Last Updated on March 15, 2016 by Lawrence Berezin
The DOT undertakes numerous projects to promote safe streets in NYC
Navigating the highways and byways of NYC is not for the faint of heart. Passenger vehicles, pedestrians, cabs, buses, motorcycles, and trucks fight for their fair share of our NYC roadways and curb space. This lethal mix of metal can result in series consequences, such as:
- Car-bus collisions
- Motor vehicle-pedestrian collisions
- Costly parking tickets
- Costly traffic tickets
What actions does the DOT take to promote safe streets in NYC?
A myriad of safe street projects
Here is the DOT web page devoted to its current projects. Check ’em out by clicking on the image below:
The Queens Boulevard Safety Project
The DOT is in the process of re-designing Queens Boulevard in reaction to concerns expressed by the community:
- Overall unsafe feeling
- Uncomfortable to bike (250 bicyclists using Queens Boulevard every day)
- Unsafe and unpleasant pedestrian environment at intersections
- Need for more and better pedestrian crossings
- Excessive pedestrian fatalities despite crossing at intersection with signals
Here are some of the highlights of the Queens Boulevard Safety Project
Two-way protected bike lane on Chrystie Street
Why?
- 2,989 cyclists in 14-hour period
- Heart of Citi-Bike service area
- Improve dangerous design flaws
- Loading and double parking in bike lane
Here’s a slide show that provides details of the project (click on the image below)
Commentary
Safe streets for all stakeholders is a wonderful mission. Kudos to the DOT for its ongoing hard work to accomplish this mission.
Please take note of new traffic patterns and new parking patterns when work is being done on our sidewalks and roadways. Just because it was doesn’t mean it still is and will be the same rules.
Always, park safely.
Here is a copy of a letter I just wrote to the NY Daily News, in response to an article they had about how the police commissioner feels we will never reach Vision Zero goals.
I have to agree with Police Commissioner Bratton when he says that we will never reach DeBlasio’s goal of Vision Zero. That is, until the city begins to realize that many of the accidents are caused entirely by pedestrians and bicycle riders breaking the law. I cannot keep count of how many close calls I have had with both groups-happened again last night. I began to turn down a narrow one-way street, but quickly noticed that it was blocked by a tow truck. Other cars were backing up, so I switched to making a U-turn. To my surprise, there was a young lady crossing Metropolitan Avenue against the light-with the ‘Don’t Walk’ symbol clearly lit up. This is just a few hundred feet from the spot where a lady was hit and killed a few months ago when she jay-walked. Many, many times I have had to slam on my brakes when someone walked out from between 2 cars in the middle of the block, most often talking on their cell phone and not paying any attention to what was going on around them. I have also frequently had near-misses when people riding bicycles are going the wrong direction on a one-way street that I am turning into. And, especially in Manhattan, people are constantly crossing streets when their light is red, which prevents cars from going. Worse is when they block cars that are already in the intersection, causing them to gridlock cars coming the other way once the light changes.
Our Mayor, in an attempt to reduce injuries sustained when pedestrians are hit, has lowered the speed limit in the city. This impacts hundreds of thousands of motorists all because of the dumb people that are not obeying traffic regulations and putting themselves in danger by their disregard for common-sense laws.
Hey Lee,
Good morning.
Wow. Quite a letter!
Thanks for sharing it with us.
Regards,
Larry