See note below from Transportation Alternatives and also
http://www.panynj.gov/tbt/pdf/gwb_sidewalk_info.pdf
PA to Restrict George Washington Bridge Bicycling/Walking Path Hours
Citing security concerns and lack of resources, the Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey announced last week that, starting on Sunday,
August 29, it will close the George Washington Bridge bicycling and
walking path overnight.
During the Republican National Convention, from Sunday, August 29,
through Thursday, September 2, the George Washington Bridge bicycle
and pedestrian path will be closed from 9 pm to 6 am. From Friday,
September 3, until further notice, the bridge path will be closed
from midnight to 6 am.
To mitigate the effect of the closure, the Port Authority has asked
bus companies operating out of the George Washington Bridge bus
terminal on the Manhattan side of the bridge to provide bicycle
service when the path is closed.
Beyond just the immediate inconvenience to the many bridge users,
T.A. is extremely concerned that the George Washington Bridge closure
establishes a dangerous precedent for government agencies to restrict
bicycling and walking. The City Department of Transportation s four
East River bridges are the backbone of the city s bicycling network;
closing these paths, even overnight, would cripple New York City
bicyclists and drastically reduce the number of people who bike in
the city. In 1990, when the City DOT restricted bicyclist and
pedestrian access to the Queensboro Bridge during rushhour, and
provided a shuttle, bicycle use dropped by nearly 80%.
According to the Port Authority, the agency needs more funding to
restore 24/7 bridge access; the money would go to overnight security
patrols and to completing capital projects that would mitigate
security concerns. While the Port Authority and elected officials
seek that funding, T.A. will work with the Port Authority to reduce
the hours that the bridge path is closed, to lessen the impacts on
bicyclists and people walking.
For questions or comments, you can reach the Port Authority at 800-
221-9903 or www.panynj.gov/rfframe.HTM.
GWB Bike/Ped path to be closed at night
The following is a letter from Charlie Komanoff, who was not just primarily, but really almost single-handedly responsible for getting the south side of the GWB opened to cyclists, to incoming TA exec. director, Paul White:
Hi Paul --
I've just heard through an e-mail from Michael Smith that the Port Authority is suspending overnight bike/walk access to the GWB sidepaths during the Republican National Convention and possibly beyond.
I'm a little out of touch w/ NYC, here in the Adirondacks. But if what Michael wrote is correct, then I urge you and T.A. to protest this in the strongest possible terms.
Access to the south (ramped) path of the GWB was a major
T.A. victory under my leadership. Since its institution in 1990,there has been no interruption to it, except for ramp reconstruction. And even then we had access to the north path.
As you well know, there is no valid security-related reason whatsoever to suspend access to the GWB sidepaths, whether during the RNC or at any other time. Failure to protest and reverse this decision will set a horrendous precedent. Conversely,vigorously protesting this arbitrary move will help dramatize the safety and security-superiority of cycling, as well as show the authorities that the cycling community won't stand for such outrageous treatment.
You and I have discussed the importance of your striking a
more pro-active and activist course, compared to the previous T.A. regime. Here's your chance, presented on a platter.
Please let me know how I can help.
Best,
Charlie
"Attention NYCC members:
I urge you all to write to your elected state and federal officials as well as to the Port Authority about this closing. The closings will start during the RNC in just a few days and afterwards the PANYNJ is saying that the bridge will be closed every single night between midnight and 6AM. This is outrageous and cannot be tolerated.
The notice on the Port Authority website says that it's ""until further notice"". See
http://www.panynj.gov/tbt/pdf/gwb_sidewalk_info.pdf
You can look up your elected reps easily at http://cmap.nypirg.org
"
So does anyone know how many people actually use the access paths between 9p.m. or midnight and 6 a.m.? How many people are actually being inconvenienced by this?
Though I agree with the premise that limiting access for pedestrians and cyclists could establish a pattern of restrictions, I question the contention that there is no legitimate security reason to restrict access overnight. Isn't the GWB considered a potential terrorist target? Aren't we concerned that the threat of terrorism will increase several fold during the RNC?
If restricting access to the bridge will genuinely inconvenience people (commuters?) than I am willing to entertain the notion that restricting access is a bad idea, but if no one is on the bridge at that hour anyway, aren't we willing to concede that this security precaution might be a necessary evil? I guess what I’m saying is, I’d like a little bit more data to justify my outrage.
here is the link to the PA feedback page: www.panynj.gov/rfframe.HTM.
i just sent them my feedback.
the point is not how many people use the bridge b/t midnight and 6 a.m. the point is that the gov't has decided to shut down a public, taxpayer-supported thoroughfare without justifying it to said public. what is the real security threat posed by a jogger or cyclist? they should tell us that before they shut down pathways. just my two cents.
