Brooklynian » Topic: Traffic Problems

Brooklynian » Topic: Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems en-US Mon, 20 May 2013 03:43:42 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://brooklynian.com/forum/search.php Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709982 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:58:42 +0000 GoodProspect 709982@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Thanks, Stoop Lady. I totally agree and am completely frustrated by the discontinuation of the B69 along PPW/8th Avenue, all service on weekends, and the total eradication of the B65, which was the only way to reasonably get from near my home to my children's school by public transportation. I will be writing to the MTA bigs. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709929 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:57:24 +0000 StoopLady 709929@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ PLEASE dear readers, write, write, write to the MTA to restore the B69 bus (Jackie Gleason's character Ralph Kramden drove). IF THE MTA WOULD ADVERTISE AND FOLLOW THE SCHEDULES -- there could be a wonderful transformation in the situation on 8th Avenue. It is perplexing that people are "aware" and want to "go green" and could be adverse to taking buses. Because of the unreliability of the buses or the lack of awareness of how important the buses are to many Brooklynites who are physically challenged, elderly and those who do not own cars, the MTA is taking it out on the rider rather than improving their customer base. The B69 ran during the week and on weekends. It came up Vanderbilt, around GAP and across PPW through Windsor Terrace to Kensington. It returned via 8th Avenue, back to Vandie, to Fulton, etc. Now, it runs during the week but makes a left turn on Flatbush and then another turn on 7th Avenue, taking the same route as the 67 bus. Let's not even go there (the 67 bus route is another email). The 69 bus stops running the Kensington to Prospect Heights route around 9PM. It does not run on weekends. IF THE MTA would advertise its bus routes AND the buses arrived on schedule...its ridership would increase. It chose bus routes where there were economically disadvantaged folks as well as people who just might not understand what it happening. If there was a discussion, I was not aware (just stopped working a few months ago). The MTA just wiped out the routes. Have you ever had a discussion with a bus dispatcher? I have. They are not at all in tune with the route's customers and I have heard it said that when the bus drivers brings things to the dispatchers' attention they are usually ignored or chastised. The MTA treats sections of Brooklyn as second class citizens (perhaps third class). Currently, the bus schedule changed on September 12 and the posted schedules are reading June 2010. The routes could be shortened (as stated above) or have smaller buses -- similar to the dollar vans in size but MTA trained and safe regulations. It is not always true that mass transportation suffers without government subsidies...but the MTA likes to play the victim role. Although there is the organization called the StrapHangers Campaign it is up to us to become vocal. It just takes an email or call -- you don't have to start a whole organization. If a parent or individual spends $5.00 for a round trip to pick up their child, they are certainly spending that much on gas and the wear and tear on the car. Thank you so much for reading this unedited, early morning plea/vent if you have gotten this far. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709804 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 20:00:43 +0000 Piano 709804@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Cool, subway passes are on Booklaw! Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709801 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:48:59 +0000 booklaw 709801@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ I'd rather deal with fare increases than a barrage of advertising. We see enough ads in our lives. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709791 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:37:01 +0000 Piano 709791@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Park Slope would do well with a couple of street cars on 5th and 7th that just go up and down between Flatbush and Prospect Park Ave. Or they could just have a bus do it. Maybe the business associations on 5th and 7th could help partially fund it as well. The MTA could be a lot more creative at making money, but all they do to is raise fares. If the MTA made better use of their abundance of available ad space they wouldn't have to raise fares all the time or reduce services. If you've ever been on the London Underground, the Tube stops are literally wallpapered with ads. Even the walls along the tracks have ads from one end of the station to the other. Also, the tube cars have ads every where you look. They waste a lot of space here, and I'd guess that at least half the ads are outdated (how many times have you seen an ad for a museum exhibit or event that ended months ago?). Of course the amount of ads in London can make you go a little mad, but I'd rather deal with being bombarded by ads than being bombarded by fare increases. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709783 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 15:06:36 +0000 detour 709783@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ I don't think it's worse than normal on 8th ave., it's just very bad in a couple of spots at the usual times. It always backs up south of 6th street around 2:30 because of the double parkers picking up their kids from St. Saviours. And then south of Union St. around rush hour as ringrunner noted. I think the problem there is that the light crossing PPW/GAP is relatively short. Adding to that is the traffic that now backs up on Plaza St. (a formerly viable alternative to waiting on Union) which also has a very short green at Union, but lost a lane of traffic to a bike lane. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709757 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:31:49 +0000 Trainsmoke DeLeon 709757@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ <blockquote> Please do not get into the bike thing as many of the people who take buses cannot ride bikes or it is not feasible. </blockquote> Fair enough. Zing rescinded. My zing was aimed at traffic creators who have the option/ability to not create traffic but take their cars anyway. