"Allow me to start with this letter I submitted yesterday to the NY Times.
""Dr Nacht's wife remarked prior to his death from being hit by a tow truck their feeling of being safe while on the Hudson River Bike Path. Until the DOT commits itself to the construction of dedicated turning lanes with a mandatory stop on the southbound West Street, cyclist's sense of security will be unjustified.""
"
Suggestions: improving the safety of the Hudson River Bike Path
Wed, 06/28/2006 - 7:49am
Wed, 06/28/2006 - 6:42pm
#1
Speed bump in front of path crossing Chelsea Piers
The speed bump on the road where the path crosses Chelsea Piers was removed, supposedly due to a snowplow the winter before last. I notified the Hudson Park administration regarding this and was told it was on order. That was over a year ago. No doubt Chelsea Piers would prefer to let this sleeping dog lie.
Wed, 06/28/2006 - 6:55pm
#2
Lack of smart stop signals on bike path
Too many signals which are not smart tend to cause path users to ignore them all.
This is a recreational as well as a commuter path. The path designers overloaded the path with stop signals at all possible intersections that serve no purpose other than litigation protection. If the designers were truly concerned with safety they wouldn't have path users confront red lights with no traffic crossing while giving them green lights when southbound West Street traffic can cross their path approaching at highway speeds.
Path users not familiar with the idiosyncracies of the path become tired of the red signals crying wolf and ignore them. Meanwhile, they don't have a clue that traffic can cross their path when they have a green light.
Wed, 06/28/2006 - 7:04pm
#3
Dark netting covering chain link fence obscuring crosswalk
Dark netting is covering the chain link fence in the vicinity of the pedestrian crosswalk of 70th St +/- 2 blocks. This is the crosswalk which comes from the new Trump buildings, crosses the path at the food concession with dining tables. It is just south of the athletic courts. The path is under the Miller Elevated Highway so support columns further obscure sight of those crossing from the Hudson side as well. But the dark netting, probably intended to hide construction, prevents crosswalk and path users from seeing each other till the actual crosswalk, too late for cyclists who are carrying any speed to avoid a collision.
Mon, 07/03/2006 - 9:07am
#4
so maybe cyclists should just slow down here?
Thu, 06/29/2006 - 10:23am
#5
Construct overpasses so that cyclists/runners/skaters go over all motor vehicle crossings. You can't get hit by a vehicle that never intersects your path.
Fri, 06/30/2006 - 12:06pm
#6
Better Signage
"Better signage in multiple languages to:
1. Order pedestrians off the bike/skate path wherever they have a separate walkway, e.g. ""NO walking/jogging on bike path."" ""<-Cyclists/skaters . Walkers/joggers->""
2. Move slower users to the right. ""Slow traffic keep right."""
Fri, 06/30/2006 - 1:42pm
#7
pedestrian path
The pedestrian path is so nasty it's no wonder everyone walks on the bike path. Take a walk there one day to see for yourself - it's quite a shock.
Wed, 06/28/2006 - 7:10pm
#8
Increased use of waste transfer station south of Pier 54
The proposed increased use of the waste transfer station south of Pier 54 with the current grade crossing will surely result in at least one death till an overpass/underpass is built. Will funds be appropriated for this new structure in the deal being cut for the station? Judging from past planning, it will not and someone will die until it is rectified.
Wed, 06/28/2006 - 7:51pm
#9
No motor vehicles on the path
"Construction, police, ""security,"" VIPs, maintenance ...
None of them have any business being on that path, ever."
Thu, 06/29/2006 - 8:16pm
#10
Improve visiblity of users crossing path from Greenwich Vil Park
The major access paths to and from the waterfront park that intersect the path along the Greenwich Village section are obscured with stone walls and foliage. Bike path users can find themselves confronted with a stroller or ped that appears out of nowhere. Likewise, people leaving the park can sprint across the path without looking in an attempt to make a traffic light on West Street.
Fri, 06/30/2006 - 8:00am
#11
parking for pier entrance south of pier 96 /56 street
when heading south on the greenway the hedges obstruct the line of sight for the vehicles and bicycles on this curve. bicyles have a stop sign there, however the line of sight is impeded.
Fri, 07/07/2006 - 10:33pm
#12
picturesof hazards
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72438389@N00/
today a 3 inch black hose was across green way with no safety warning cones, Rollerblades loved that,
the bad line of sight turn south of 56 street had a illegal parked tractor trailer parked their making the kine of sight non existent,
Mon, 07/03/2006 - 7:57am
#13
Create smarter turn signals on southbound West Side Hwy
There should be separate right-turn signals (green or red arrows) for southbound West Side Highway traffic, at every entrance point to the West Side park (e.g. 38th Street). It should be turn green only when there is a red signal for the cyclists and pedestians and red only when there they have a green signal.
Mon, 07/03/2006 - 6:11pm
#14
I just got back from a ride on the path. In light of recent tragedy, and the discussion about safety, I have been more attentive to other cyclists. I think that any type of safety initiative needs to pay attention to the fact that the vast majority of riders ride extremely unsafely. I think there should be lobbying for a helmet-law. Furthermore, cyclists need to learn how to ride around people. I feel safer on the streets than on the bike paths.
Tue, 07/04/2006 - 1:41pm
#15
yes helmet law for vehicle drivers
than there will be less deadly vehicle drivers and the streets and green ways will be safer for bicyclist
Mon, 07/03/2006 - 8:42pm
#16
"all we ask is approx. 18 to 20 in. of the road , joggers seem to have carte blanche to run wherever they please ,in any direction they please ,sometimes 3& 4 abreast ,roller bladers can shuck & jive to their there hearts content , the only prerequisite for autos to ride in the park is to put on their flashers ,how thoughtful of them .The planners of the bike paths in this city are useless ,the whole operation is a total mess ,no one is safe ,it's every man for himself ,do you really think they give a rats ass about any of us ,if they did ,there wouldn't be so many accidents & near misses ,No speed bumps, No dedicated turning lanes ,No barriers on street lanes , S.I.ferry bike racks that hold a grand total of 4 bikes ,the NJTransit allowing 2 bikes per train ,what gives ,get your head out of your ---, the publics' conception of bikers is that of total disrespect ,we're viewed as weirdos in tight pants ,we have to do more to get John Q citizen on our side ,& the Critical Mass Ride isn't the way to acheive it ,all they do is annoy people & cause more hard feelings towards us. As the old saying goes ""you get more with honey than you do with vineger"" What can be be done ,I really don't know for sure ,but doing things for the community might be a start ie; helping the elderly, the disabled , painting a fence , cleaning a play ground & I'm sure there are many other things that can be done by us to enhance public opinion of us"
