there! that’d be great! we have them in parks all over the city! But is this about subsidizing exploitative delivery apps with public infrastructure and tax dollars? Seems like it to me
Like the dining sheds on the street
It is going to be much worse than the dining sheds. This area, being right outside of an extremely busy subway station, is already problematic.
So DoorDash and their ilk can’t afford a privately funded hub? The restaurant owners association can’t either? We need the public at large to cede a public park, in exchange for… nothing?
You call that a park? Looks like an abandoned newsstand to me.
Yeah, I call that a public park / plaza – an essential approach space to a busy subway station. When you surround that newstand with 25 bikes strewn around at all times, and their owners, good luck recognizing the space, or getting thru.
DoorDash can buy/rent one /multiple of the many empty storefronts and convert them to whatever “hub” use they get permit for. They can negotiate with the City to take over the slimy “dining” sheds next to said storefront and build proper bike parking for the hub users.
DoorDash actually opened up a hub right across my old building in Brooklyn last year. I’d already been planning on moving but that alone would have been reason enough to get out of there. It was always impossible to go on a walk with my dog safely around there with all the bikes coming through the sidewalks, once the hub was there they used the entire sidewalk as free parking and all the sidewalks in streets around as their driveway. It was basically closed off for any pedestrians concerned about their safety. I filled several complaints to 311 before moving but didn’t seem like anyone cared about all the violations going on there. The same is going to happen to the 72nd subway entrance and all the sidewalks around if this hub gets built. They need to at least provide round the clock patrol ticketing anyone with bikes where they shouldn’t be.
I think this hub is a good idea, but I also think we should be charging DoorDash et al to help maintain it. Otherwise they are just externalizing their costs onto us. Though calling this area a “park” is…optimistic, let us say.
(Poor WSR…”everybody please send your comments to the council!” Meanwhile, the comments here pile up.)
Personally, I think NYC needs more public rest stops, and to stop trying to block them from being built. The more restrooms available, the less waste we would see on the street!
This is not a rest stop, is it?
Public restrooms are ABSOLUTELY not the same as restaurant/delivery hub. Yes to public restrooms. No to sites that only benefit private businesses.
That area sits largely unused, but of course, Upper West Siders will always NIMBY’s. The complaints already posted here support this analysis. This is not a land grab, Harriet F. Have you even been to that location. Literally, nothing is there, and it’s just empty space.
Have you seen the traffic surrounding it? the plan would be dangerous for everyone, including the delivery people.
Unused ?! You obviously don’t live on 72nd Street. Putting an ebike rest stop here will turn this historic and quaint subway stop park into a slummy mess. I don’t get food delivered, but I do pay taxes. I am not willing to destroy my neighborhood. I don’t want to walk through a gauntlet of ebike workers standing around staring at their phones every day, not the trash and panhandlers that will accompany them. NO.
Wow, not a prejudiced comment at all. Give us a break.
There’s nothing “quaint” about it. It’s just an empty space.
It’s not empty space. People from the south approach this subway station from the tip of a triangle right below this picture and then walk to the station. People leaving the station do the same thing in reverse. This area is not wide AT ALL. The traffic pattern here is a bpwtie and there is always congestion and horrible traffic. All we need is ebikes not following rules about riding on sidewalks on top of everything else in the area. You clearly do not know the area at all.
The UWS has more supportive housing beds than anywhere in the city outside of the Bronx. It’s ALWAYS HERE, because we have a Community Board that is LAX to say the least.
The UWS’ reputation is a place where everyone is to feel welcome here.
The space may be unused when you are there but I assume that isn’t around rush hour. Even with subway ridership way down people are flooding out of this stop in the evening rush. There isn’t room for ebike drivers and charging stations added to that mix.
I walk through that space almost every day. Virtually every inch of this Park is used by the public. Check my additional post about public restrooms(yes) vs private business (no).
It is a busy access way to the subway for the many riders approaching from the south.
Absolutely agree, it’s not “empty unused space”
I think the larger issue is the fact that there can be a lot of people coming in and out of the subway station there is no doubt that riders intending to use that rest area will not walk their bikes to get there, putting people in harm’s way. Too many of us have either been hit, nearly hit or know someone who has been hit by an e-biker. I don’t have an issue with replacing the newsstand which at this point is not much more than a public toilet for the homeless but what controls will be in place to insure pedestrians don’t get run over?