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709751 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 06:56:05 +0000 ringrunner 709751@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ The 8th Ave/Union St clusterf*ck might be getting better soon. Till last week there was no parking on Union St (towards the Park) from 7am - 10am am and from 4pm to 7pm, weekdays. This no parking rule was there to supposedly allow two lanes of driving during rush hour. However, one parked car ruins the entire plan, and there was usually at least one parked car. Thus, it was not really a two lane road. The signs have changed. Now there is no standing from 7am to 10pm, 7 days a week. I assume the next step is to hang some sort of sign that says "Use 2 Lanes". Then maybe we wont have continual gridlock on 8th and Union. <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=9675dd6dca&view=att&th=12bb9d18c8436939&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=file0&zw" rel="nofollow">https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=9675dd6dca&view=att&th=12bb9d18c8436939&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=file0&zw</a> Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709707 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 22:39:44 +0000 StoopLady 709707@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Can't ride my bike very well these days.... Yes, the 69 was rerouted to 7th Ave and it is scheduled to follow the 67. There are no more buses going across to Windsor Terrace via the park. No more 69 on weekends and the last run back to Flatbush is around 9PM. Also, the June 2010 schedule is still posted when the 67 and 69 buses changed routes on September 12. The routes are on the net but it is next to impossible to get a printed schedule once they run out. The driver's don't know what the schedule is...they start at a certain time and run the route. The dispatchers control the buses and the bus drivers may not communicate with each other. There are so many people waiting for buses to go to Methodist Hospital (at 7th and Flatbush) and many...who are not able to use the subways let alone...ride a bike. The scheduling blatantly discriminated against the economically disadvantaged knowing perfectly well the communities in which they cut service would not complain or protest. The poor, aged, physically challenged AND folks who do not have wheels. Please do not get into the bike thing as many of the people who take buses cannot ride bikes or it is not feasible. If the MTA would have advertised the wonderful bus routes and really showed up as scheduled ridership would definitely have shot up. And why now with the dollar vans? The MTA could have developed a similar system years ago!!!! Good night. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709690 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:00:47 +0000 Trainsmoke DeLeon 709690@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ I've been getting around on my bike just fine. zing! Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709689 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:44:15 +0000 Piano 709689@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ <blockquote><cite>StoopLady » </cite>Finally make a left on 5th, pass Key Food, make a left on Garfield ... </blockquote> That must have been a particularly harrowing ride considering that the taxi driver went the wrong way down Garfield. I haven't noticed more traffic, but since I don't drive I don't know if I would. If there is more traffic in the Slope, it could be because of PPW being reduced to two lanes. Perhaps some drivers who had used that before are now using 7th ave instead. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709642 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:13:13 +0000 Union Street 709642@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Subject: Re: Traffic Problems<blockquote><cite>pmonk » </cite> Is it me - or has traffic been worse than normal in Park Slope these days?</blockquote> Well... we just lost quite a bit of bus service thanks to the MTA cuts. (Blame Assembly member Joan Millman and her feckless colleagues in the state legislature for failing to prevent those cuts, btw). So, it's possible that people who were using the bus are now driving their own cars or using car services to get around the neighborhood. It doesn't take too many additional cars on the road to create more congestion. Also, the Atlantic Yards project has closed 5th Avenue between Flatbush and Atlantic. That's a permanent change and that is probably creating some additional congestion around there, as well. The addition of construction vehicles and lanes closed for construction around that project and further down Flatbush Avenue might also be creating some new congestion. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709616 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:44:58 +0000 StoopLady 709616@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Caught a cab on Flatbush and 7th Ave. Thought, oh, will go to 6th Ave., turn left on Flatbush (going to 13th Street btw 6th & 7th). Can't make a left turn on 6th, can't make a left turn on 5th so made right turn at the 77th Precinct, hoping to cross Flatbush to 5th Ave. Another red light. Cross Flatbush, another red light. Wait at least three minutes, drive, red light, three minutes (oh and a bit of double parking to wait for), then drive, another wait of three minutes. Finally make a left on 5th, pass Key Food, make a left on Garfield after a few more red lights. Right turn on 6th. IF the bus would have been on time, the 67, this would have never happened. Plus, I thought, hahahahaha, it would be faster than going on 7th because of the traffic. A 5 minute or so ride, turned into a 25 minute ride. The end. Traffic Problems http://brooklynian.com/forum/park-slope/traffic-problems#post-709589 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:45:54 +0000 pmonk 709589@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ A couple of weeks ago I noticed new traffic light control boxes installed on 8th Ave, and since then the rush traffic on 8th has become one big mess. Is it me - or has traffic been worse than normal in Park Slope these days?