"The point is not how many people do or don't use the pathway at night. Citing security concerns to keep pedestrians and cyclists off a _walkway_ while thousands of cars, buses and 18-wheelers roar unchecked across the bridge at all hours of day or night -- well, those ""security concerns"" simply defy logic, in a morbidly comedic way."
"I agree with you entirely about the absurdity of the closure. But it would be tolerable if the restriction was only during the convention. It's the midnight to 6 am closure from Friday, September 3, ""until further notice"" that really bothers me."
A response from the PA about the bridge closure to an ebiker:
Thank you for your recent E-mail regarding the overnight closure of the
south sidewalk of the George Washington Bridge, which begins Sunday, August
29, 2004. We would like to take this opportunity to address your concerns.
Please note that the south sidewalk of the George Washington Bridge will
remain open for the use of bicyclists and pedestrians everyday from 6 AM
until 11:59 PM. However, from Sunday, August 29 through Thursday, September
2, during the Republican National Convention, the south sidewalk will close
at 9 PM and reopen at 6 AM the following morning.
The restrictions on the use of the sidewalk on the George Washington Bridge
(GWB) are being put into effect in an effort to enhance security during the
overnight hours. George Washington Bridge management and the Port Authority
Police, working in cooperation with federal, state, and other authorities,
have identified and initiated numerous initiatives designed to make our
facilities safer for all our customers, and help protect the region's
critical transportation assets. Closing the south sidewalk during the
late-night hours is one of the methods being employed to help reduce overall
security risk at the GWB. A complete closure of the GWB sidewalk was
considered, but was deemed not desirable, due to the impact it would have on
customers during periods of heavy usage. It was decided to balance customer
service and security requirements by introducing daily overnight closures
from 12 Midnight to 6 AM.
To ensure that the fewest number of users are inconvenienced, the Port
Authority conducted counts over a two-week period, to identify those periods
of lightest use. On average, less than 35 pedestrians accessed the bridge
between the hours of 12 Midnight and 6 AM, and an average of eleven
bicyclists accessed the bridge during this same time period. Of these
users, the majority accessed the sidewalk to traverse the bridge half-span,
returning to the end from which they started.
In order to communicate the new sidewalk access policy, meetings have been
held with local community and governmental officials, as well as with
representatives from Transportation Alternatives and the Bike Touring Club
of North Jersey, to discuss the closures and address their concerns and
suggestions. While the Port Authority does not operate the buses that cross
the George Washington Bridge and serve the George Washington Bridge Bus
Station, at the request of Transportation Alternatives, we have presented
their request to New Jersey Transit that bike racks be installed on the
front end of their buses terminating at the station.
The Port Authority is committed to providing the region with facilities that
are safe and efficient for all customers. Closing the sidewalks during the
overnight hours enables us to provide a high degree of security at this
vital crossing for the over 300,000 customers using the bridge on a daily
basis. We apologize to those late-night travelers affected by this
necessary action.
"From the Port Authority statement attempting to justify the closing of the GWB to cyclists and peds between midnight and 6AM during the GOP convention and possibly longer:
""Closing the sidewalks during the overnight hours enables us to provide a high degree of security at this vital crossing for the over 300,000 customers using the bridge on a daily basis. We apologize to those late-night travelers affected by this necessary action.""
Earlier, the statement reads: ""To ensure that the fewest number of users are inconvenienced, the Port Authority conducted counts over a two-week period, to identify those periods of lightest use. On average, less than 35 pedestrians accessed the bridge between the hours of 12 Midnight and 6 AM, and an average of eleven
bicyclists accessed the bridge during this same time period. Of these users, the majority accessed the sidewalk to traverse the bridge half-span,returning to the end from which they started.""
If the PA were really concerned about a terrorist cyclist or pedestrian, it wouldn't be concerned about inconveniencing as few people as possible. Any ped- or pedaling terrorist can do his dirty work at 11:58PM or 6:01AM just as well as during the times of closure.
And I defy the PA to explain to me the rationale for permitting thousands of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and cabs to drive across the bridge, but stopping 35 peds and 11 cyclists, believing they are thereby increasing security.
I guess it permits the PA to say they're doing SOMETHING...but this is the single dumbest thing I've ever heard from government. If they fear nighttime cyclists and pedestrians, why are they encouraging bus lines to accomodate them?
It's not clear if the north side will remain open, which, if it will, makes this even dumber. One response is, if you wish to bike across the bridge, do it on the main roadway.
Richard"