This is a spurious Idea. This will affect the safety of the area. There are enough irresponsible delivery drivers in the area causing havoc for the robust number of elderly residents of the neighborhood, shoppers of the Trader Joes across the street, awaiting transportation Creating a charging station would be detrimental all around. I am seeing these competetive aggressive
Delivery guys raging onto territorially based fisticuffs over plug- in access. Not to mention accelerated quantities of Trash in an already messy part of the neighborhood, thanks to the same
kinds of characters who hang out after work shifts in the otherwise lovely Verdi Square Park. Who consume copious quantities of beer
and leave much detritus in their wake, urinating freely in public.
For further evidence in reference, note the filth left behind around McDonalds, the Pizza shop next door and so on…
Columbus Circle a far better location near the bycicle rental kiosk. Accessible, yet out of the way of hotel guests and visitors from afar. No unneccessary further traffic hazard.
Power source available without much disruptive construction. Rather like the hookups for Citibike.
Well lighted, and restrooms close.
Well, until early evening, anyway.
I Vote No Way!!
This is a land grab by businesses to reduce public space and should not be granted. Why can’t the city rent out one of the gazillions of empty retail spaces up and down Broadway and elsewhere and let our public spaces remain uncluttered with packages and bikes. And why aren’t businesses paying for this? If they s tart here where will it end up? Central Park becoming an Amazon warehouse?
Agree with the other posters. It is not the city’s responsibility to pay for private businesses’ employees to have rest stops and charging stations. The delivery services and restaurants need to pay for this.
Seems super-dangerous:
1) complicated & busy traffic area
2) no way for ebikes to access “island”
3) busy with pedestrians to/from subway.
Why not use a charging station at a garage like on 60th St?Or a Revel charging area?
Or a closed street like “open streets” on lower Broadway?
Oh there,s a way…ride up the curb cuts effortlessly and onto the sidewalk, just like many do everywhere else
Mark- There are pedestrians there and the curb cuts are meant for ADA access. Also, busy streets on either side and would be difficult and dangerous (for all) for ebikers to slow/stop in order to access the “island”
Oh there’s a way was sarcastic…I’m well aware of the proper use of pedestrian space…unlike too many of these riders
I can’t think of a more crowded and congested place to put this than a traffic island next to a major subway stop.
The bike lane leading to this area only begins two blocks south. It’s not even ideal for cyclists.
72RSD. WRONG! Please stop with your “alternative facts”. There is a bike lane on Amsterdam from 52nd Street to 110th. Why do you insist on spreading lies? Check out the DOT bike map: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-bike-map-2022.pdf
It’s an unprotected bike lane for a few blocks south, crossing multiple avenues. The unprotected bike lane north of the area is frequently occupied by busses. I never cycle this area because the bike lanes are relatively bad compared to Columbus and CPW.
True I ride that bike lane every weekend – thankfully early morning. Not well marked around that intersection and always blocked later in the day
A charging station? Are you kidding?! Setting aside that this would be private usurpation of public land, are we not all aware of the number of fires that have been started – and led to injuries and deaths – by the recharging of these batteries in residences? Having a multiple number of them in one VERY PUBLIC place, with hundreds of people passing by each day?!!! I mean, what could POSSIBLY go wrong? This may be among the MOST stupid ideas I have EVER heard!!
How is this different from the City’s taking large swaths of public streets and turning them over to the bike share company? The delivery people (or “deliveristas” in cutesy NewSpeak) are doing a service for all of you who want your dinners delivered, just as the bike share company is making bicycles available for those of you feel like riding a bike. They are all doing a service for the public. Why the sudden objection?
Cato,
My family does not get delivery and we definitely would not use an App.
When we ocasionally get take out, we walk to the restaurant and pick up.
In fact there are many New Yorkers who can’t afford food delivery.
Food delivery is not a “public” service and public space should not be for private companies.
Do you ride a Citibike? If not, do you agree that having them available to others provides the public with a service?
Should MTA buses get to use the street *only* if every single member of the public rides them?
A service is “public” if it is available to all members of the public — even if some of those members do not choose to use the service.
And with all of that said — I believe that the companies benefitting from the service should reimburse the City (that is, us) for the cost of using our space.
Cato,
Not seeing how food delivery is a “public” service?
By the above definition, billionaire buildings in midtown are public services too – anyone can live there (assuming you have the money).
Food delivery (via Appa + ebike) is a business that benefits powerful companiees like Uber and restaurants.
Shouldn’t Uber,Doordash situate this at an existing charging station?
So a city sanctioned hub to encourage more wheels on our sidewalks, more urinating on our streets and less space for pedestrians on an island already crowded throughout the day with hundreds of commuters surrounded by dangerous traffic. Brilliant!
