By Ann Cooper
Last week, I noted the near-unanimity of comments from West Side Rag readers calling for political action to rein in scofflaw e-bike and e-scooter riders who pose imminent danger to pedestrians. That drew a fresh round of comments, also pretty unanimous, offering more anecdotes and pointing more fingers of blame (City Council and state legislators, please read!).
You’ve heard these arguments before. But then there was this fresh take, framing pedestrian anxiety in a uniquely personal way:
Doug GarrAfter 2,240 skydives, I’m convinced that I’m going to die by being hit by an electric bicycle. Looking twice each way while crossing a bike lane when you have the light is not enough, people.
That’s a LOT of skydives, I thought. Perhaps Doug Garr is exaggerating to make his point? I emailed him to ask.
“Yes, that is my correct jump total, and by today’s standards it’s really not that many,” he said in an email reply. Garr’s hobby, or obsession, or whatever it is, began when he was a sophomore at Syracuse University, where he roomed with a skydiving instructor. A few decades, marriage, a family, and a writing career (including a skydiving memoir) later, he says he still jumps but is far from a record-setter. “Several of my fellow skydivers (I’m still active, a septuagenarian) have five thousand or more. I know several sport parachutists with five-figure totals,” Garr wrote.
Garr didn’t mention scary moments from his skydiving career, but said he’s had “several near misses” with electric bikes. “I now wear a yellow vest when I walk any distance at night — especially from my garage on 96th Street to my apartment via West End Avenue.” He sees danger for the cyclists, too, particularly delivery people. “They wear dark clothes, no helmets, and rarely follow traffic rules. At night, they are taking big risks. I nearly hit one while going through a green light — he was in the crosswalk,” wrote Garr.
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The first comment sections were inaugurated by news organizations a quarter century or more ago. They were hailed as a way to democratize journalism, giving a voice to readers for further discussion of the news and making readers feel more connected to their news providers. By the 2010s, though, some media outlets were closing down their comments features. Among other reasons, it had become onerous and expensive to moderate the voluminous, often vituperative, comments in order to keep discussion civil.
We’ll have more in a future column about moderation and keeping discussion civil. For now I want to point out a news benefit that comment columns can have, adding information to a story – like the one we recently published with a new city map and listing of Upper West Side public restrooms. Very quickly, readers wrote to correct, or expand on, the city’s information, including its listing of restrooms at Riverside Park’s Dinosaur Playground and the Anibal Aviles Playground at West 108th Street.
Lizzie
RE: Dinosaur Playground. The playground is about to undergo an $8 million renovation that will fence off the toilet structure.
This multimillion dollar project does NOT include the historic structure that houses the toilets, which also includes the park office and janitorial closet.
I’ve heard that Parks is trying to get some money allocated for a “refresh” of the toilets (which right now look like they belong in a 1930s prison). But the idea that $8 million doesn’t include any work on that structure, which is integral to the playground, is ridiculous.
Kaz
Anibal Aviles Playground restrooms have [been] out of service for almost a year now. Super annoying as it was part of the building complex next door. Can the WSR find out what is going on?
We asked freelancer Charlotte Robertson to follow up with an in-person survey, in which she confirmed some of the reader updates and added some more caveats to the city’s information. Her story appeared yesterday HERE — and don’t miss her photos confirming Lizzie’s description of the Dinosaur Playground toilets.
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I really don’t have anything to say. I just thought an article about comments should have at least one comment.
I’m replying to this comment because comments should always have at least one reply.
A modest suggestion for the folks who design and moderate the comments section. Take a look at Ravelry.com, the Web site that hosts forums (and much more) for knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers. Don’t laugh – it’s got about ten million members now, and the most civil, respectful, helpful discussions imaginable, on every subject from yarn to movies to politics. (Full disclosure: I’m a moderator of one of the groups.) Rather than just a thumbs-up icon, commentators can click on “Educational,” “Interesting,” “Agree,” “Disagree” or “Love.” Or they can write comments of any length. The result is fewer multiple kvetches and more thoughtful comments.
Anyway, just a thought.
Public toilets located only in the parks is not friendly to senior citizens. By the time I make that detour from walking on Broadway…! Also, the walk back up is extremely difficult. There are a couple of friendly stores that allow the public to use their facilities. I will not reveal them, however, since an onslaught would put my own needs in jeopardy. Sorry to be “selfish.” If you are into lying, you can use a restroom in a restaurant with outdoor seating and say you are dining there. Or, go into a coffee shop and buy a cheap piece of cake and request the key. Or beg a manager and plead old age.
Your health plan (Medicare Supplement) may include a free gym membership. Take it. NY Sports clubs are all over with excellent facilites.
A cheap piece of cake is around $8 bucks.
Civil society needs to include clean, free toilets. Everyone eventually gets old (if lucky) and then …. The stupid adult diapers are like underwear so you’d have to basically change your clothes. Pads don’t do it. You can roll your eyes, but trust me, when things give out, you need a rest room to avoid disaster. On more than one occasion I have had to secretly pee in a park. And I’m a “dignified” professional. Have some empathy and build more toilets! Maybe make it illegal not to offer public access in restaurants… it will take more people getting old to understand— and luckily I am athletic/ can slip down a hill behind a tree. Keep going to the gym— you’ll need to be extra fit!