Flipmobile, or Why PPW was Clogged up this A.M.

drano

Heard a loud CRASH outside my window this morning, but didn't think overmuch of it since there are some huge dumpsters across the street which they switch out at all kinds of odd times. Then I heard the sirens and took a peek. Turns out a fellow in a shiny new S.U.V. (that stands for Sport Utility Vehicle) took the turn onto 8th street a tad too fast by any standard and certainly way too fast in a vehicle not made to corner at speeds over 10 mph. He smashed into the building and busted his SUV all up until it finally came to rest on its side, forcing him to exit from the sunroof, mostly unharmed. I'm glad there wasn't anybody standing there looking to cross the street, because they would have been crushed ugly - although the way people take that corner, it's only a matter of time.

Anyhow, the police and fire department show up and drag the newly created scrap metal off the sidewalk like a beached whale and flip it over...I almost felt bad for the guy as he watched this process - let's just say the police were looking more for speed than care, which I suppose is proper when you have a major road shut down and nobody's life is in danger.

brooklynpotter

have to say, not really feeling sorry for any of the speeding drivers in the nabe.

i'm on 15th near the circle, and it's the only street on the circle without a light. cars cruise onto our street from the far left lane at lightning speed. i'm frankly surprised nobody has ever been hit. i won't even cross the street at that corner, but wait till i'm further down.

(the street association has, i've heard, tried to get a light put in there to no avail. personally, i'd like to get little cardboard figures of children and place them in the street a few cars in from the corner and see how the drivers react. but i'm just spiteful in that way.)

scottienelida

brooklynpotter wrote: have to say, not really feeling sorry for any of the speeding drivers in the nabe.

i'm on 15th near the circle, and it's the only street on the circle without a light. cars cruise onto our street from the far left lane at lightning speed. i'm frankly surprised nobody has ever been hit. i won't even cross the street at that corner, but wait till i'm further down.

(the street association has, i've heard, tried to get a light put in there to no avail. personally, i'd like to get little cardboard figures of children and place them in the street a few cars in from the corner and see how the drivers react. but i'm just spiteful in that way.)

BP, people have been hit at that corner - several times. It's so hard to cross - as people use it as a cut-through from the park to the BQE. They put up more and bigger signs, but that doesn't help either. Nobody stops for pedestrians there. If you ever see a petition or another call to action for a streetlight, let me know.

As for the SUV driver - tough titties on him. Since he's not hurt, I don't feel sorry that he flipped his car speeding through a residential neighborhood.

brooklynpotter

i'm still up for using the cardboard figures of kids

shishkab

i swear sometimes i just close my eyes and pray when i take that first step into the crosswalk. always kind of reminds me (now you'll see the dork begin to shine thru) of that last Indiana Jones movie where he has to take that "leap of faith" and step off into what looks like a sheer drop but what is in actuality an invisible ledge. i just close my eyes, clench my butt cheeks, and pray for another safe delivery across the street as i scooch along.

ab-so-bleepin-lutely pathetic how dangerous that spot is to pedestrians, but lord knows we don't want to disrupt TRAFFIC PATTERNS. sheesh. :x

rose

brooklynpotter wrote:
i'm on 15th near the circle, and it's the only street on the circle without a light. cars cruise onto our street from the far left lane at lightning speed. i'm frankly surprised nobody has ever been hit. i won't even cross the street at that corner, but wait till i'm further down.

I noticed that they painted more lines and put up a new sign about yielding to pedestrians but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Drivers still turn right from the middle lane, often cutting off cars in the right lane, and no one seems to recognize the existence of the crosswalk. Very dangerous.