Wasn’t the original location supposed to be in Verdi Square? I seem to remember that everyone was against that idea and suggested that the ‘unused’ space across the street would be a better option. Now they’re proposing to put it across the street and people still aren’t happy. : (
The proposed area is narrow and bounded on both sides by streets full of traffic. Pedestrians going to and from the subway station pass there. Where are they going to put the station? There would be no room to pass let alone the ebikes zooming in because you KNOW they won’t dismount and walk from the street onto the median.
This is NOT the right place to put it.
an extension of this move is to ‘keep on moving’ to the truly unused and fenced south end of the bow tie which has a rather sad garden and a commemorative plaque. that location makes the most sense and commercial enterprises could foot the bill. it might also tie in to mitigate the misbehaviour in and outside the commercial storefronts across the street like Starbucks and MacDonalds.
How about thinking of the safety and convenience of the drivers, many delivering food to writers here who think they’re a public nuisance.. Most delivery people are poor immigrants who are often mugged, money and bikes stolen. The proposed location is well lit and very public. They work long hours in our affluent neighborhood and often have long commutes to and from work. How’s about cutting them a break. They wouldn’t be here if our neighbors didn’t demand their services.
The services these drivers work for are the ones who should rent a space in the city for bike charging and restroom using. This is NOT the job of NYC and I am appalled it is even being considered.
Elliot:
Yes delivery workers are exploited and the work is hard.
But not everyone on the West Side gets delivery.
Also this is a busy spot with awkward access – dangerous to situate here.
Lots of other more sensible spaces in Manhattan.
Elliot, why doesn’t Door Dash or Grub Hub build this? Why take public park land?
A ridiculous, stupid and dangerous idea.
Does this mean more ebikes on the UWS to speed, go both ways on one way streets, ride on the sidewalks, ignore lights, and generally endanger all pedestrians and dogs?
I have almost been hit a dozen times on the UWS by E-bikes who go right through lights as if they don’t exist. I cross legally with the light and even as a very active, fit person have my life endangered because these riders barreling through sometimes riding in the wrong direction. They are in a hurry and there is no way of tracking them down if they injure or kill you! I’ve never seen the police anywhere near them.
Heads up folks! A car is registered, a driver is licensed, and insured. All of these electric Mopeds/vehicles are not as if they pose no danger to the public. Are the. companies they work for responsible? Their batteries are often unsafe and cause fires. To make matters worse I hear that Citibike is on the cusp of introducing E-Bikes soon all over the city!!
I feel like everyone is on a joy ride with the quality of life of our citizens leaving us very few options. If only businesses count then cut my property taxes in half.
I was directly hit by an ebike going the wrong direction while I crossed the street. I fell and hit my head, had to go to the ER. It was awful. Like you said, all the NYPD told me was “those are unregistered vehicles.. unless there’s a loss of life there’s nothing we can do”. I was lucky to not have a concussion but it took me a week to feel better and I hate how a simple walk has become so much more stressful for me.
I am so sorry to hear this and wish you a full recovery! Were I hit and injured I’d be sueing the city. People have been killed by these unregistered vehicles. They should be registered and the companies they work for insured. It seems to me the Mayor doesn’t care likely because the companies like Door Dash etc. have lobbyists and donate campaign cash. Lyft is getting in on the action and is working on bringing thousands of E-bikes to our streets! Our local pols seem more interested in assuring these companies make profits and their drivers have priority over pedestrians. We must make our voices heard!
I’m VERY glad they moved it away from Verdi Square, but I’m worried about traffic congestion in that area. A lot of the bike delivery people already act as though traffic lights don’t apply to them. Has anyone calculated the amount of increased traffic to that area if this is created?
I wonder if the city could create a temporary structure there to test this, like something you might set up on festival grounds. Then, if it created a very dangerous situation, they could close it down without having wasted thousands of taxpayer dollars.
“…the possibility of the placement of a “deliverista” e-bike charging station and rest stop…”
“Rest stop”? As in bathrooms for the use of the public?
A great idea! I’ll let everyone fight about the rest of it, but public bathrooms are the mark of a civilized city… which New York is most definitely NOT… at least not yet; this could be a start.
I am sure the ebike riders will always be respectful and not run over pedestrians egressing in and out. After-all ebike riders are known for respecting pedestrians, walking their bikes on sidewalks etc.
Mixing pedestrian areas with ebikes will be a very bad idea.
Is there a proposal here? If the newsstand becomes a charging station where di the bike owners go while charging? Will there be benches and a bathroom fir them? Is so can we see a drawing if there those would be and an estimate of how many commuters could comfortably walk from the subway exit south to the tip of the triangle where you can cross Broadway or Amsterdam?
Also, since there is no southbound bike land in that area hiw are bikes coming south on Broadway mixing with the cars to get there? It’s. Very congested area for both oedestrians and cars. This seems dangerous.
This is a very high traffic pedestrian area with a ton of people trying to access the subway, not to mention a major crossing and not easy to navigate given it’s in the middle of bway crossing Amsterdam. Supportive of the idea, just feels like a poor location choice
Wow. Once again I’m ashamed of the NIMBY responses of UWSiders who are happy to have food delivered by nameless, hard working, (mostly) immigrants but prefer that they stay outside in cold and rain, charge their bikes inside at home endangering themselves and others, and have no place to rest on a break.
This initiative is supported by a federal grant, not NYC funds, and in turn supports small neighborhood businesses. I would think it’s about time we did something to help them, but apparently many WSR readers would rather see more empty stores.
The delivery people are PEOPLE. They deserve some accommodation. They will at some point be replaced by drones and robots, so let’s at least treat them decently while they have jobs.
Thanks, I agree. You seem to be the only person concerned about hard working delivery people who work in freezing temperatures and make almost nothing. So much privilege, so little empathy.
I completely agree, BUT the reason conditions are so bad for the workers is that the companies won’t pay for accommodations. I have no problem with the government stepping in to provide the necessary facilities, but then they should be recovering the costs (or at least a significant portion of them, depending on how usable the facilities are for the general public) from the companies.
If companies have to pay more, they will increase delivery costs, so customers will pay. But we are all endangered by exhausted delivery workers with no place to charge or fix bikes, not just customers.
Real answer is higher minimum wages, true human cost (including benefits) passed along to people who order, AND public accommodations for people who work on the street. Not a terrible idea to have clean public bathrooms for everyone, by the way.
Hey Burtnor, the problem isn’t the rest stop but WHERE it is.
I have a 2k ER bill from an ebike hitting me while travelling the wrong way on a one way street, while I crossed the street. This has nothing to do with “exhaustion” but just of wanting to get to their destination faster. Wanna help with my bill?!
The customers paying makes sense. Those of us who don’t order delivery shouldn’t have to pay.
Sure. Let them pass the costs on customers, if they can. Why not?
Burtnor –
First, many folks don’t get delivery(we don’t)
Second, many state that the location is dangerous (many reasons) – not that delivery workers should be in the cold etc.
Lots of other areas with more space and would make sense – how about 61st or 62nd between CPW and Broadway by super luxury 15 CPW? Spacious blocks, few pedestrians and close to Columbus Circle.
BTW are you aware that Amazon last mile delivery people are in a similar situation – no bathroom, work in the rain etc?
Overall the City should be faulted for its lazy work.
Please no! This space is busy enough as it is. It will turn a nice park into an even more crowded place.
No thanks. This is a public park. Not a parking space. Also – I’m not in favor of subsidizing unlicensed motorcycles (that’s what those things are) that disobey every traffic law known to man. I don’t care if you’re a citizen, a legal immigrant, undocumented or an asylum seeker. You don’t have the right to put others at danger.
And realistically, since we’re not sheltering at home anymore….these services will earn less, the workers will earn less, and this will be a boondoggle
Wait wait wait. The concept is to use vacant newsstands for these hubs. That stand is on the west side of the site, meaning all those delivery workers on e-bikes will be tearing right across the pedestrian access to the subway at a very congested and complicated intersection. How on earth could that be safe?
And of course, if this is built, the City won’t enforce that law against driving “bikes” on the pedestrian plaza, and the e-bike drivers will speed onto the plaza after having illegally crossed to said plaza in the crosswalk.
What is an ebike charging station and rest area? Is it essentially just a citibike docking station with adequate power? Could it just be a dozen powered docks; and in the proposed case bikers could rest on the existing park benches while charging?
There are no existing benches on this median.
I think charging stations for electric bicycles is a bad idea because I think E-bikes should be illegal, they move far too fast!! That said I know they are here to stay so charging stations we will get!!
I feel that a charging station at this subway station is a very bad idea, it’s already overrun with traffic!!!
NO! JUST NO! This is already a spot that has teenagers fighting, cops waiting to stop the fights, people trying to get into the subway, people using it (as intended) to cross Broadway to Amsterdam and 71st and 72nd Street. It’s a death triangle with traffic lights that don’t give time for people to cross safely. And yes, the triangle is already an obstacle course for the thousands of seniors who are (rightfully) petrified to walk on the strip of sidewalk from McDonalds to Wells Fargo past throngs of teens at the pizza place, Starbucks and Pinkberry. This will create such a danger. Shame on the planners, Parks Department and Community Board. You should know better. This (my) neighborhood has regressed to the mess it was in the early 70’s before gentrification. Don’t let it devolve anymore than it has.
What on earth is this ?
Surely the restaurants are responsible for charging their delivery person’s bicycles as in most cases they are the ones who provide the bicycles ?
This is once again providing our city public property maintained by our tax dollars for the profit of private enterprise.
Enough. NO.
They don’t. The current delivery companies for the most part (not all of them) use “freelance” deliver guys, who have to buy and maintain their own bikes, have no access to facilities, and are paid at piecework rates. It’s rough stuff.
The corner of 71st & Amsterdam is very busy with traffic going up Amsterdam, down Broadway, turning to go west on 71st or coming from the east on 71st.
Not to mention pedestrians who ignore the traffic light there or the street vendor on the corner who blocks pedestrian traffic
The expanded curbing installed not long ago is an improvement and makes this corner a bit safer.
To add another element to this area seems to negate all the work done to alleviate this mess.
Great. Just great. Instead of cleaning up the open air toilet and prison/Psych ward waiting room that is Amsterdam from 70th to 71st (head shop that sells real drugs and had two shooting, McD’s which is actually run pretty well but a nonetheless magnet for the insane, 24 hours pizza for the stoned and anti-social strewing uncollected garbage everywhere, dozens of electric bikes clicking sidewalk when not zooming around and terrorizing pedestrians, etc.etc.) – the are going to extend the chaos all the way to 72nd St. Our politicians at work. Just be prepared to carry (legal) bear spray and a rosary when you leave the subway there if this happens. I remember bad old shoot em up days of “needle park”, and I’m not nostalgic. You really expect guys on motorcycles- let’s call them what they are- who obey zero traffic laws and ride on crowded sidewalks to play nice? Then, I have a bridge to sell you. This stinks.
To all those demanding that companies like UberEats, DoorDash, etc. should be forced to pay for charging facilities, they will reply that the delivery people aren’t required by them to have eBikes. All they require is a mode of transportation which includes a non-motorized bicycle or scooter. You can’t force a business to pay for something they don’t specify as required equipment for independent contractors. Independent contractors are expected to take care of their own needs. Restaurant delivery people are not the only independent contractors with the predicament of needing various services and facilities while away from their homes and workspaces.
People seem to be very confused. On the one hand, they object to the ‘taking’ of public space. But if a company pays for it, then it’s ok. All of a sudden, the loss of space isn’t important anymore.
You are mistaken. If the city decides to go through the proper channels to impose a tax or surcharge on such companies for almost any reason, they can do it.
And I am not fixated on the loss of space per se. Urban space exists to be used. I just want to make sure that if the space is used to provide a benefit primarily to private companies, those private companies pay their way.
Both points can be true. This shouldn’t be paid for by the city and this is not a good place for it.
It’s maddening that you could even consider putting toilets, dangerous bike traffic, and more trash in the middle of our crowded UWS street. We are already burdened with more homeless shelters than anywhere else and the UWS has become devoid of stores. Who would open a store here? We don’t want to live here and this is precisely why. It’s a good space to be used creatively; we love the building. We will march, and picket to prevent this awful idea. Please Gail….help.
Agree that Columbus Circle is a better location, as the traffic from 72nd street subway during rush hours requires the space outside as well as where the old newspaper kiosk sits. It is not safe to add all the bikes, traffic and attendant activities of drivers who would stop for refueling and use of bathrooms.
I am ok with it ONLY if private businesses financially participate in keeping the hub clean and safe. End of story. Why shouldn’t the apps/merchants pay in?
This is already an extremely dangerous and confusing intersection with 7 crosswalks, two avenues and one street intersecting. Adding a transportation hub of cyclists, who often don’t follow traffic signals is not safe for pedestrians, cyclists or drivers.
Neighbor,
Exactly.
And there is no way that ebikes could safely access the island from the avenue approaches and/or also dismount for pedestrians.
I don’t even understand how there would be room if ebikers were waiting for charging station availability?
Another problem is the possibility that more ebikers would use that subway station – incredibly dangerous as the platform is already dangerously overcrowded.
Seriously – how would a bike enter this site from the north? There’s no bike lane on Broadway. There’s no way to drive in flow of traffic and make that sharp turn at the south end of the site safely. If they get off at 72nd, then you have bikes going through very narrow pedestrian spaces. There’s a very high chance that the riders would try to go south in the dedicated Amsterdam bike lane, which isn’t safe at all. You’d be hard-pressed to find a worse site.